The Lunch Lady

Very tasty food, loved every dish we ordered! Just wish I had more room to try even more dishes—will definitely return to try out more! Loved the octopus skewers especially; the charcoal and spicy taste is simply out of this world. I’m already craving it just thinking about it. The soft shelled crab is a close second. Service is also very friendly and attentive, but not overly hovering. Our server made sure that our water is filled at all times, and empty dishes cleared. Even on a super busy night (full house too!), I can tell the amazing teamwork from everyone made the whole dining experience feel heavenly while looking effortlessly. This place is definitely worth the hype, and worth a try at least once! Highly recommend making a reservation ahead of time, or ordering for take out—as the restaurant is fairly small.

Whether you're celebrating a birthday, gathering with family, or simply catching up with an old friend, Lunch Lady is the kind of spot that turns a meal into a memory. Their set dinner menu is a true feast—thoughtfully curated with a variety of shareable dishes that are perfect for larger groups. Every bite bursts with flavour, served at just the right temperature, with textures so satisfying they’ll have everyone at the table talking. And don’t even think about skipping dessert: the pandan sticky rice cake with raspberry sauce and ice cream is a showstopper—comforting, vibrant, and unforgettable. The soups here deserve their own spotlight. I've had the beef pho, crab soup, and duck soup, and each one stands out with deep, authentic flavours that are anything but watered down. If you're on the hunt for the best Vietnamese soups in Vancouver, Lunch Lady is at the top of the list. The drink menu is just as thoughtful. Their Vietnamese coffee is rich, bold, and perfectly balanced. And for something more refreshing, try the pandan coconut tea—it’s exactly as delicious as it sounds. Lunch Lady doesn’t just serve food—it delivers consistently amazing experiences. Hence, my images from various visits! For any occasion, any time of day, it’s a place that never disappoints. Once you go, you’ll understand why people keep coming back.

We had a lovely birthday lunch for my mom at The Lunch Lady. The restaurant has a chic take on Vietnamese street food, and the service was warm and friendly. While the experience was pleasant, the food didn’t quite live up to expectations. The beef carpaccio was overwhelmed by seasoning, masking the freshness of the meat. We may have also misordered, as our appetizers ended up being quite similar. That said, we appreciated the thoughtful touch of a complimentary birthday cake. A nice spot for lunch, but we’d choose different dishes next time!

We had the most Incredible Dining experience at this Restaurant. From the moment we walked in the service was outstanding. We ordered the Family Style dinner. They were fresh, delicious and out of this world! Crispy taro, green chili aioli), Beef carpaccio-fillet of beef, crispy shallots, Thai basil, mint, lime vinaigrette. Char grilled octopus Roasted Bone marrow with Crostini Crispy Tiger prawns with Chili lime sauce Ribeye of beef Crab fried rice Coconut clams DESSERTS: Three layer dessert-Pandan sticky rice cake Ube Tiramisu. We really enjoyed every bite of these food! It was exceptional. Our server Misha was very attentive, friendly and knowledgable. She also made some excellent recommendations. To all the Chef, especially Travis, you clearly puts thought and passion into every dish. Its unforgettable and delicious! The Manager Daniel, was very welcoming, professional and friendly. And to the staff. You all exceeded our expectations. “Mot – Hai – Ba – Dzo! “ We highly recommend this place.

Lunch Lady is a modern take on Vietnamese cuisine, combining a fusion of modern cooking techniques with Vietnamese ingredients. We celebrated our parents' birthdays here and made reservations a few weeks in advance in order to secure a spot. The line up without reservations was quite long right at opening, so would recommend making reservations ahead of time. We enjoyed a number of different dishes, with standouts being the soft shell crab, prawn fritters, and crab fried rice. The only issue was that our parents could not really handle any spice, and our server had tried to accommodate this, but unfortunately most of the dishes still had some residual spice, and they were not unable to enjoy all of the dishes as a result. Overall, the restaurant had a nice vibrant atmosphere and would recommend it, but be prepared if you are unable to handle spice as most of the dishes have some amount of pepper/spice in their preparation.

What a great food experience, so delicious! I had the Pork Tomahawk and it was amazing. The pork was cooked perfectly and the lettuce wrap and dip was savoury sweet and delicious! The servers are really friendly and helpful with suggestions. It’s super busy so I highly recommend making a reservation. My only suggestion is that the outside patio furniture needs an upgrade. I understand they’re going for the whole lunch room vibe but also paying a fairly decent amount for good food, but I should at least be comfortable while eating it. Apart from that, definitely worth a visit.

We didn’t make a reservation and arrived around 11:30. They told us we’d have to wait about 30 minutes for a spot at the bar since we came as a party of two. However, we were ended up seat at an outdoor table which pretty nice. The food was good, and I especially liked the fried soft-shell crab. The rest of the dishes were okay. The banh canh cua tasted quite similar to vietnam, and the Vietnamese egg coffee was also okay. Overall, everything was enjoyable. Nothing really wowed us, but the prices were reasonable.

