Wooden Fish in West Vancouver

1403 Marine Dr, West Vancouver, BC V7T 1B8, Canada

★★★★☆
(616 reviews)
Categories: Vietnamese restaurant

About

Wooden Fish is a Vietnamese restaurant that offers authentic Vietnamese cuisine from various regions of Vietnam. We use the freshest local ingredients combined with Western cooking methods and traditional spices to bring a new perspective to Vietnamese cuisine. Our goal is to provide an enjoyable dining experience that not only satisfies your taste buds but also allows you to immerse yourself in Vietnamese culture.

Website
thewoodenfish.ca
Address
1403 Marine Dr, West Vancouver, BC V7T 1B8, Canada
Plus Code
8RHW+65 West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Time Zone
America/Vancouver

Business Hours

Monday
11 AM–3 PM
Tuesday
Closed
Wednesday
Closed
Thursday
11 AM–9 PM
Friday
11 AM–9 PM
Saturday
11 AM–9 PM
Sunday
11 AM–9 PM

Services

Service options
Delivery Takeaway Dine-in
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible car park Wheelchair-accessible entrance Wheelchair-accessible seating Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Offerings
Alcohol Cocktails Coffee Healthy options Small plates Spirits Wine
Dining options
Lunch Dinner Catering Dessert Seating
Amenities
Toilets
Atmosphere
Casual Cosy
Crowd
Groups
Planning
Accepts reservations
Payments
Credit cards Debit cards NFC mobile payments Credit cards
Children
Good for kids High chairs
Parking
Free of charge street parking

Photos

Reviews

4.3
★★★★☆
616 reviews

Most Mentioned

beef noodle soup (22) chicken wings (16) bun cha (16) skewers (14) shaking beef (10) pickled (9) beef carpaccio (7) lobster (6) patio (6) crispy spring rolls (5)
5 stars
414
4 stars
89
3 stars
46
2 stars
19
1 stars
48
★★★★
December 18, 2024

Came in on a chilly winter night looking for the cozy vibes of pho. Unfortunately, we were seated by the door after a 15 minute wait and the cold air blowing in every time someone entered or exited was pretty uncomfortable. The inside is pretty small. This is a northern style pho place. The rice noodles were wide and flat and there were no bean sprouts, basil or lime wedges. There were 4 condiment jars they gave us for the pho, and the pickled garlic slices was the group favourite. I like that they have two different portion sizes. The broth was delicious, served steaming hot. Chicken wings were crispy on the outside and well-seasoned. Servers were quick and efficient. Overall a pleasant experience, especially if you get to sit away from the door. Limited street parking available.

★★★★★
December 3, 2024

It’s my best favorite Vietnamese restaurant in Vancouver! Servers were so friendly and care of us a lot that made us feeling comfortable. I was just only person can’t eat cilantro in my group, and they served us it on the side kindly. It was grateful for me to enjoy everything! We really loved their foods, Beef carpaccio, Braised short rib stew, Beef noodle soup and Green papaya salad and so on. Especially beef of stew was quite tender and highly recommended! I’ll definitely come back again.

★★★★★
November 30, 2024

This is the best Vietnamese food in Vancouver. Everything we tried was so pretty and flavorful—you can tell how much care Chef Lin put into each dish. We started with the crispy spring rolls and chicken wings, which were perfectly done—the wings were the perfect balance of saucy and crispy (absolutely addicting). The papaya salad was so refreshing and tied all the flavors together. But the beef carpaccio? That was next level. My mouth is literally watering just thinking about it. Order the beef carpaccio—trust, you won’t regret it. For mains, we had the shaking beef, braised short rib stew, and Hanoi beef noodle soup. Each one was rich and comforting, and the beef in every dish was so tender it practically fell apart. Chef Lin’s cooking is amazing, and I can’t wait to come back for more. If you’re looking for Vietnamese food that feels elevated but still comforting, this place is the spot.

★★★★★
November 25, 2024

Wooden Fish is my go-to Vietnamese restaurant whenever I’m in West Vancouver. I never change my order because the Mixed Skewer Meal is perfect for me—it has everything I like. The meal includes three skewers (pork, beef, and chicken), a spring roll, salad, and a choice of rice or rice noodles. The portion size is just right, and it’s a great value. I’ve been here so many times, and the experience is consistently good. Today, I was served by Andy, who was friendly and provided excellent service. The restaurant always has a great vibe with nice music, lighting, and interior design which adds to the vibe of the dining experience. Just a tip: if you’re visiting on a cold day, try to avoid sitting in front of the entrance door. I did today, and the cold wind from the door opening was a bit annoying as it gets warm and cold. Otherwise, I usually sit outdoors with the heater or indoors along the side, which are both more comfortable. The place tends to get busy, and there’s sometimes a line, but it’s worth the wait. I’ll definitely keep coming back!

★★★★★
October 22, 2024

More than just a pho, Wooden fish offers a true dining experience. Four special spicy sauces make it the perfect spot for enjoying a steaming bowl of pho. The pho is consistently delicious, with a broth that’s clean and rich but not too heavy.

★★★★★
October 20, 2024

I love it when I finally try a place we have driven past so many time and it is excellent. Fabulous food and great service. Will be back. Felt we were well looked after and the food so good. It gets busy but hey. It’s good!

★★★★
October 9, 2024

I enjoyed the vegetable spring rolls and beef pho at Wooden Fish. The food was great, and the staff and atmosphere were just as impressive. It’s a more upscale spot than most Vietnamese restaurants in the area, which was a nice touch.

