Submitted by Gastrofork
Special to the Post

Mr. Red Cafe featured Northern Vietnamese cuisine.

To start off, we ordered the Goi Cuon Tôm, salad rolls with vermicelli noodles, fresh prawns, and lettuce leaves. I enjoyed the two rolls that are served with a crunchy peanut sauce. The rice wrapper had a nice snap to them and was not overcooked. The vermicelli also had a nice snap to them. The ingredients tasted very fresh.

We had the Bún Cha Hà Noi – grilled pork belly and pork meatballs in sweet and sour fish sauce served with vermicelli noodles and fresh herbs. The thinly sliced cuts of pork belly were a welcome change from how pork belly is normally served (in big hocks), but I really enjoyed the pork meatball in the dish. The sauce which is sweet and sour fish sauce is quite mild but gives just enough of a tangy yet sweet flavor.

The Bún Bò Lá Lot – grilled beef wrapped in “La Lot” leaves with vermicelli noodles, fresh herbs, crushed peanuts and fried shallots was served with some greens, sprouts, cucumber and a light fish sauce. The grilled beef is very hearty and not too salty. The la lot (betel) leaves they’re wrapped in give it a nice crispy interlude. The leaves don’t have too strong a flavor. I used their concoction of vinegar, garlic and Thai hot peppers that was at the table to give the dish a bit more of a kick and a sour taste that I love.

Overall, I really enjoyed my meal, the presentation of each dish is beautiful. It doesn’t feel rushed as many other Vietnamese places do. I’d love to come back and try more dishes (like their dumplings).

Mr. Red Café

2131 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC

Food: ****1/2

Service: *****

Value: *****

Ambiance: *****

OVERALL: *****

Gastrofork is a Vancouver based food and travel blog. Gastrofork has been featured in Eat In Eat Out Magazine, is one of the top blogs on Urbanspoon and named Top 100 Blogs to Follow in 2013.

Read more at  gastrofork.ca