What a fantastic dinner we had at Lunch Lady on Commercial! The food was absolutely wonderful – every dish was a delight. Our server, Misha, truly made the evening exceptional. She was attentive, friendly, and provided top-notch service that elevated the entire dining experience. We can't wait to go back!

Small but amazing Vietnamese diner. It gets quite busy, so I'd recommend making a reservation - they have lunch and dinner menus which are both highly recommended. Standout dishes for us were definitely the crab fried rice and the bone marrow - both packed with flavour and yet balanced. Service is quick and staff are friendly, this is always a great option for anyone in Vancouver!

Lunch Lady is a small but mighty establishment that carries a heartwarming family story and prides itself on delicious street-style Vietnamese food. I had already been various times but finally had the opportunity to snap some pics and now I can finally sit down and express my love for this Vancouver gem. Vietnamese cuisine prides itself in a dance of sweet, spicy, salty, and sour flavours and so for all who enjoy these flavour profiles - you have come to the right place. It is recommended to make a reservation as this place can be quite busy. My friend and I ordered 2 appetizers and 2 main dishes and it was more than enough food with some leftovers remaining. The beef carpaccio is truly the star of the show. It is smothered in herbs and shallots and finished with a lime vinaigrette and is both refreshing and flavourful. When I put the first bite in my mouth, I was quite literally drooling from the explosion of flavour. Next up, the duck salad followed a similar profile with a heaping load of greens and a sweet, sour, and spicy ginger chilli vinaigrette. The duck breast was tender and the skin on top was just a tad bit crispy for perfect texture. The crab fried rice is something I've already had many times and it always tastes so delicious every single time. The tobiko adds texture while the slight crispiness of the rice paired with the sauce and crab is just umami and delightful. It can be quite heavy and greasy - note to self to save some duck salad next time to pair and cut the greasiness. Lastly, the lovely steak luc lac - juicy tender beef paired with a peppercorn sauce and cassava fries. Note: Do NOT sleep on the garnish. Just as I was saying how heavy this dish was, I took a bite of the garnish and was instantly refreshed. I can't say whether the microgreen itself was citrusy but it's likely they sprayed it with something and it served as a wonderful cut to the delicious but meaty meat. Lastly, a lovely return to a classic dessert - the tiramisu with an ube twist. The tiramisu was very well done and the cream of the crop compliment...not too sweet! It had a perfect balance of richness and sweetness/bitterness. I also highly enjoyed my pandan drink, I'm just a sucker for that green sweet leaf. My friend's cocktail was originally supposed to be dragon fruit but they only had passion fruit that day. I think the dragon fruit would've been unique and interesting to try. The dinner came to almost $200 after tip which is quite hefty...but we had a gift card :D This may or may not have skewed my review of the food because free food always tastes better. However, I do recall that I ordered the family style with friends in the past and felt it was okay in price. This place is not your typical Vietnamese establishment and I do sense the care and elevation put into the dining experience. I will be back!!

Staff was very friendly. Food was awesome. The crab udon broth was tasty and umami, the taste you could only find in fresh crabs. The broth was thinner than the original version in Vietnam, but I still found it savory and flavorful. In reverse, the beef carpaccio was quite plain. I wished they added more fish sauce in it. Sizzling beef was amazing. The beef was super tender and the marinate was on point! Even the pate was good too. Overall, 9.5 out of 10!

Lunch Lady offers a decent dining experience, but it had its highs and lows. We went for lunch with a reservation, which is recommended to avoid a wait. The staff was friendly and attentive. We ordered: Chinese donut: This was disappointing--too doughy, overly buttery, and lacking crispiness. Steak Luc Lac: A highlight of the meal, with tender meat and a flavorful peppercorn sauce. Pork spring rolls: Good crust, but the inside was dry, though still flavorful. Bun Bo Hue (daily special): The broth was flavorful and the meat pieces were well-cooked, making it one of the better dishes. Calamansi soda: Refreshing and perfect if you enjoy citrusy drinks. Ca Phe Trung: Vietnamese iced egg coffee with condensed milk sabayon--strong, creamy, and enjoyable.