★★★★★
June 17, 2024

Wonderful service. The staff is so welcoming and kind. They also seem to genuinely like working there and with each other, which makes the atmosphere that much more enjoyable. The food comes out hot - and i mean hot! - and delicious. We ordered their chicken wings (spicy but its available without spice). They were crunchy as hell and delicious. My husband is a huge wings guy and this has to be one of his top wing places. For dinner we ordered the duck confit with garlic rice. Again one of the best ducks we’ve had. The garlic rice also was game changing. Packed with flavor and brought the dish together. I ordered their braised beef stew and i kid you not, the meat falls off that bone! So delicious. I really liked that the stew had a fairly strong cinnamon and star anise flavor to it. Would definitely back!

★★★★★
December 23, 2024

What a fantastic restaurant showcasing amazing Vietnamese food.. we ve been here maybe 5 times now and it s always been consistently fresh and delicious.. wether it s a sunny hot summer day, or a cold rainy day like today when we went there it always hits the spot.. and we always order way too much but that makes for a great dinner when we take food home the fresh lime soda is a must have and the condiment they offer in the little metal tins are amazing.. highly recommended..

December 16, 2024

Please stay away if you have allergies. There is a pho listed as gluten free on the menu which is not. Would have made me very sick. Restaurant needs to show more respect and take responsibility. Posting to help others who suffer from allergies.

★★
December 16, 2024

Good food, awful staff. The service is pretty much the worst service I have ever received in a restaurant!

★★
Local Guide
December 9, 2024

Some dishes are great. The place is freezing cold, wear a coat if you re eating there. I was also left waiting for 10 minutes on the phone just to place an order for pick up and could have been longer but I hung up. Crazy.

December 2, 2024

I went to go pick up a pho for my daughter but the customer service is terrible! There was a man who served me, he was so rude and when I asked him to help me warm up the beef as I didn t want my daughter eating cold raw beef because it was a takeout the man asked me if I knew how to eat the pho?! All I asked was for him to boil it for a second and he didn t have to be so rude about it. He also said that they were too busy and that I should have let him know better. So rude. I have been here with my daughter before and never have i ever been so disrespected.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 2, 2024

Ordered 2 Pho soup online. Amazingly well done and for sure best in North Shore!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 2, 2024

Best Vietnamese restaurant on the north shore. Highly recommend.

★★★★
Local Guide
November 23, 2024

Got take out from here. Nicely packaged . Good food too. I really enjoyed whatever I got Kinda shocked by the tip prompt with a take out order starting at 20% ?! Ita gone too far. People need to understand tipping has a very dark origin and past. Just end this tradition.

November 23, 2024

I regularly take out and have visited Wooden Fish many times, always enjoying the food and atmosphere. However, my recent visit left me disappointed due to an unexpectedly poor interaction with one of the waitstaff. The waitress did not serve my plate properly, avoided eye contact, and handed me the payment machine before walking off without a word. This dismissive treatment felt out of place compared to my usual experiences here. I hope this is an isolated incident, as I ve always appreciated Wooden Fish, and look forward to more welcoming visits in the future.

Local Guide
November 23, 2024

Vietnam noodle are worst in the world. No sriracha sauce, no bean sprouts with pho. Noodle also very low quality noodle. Taste very bed. Taste like pet food.

★★★★★
November 23, 2024

We had countless meals at Wooden Fish before our café opened, and I m so glad we have such a great lunch spot for our staff nearby. They have the best bún ch and beef pho I ve had in Vancouver nothing can beat them! And, unexpectedly, they also have a pretty impressive cocktail menu, especially for a pho place

★★★★★
November 23, 2024

The best Pho in town!

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 23, 2024

A great lil spot for some pho or satay.

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 23, 2024

This place is a gem. The ling cod salad rolls are divine and Im praying they put these on the regular menu because currently a seasonal offering. Everything weve tried has been delicious (yuzu cocktail also something Im hoping they transition to the year-round menu) always exceptional service really friendly staff. Weve also gotten skewers and garlic rice as takeout for the beach...L-I-V-I-N baby!

★★★★★
October 23, 2024

Thank you for caring about the elderly. Wooden Spoon took special care and accommodated my elderly friend today in a caring way. We really appreciated this. Not enough businesses go out of their way for community and elder care. Go Wooden Fish!!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 23, 2024

Absolutely best pho in the whole lower mainland, friendly staff and great atmosphere.

October 23, 2024

Vegetarian options: Rolls Food

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 23, 2024

Friendly service reasonably priced good menu variety clean restrooms/restrooms great people watching @14 th/Marine Ambleside worthwhile for a return visit Food

★★★★★
September 23, 2024

Family dinner with 7 folks. Super attentive and friendly service even though it was clear they were busy. We had a bunch of different dishes; nice fried spring rolls, green papaya salad that could have been shared by two,a chicken curry (a big dish), lobster pho (nice treat). Portions are on the large size so nobody went home hungry.

★★
September 23, 2024

Very over priced Pho

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 23, 2024

Love this restaurant

★★★★
Local Guide
September 23, 2024

The menu price just went up. The food quality and portion has not change. It is worth trying. Service is friendly. Pictures are foie gras and 3 skewers meal.

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 23, 2024

Bun cha.

