Anh and Chi: Michelin Bib Gourmand Vietnamese restaurant in Mount Pleasant

Anh and Chi is a popular Vietnamese restaurant situated on Main Street and close to the Mount Pleasant area. They have won several awards and is on the Michelin Bib Gourmand list from 2022-2023 🤩.

There are a lot of Vietnamese restaurants across the Lower Mainland and even on my street, I can already think of over 4 different Vietnamese spots within an 8 minute walk 😅. Perhaps that is why it has taken me so long to finally check out Anh and Chi – they brand themselves as a more contemporary/modern Vietnamese restaurant over your local pho -insert a number- (ex. pho 99).

We came here for lunch on a weekend and enjoyed some sunshine on their patio – here is our experience.

The vibe

We dined on the patio so I actually can’t say much about how the vibe/interior is inside the restaurant (I only went inside briefly to use the bathroom).

The patio is quite cute and they allow dogs 🐶. It is lined against the street with cars, but there is a small fence that separated you and the road. They have these huge yellow/green umbrellas that offer a lot of shade but also might make your photos have a strong green/yellow tint if you don’t like to edit your photos. The patio also has this fake grass lining the ground, which makes it kind of a fun backyard type of feeling. They also have outdoor heaters too if you are cold.

Food review

Here is everything we ordered for lunch for 2 people. Prices are in CAD and rounded to the nearest dollar for simplicity.

Bánh Khọt – Crispy Prawn Cakes ($26)

This appetizer is dine-in only so you cannot order it if you’re getting takeout.

I always found these prawn cakes to be quite a fancy appetizer because they look very nice and it’s easy/dainty to eat. The prawn cakes from Anh and Chi are made with crispy turmeric cakes filled with prawns, coconut milk and green onions. They are served with some lettuce, Vietnamese herbs and Me’s chilli fish sauce.

These prawn cakes were very yummy and light and refreshing. I like that they use full prawns (I’ve been to places where they only place half a prawn in one cake) and the cake itself is fluffy and has that sweetness from the coconut milk.

Phở Hoàng – Beef Noodle Soup ($24)

Kelvin orders the beef noodle soup because it’s their main pho option. This bowl of noodle has sliced AAA beef striploin, AAA brisket, and meatballs in an 18-hour simmered beef bone broth. Throw in the rice noodles, onions and cilantro, and you have this $24 bowl of pho.

Kelvin says this pho is really good – meat is tender and the broth has a lot of flavour. I also think it’s quite good but I also think $24 for a bowl of pho is pretty pricey so I’m not sure if it justifies the higher price tag. Sometimes a simple classic bowl of pho for $12 also hits the spot.

Bún Thịt Nướng Chả Giò Tôm – Signature Vermicelli Bowl ($26)

This is one of their most popular dishes – the signature vermicelli bowl. You can have your choice of grilled chicken pork or beef, and the rest of the platter is served with a grilled whole prawn, crispy pork spring rolls, pickled carrots and daikon, lettuce, cabbage, rice vermicelli noodles, Vietnamese herbs and Me’s chilli fish sauce.

I’ve eaten a lot of Vietnamese vermicelli bowls and I do think this was better than most of the ones I’ve tried. We chose the grilled chicken and it was juicy and seasoned well. The grilled prawn was also a fancy add-on that I don’t usually see in my vermicelli bowls. The spring rolls were crunchy and delicious too.

Final thoughts

Loewe’s rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

We had a delicious lunch at Anh and Chi and enjoyed their sunny patio with our dog Tofu. Tofu can actually be quite fussy 🙄 and he doesn’t always enjoy dining on the patio because he likes to be free but I think he enjoyed the fake grass and water bowl and he actually sat down and rested.

It was a pricey lunch – we are looking at $70+ for what we ordered but we do think everything is above average compared to your local pho place. From presentation to taste, I think they do offer more premium dishes and live up to their modern/contemporary positioning.

I recommend ordering the signature vermicelli and the prawn cakes! I still think you can get a decent bowl of beef pho for much cheaper.

Service was excellent and we felt well-attended even though we were seated outside and far away.

We will be back to experience dining inside the restaurant and to try their other dishes!

Sincerely, Loewe