watercress express

watercress express is a small, modern vietnamese restaurant that opened its doors at the beginning of this year and is anything but your classic pho shop.

delicious twist on your typical banh mi. i'm craving the bao already and i just finished it. those shoestring fries are quite tasty too. yum.

calgarians are praising this 17th ave hotspot, calling it the best vietnamese in the city. diners are quick to point out the fresh ingredients and the amazing flavors of everything from the pho to the braised pork cheek bao. a modern twist on a calgary favorite that definitely has a lot of buzz.

my parents have been raving about watercress express since the first time they tried it. my mom told me the other day that they've been getting food from there regularly. i made a point of swinging by this evening, and i was not disappointed.

the food is incredibly fresh, with bright flavors. i had the pork vermicelli, and it was the most beautifully presented pork vermicelli i've ever seen - admittedly, i almost always get vermicelli to go. the dish traveled home well, which is something you always hope for with take out, but don't always get. i'm impartial to quality chopsticks, as i think they make for a nice touch, so bonus points for that.

most dishes are around the $10 mark, which is incredible value for the amount of food you get, and i can't stress enough how fresh the food is.

great to-go experience. first time in, played it pretty safe and had a lemongrass beef and a tofu wrap. was fantastic, everything made scratch to order. can't wait to really open up on the menu next time. nice new spot

absolutely some of the best sate pho in calgary. highly recommended!

i must say this is the prettiest bowl of satay beef pho that i ever had in calgary. the shallots and bean sprouts were nicely arranged in a fancy artistic bowl. the broth was packed with lemongrass which i loved and have a good spicy kick to it. the only thing i have to say was the broth was not creamy and peanutty like the other viet pho restaurants. so is it the best satay beef pho in calgary?? probably not... but i would still come back and try the rest of the menu.

tried this place on a whim, and compared to the other vietnamese options in the area this one was a clear winner. i really enjoyed their take on sate pho, and it was obvious they put effort into the quality and taste of the food. some people prefer a more peanut-ish sate, i don't. the arrangement of everything was well done, the flavors were complex and amazing to take in. it was also so filling that despite really wanting to, i couldn't justify ordering another bowl for take out. i'll have to go back another time i'm hungry. they have less options on their menu than most pho places, though possibly can do changes for you, but what they do specialize in is 100% worth the effort. i very much believe a restaurant with a more specialized menu makes more quality food.

this place is amazing! so good! the chefs take their time and pride into what they ultimately bring to the table, very unique, delicious food!

this place is amaze balls! the flavours are authentic but transformed and reimagined. it is hands down the best vietnamese takeout, bar none. for what you are getting, it is also the best deal in town. sure the dining area is pedestrian, but you cannot find flavours as good in fancier dine-in places, and the intent is more takeout. great job; keep up the good work.

i've been here several times.  the food is interesting, nothing exactly to rave about.  the banh mi i ordered was cold, needed to be toasted for longer.  environment is blah, not really a place you want to hang out in.

love this place! my bf wanted this rice dish but they didn't have, so we ordered something else but the owner made sure we were satisfied and gave us an another rice dish for free similar to the one my bf wanted but they didn't have on their menu! wings were amazing! presentation is very fancy and nice!

this place has the best and freshest vietnamese around. it is a big step up from places like kodo and thai thai. you can order out or sit down and enjoy a great meal which is nicely presented. it is a block east of 1410 and well worth a visit. prices are really reasonable and the quality is top notch.

delicious. clean. very friendly service. the portions were large and tasted very fresh. $12 for a large vermicelli bowl on 17th ave. pretty reasonable. i'll be back

good place for vietnamese food on 17th ave. great location and situated in one of my favourite areas in calgary. interior was clean, modern, and comfortable with a warm, inviting ambiance. menu selection included various types of salad rolls, spring rolls (pork or vegetarian), sub sandwiches, vermicelli, noodle soups, bubble tea, smoothies, and tea. the uniqueness of their menu is what really caught my eye: different variations of salad rolls and a number of signature dishes. their food presentation was exceptional for a vietnamese restaurant. the quality of food was very good. their spring rolls (pork and vegetarian), chicken wings, and vermicelli bowl had great portions and flavour. i like how they offer vegetarian options; however, i wouldn't order the tofu salad rolls again. next time, i need to come back and try their signature subs (banh mi). definitely worth checking out