★★★
Local Guide
August 23, 2024

Hands down best pho in Vancouver. Broth is very light yet still flavorful. The lemongrasa chili and garlic chili goes well with the meat. Edit: the quality has dropped recently

★★★★★
August 23, 2024

The best beef noodle pho I have ever tried in Vancouver! Also they have air conditioning in the restaurant and you can enjoy your meal and cool down in these hot days in Vancouver. The service is always great, fast and attentive. Absolutely recommend this nice place for a lunch

★★
Local Guide
August 23, 2024

This spot has a great location and a cute setting, but if youre looking for authentic Vietnamese food, there are better options in Vancouver. The menu leans heavily towards meat dishes and has limited vegetarian or fish options, which isnt typical for Vietnamese cuisine. I really wanted to love this place, but Ill keep crossing the bridge for favorites like DD Mau, Anh and Chi, and Do Chay.

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 23, 2024

Love the servers! Foods were excellent, we tried 5 different dishes and happy with all.

★★★★
Local Guide
July 23, 2024

Came by this place after a long walk along the seawall. I was impressed by the menu which has a good choice of items. I had the beef pho and its very good. The deep fried soft shall crab was a bit oily but tasted good. They also provided three choices of chilli sauce and its tasty but very spicy hot.

★★
July 23, 2024

I used to love this place. But today the beef pho was so disappointed. There weren t enough green onion as usual and the broth was so bland. Couldn t believe that its $20 pho.

★★★★
Local Guide
July 23, 2024

Very clean and comfortable. The food was okay. I expected more Vietnamese taste, but it was milder. The service was pretty good.

★★★★
July 23, 2024

We didnt planned to have our dinner at Woodenfish in West Vancouver. After awhile walking along the Marine drive, we spotted this Vietnamese restaurant. It was full, crowded and a little noisy inside the restaurant so we decided to take a seat on their patio. The Hanoi beef noodle was tasty and i recommend it. The spring roll not bad but a little bit pricey. The grilled chicken bowl and Bun cha were good tho the meat serving is a little small. Were not that hungry , so requested to take it out, but when we reached our hotel, we notice not all we requested been packed.

★★
Local Guide
July 23, 2024

This is NOT Vietnamese Pho! - No bean sprouts - No basils - No lemon/lime - No jalapeno/fresh chili - Bun Bo Hue has: * no pig knuckles or pig knuckle fillet * no meatballs or sliced meatballs of any kind * no blood curds * no herb taste * almost no chili oil. Normal BBH soup is completely red!! * its not one bit spicy. They did not forget chili oil. There was only one or two drops of chili oil! * IT ONLY HAS HOT POT/SHABU SHABU-LIKE BEEF SLICES AND NOODLES!! NOTHING ELSE!! - Wife complained of the greasy broth with her Pho Bo. They did not care to skim the grease out of the broth before serving. - They do not mince words. $13 Mini size is really mini, exactly the size of a rice bowl. No exaggeration! - $19 for a Regular. Thats expensive. But considering this is West Vancouver, I accepted it. - $15 for 8 pieces of tiny Cahn Ga Chien or chicken Wings. MacDonalds in Canada has no McWings but if you have seen or tried it, its that size. TINY! - debit/credit card terminal minimum tips is 18%. - table was wobbly and we requested to change table! Turned out most table legs are on a folded cardboard paper to prevent them from wobbling! Charging this much for food and you are too cheap to replace your dysfunctional tables! That is pathetic! - we gave it 2-star only because the broth for both the Bun Bo Hue and Pho Bo were pretty good. Thats all the good thing we can say about this place! - I guess the affluents dont care for authenticity as long as it tastes good. Hokey dokey! .

★★★★
Local Guide
July 23, 2024

It s not really authentic Vietnamese food! But i would say it more northern viet food. I liked it, but it just tasted different. Only 4 star because they don t veggie come with pho and bun bo hue. Overall, it s 8.5/10 Recommend it Food

★★★★★
June 23, 2024

I grew up in northern Vietnam and this is one of very few places in the city that nails their Pho and tastes like how it is back home. Authentic northern Pho doesnt have any bean sprouts or meatballs or hoisin sauce, and the soup isnt sweet compared to Southern. Also, their salad rolls are so fresh and delicious. Their beef Pho and salad rolls are my go-to here, not sure about other stuff on the menu.

★★★★★
June 23, 2024

Food

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 23, 2024

My husband and I had a little bit of time to eat before our ferry. We were in and out within half an hour! They were absolutely wonderful, the food came so quickly and they were able to make our drinks to go. Everything tasted amazing, and they had super friendly staff. Absolutely would visit again.

★★★★
Local Guide
June 23, 2024

So so

★★★★
Local Guide
June 23, 2024

Average restaurant in rich neighborhoods ($$$ for a common dish)

★★★★★
June 23, 2024

delicious food

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 23, 2024

Very clean and community restaurant. Recommend by our friends. Good taste French style Vietnam food, professional service, need to book the space early and make deposit to reserve the space. We are satisfied with the foods we ordered. Delicious. Will recommend to my clients and friends who live here .

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 23, 2024

Amazing vietnamese food. 2nd meal of my trip in vancouver and i was blown away. Top 5 vietnamese spots in north america ive been too. Great service. Decent portions and unique spins on traditional classics. W/loaded side condiments and drinks if you are in the mood for that.

★★★★★
May 23, 2024

Always great food and service when we eat at this restaurant !