This place never ceases to amaze and impress me. Booking a reservation here is not easy and there's good reason why. Food is amazing! The following are highly recommended: OCTOPUS SKEWERS/BẠCH TUỘC NƯỚNG SATÊ $16 char grilled octopus, lemongrass sate, Vietnamese corriander, green chili sauce CRISPY PRAWNS/TÔM CHIÊN GIÒN $22 tiger prawns, floating shell, chili lime sauce PORK TOMAHAWK/SƯỜN NƯỚNG $38 char grilled bone-in chop, pineapple, shishito peppers, lettuce, herbs, herb vinaigrette BEEF CARPACCIO/BÒ TÁI CHANH $24 filet of beef, peanuts, orispy shallots, thai basil, mint, perilla, lime vinaigrette CLAM TAMARIND $24 - manila clams, tamarind butter sauce, peanuts, pork crackling, Chinese donut The following are just okay: STIR FRIED NOODLES/MÌ XÀO BÒ $24 orispy egg noodles, ribeye of beef, gai lan, pork crackling BEEF SKEWER - this could have been highly recommended if beef cubes were not chewy. Service is amazing We sat on the "outside" but actually this space is covered and heaters were on high so it's comfortable.

LL is always a favorite of mine. I get the beef carpaccio every time and the quality control is always consistent. Other favorites include the luc lac and the steamed clams. My guest really loved the dessert they served which was a Pandan mochi with strawberry sauce and coconut gelato. Ten out of ten service and great place to go with friends.

Honestly, with how busy it was, I was genuinely surprised how attentive the servers were and how fast the food came out. Definitely order the family style because it's definitely worth the cost! Highly recommend it especially their steak luc lac! Even with the wait time, I'll definitely come back!

Arrived on a Sunday at 1pm, and was told the wait would be 45+mins. We only ended up waiting 15 mins and was seated on high chair seating. You can reserve your table in advance to avoid the wait, ideally reserve at least a couple days or a week before. We ordered an iced ca phe sua da, wagyu beef pho and pork skewer vermicelli. The iced ca phe sua da was very strong, consistent with Vietnamese iced coffees. The drink is also not too sweet as it maintains its intense coffee flavour. The wagyu beef pho was delicious and looked very aesthetic. There's something about seeing a large beef bone that makes me excited for the dish. Overall, I thought the wagyu beef was extremely soft and flavourful, and was told from our waiter to only cook it for ~20s. The soup had a balance of a strong beefy flavour with aromatic herbs/spices, although the soup wasn't boiling hot which is what I am used to with pho soups. The onsen egg and the bone marrow added a creaminess to the soup as well. The noodles (flat and wide) were cooked a tad over however it did not detract from the overall dish. Given the price point of ~$30, I would recommend people to try it however it's not a bowl of pho I would eat on a weekly or monthly basis. The pork vermicelli bowl was fantastic! The skewers were grilled to perfection while maintaining the tenderness of the meat. The springs rolls were extremely crispy and clearly made to order. I also really enjoyed the flavourful and slightly spicy fish sauce, which complemented every item in the dish well. We were given the option of either chicken or pork skewers and I will definitely be back to try the chicken. Lunch lady also has daily specials so definitely check out their daily special before you come! Noteworthy days for me include Friday for Bun Bo Hue and Saturday for Canh Chua. We will be back to try these as well.

Service is great with great atmosphere. Finding parking isn't fun but worth the trip down. The special fried rice, Luc lac, salmon and the garlic noodles finished off with the ube tiramisu was absolute all stars on their own right. Everything was a hit. Not a spoonful was left. Make reservations at this small restaurant. It's very busy.

Service was phenomenal. We didn't know our server is Japanese and accidentally spoke Vietnamese to him but he was super forgiving and gracious. Our kid initially said no to her birthday ice cream dessert and he was super nice to deal with her stranger and unknown food shyness and got us a dessert to share. It was a bit loud but it felt right at home like a Vietnamese restaurant There was enough ventilation that we didn't smell like Pho coming out of the restaurant I recommend the duck soup, soft shell crab appetizer and the fried Che Be Màu dessert with ice cream on top - so good!

Nice dinner with my friend!! It is a fancy Vietnamese restaurant! They are not only having pho, they got spring rolls, soup and drinks as well!

Great little restaurant on the drive. Always packed with people but service is usually pretty decent. I think I prefer dinner over lunch-- more variety. There's been seasonal dishes I've loved-- lobster hot pot was phenomenal. Lunch selection was limited but made things easier to choose from. If you can score a spot, give it a try!

I owe this place a long review. Went in summer, we got a very cute tall seat (not very comfortable tho) We ordered those below: 1. fried shrimp (9/10) it's very delicious. why the -1? Since even though it is sooooo crispy, after 3rd bite it gets oily. It's hard to enjoy it as much as the first bite. 2. Bone marrow (8/10) very flavor but simply a little sweet, kinda wish they didn't cheap out on the poor portion of crisps on this plate since there r a lot of bone marrow to eat 3. Foie gras steak: 10/10 very delicious and fatty. 4. Fried rice with crab and popping fish egg it is very very very good. After I take it home and reheat it's still very delicious. Great texture 15/10 5. Purple cheesecake: not good, burnt. But it's free since it was birthday celebration! It's a little slow there but it's a busy restaurant! would come back to try more

Tried the Friday Bun Bo Hue special at Lunch Lady and the it was delicious. Portion was big and the soup was flavourful. We did walk in at around 1pm and the wait was around 40 mins at that time. We sat on the patio but it was heated so it was nice and warm. Excited to try the special again another day!

