A couple of weeks ago, I was walking along Commercial Drive when I spotted a line up. Curious, I got closer to see what this gathering was all about. ‘Lunch Lady’. The sign at the entrance did not exactly give much away, which peaked my interest even more. Next to it, I noticed a colorful mural that reminded me of a scenery from a past trip. My trip to Vietnam.
The Atmosphere
I didn’t have it in me to wait that day, so I decided to come back the following week. I showed up on a Friday at around 11.30am and, to my surprise, a line-up had already formed.
After a 30-minute wait, I was invited to sit inside. The place was spacious and the décor was somehow reminiscent of a Southeast Asian street food market. There was also a bar area in a corner with a few seats for solo eaters.
The Food
Lunch Lady has a rather extensive menu. On top of their regular dishes, they have daily specials and they serve brunch from Fridays through Sundays. Although I love brunching, I really wanted to stick to Vietnamese staples to gauge the full potential of this establishment.
Bún bò huế – Spicy Beef Noodles ($19)
On Fridays, Lunch Lady features Bún bò huế. The broth was light and flavorful. It was a little spicy but I could still taste the lemongrass. The quantity of meat and vermicelli noodles was also generous and well-balanced. The bowl had some sliced beef, pork hock and Vietnamese ham. The meats were substantial and very tasty!
Cơm gà – Grilled Chicken & Rice ($18)
We also ordered Cơm gà. We were served two generous pieces of char-grilled boneless chicken thighs with some rice, a fried egg and a delicious sweet and sour sauce. The meat was perfectly cooked and juicy. The scallion oil seasoning was subtle and it brought out the best flavors of the meat. This was a great dish to share, it would have been a little challenging to finish it by myself.
The Drinks
Purple Wayne ($17)
I noticed that the bar counter at the entrance was pretty stocked up so I tried my luck with the Purple Wayne. Visually, this was a very well-made drink. Tastewise, this beautiful cocktail did not disappoint either. This refreshing drink was made of Elderflower liquor, house infused Butterfly Pea Jasmine Gin, lemon, lemongrass syrup and egg whites. It was as delicious as it looked. I would definitely order it again!
Overall
Lunch Lady is an unpretentious Vietnamese eatery that checked all the marks. The food was authentic and delicious, and my cocktail was very well done.
Given the quality of the food and the hearty portions, prices are rather reasonable. The line-up can get pretty long, but if you go there early enough or on a weekday, the wait shouldn’t be unbearable.
The service was pretty standard— nor good or bad. I think our waitress was still in training, so I will overlook the little mistakes. All in all, Lunch Lady is a solid option for Vietnamese food in Vancouver.
Lunch Lady
Opening hours: open from 11am to 3pm for lunch from Tuesday to Sunday. Hours for dinners vary. Find out more here
Website: click here
Address: 1046 Commercial Dr, Vancouver, BC V5L 3W9
Telephone: (604) 559-5938
Note that prices and information featured in this article are subject to change.