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 23, 2024

Great food, great service! The chicken wings and spicy beef lemongrass noodle soup are delicious

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 23, 2024

This was our first time to this location. It seemed pretty consistent with walk ins coming and going the entire time we were there. The wait staff was really attentive and explained some food items to us that we didnt understand. We chose the 3 rolls to start and were happy with the prawn, chicken and pork. We then did family style with the lemongrass chicken, curry chicken and pork dishes. All were delicious! We will definitely be back. As you all know, I like to comment on this one. The one all gender bathroom had the typical stains on doors, cracked paint and general yuckiness that seems to be pervasive in small establishments. My recommendation to the owners is clean that up! It makes you wonder just how clean the kitchen is!

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 23, 2024

Delicious and innovative food with beautiful presentation. The ambience is unassuming. The price is comparable to other Vietnamese restaurants, but the quality and sophistication of the food makes it a good deal.

★★★
Local Guide
May 23, 2024

Love this place, food is always excellent. Staff is always friendly. Unfortunately the floor is not level and tables are often wobbly

★★★
Local Guide
May 23, 2024

Good food but a bit too upscale and pricy, not your typical pho place. The beef pho only has cooked brisket by default and doesnt come with bean sprouts, which is apparently the case for Northern pho so I give them props for staying authentic, and great choice of garlic and hot sauce on the side. Grilled chicken skewers was crisp and juicy.

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 23, 2024

Actually a very good Vietnamese restaurant in west Vancouver. The place is small and without any fancy decorations.. but the food is excellent, fantastic flavour and good serving sizes. The menu is not extensive but large enough to have plenty of choices. The dessert choices is not great but besides that is really good. Prices are adequate into the affordable category.. amazing for today s pricing in other restaurants. You can go with your family and not end mortgaging your home. Service is great and they are always available for what you might need. Parking is not available so better park couple of blocks away and walk.. as Marine Drive is busy all the time. We will go back for sure!

★★★★★
May 23, 2024

Went for Mother s Day without a reservation and were seated quickly and given a complimentary mimosa! Really lovely lunch and caring servers. Will go again!

★★★★★
May 23, 2024

Honestly a talented and high quality group of people working at this restaurant. My meal was gorgeous. The meat was perfectly cooked and the soup and sauces were very tasty and beautifully flavored. Will be back. :)

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 23, 2024

A gem of a Vietnamese restaurant. The food is really amazing. More elaborate and refined than other places. A bit more expensive too but worth it.

April 23, 2024

Poor customer service

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 23, 2024

The most delicious carpaccio and sauce for it. Delicious soup and perfect service from wonderful staff Food

★★★★★
April 23, 2024

My wife and I just had our first dining experience here and we are already looking forward to our next visit back. The menu is eclectic with Vietnamese staples (pho, lemongrass chicken, fish sauce chicken wings, etc.) and unique takes, and all are executed perfectly. What really sets this place apart are the house made condiments that come to each table: chilli sauce, garlic chili oil, lemongrass chili oil, and sweet pickled garlic. The right amount to taste turns an already great meal into an amazing one.

★★★★★
April 23, 2024

Probably the most authentic Ph you can find around Vancouver, or at lease the original Northern Style of Ph .

★★★★
Local Guide
March 23, 2024

Staff were fast and friendly but didnt go above and beyond to connect with us and ask us how our food was. Also, they accidentally gave me brown rice instead of vermicelli but were quick to fix it! The salad roll was kind of pricey for only having one piece but fulfilled my craving. Herbs and the perfect noodle to vegetable ratio make a big difference! I also liked how the lettuce wasnt tucked in as it added to the presentation. As for the spring rolls, once you get past the unique presentation, they taste pretty traditional, just lacking a bit of salt in my opinion. My main, the mushroom curry vermicelli was full of flavour, freshness, texture, and had the perfect amount of creaminess and acidity. Definitely never had anything like it other than from here. Will be back again!! I do wish they offered a basic tea like other Asian restaurants, free of charge and not by the bag.

March 23, 2024

Beef Pho Bo so salty. Not recommend

★★★
March 23, 2024

Tasty and fresh as always, but i can never get over the mound of cilantro WITH the stems on they put in the salad rolls.... so much stem always makes me feel like theres something in the wrap that isnt supposed to be there.. Wish there was a vegetarian protein option salad roll (tofu) Got delivery for two people of 1 Crispy Vegetarian Spring Roll - Cha Gio Chay, 2 Veggie Roll - Bo Bia Chay , 1 Saigon Fresh Roll - Goi Cuon Sai Gon and 1 order of Skewers Total $ felt a bit steep for what it was..

★★★★★
March 23, 2024

I get delivery from here regularly. Always delicious.

★★★★
March 23, 2024

The servers were very nice and helpful. I got the bun bo hue, saigon salad rolls, chicken wings, and the chicken bowl. I definetly reccomend the chicken wings, they were so crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Good service and good food.

★★★★★
Local Guide
March 23, 2024

I highly recommend this place. Excellent food and service!

★★★★★
March 23, 2024

I cannot express how grateful I am for having found this wonderful restaurant. I walked past after a day at Ambleside beach and was pleasantly surprised to see Bun Cha on the menu, something I have not had since visiting Hanoi many years back. The meal transported me back to that city and I am so thankful to have found Wooden Fish! Other restaurants have tried and it has not been as delicious. I thought I would have to go back to Hanoi in order to eat it again. Will be back very soon!