Maybe my expectation is too high I feel like a major letdown. From the floodgate opening at 4:45 pm with the crowd lining up even with a reservation.. Service very slow couldn't find a single dish I wanted to return for. To be fair all staff were super friendly and nice paying good attention to details. Despite the hype the food quality isn't that refined at all. The deep fried items have very thick batter good if you're hungry not delicate enough if you're looking for finer cooking. And Commercial Drive is $6 per hour parking.. I think I rather go for less westernized Vietnamese cuisine on Fraser... or more French influenced Linh Cafe? Not convenient enough to return I suppose..

Always memorable and consistent. The broth is very flavorful and has great depth. The spring rolls are fresh and tasty. The only negative I have is lunch lady has become so busy and popular that you feel rushed to eat your meal and the seating is very tight.

We got here at the start of dinner with the reservation with few tables empty, but it slowly started to pick up and get more full. There is inside seating, and two patios outside. We started with the lychee cocktail and a tiger beer. The lychee cocktail was so refreshing and delicious. For food, we initially got the beef carpaccio, fried garlic noodles, and steak. The beef carpaccio was presented so beautifully with chopped herbs and nuts. It was one of the best beef carpaccio's I've ever had. The garlic noodles sounded like it was going to be a simple dish but it was anything but it was super flavourful with loads of aromatic herbs and green onion. I wish we ordered another plate. We also got the steak with coated in a really delicious sauce. It was cooked medium rare, but I felt like it was a little bit more on the rare side and it had quite a bit of fat and tendon that I was not able to chew through. It came with a side of yucca fries with a nice herb sauce on top, and those were incredible. As we're finishing this portion, me and my boyfriend decided to see if we could upgrade to the tasting menu for two as we had ordered three out of the six dishes that were on the tasting menu and the server had no issue with making that upgrade. For $17 more from the tasting menu, we also got octopus skewers and taro chips, which were really good, but the dessert stole the show. It was a fried sticky rice patty that was died green inside, and it was topped with a creamy, tart berry sauce, and two scoops of coconut ice cream. We were so full and struggling to finish the dessert, but we knew we couldn't miss out on not finishing. I would 100% go back and recommend this place to anyone

My Birthday dinner with family was well celebrated here at Lunch Lady . This Hidden Gem along the Commercial Dr. is worth a visit . Not for large groups though , this place has a warm vibe . All the food that we had was superb !! . The servers were so nice and attentive , Describing the dish while they bring it on the table is a plus . And the DESSERTS !!!!UBE tiramisu and PANDAN sticky rice is a MUST .

Been wanting to try this place for a while so I'm glad I got the chance. The lunch lady is a michelin recommended Vietnamese restaurant on Commercial Drive. Places are always full so would recommend getting a reservation from their website. All in all, we felt satisified with the food, particularly the steak luc lac and ube cheesecake. However, I feel like the cuisines are not necessarily Vietnamese, but rather a fusion with flavour palate adjusted for North American market. We also got calamansi soda chanh ($6) which was super refreshing during the summer. Steak Luc Lac ($38) 9/10 We were expecting home style beef luc lac, but it was a nice surprise to get melt in your mouth tender beef and the best cassava fries I've ever tried. My friends also really enjoyed the peppercorn sauce. Ube Basque Cheesecake ($12) 9.5/10 I spotted this on the menu and knew we had to get this. Who knew that the combination of ube, cheese, caramel, and the fried banana could tastes so good? If the ube was a touch stronger, this would really elevate the dish. Wagyu Pho ($32) 7/10 It was good. Felt very rich and decadent with the bone marrow and poached egg combination. I just felt like it didn't taste like pho (more like a noodle soup). The amount of herbs and beansprout they gave on the side were rather pitiful. Beef Carpaccio ($24) 6/10 As much as I love shallot and peanut, I do feel like the ratio is a bit too much for the amount of beef. We couldn't even see the beef due to how much toppings they piled on. Also beef was not as juicy and tender as I expected. Bone Marrow ($22) 6.5/10 Bone marrow itself was okay, but it's the sauce on top that made it quite unique. Seems like some sort of hoisin sauce with roasted semi sweet taste that work well with the bone marrow and crispy crostini.

