3.5/5
*The term bac ky is actually a derogatory term for people from Northern Vietnam (like me). I'm not offended by any means and apparently the owners picked that term to pay tribute to their parents, who came to Canada from a city in Northern Vietnam.. Quite strange.
*The menu was pretty basic for any Vietnamese restaurants with a few options for each categories. I was surprised to see that everything is priced under $10, which is really rare for a restaurant in King Street West.
-Shrimp Fresh Roll - $5
The roll was well-made and refreshing with lettuce, bean sprouts and the carrots were slightly tangy. The fish sauce was disappointing as it was extremely watered down. A bit more fish sauce and few slices of red chilies would do the trick :)
-Bun Rieu (vermicelli noodles, chicken soup broth, fresh tomatoes, dried tofu, crab meat balls made with ground pork, egg, crab paste) - $8.80
it was way much better than the one I had at Banh Mi Bar! It was light and not too oily along with stewed tomatoes that contributed a slightly tart and natural sweetness to the dish. However the soup was a bit salty for my taste and there was too much broth for the amount of noodles and meat in the dish. I also found that since the soup had been modified to be healthier, the broth doesn't have as much depth of flavor as the ones I had in Vietnam. But I supposed this will have to do if you are craving for bun rieu and unwilling to travel outside of Toronto.