On Vancouver’s Victoria Drive, between the hum of bustling cars and the sway of tree-lined sidewalks, there lies a Vietnamese restaurant that feels like both memory and exciting discovery. Chau Cafe is the next chapter in a family story threaded through heritage cooking, reinvention, and rootedness.

From Veggie Express to Full Circle

Longtime locals remember CHAU Veggie Express, the plant-based Vietnamese staple on this block. As of 2025, the space has transformed – but the soul remains. Now, Chau Cafe emerges not as a replacement but as an evolution. The new concept retains the majority of its vegan foundations while expanding into organic eggs, grass-fed butter, and sustainably sourced meats.

Owner and chef Maria Huynh brings this change with intention. The name “Chau” bears generational weight: it was the name of her mother, who started her culinary journey working at a soup-stall on the streets of Saigon. The family’s journey is in every spoon.

Even as flavours shift, favorites remain. The Golden Temple Soup, Saigon Bowl, Taro Chips, Pandan Latte all continue with tender care.

Comforting Space, Ambience & Warmth

Entering Chau Cafe, you feel something like welcome. Light filters through windows. Selective wood tones and soft accents evoke calm, not grandness. It’s a place built for lingering, conversation, and quietly tasting life.

The design signals humility and respect. Nothing here competes. Plates arrive bearing color and texture; broth steams in muted bowls. The staff move with gentle purpose, greeting, refilling water, asking if takeout containers are needed.

A Menu That Honors Vietnamese Roots & Possibility

Chau Cafe’s menu balances tradition and reinvention. The signature Golden Temple Soup carries turmeric, coconut, tofu, yam, kale, herbs, and a choice of rice, quinoa, or noodles.

Bowls like the Saigon Bowl and Tropical Rainstorm Bowl layer textures: crisp, soft, pickled, raw, roasted. Fresh rolls, crispy rolls, seasonal specials, they rotate with harvests and moods. 

For those seeking something new, non-vegan options have joined the fold: organic eggs, responsibly raised meats, local dairy in measured moments. Vegan and plant-forward options are preserved; they do not disappear.

Drinks are part of the narrative. Vietnamese Coffee, Pandan Latte, the fan-favourite Coconut Shake, they’re not afterthoughts but companions to the meal. Condensed milk is house-made; ingredients are sourced with care.

Menu items remain mindful of gluten-free needs. Chau Cafe is known to accommodate gluten-free preferences, with clear labelling and thoughtful preparation.

The Local Story You Taste

Chau Cafe’s transformation is not a pivot so much as a homecoming. The Huynh family’s history stretches across the globe, from the streets of Saigon all the way to Vancouver’s Victoria Drive. The name, the recipes, the care, they’ve always been part of this story.

This is a restaurant that understands roots: root vegetables, root broth, root stories. It’s a place where you can taste both community and continuity.

So, let yourself order something familiar. Or, let yourself try something new. Sip slowly. Let the broth register in your chest. And finally, let Chau’s story anchor your own in the city’s woven life.