We are only in Vancouver for a few days and when I heard about Lunch Lady I was so disappointed that I hadn't known before we came here so I could make a reservation. For those like us who don't plan ahead all the time never fear - they do take walk ins! As we wandered Commercial Dr on a Saturday at 7pm we noticed the walk ins welcome sign and figured lets ask - and at that moment a deuce was leaving the bar area and she said perfect timing! We ordered the family meal for 2 so we could get the most options and the food and service did not disappoint. The octopus was phenomenal - highly recommend- tender and flavorful. Garlic noodles with added Dungeness crab was a hit as well and the rib eye that followed was also unreal in how perfectly it was cooked. The biggest surprise was dessert. I am not a fan of sticky rice - it usually feels thick and gloppy to me and also way too sweet. Well... I am now a sticky rice convert! Crispy and chewy on the outside, soft and tender on the inside served with the most incredible coconut gelato - not too sweet and completely addictive. Cocktails were great as well. It was a wonderful meal and if we were local I would be back regularly to work my way through the entire menu. Make a reservation if you can and don't be afraid to just show up - perhaps you will be as lucky as we were.

100%. Get the tasting menu and come hungry. Pro tip: dip a chip in the yummy sauce and then pile on some beef carpaccio. Yep. You're welcome.

Stellar experience! We got the family style menu for four and it was so worth it! I've never had Vietnamese food with so many flavors and textures, and every dish excited me more than the previous. The meat was perfectly cooked, the herbs were super fresh, and the fried items came straight out of the fryer. It was heaven!

Food was good, got the beef carpaccio with taro chips to start which was very filling. Also got the garlic chili noodles and steak. Service could be better but wasn't terrible.

Had a lovely meal at the lunch lady! Managed to make a reservation for 10:45am and the restaurant was already packed on a Saturday morning! Got seated right away and service was quick and attentive. Food was solid. We shared the beef carpaccio, pho and pork spring rolls. Everything tasted great - flavors on point. I also got the egg coffee and it was really tasty!

This is maybe my 5th or 6th time coming to Lunch Lady! Though I haven't written a review before, my recent visit has me wanting to talk about a new(?) dish that I've had twice now. I came on a whim with some friends for a late Sunday evening dinner. The service was fast and friendly, and everyone was so knowledgeable. As I was only getting a small snack, I already knew I wanted the octopus skewers. I had it last month, and I really enjoyed it. The octopus skewers were perfectly cooked; not too rubbery or chewy, with the right amount of softness to the meat. The spicy green sauce gave an excellent kick (I shed 1 tear), and the rau ram (Vietnamese coriander) was a nice herby finish. Can't wait to keep coming back for more!

I travelled 7 hours one way to explore and eat at the Lunch Lady. My cousin brought me here to eat lunch and behind blown away from the service and flavors. I really liked the idea of being able to sit outside but still be warm on a brisk spring afternoon. Can't wait to come back :)

We were in the area and made a last ditch effort to get a table at Lunch Lady - lucky day. Right away the ambiance seems somewhat elevated yet comfortable all at the same time. In the center boasts a bar where you see bartenders dishing out cocktails all night. Definitely one of the highlights of our experience However, the food was the main star of the show. One of the managers was nice enough to offer us recommendations - even outside of the tasting menu. All in a great elevated Vietnamese experience at reasonable prices. Not pretentious, just good food. (To give some reference, a typical bowl of pho at your average Vancouver pho shop goes for about $16-18, Lunch Lady had theirs at $20 before add-ons.)

I've been looking forward to visiting Lunch Lady for a while, so I'm very happy that I got to give it a shot. My friend and I ordered their 2-person tasting menu. We added crab to the garlic noodles because it looked delicious, and we chose the pandan sticky rice cake for dessert. The taro chips and dip were a nice start, though nothing to write home about. The octopus was tender, and I wish I could have had more than three bites. The beef carpaccio was very well done, soft and flavourful. After these three dishes, we had to wait a substantial amount of time before the rest of our meal, which was disappointing but at least it helped us feel full. The steak luc lac was alright. The cassava on the side was very good, but some parts of our steak was not as tender as we hoped. The flavour on the steak was good, and the sauce paired nicely. When the garlic noodles came, we were glad we ordered the crab. It added some much-needed dimension to the noodles. I think I would have liked the noodles even more if they had some kind of vegetable or something in there, to give the dish some variety. That being said, it was very flavourful, and the crab was perfectly cooked. For $14, I'm not sure it was the best use of our money but I sure enjoyed it. We ended the night with the pandan dessert, which was our favourite. The cake was the perfect combination of crispy and chewy, and the coconut ice cream was perfect with it. Of all the things we ate, this was what we considered ordering a second round of. Overall, the night was good; we ate good food, the servers were all very kind, and the ambiance was lively. The tasting menu seems to be the best value, because you could not catch me spending nearly $40 on that steak luc lac. I also wouldn't recommend adding the crab; maybe just try something else..? Before tip, our bill was $130, which we think is a little too steep for what we got. If I ever stop being a student, maybe I'll come back here to try their fried rice and eat that pandan cake again.

