This inconspicuous Vietnamese restaurant is famous for its huge portions, great prices, and authentic Vietnamese cuisine.  This explains the lineups that often extend onto the sidewalk of St. Denis.   But do not be discouraged -- it is also famous for its really fast and efficient service, so even though you may see lineups outside, it'll just be a matter of minutes before you are seated and eating.  With an extended dining area, an outdoor front patio, and a small exterior terrace at the back, the amount of hungry customers keeps growing as word spreads about this eatery. 

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Located on St. Denis Street, near Beaubien, this restaurant serves up food that bypasses the menu of a typical Pho establishment.  The diversity and amazing freshness of the herbs served are impressive.  On certain meat and fish platters, it is not unusual to have a mound of 6 different herbs. 

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We've had the following dishes, and they're all highly recommended :

• #34 Grilled Lemongrass Chicken   :    lemongrass-marinated chicken pieces are served in a large bowl, on top                                                                 of rice vermicelli, lettuce salad, bean sprouts, and 3 types of fresh herbs ​                                                                 (thai basil, cilantro, and mint)

                                                                      -  comes with 2 delicious Imperial rolls and enough nuoc mam sauce for                                                                            dipping the Imperial rolls and for pouring over your vermicelli 

                                                                      -  the juice of the hot chicken mixes into the salad, and combined with a                                                                           bit of the nuoc mam, it is truly a bowl of goodness 

                                                                      -  you can order Lemongrass Beef as well, or ask for half/half

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• #39  Pork Chop & Fried Egg           :    a delicious and moist pork chop, served on a huge platter with a fried                                                                     egg, salad, rice, and herbs 

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Of course there are the Pho soups.   With 19 different kinds to choose from, you can't lose.  We usually go for the all-dressed one.  The soup is rich and deep with flavor, with just a hint of anise.  There's even a chicken Pho, for those who want a more delicate flavor.   

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For dessert, we definitely recommend ending the meal with a nice Café Sui Da, which is Vietnamese Iced Coffee.  The preparation of this drink is unique, and done by you at the table.  A special blend of coffee is put into an individual French drip filter, and hot water is poured into it.  The hot dripping coffee arrives at the table on top of a cup & saucer, and you are also given a glass with ice cubes in it.  You must now be patient as the strong coffee finishes trickling its goodness into the cup.   What makes this drink unique is that there is sweetened condensed milk at the bottom of the cup.   Once the coffee has finished dripping, remove the filter and stir the coffee so that it is mixed with the sweetened condensed milk, then carefully pour the delicious combination into the glass, on top of the ice.   Give that a stir, and take a sip.   It'll be the best coffee you've ever tasted.

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Look for that dark green awning on St. Denis, and walk on in.  Don't be discouraged if there's a lineup.  Their service and food preparation is so fast that you'll be seated and eating in no time.  The location may be a little out of the way, but we always return, and so will you.   Short of going to Vietnam, it'll be pretty hard to find this type of food anywhere else in Montreal.

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