★★★★
Local Guide
March 23, 2024

Great service , Tasty fresh food

★★★★★
February 23, 2024

Fabulous lunch Great service Food

★★★★★
Local Guide
February 23, 2024

Pleasantly surprised to find this wonderful Vietnamese restaurant in West Vancouver. All the food are not just tasty but also well presented. Bravo

★★★★★
Local Guide
February 23, 2024

I have been wanting to go here for a while. It just looked so cute and cozy. I went with a friend who loves food as much as I do. This lovely little place did not disappoint! The food was perfection - the lemongrass pork meatballs were amazing, the spring roll one of the best Ive ever had! The servers were all sweet and attentive, without being on top of us. I would eat there every day if I could. Just delightful!

Local Guide
January 23, 2024

Beef Marrow served cold, frozen in the middle, they just took it back to reheat and re-served. Amateur service, took my plates the second I finished, I even had my spoon in it. Whereas the food took very long time to get on the table, glass noodle tastes bad, not even like the good ones you can get from supermarket. Not sure if that s because it was cooked for too long. Very much below the average taste of Vietnam Restaurants in Vancouver. Wouldn t recommend to anybody.

★★★★★
Local Guide
January 23, 2024

The Phoe was phenomenal. We loved the friendliness of the staff.

★★★★★
January 23, 2024

We Love everything about this gem

Local Guide
January 23, 2024

The food is great . However every time we go there the service is just awful and disappointing. Today , we had to leave before getting order in. It s -13 and the place inside is so cold , that everybody is wearing their parkas , hats , and two people gloves indoor while their sip their warm lemon water . Very unwelcoming environment. The head waitress is oblivious at the fact that she is rude to consumers. The food is super tasty but unfortunately the staff have made every experience mediocre at best.

★★★★
Local Guide
January 23, 2024

It tastes pretty good, but the Vietnamese noodle soup feels too salty~

★★★★★
Local Guide
January 23, 2024

Love it! Food was delicious and portions were big with fair prices. Service was excellent, they were very attentive. We will go back :) Ps: They have egg coffee too (we felt like back in Hanoi).

★★★★★
Local Guide
January 23, 2024

Pleasantly delighted by refined Vietnamese. Accommodated our group with children for lunch. Pictured is the crispy skinned super tender duck confit, with garlic fried rice, and watercress salad. The rice was very flavourful and the dressing in the salad was bright and fresh. Their grilled pork skewers were also super delish - large pieces of fatty streaked pork bursting with sweet savoury sauce and crispy shallots on top. The kids devoured the chicken skewers before I could sample! We also had the beef noodle soups including the spicy beef lemongrass and crispy spring rolls. Everything was on point and service was friendly, fast, and attentive.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Such a beautiful and cozy restaurant

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Amazing food. Totally different from your typical Vietnamese restaurant. The flavours are incredible, everything we ordered was delicious. They also have great side sauces to go with your food.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Delicious fresh Vietnamese fare. Friendly staff in a welcoming environment. The salad, soup, and fried rolls we tried were delicious. My salad in particular was amazingly flavorful and fresh. The only knock was that our drinks took ages, we didnt get them until we were almost done eating! Would definitely come back to eat here but might skip the specialty drinks next time.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

We have ordered pho and bun bo hue. The taste is very interesting. Both had a bit more modern taste to considered age-old traditional Vietnamese dish. But at the same time itts not drastically different from the tradition to be something else. Overall, both had incredibly intense, rich broth that were a standout and memorable. Broth had more weights to them than the traditional broth would have. And the most amazing highlights? Its their sauce. Food is served with 3 of house made spicy sauce and 1 pickled garlic on the side. Again, not the rooster sauce. But something far better and unique. My only regret was that I wasnt hungry enough for their larger bun bo hue. Truly unique place with unique taste and very friendly staffs. We will be returning for sure. Someone below has mentioned about the price to portion size. While I agree somewhat, I think personally, the uniqueness of the food and the quality justifies the cost. You cant get the same taste in other Vietnamese place. While we are used to the tradition of cheap eats Vietnamese, this is far from traditio al yet still traditional enough to be comforting. Bravo.

December 23, 2023

It is not authentic Vietnamese pho, wait for a while to have the noodle ready, not worth the high rating at least for pho noodles.

★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

The taste of this restaurant is good. Expected the Grilled Octopus. But the portion of foods they gave is too little for its price.

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

I love how flavorful the broth is with all the fresh herbs. Overall the best North style Pho in town.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Definitely better than your regular pho place. Had the beef pho; broth is flavourful and the noodles themselves are cooked just right not too soft from overcooking like many other places, and not too hard that you have to chew harder than usual. The beef brisket were generous as well there were 3-4 decently sized slices for the regular sized bowl. Very tender. The chicken wings are just the right balance between the crispy/crunchy outside and the juicy inside. I ordered the spicy version, which leaves you with a slight (pleasant) sting on your tongue after you re done. Definitely gave the chicken more character. 4.5/5. Would love to visit more often, but starter is slightly on the pricier side.