We've heard SO many good things about this place and we are so thankful we finally got to try it out. We visited on a week day evening with some friends and it was quite busy. The restaurant was bustling with energy and it felt cozy. The staff was attentive and explained each food item to us when it arrived. We ordered the family style set menu and it was SUCH a wonderful experience!! The Family Style Ǎn chói menu is $50 per person. We had so many favourites. It was all just super delicious. But if we had to pick then some of our favourites of the night were the beef carpaccio, chargrilled octopus skewers, bone marrow (SO GOOD!!), Dungeness crab fried rice and the fried bananas on the Ube basque cheesecake. We didn't have any complaints really but perhaps the Ube flavour for the Ube cheesecake could've been more pronounced and strong. We loved the unique and tasty flavours in all the dishes!! We will definitely return. Very soon. Yum.

I've had tons of Bo Ne in my life and this has got to be one of the worst ones I've ever had. It comes with fries and gravy? The steak was absolutely mooing when it came out. I had asked for it to be cooked a little longer but they said they'd have to throw it away and remake it. I didn't want to waste food, so I had kept it. The flavors weren't that good. The place is very gentrified. 1 hour wait for not authentic Vietnamese food is not worth it in my opinion. Not worth the hype. They did take it off the bill for me since I had stated it was raw, which was kind of them. The server was nice and accommodating. Its just the food was definitely lacking.

This was my second time coming to Lunch Lady with my partner and it was just as good as the first time. We got everything to share--Beef Pho, House Special Fried Rice, and Grilled Octopus Skewers. The Beef Pho is really good and comes with a good amount of beef slices. The rice noodles are the wider kind. The broth itself was good but for the price, it's not better than other cheaper Vietnamese restaurants around. The House Special Fried Rice is why I wanted to come and it didn't disappoint! I love the crackled rice inside that adds that little extra crispy texture for an otherwise texturally bland dish. The rice was perfectly seasoned and fried. The Grilled Octopus Skewers were a surprising delight! The octopi were perfectly tender for my soft mouth--a departure from the usual tough ones I've had in the past. The seasoning on the octopi was amazing and the green chili sauce accompanying it was so fresh. Ambience is loud and dark. The floor felt kind of slippery.. be careful and watch your step! Service was amazing--no complaints.

My sister wanted to come here while we were in Vancouver for both of our early birthday celebration, so we made reservations to do an early dinner around 4:30pm the night before. Reservations don't seem hard to come by, but they do book up fast. Be sure you can make it, as they require a card on file and will charge if you are a no-show. For lunch and dinner, they have slightly different menus. What they seem to be known for here is their An Choi style menu -- which is a set family style menu showcasing select dishes on their regular menu. They only have options for 2 or 4 parties at $50 each person, which in turn equal out to 6 or 10 sharing dishes, respectively. Depending how much you eat or how much you want to sample, you could choose which one works best based off the priorities of your group. There is an option to add on other dishes on their menu if the set menu doesn't offer it. Since I was with my mom and sister, we decided to do the 2 person menu which came with the taro chips, bo luc lac, garlic noodles, octopus skewers, beef carpaccio, and the pandan sticky rice cake and added on the dungeness crab fried rice. We also tried the vietnamese egg coffee. We loved everything here, and service was great. Out of the 2 person menu, my favorites were the bo luc lac, garlic noodles, and the pandan sticky rice cake for dessert. Because we mentioned it was our birthdays, they gave us a complimentary ube cheesecake as well (thank you!). For the amount of time to do the family style menu and the reservation, it felt right where we didn't feel too rushed or slowed down. They limit each party to a 1 hr and 45 minute experience, and tell you the time right before getting seated when you have to be done by. All in all, I would love to come back and try more dishes!

Stopped by mid week for lunch. We came early and happy to get a table as it filled up pretty quick. They have daily specials but I opted for the pho bo...classic beef pho...how can one go wrong with beef broth that has been cooking for 24 hrs. The taste was excellent as expected...and surprisingly a little sweet. There was no issue with the service. I can see why this place is so popular. It was a positive food experience and happy to recommend Lunch Lady.

Busy place - make a reservation and prepare to line up. We had one for opening time so we were seated promptly and food came out quick even though the restaurant was as already packed. Staff is nice but fast (no chit chat) - inside can get a little loud. I had the carpaccio which is beautiful to look at and such a nice mix os flavors and textures. Grilled octopus was perfectly done and the crispy tofu filling. Great place for lunch or dinner. Lots more on the menu to try so will be back.

