Fei Fung Kitchen Ottawa: A Family Tradition of Authentic Vietnamese Food That Spans Decades

From One of Ottawa’s First Pho Restaurants to Today: The Story Behind Fei Fung Kitchen’s Long-Running Success

📍Fei Fung Vietnamese Kitchen

827 Somerset Street, West Ottawa (Chinatown)

Menu Highlights: Authentic Pho Soups, Spicy Satay Soup, Vermicelli Noodle bowls, Vegetarian Options

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Ottawa has no shortage of Vietnamese Pho restaurants. In fact, if you walk down Ottawa's Chinatown, you'll see more Vietnamese restaurants than any other; many with practically the exact same name.

But if you're ever travelled to Vietnam and experienced authentic Vietnamese food, what you're craving might be hard to find on the menu at many of these Ottawa Pho spots.

Luckily, one of Ottawa's original Pho restaurant owners have come out of retirement to bring some variety and life to Ottawa's vibrant Vietnamese food scene. The same familiar and comforting taste, just now under a different name.

Here's where you'll find the most hard to find and authentic Vietnamese dishes like Banh Beo, Banh Cuon, Bun Cha Hanoi, and the Viet dish that Anthony Bourdain made famous - Banh Xeo.

Fei Fung Kitchen in Ottawa is like the restaurant version of a greatest hits album—same beloved dishes, just in a smaller, cozier venue. If you’re hunting for authentic Vietnamese food in Ottawa, this spot needs to be on your radar.

Back in 1987, Le and Quoc Trang opened "Mee Fung Vietnamese Restaurant," bringing their family’s traditional Pho recipes to Ottawa. They didn’t speak much English at the time, but their Pho said it all. One taste, and people were lining up down the block. This was the start of something special in the Pho Ottawa scene.

The tiny 5-6 table restaurant became such a hit that the Trang family soon moved to a much larger location on Booth Street. From there, New Mee Fung became a cornerstone of Vietnamese food in Ottawa. For over 35 years, it was the go-to spot for anyone craving an authentic bowl of Pho—the kind that warms your soul and makes you feel like you’ve been wrapped in a cozy blanket of broth and noodles.

But like everything, things change. By 2020, the constant lockdowns turned everything upside down, but Mee Fung didn’t slow down. The Trang family kept things running with a booming takeout business. But by 2022, with Le and Quoc nearing 70, they thought it was time to retire. For a brief moment, the Ottawa noodle scene mourned—what would life be like without Mee Fung?

Spoiler alert: retirement didn’t last long. One year later, Le and Quoc were back in action with Fei Fung Kitchen Ottawa, a smaller but equally flavorful operation nestled in the heart of Chinatown. It’s like they hit the reset button—going from small, to big, and now back to small again. And honestly? It feels right. The cozy vibe of Fei Fung Kitchen matches the personal touch they’ve always brought to their food.

And let’s talk about that food. The Pho here is still the stuff of legends—rich, authentic, and packed with all the flavors that made their original restaurant a household name for Pho in Ottawa.

You might wait a minute or two longer at Fei Fung Kitchen, but that's because pretty much everything is made fresh upon order. Like their Banh Cuon - delicate steamed rice rolls filled with seasoned pork or shrimp, is a true labor of love. Made to order and one of the few places in Ottawa where you can enjoy it this fresh. Trust me, it's worth the wait. The thin layer of rice flour that wraps the meat and veggies is steamed fresh upon ordering whereas at many restaurants, they are prepared then frozen and reheated to speed things up. Pro tip: cover this in their sweet Vietnamese fish sauce to really bring out the flavour.

Finally for dessert, Banh Beo Ngot La Dua, tender steamed Pandan rice cakes topped with mung beans, and topped with coconut milk, offers a perfect balance of textures and flavors, another home-style recipe rarely found in the city but absolutely worth seeking out at Fei Fung Kitchen.

You'll also find some familiar favourites at Fei Fung like their Spicy Satay Soup, Vermicelli Bowls with grilled meat, Vietnamese Rice dishes and even a few Vegetarian Vietnamese dishes with Fried tofu and vegetarian Spring rolls.

Now, Fei Fung Kitchen is a small operation with just a few staff, but the food hasn’t skipped a beat. It’s still the same quality that kept people coming back for decades at Mee Fung. Whether you’re a long-time fan or a first-timer, this spot will remind you why Vietnamese food in Ottawa is some of the best around.

So, if you’re searching for some of the best Pho in Ottawa, or just looking to experience an incredible immigrant success story, head to Fei Fung Kitchen Ottawa. It may be small, but it’s got a big heart—and the Pho is still as good as ever.