Thai Hang Vietnamese Restaurant

Thai Hang Vietnamese Restaurant
2122 East Hastings Street
Vancouver, BC

A couple of weeks ago, Karl (The Friday Lunch) and Sherman (Sherman’s Food Adventures) checked with me for Bao Bei. But, alas, I felt sick that night. Karl and Sherman decided to go ahead anyway but, instead, they ended up going to Hapa Izakaya because Bao Bei was packed full (not unexpected considering it was just open by then). Fortunately, another outing was organized, this time for something Vietnamese, but not pho or banh mi but Bò 7 món or beef 7 ways or seven courses of beef. The restaurant selected for this? Thai Hang in Hastings Street. And, in attendance…

• Anita of La Petite Foodie
• Jessica (and Mark) of Yum-o-Rama
• Karl of The Friday Lunch
• Sherman of Sherman’s Food Adventures

And, of course… Me!

Because we were coming from different ways, it was a bit of a logistic mess. Fortunately, reservations were made and it was a matter of arriving on time. In my case, Anita and I met in Downtown Vancouver where we took transit there. How come people who are driving arrived *after* those of us who took public transit?

After all of us arrived, food started arriving. Hey, they already knew we were going for beef 7 ways! And here is a spread of what we got initially (not everything is in the picture). And, yes, click on it for a larger version.

OK, let’s go quickly with what was served…

The different dipping sauces

Dry rice paper, to be used to prepare rice rolls

Rice noodles

Different herbs, cucumber, pickled daikon and carrot, lettuces and bean sprout

Raw beef to be dipped in the broth

Grilled beef

Some attempts on making the rolls.

Ground beef and ground beef wrapped in leaves

Congee, the last dish

And dessert.

Wait, there aren’t seven dishes, you might say. Well, that is true. According to the menu, it should be:

1. Diced beef tendon
2. Blanched Beef Toro
3. Beef with Herbal Wraps
4. Satay Beef Wraps
5. Beef Tendon
6. Specialty Beef Meatballs
7. Beef Congee

When we made our order, we were told the meatballs were not available so our beef 7 ways ended up being beef 6 ways. But, regardless, I will admit something: Because of the good company that night, I lost track of what was order and what was what or if all dishes came. As for the taste of the dishes, my memory is a little bit faint but do remember some unique characteristics. For example, the congee was thinner than the Chinese version. Reason? I think we (or at least I) were having some fun assembling the rice rolls, guessing the herbs on the plate (mint? saw-tooth?) and, of course, eating them. As a result, there were no “way” we could say we did not like. Back to the different dishes, it is technically possible the meats use were not of the highest quality. Even if it wasn’t, at least, they prepare them well enough, to the point it didn’t make that much of a difference; even the raw one which we used to cook before eating. Then again, you must keep something in mind: its price: 2 for $30.

Since we did not order the usual dishes (i.e., pho), it would be somewhat difficult to compare it to other Vietnamese restaurants. But, based on the bò 7 món, I would be interested in coming back. Alas, I need to find somebody to go along!

Tagged under: Beef • Vancouver • Vietnamese