From the moment my friends and I walked into Lunch Lady, we were greeted by the friendliest and most knowledgeable waiter. Since it was our first time dining there, she took the time to explain every dish we inquired about and even recommended some unique appetizers that we ended up loving. Now, let's talk about the food--where Lunch Lady truly shines. We were blown away by the wagyu pho and the steak luk lac. The wagyu pho is served with a generous bone marrow, which is delightful on its own, and the wagyu slices come separately so you can cook them in the flavorful broth yourself. Every element, from the rich broth and tender noodles to the high-quality meat, was simply perfect. The broth had a clean, well-seasoned taste that complemented the meat beautifully. The steak luk lac was just as impressive. It comes with rice and is topped with an incredible sauce that enhances the perfectly seasoned steak, which is cooked to perfection and melts in your mouth with a burst of sweet and savory flavors. The accompanying salad adds a refreshing crunch that rounds out the dish perfectly. If you're in Vancouver or planning to visit, Lunch Lady is a must-try spot. It's one we'll definitely recommend to friends and family. As New Yorkers, if we say the food is amazing, you can trust it's truly exceptional. We can't wait to return!

This is a late post but this place definitely deserves mentioning. When we were in Vancouver we were able to get a reservation at this place. We decided to get the tasting menu which gave us a taste of everything. They were all very delicious. The atmosphere of the place was casual. Service was excellent.

I've been wanting to try this place for a long time as I've heard great things and it did not disappoint. As a group of 6 we shared the family style for 4, added 2 grilled octopus skewers, a beef pho and garlic fried noodles and we all left very full and even had to get a small take out container. The food came out quickly and the service was very good. I should mention that there was a mandatory 20% tip for us being a "large group". Overall I would definitely come back and highly recommend this place.

I was so happy we were able to get into this restaurant. We had read reviews about this place before we visited Vancouver. We shad the Tasting Menu with multiple courses. Everything was delicious. Don't miss this restaurant if you have the chance.

Nice little place that is charming and quaint. They also have outdoor seating. The service was excellent and the food was delicious. It's a Vietnamese/ fusion of excellent food. Reservations are recommended.

My friend and I made reservation online, so it was great that we could be seated right away once arrived at the restaurant. It was our first time here. We ordered two dishes. The presentation and flavours of the food were great. Only the portion was a bit small. We usually eat more for dinner, but we felt full because of the oily or fired food. The drink was in a smaller size as well. Service was average. Servers were polite. Once we seated, a server told us right away that we could only have 1.5 hrs for the meal. We totally understood the restaurant was busy and they wouldn't want customers to sit for a long time, so they could have more turnarounds and do more businesses. We felt rushed to finish the meal as servers kept an eye on our or other tables that they would take away empty dishes right away, so they could clear the table and give a bill to customers asap. The restaurant was full of customers and noise. That was understandable that people talked and chatted in a fun atmosphere. However, we were probably unlucky that we sat right next to four customers who talked and laughed extremely loudly and made weird noise. My friend and I could hardly chat because it was extremely noisy. The washroom was close to my table. I went to the washroom with the door closed but I I could still hear those four customers made loud noise and talked loudly. I would recommend this restaurant to others as it is Michelin recommended. Hopefully, if I go here again, I will have a better dining experience.

I had a lovely brunch Sunday morning here with my friend. We got in when they opened at 10:30 so there was no wait for us to get a table. In fact, it was rather calm until around noon or so when there was a party of 2 waiting for a table. We shared their crispy spring rolls. My friend ordered the crispy soft shell crab and I had the Sunday special Mì Bò Kho (slow braised beef short plate, shank and tendon with carrots and egg noodle in a spiced beef broth. The spring rolls were light and crispy. The broth with my noodles was rich. It had a very good amount of fat so it is super comforting going down. Even though it had a rich red color and full of flavours, it was not spicy hot which is how I prefer my soup and dishes. I find heat over shadows and overcomes other flavours. The meat pieces were tender but they still retained the texture of their respective cuts so you can appreciate what you are eating. I wish I had tried my friend's crispy soft shell crab because it looked so good. This would be a very good reason for me to come back.

dined here last night. Party of four. I was in a wheelchair and had a great table with excellent service! i don eat meat but sablefish was a special accompanied with plenty of other food. Anthony Bourdain raved about this place for a reason.

