By Sherman Chan,
Special to The Post

We had the Bánh BộtLọc Lá Chuối or steamed pork & shrimp tapioca dumplings wrapped in banana leaves. These were on point with buttery soft tapioca and tender pork that had an appealing rebound texture. It was well-seasoned. The accompanying fish sauce dip added saltiness. I loved the Xôi Xéo HàNội or sticky rice with mung bean and fried shallots. I loved the soft glutinous rice topped with crumbled mung bean and aromatic crispy shallots. Adding some of the chili garlic vinegar made the dish sing.

Another appie was the Cánh Gà ChiênMật Ong or spicy fried chicken wings with honey and butter. Despite the wet appearance, the wings were crispy. There were impactful flavours including an initial hit of sweetness then tempered by a muted spiciness. We then had the BunBò Lá Lốt or grilled beef wrapped in betel leaves served with vermicelli, cucumber, sprouts, cilantro and mint. This was our favourite dish of the meal. I liked how the beef was juicy and tender with a rebound while naturally sweet and seasoned with fish sauce.

The Phở Sốt VangHà Nội or Hanoi Beef Stew Noodle Soup tasted subtle yet still meaty and flavourful at the same time.  There was a rich beef quality to the broth while the anise, cloves and cinnamon were totally detectable.  The slices of beef shank were tender while not becoming over soft from the braise. Slippery and chewy, the rice noodles were on point as well. We enjoyed our meal. The food was on point and delicious. The Broadway location has kept the consistency of the original one on Hastings.

Mr Red Cafe 2

2680 W Broadway, Vancouver, BC V6K 2G3

The Good:

• Well-prepared eats

• On point flavours

• Decent service

The Bad:

• We didn't order the Pho because the other dishes are better

Sherman Chan is the #1 ranked food blogger on the Vancouver portal of Urbanspoon.com. Read more of his reviews at www.shermansfoodadventures.com.