December 23, 2023

not authentic at all. dont believe their advertisement. expensive for an extremely small portion

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

A bit pricey for Vietnamese food but you are in West Vancouver. Nonetheless there was nothing to complain about. You won t find some of these dishes at your regular Vietnamese restaurant. Pro: Tasty dishes-not just your typical fare Friendly servers Free parking in the area Con: Can get busy during lunch, call ahead Pricing

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

We ve been going here for about a year now. It s our go to place for Vietnamese food in West Vancouver. My favourite items there are the Hot Sauces you can buy for takeout. And the small Pho is perfectly sized for me. But I really like their salad rolls.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Delicious food all around. The rice dishes, the pho and especially the beef carpaccio.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

My all time favourite Vietnamese restaurant!! I have been a regular since 2 years ago and it always tastes amazing. Honestly, everything on the menu is a great choice so I highly recommend to go and try! My absolute favourite is their pho and bun bo hue (dont forget to pair your dish with Viet coffee, its a must!) They also have such kind service and I always feel more than welcomed :)

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Most delicious chicken noodle soup in West Vancouver

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

We ordered the beef pho and lemongrass chicken. Both were made to perfection. The 3 chili sauces and the pickled garlic just make everything better. By far the best Vietnamese meal Ive ever had. I would definitely go out of my way to eat here again

★★★
December 23, 2023

The food at Wooden Fish is nothing short of delicious, and the staff are genuinely welcoming and attentive. However, we encountered a hiccup when it came to splitting the check. For parties of six or more, the restaurant will not split the bill, instead providing a single paper bill for the entire group to sort out themselves. We no longer carry cash so this is a hassle not only in calculating the amount owed but in reimbursing each member in the party. We can walk across the street to Swad s restaurant and they happily split your bill no matter the size of your group. After some negotiation, the staff did ultimately allow us to split the bill, but it would be helpful for future diners if this policy were reconsidered.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

great food great service

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Best Vietnamese food I ever try in Vancouver

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Good meal in West Van. The green papaya salad was delicious as was the sablefish and cuttlefish.

Local Guide
December 23, 2023

No veggie vermicelli bowl

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Very fast and pleasant service! Delicious, affordable and large portion sizes. First visit, but Ill be sure to come back next time Im in the area. Recommended dishes

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Great tasting fresh ingredients

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Amazing food and service, definitely recommend! Great location too!

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Waitress was friendly and very helpful. Food was great.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Wooden Fish is not the every day pho restaurant as it takes a step up beyond just simply serving you a warm bowl of noodles. Flavours are that of an authentic Vietnamese restaurant and aim to pack a punch with every dish. Along with the quality of dishes and comfier ambiance, the bill does come out at a more premium price point compared to other typical Vietnamese pho restaurants. This restaurant is located steps away from Ambleside beach, so if you don t feel like dining in, you can always take it to go and have yourself a picnic. I called in the evening before to make a reservation for the next day and considering it was a Friday for a long weekend, I was able to secure a reservation thanks in due part to the friendly staff.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Food never disappoints here. The only place I can find bun cha, which is the best! Its messy to eat but worth it. Its always been one of our favourites after traveling to Vietnam. The shaking beef was a new favourite of ours. Its definitely worth trying. There were stauteed onions and crispy onions too, which added texture. So, if you love onions, you will like this dish. We also got the fresh roll trio(we chose the Saigon fresh, grilled chicken, and nem nuong). We enjoyed the prawn and chicken one best. We also ordered the orange juice, which we saw reviews about being good, but it wasnt anything special. I guess it depends on the sweetness of the oranges and the batch they buy. All in all, this is one of my favourite Vietnamese restaurants. Its delightfully delicious!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

We tried alot of dishes here and I have no complaints. The food was fresh, and delicious. We loved the Lobster Dry Pho, the skewers and salad rolls. Fantastic drink menu, friendly service, great restaurant with the perfect patio.

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

One of the best Vietnamese spots I ve ever found, don t miss out on this one!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Had the sable fish, great food and ample sized, will not disappoint

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

nice food good staff cant wait to try there other location when iam back from the yukon

December 23, 2023

Food was terrible, Sauces that where given to the table was being recycled into plastic serving containers at the end of the night. Not take out containers but cooking containers. Completely disgusting Would never go there after seeing that.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Great soup and aptly named fresh rolls. Not the most potent Lemongrass Ive ever had but otherwise top quality food in realistic portions. Fresh Lime soda was a fantastically refreshing treat!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Good food, great service. My soup was a bit salty. I wasn t intend to say anything but when the waiter asked, I told him. He offered to change a new bowl for me. Refused said it was Ok. At the end when we get the bill, they gave us a dessert. Very warm gesture for a rain cold day.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Their foods are always tasty and hearty. We tried their summer special lobster roll and lobster pho this time. The pho was actually dry like lo-mein. It was interesting and pretty good but we will stick to the usual beef pho next time. My only gripe here is their furniture. The tables and chairs feel somehow uneven. Food

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Its really flavourful and tasty!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Service here is prompt and polite, food is delicious. This little spot is a great choice in the West Van area for Vietnamese food. I m very happy that they have kids sizes as I find it hard to finish an entire regular bowl on my own.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Decent bowl of pho, i have had a better pho ga though. This place has a northern style twist to their menu. Beef Carpaccio is good. Like how they offer you extra items to your pho. Like extra noodle if you like. It gets busy here though.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

The food and the ambiance is amazing. I really loved the experience.

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Amazing food , sauces were fantastic. Would highly recommend it.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

High quality fresh food. I love Papaya salad and chili sauces here. Friendly staff. Negative: Spicy beef soup base had more of tripe flavor instead of beef.