This was my first time visiting Lunch Lady, and I had a wonderful experience! The place was very busy for a Tuesday lunch, but we were able to get a table within 25 minutes. If you try to go at a more popular time, I highly recommend reserving ahead of time. I got to try the chicken pho (the Tuesday special), the grilled chicken and rice, and the pork and prawn salad rolls. The chicken pho was amazing! The broth was soooo flavourful, moreso than your traditional beef pho at an average pho restaurant. They also gave me so many pieces of chicken with the skin on. The portion was very filling, enough for me entirely and then some. 9/10! The pork and prawn salad rolls were also good, but they tasted pretty similar to your average salad roll. The rolls also came with extra lettuce, which made eating logistically harder. 8/10 For the chicken and the rice, the start of the show was really the sauce on the side: a fish sauce base with hints of heat and sweetness. Once poured on the bowl, it was very scrumptious. However, despite the flavour from the sauce, a few bites of the chicken from the center were pretty bland. Overall, this item was probably a 7/10. Overall, the ambience of the restaurant was really nice. I really enjoyed all the modern decor, the photos of Vietnam on the walls, and the greenery. However, one minor complaint would be the size of the tables. Although I'm sure most tables are fine, the table I was at was more of a bar table, which made eating feel a bit cramped, especially with all the plates and bowl. Overall, a great experience, and I look forward to enjoying lunch again some time!

Be prepared to wait if you either arrive without a reservation (some hours are walk-in only, no reservations allowed) Well worth the wait ~ their 24 hour beef broth is incredible. The breaded prawn fritters were a complete guilty pleasure of crunchiness and flavor How have I not been here already? Until the next time... (find me on IG @aida.loves )

Finally got to try the Lunch Lady on commercial after seeing rave reviews of this place online and this was an absolute feast! To start of with, getting reservation here is a bit of work, would highly recommend booking well in advance. What I loved was the table presentation, the steel tables and chairs were a great nod to the impact of street food culture in Vietnam. My girlfriend and I opted in for the $50 per person sharing menu for 2, this was the perfect choice as it gave us the ability to taste a bit of all the specialities and not have to curate our own menu. To start of with the Taro chips were good, but the star of the show was the Beef Carpaccio, absolutely flavourful and had such unique flavours. The Octopus Skewers were my favourite, cooked to perfection and the Serrano pepper sauce accompanying it had the perfect spice kick. To the mains, the garlic fried noodles were super delicious with crispy noodles accompanying some great garlic flavours. The ribeye with peppercorn sauce sounds generic but had such unique Vietnamese flavours come through and the cassava brought a great crunch element to the dish. The dessert was a perfect finish, the condensed milk ice cream was to die for. Overall, this was an absolutely fantastic restaurant and deserves the hype, the service also deserves a mention, our server was courteous, attentive and gave some excellent recommendations.

Came here for lunch as we were visiting Vancouver. This resto was on the Michelin guide. Ambiance is beautiful and cozy. I got the vegan pho, the broth was so yummy and flavourful. The tofu was delicious. This has got to be my favourite pho place ever! The Vietnamese iced coffee was strong enough and so good! Hands down the best lunch we've had during our trip so far!

As my OC friend DEEEEEEEEEEEEE Licious says - sofa king guuuuuud!!! Get here yesterday! Dayum ... it all went down at Lunch Lady. I've never been to Vietnam but I've heard it's awesome, when you're not being robbed by the police ... a story as told to me for another day. LL has been making waves in Vancouver - the must try spot on popular Commercial Drive. Even the famous Anthony Bourdain raved about LL on one of his shows way back. It's a casual affair here, so don't show up dressesd to the nines. Prawn & Pork Salad Roll appetizer = get it! Viet Ice Coffee = get it! Ban Canh Cua (Saturday special) = get it! Steak Luc Lac = dayuuuuummm get 2 of these!!! Che Ba Cua - dessert - so good I could slap yo mama! Our waitress made excellent recommendations. Yelpies don't delay getting here or it's your loss. If you're still in doubt - Lunch Lady made it into the MICHELIN Guide ... if that's your thang.

I can remember the day I watched the episode where Bourdain went to meet the original Lunch Lady in Vietnam. I started dreaming of one day going to meet her myself but that day has not come yet. So I did the next best thing and visited her namesake restaurant in Vancouver. I know it doesn't really compare since this Lunch Lady is a modern, more upscale take on the original and to be quite honest, I would prefer to be sitting street side with the lady herself. Originals are always best. Nonetheless we found ourselves sitting in a rather hot & humid dining room perusing a menu she helped create. I'm no expert in Vietnamese cuisine so I won't go into the details of each dish (you can look at the pictures to get the idea) but let's just say the flavors were robust, the texture kaleidoscope was present, and the ingredients tasted straight from the farms. I appreciated that the creativity was there but not to the degree that made the dishes taste like fusion experiments. They just tasted like the originals with a few tweaks to take into consideration the local ingredients and seasons. The searing and ambience could be made more comfortable but perhaps they were aiming to capture some of the street experience. All I can say is that we had a good time and those dreams of meeting the OG Lunch Lady feel like they are one step closer.

"Lunch Lady" in downtown Vancouver offers a delightful dining experience that's both satisfying and nostalgic. Nestled in the heart of the city, this eatery brings a modern twist to classic comfort food. The ambiance is casual and welcoming, perfect for a quick bite or a leisurely meal with friends. Steak was amazing as usual!