December 23, 2023

I visited there on July 15th 2023 between 12-2 pm. Food was good but the service was the least satisfactory that once can ever experience in every aspect. There were 2-3 small groups of people in the restaurant including my table and all 5 servers were busy chit chatting and goofing around; I had to make multiple requests over 5 times for every single, simple thing and it was not served at the end so I had to ask once again. I once asked for a sauce and a server brought me an used bowl for soup. She noticed that it was used and brought it back. She came back with the bowl (she was wiping it off beside the cashier, which I did not care much) without realizing that it was not even a thing that I asked for in the first place (even for this I asked more than 5 times as well when the restaurant was basically empty, with a couple seats occupied on the patio side). Everyone can make mistakes but they seemed to enjoy making mistakes as if they were on some volunteer experience. I would not even expect any prompt service with smile but only right actions at right time.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Dined there on a Sat night. We sat outside as the weather was perfect. The food was delicious and the service was also excellent. Highly recommend.

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Nice tables outside for summer dining. Food is tasty,and fast if you want to puck up and take home. Food

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Friendly staff, reasonable prices and wonderful pho!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Classy and tasty Vietnamese food. The service was great too and waiters and waitresses were very friendly. My personal favourite was their coconut pudding. It had a rich taste and smooth, creamy texture.

★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Not my first choice for PHO. But service was great. Super friendly. A bit pricey for what you get but it s west van.

★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Based on all the positive reviews, we decided to give Wooden Fish a try. Service was a little slow as the place was very busy even though it was only 5:00. We ordered Saigon salad roll and green papaya salad to start. Both were fresh and tasty. I had Hanoi beef brisket pho as my main and my wife had bun cha. Again, both were quite good. I should have requested spicy. Overall I think that maybe our expectations were too high. But I will not be inclined to revisit soon.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

We had this place on our list for a while, and finally had a chance to order some dishes from this place for take out. We ordered Crispy Spring Rolls, Beef Carpaccio, Five Spice Duck Confit, and Braised Short Rib Stew. The braised rib stew was flavourful, with soft tender meat. It wasn t too oily either, which is an issue with some other restaurants. Crispy spring rolls were standard. Beef Carpaccio was tasty, though I wish it had some chilli. My favourite was the Duck Confit with garlic fried rice. The duck was tender and seasoned well. The garlic fried rice was so good and garlicky!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Excited to try this restaurant as I had heard great things. Went later in the evening so not overly busy and able to get a table right away. Staff looked annoyed that we came in at 8:45pm. Also had to ask multiple times for a menu. Pho came as listed in the menu, they dont provide herbs or Sauces to add to the pho. Honestly, I wouldnt mess with the flavors that they provide. Spring rolls were also delicious. Would recommend for the food but service could use improvement.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Tried their lemongrass chicken vermicelli bowl, which was delicious and sumptuous for one person. I loved the sauces, pickles and condiments that were served with the food.A bit pricey for the quantity,but I think it is mostly because of their amazing location. Will visit again.

★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Try out this Vietnamese restaurant in West Vancouver just west of Park Royal mall on marine drive, easy to find but overall disappointed, the place is not very clean as we have allergies after we sat down. Maybe too much dust or pets hair on the booth. The basic Vietnamese beef soup noodles bowl is marginal only, few pieces of beef and soup base is weak no basil or bean sprouts, the only good thing is the chilli sauce they provided, otherwise tasteless. Same for spicy version which has hardly any noodles in the bowl nor any meat for my regular size bowl. we have the BBQ pork skewers which are way too fatty and very greasy. We also have the blackcod bowl which the fish is ok but is still an overly oily dish. Overall disappointed, Not recommended.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Tasty! The staff was super friendly, the food was delicious especially the green papaya salad. The curry was flavorful too but a little scarce with the protein.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

One of the best Vietnamese restaurants in town. Highly recommend.

★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Shaking beef was good and tasty! The pho was not the best. It is quite bland. Maybe they do it differently but i missed the mint leaves and bean sprouts like how phos should be served. Too focused on serving the people sitting inside and kinda forgot the people on the patio.

December 23, 2023

I don t like the way they serve.

Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Racist and disrespectful restaurant, really disappointed as returning customers, will never come again. We were sitting outside and noticed some bees were flying around the table, then we asked to be seated inside, the waiter was hesitant and only offered us a very small table next to the kitchen, so we decided to sit outside and bear the bees.But when the food came out it attracted a lot more bees and flies such that they could contaminate the food and my girlfriend was very scared. We requested to change to a specific table inside after the previous customers left and the waiter declined us, saying once the order is placed, tables cannot be switched ; the attitude was very condescending. I really wonder what the logic was behind this! He eventually offered the table to a group of white people. This restaurant really expected customers to have their food while being surrounded by a bunch of insects, not only is it not hygienic, but also dangerous since bees and wasps are flying around! I wonder what will they do if we get stung by the bees/wasps. Please avoid this restaurant unless you want to be served by the most condescending and arrogant servers and be surrounded by bees when seated outside!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

We had several lunches and dinners here this summer. Usually we prefer the patio if available but they have only 4 tables outside so reservation is recommended if going at busy hours. Our favourite items on the menu are crispy spring rolls, green papaya salad (very fresh, delicious) and fresh rolls. These starters are big enough to share for 2-3 people. For main course we tried spicy beef noodle soup, Hanoi beef noodle soup and mixed skewer meal. Portions are good size so we ended up taking leftovers to home at our first time. I tried Vietnam sparkle which was a lovely cocktail. I wish they had a larger space as you feel a little pressure when you see people waiting in line however staff is very courteous and friendly and do not rush you at all. Although prices are little at higher side for a casual dinning, it does not bother when everything tastes good and fresh and when service is quick and friendly.

Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Found a hair in the spring roll, server unapologetic, pretty sure they just pulled it out and served the same spring roll back. Most restaurants will comp the meal, sadly not. Didnt bother eating the spring roll.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Definitely delicious!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

The service is very good and the food is also very good, especially the fried chicken wings and fried spring rolls are very delicious.

Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Poor service and tables were not clean. Green onions and grease were all over our wiped down table, and the menus were wet and filthy. We ordered and waited 30 minutes, and didnt get our food. We asked multiple times and they assured us the food was coming, but nothing came. We asked them to cancel our order and left. Ive had ok experiences here before, but they have really gone downhill recently. I would not recommend this place, and will not be coming back.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Good pho

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Pho and Bun were good and arrived quickly. Very well trained staff, best restaurant service Ive had in years. Kid-friendliness: Its rare to see a place so kid-friendly. Clean high-chair, kids plate, bowl, and utensils. They have everything.

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

best viet restaurant

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

It s a great restaurant with a great service :)

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

good food , good place, great service

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Very kind staff and delicious food! Not salty at all! Vegetarian options: Curry Food : 5/5 |

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Great location!

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

I had the spring rolls and the bun bo Hue recently. The rolls were refreshing, the lettuce is crisp and light, Then the bun bo was filling, the broth is aromatic and savoury. The server was pleasant, definitely come back for more.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Food was flavourful & delicious Staff Service orkers could be friendlier and smile often. Service was somewhat slow and staff didnt check back as often even though they had lots of staff working after lunch hour. Parking: Free parking spaces around the restaurant were mostly occupied.

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Absolutely loved the food! The Saigon fresh roll was amazing.

December 23, 2023

Worst customer service ever. I ordered the chicken curry on rice take out for my kid and I even called ahead to confirm it s not spicy. The employee confirmed it s not spicy AT ALL and it s coconut based. We got home and I gave it to my 2yo and he immediately got upset and cried. I tried it and it was SPICY OILED even for me. I called them and the manager, without any effort to solve the situation, kept insinuating that I put spice in myself and there is nothing they can do. RIDICULOUS.

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

They have the best braised short rib stew, and friendly staff. Highly recommend

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

The food here is so good and friendly staff

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Customer service is exceptional, I was taken care of really well. Food was excellent! 100% will come back!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Had dinner there on Saturday night. Food was delicious and the service was great. Cant wait to go back for the papaya salad and some skewers.

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Amazing food and amazing people. Some of best meals weve had in Vancouver and very accommodating and understanding of food intolerances. Will definitely be back!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Street parking. We went around 8 pm so not busy and easy find parking.

★★★
December 23, 2023

Pho broth is too salty, table and plates were served dirty. Other than that, everything else is mediocre. Could be improved for quality in the future

★★★
December 23, 2023

Not feeling comfortable when the server looking at the pay machine when I tap my card to pay. Server should be trained properly again.

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Food and service are the best.

December 23, 2023

The staff is terrible especially the male server was rule. And washroom is dirty with water overflowing from the toilet bowl. It is complete disgusting! They do not practice high hygiene standard. Food is also bad quality & overpriced. A lot of MSG added into soup & it made me sick (side effects of headache & nausea). We are Vietnamese & it is not authentic local foods.

December 23, 2023

Male server had bad attitude with customer. Plates are dirty. Pho broth has too much salt and MSG that made me sick. Everything made a bad dining experience. Not recommended!!

December 23, 2023

Service is rush and rude, food is not authentic either. Not recommended

★★
December 23, 2023

Pho broth was not consistent with flavour each time I come. Plus, I don t like the way they serve.

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Amazing food and friendly atmosphere. They did a great job making a restaurant feel much more homely. Creative bartender crafted specific cocktails for the menu. Im excited to see what they do next.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Not you regular viet-joint, they really step it here and with lighting fast service the tables open up fast here even when its full. Watch out for the floor, its stunningly out of level, but dont let that stop you.

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Yummy food! And staff was very friendly. I can rarely find home made spring rolls like those. They only had one vegetarian dish but was worth it, very good. Fast service as well. Prices aren t too cheap but it s more or less the same everywhere now in Vancouver. Recommend!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Beautiful place with good food and great service

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Great food! Best spicy sauce

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Such a lovely little restaurant, soup and vermicelli were amazing! Staff were so kind and attentive.

December 23, 2023

My parents used to love this place, but I ve went last time and it was the worst food I ve had in my entire life, it was so bad that I threw up after eating it, food was over cooked and extremely bland with no taste at all. Don t go here

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

The green papaya salad is so refreshing and yummy

December 23, 2023

Terrible service. The kitchen and servers are rude and have no appreciation for customer service.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Hanoi beef noodle soup is delicious. Way more flavourful than the average pho.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Can t wait till the next time we eat here! The spring rolls were delicious, so well put together that nothing fell out in hand, awesome presentation and such good service! We had two bowls of pho of different types and I d recommend the Wooden Fish to lovers of spicy food with balanced and delicate flavors somehow still coming through!

December 23, 2023

Terrible service! The male server here just screams out at their guest, even if its online and we ordered it just for pickup, were still your guest. Work on your hospitality.