Tag Archives: open 24 hours

Pho Extreme Xe Lua

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Click to add a blog post for Pho Extreme Xe Lua Restaurant on ZomatoI was craving for some Pho around 11:30pm, and the only place that was open nearby was this one – open 24/7. I had driven by it everyday from work, and wondered what their Pho was like. I was disappointed to see the poor reviews, but since it was the only one open, I gave it a shot.
Despite being midnight, it was full-house with 2-3 groups waiting by the door. We were lucky that a table had just opened up.

idearabbit-phoextreme idearabbit-phoextreme2 idearabbit-phoextreme3 idearabbit-phoextreme4 idearabbit-phoextreme5 I had been there when it was a sushi restaurant – in fact there were 2 different sushi restaurants previously there in which I had gone to both. With both of them closing down, I thought this location was poor for some reason, even though it was on a prime location on the corner of Broadway and Cambie. I guess I was wrong about Pho Extreme Xe Lua.

Since it was late, I only ordered a small Beef Ball Pho $8 while Sheepie who was not a Pho fan had the Grilled Chicken Sub $4.75 (Zomato’s menu is outdated – so there are price increases). For a small bowl, I thought it was pricey, especially when the best Pho (that I know of in Vancouver) cost $8 for a regular bowl  – and it was one of the biggest bowl I’ve had. Not to mention really tasty.

idearabbit-phoextreme6The bowl came in a cheap plastic bowl, with the noodles all clumped up. I didn’t realize until more than half way through the bowl that I never got any of the toppings!! Argh! I was hungry but also half sleepy, so I guess I wasn’t thinking. Boo – sucks even more that the table next to us had some which they barely had touched. Sheepie explained that his sub would be great if one had walked for miles in the dessert and was all worn out and it was the first food one had in days…lol.

The broth was super salty, and nothing rich about it.

The server’s shoes were almost black with oil and dirt. His pants were dropping a bit. There was a ant fly crawling on our table. The place is overall ok, but feel a bit dirty.

Being open around the clock is a huge plus, but the food isn’t good. Anyways, it’s bad to eat so late, right? Would not return unless I absolutely, really have to.

Taste: carrotcarrot    Price for Value: carrot

Atmosphere:  carrotcarrot   Service:  carrotcarrot
Location: carrotcarrotcarrotcarrot

Calhoun’s Bakery Cafe

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Calhoun's Bakery Cafe on UrbanspoonThis large spacious cafe is open 24-7. You’ll often find young adults with their laptops studying or working away on a project. My coworker loved the place, and my friend recently recommended going for dessert, so I went for a late night snack with Sheepie on a Friday. The place was nearly full, though they don’t take advantage of every space in the place with more tables and chairs. It’s the hipster scene and again, I’m not really into all this hipster trend.

idearabbit-calhouns idearabbit-calhouns2 idearabbit-calhouns5We both had a slice of cake, mine was Cookies and Cream $5+ with Rooibos tea and Sheepie ordered the Chocolate Fudge $5+ with the $2 House Cofffee. As we went around the back to get the utensils for our cakes, the counter had grey dish bins which were overflowing with dirty cups and plates. When we left to put away our own dirty dishes later on, the pile had just accumulated. Gross.

idearabbit-calhouns3Cookies and Cream idearabbit-calhouns4Chocolate Fudge

The bathroom reminded me of some of the vandalized Berlin cafes. It wasn’t clean either. Yuuuuuck.

As with many ‘hipster’ places, the tables, chairs, plates and cups are quite random.

My Cookies and Cream was way too thick, rich and sweet and only ate a third. Sheepie who has the sweet tooth could not even finish it cuz he said it was terrible.

My tummy was not happy the next day, but can’t really say it was from the cakes for sure. Sheepie didn’t feel all that well after the cake either.

The staff was very friendly though. However, I wont ever be returning!

 Taste: carrot    Price for Value: carrot

Atmosphere:  carrot   Service:  carrotcarrotcarrot
Location: carrotcarrot

Breka Bakery & Cafe on Davie

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Breka Bakery & Cafe Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato Another 24 hour open cafe. I’m happy that there’s now Breka as an option rather than the Tim Horton’s on the other block which is usually filled with beggars and bums. Not to mention one person getting shot, and another occasion someone throwing out a chair out the window and breaking I think 3 panels of glass…

Breka is a step up (or several steps up actually) from Timmy’s. It’s got a nice interior, tall ceilings, interesting framed photos, and lighting. They have an extensive pastry menu which can make you stand there looking at them over and over unable to decide which one to get. I ordered the Eclair $4.50 to go.

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The staff were friendly. The place was clean. Although it seems popular, I haven’t seen it packed like the one near Robson, which is good for me. I’d prefer quieter and spacious cafes. I would love to sit and catchup with friends over coffee next time.

2nd Take Out

Craving for some sweets, I went to Breka on Davie for a Strawberry Shortcake $4.75. When I entered, there were 3 girls chatting away at the cashier. One customer was looking at the pastries. Not being greeted, I also started to look and once I had decided, I walked over to the girls. One girl went to get the cake. She told the cashier that I was getting a Strawberry Shortcake. She doesn’t say it with much volume, so the cashier thinks it’s Carrot Cake instead. The cashier doesn’t know where the carrot cake button is and the cake retriever again says Strawberry Shortcake. The girl helping the cashier says to punch in carrot cake, and on and on, the confusion continues. I’m ready to put my credit card into the machine when I make sure that it’s a STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE, and they get all confused again. Talk about miscommunication. Either they are all new, or they need to speak clearer and louder. Once it was punched in correctly, it was 75 cents more than the ‘carrot cake’.

idearabbit-breka6The next gentleman in line was helped by another different girl that came from the back. So there were 4-5 staff behind the counter, a bit crowded for a small cafe.The staff gave him a cookie, when he wanted a coffee. I’m not sure who is at fault there as I was too busy with my order.

In the end, they did apologize in a ‘ha ha, we don’t really know what we’re doing’ attitude, but they didn’t say thank you or anything after I paid.

Unprofessional and sloppy. Would definitely be shut down in Japan.

Late Night

I met up with Sheepie around 1 am for Chamomile tea and Sheepie wanted to satisfy his sweet tooth, so he got himself a Bird’s Nest cookie $0.85. It was definitely nice to be able to chit chat at a cafe this late in downtown without getting harassed by beggars as we used to at Timmy’s a few blocks down. Surprisingly, they didn’t even come into the cafe. With a shooting and later some window smashing at Timmy’s, I avoid going there late at night anymore.idearabbit_breka_davie10

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idearabbit-brekadavie3Chamomile tea and Bird’s Nest cookie $0.85

More…

idearabbit_breka_davie10Raspberry Cheesecake: a bit too sweet for me. Very rich.

idearabbit_breka_davie11Crossaints Sandwich: super buttery and greasy… but the pickle was nice and crisp.

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Triple Berry Bar $3.25: Sheepie’s dessertidearabbit_breka_davie13

Poppy Seed Square $3.25: Sheepie’s favouriteidearabbit_breka_davie14

Chocolate Moouse: pretty good. idearabbit_breka_davie8 idearabbit_breka_davie9Black Forest Cake $4.25 Nice and creamy, not too sweet.

idearabbit_breka_davie11Tiramisu. Super creamy. One of the best tiramisu cakes in town.

idearabbit_breka_davie50Mango moouse. The bottom was super dry and crumbly. Didn’t fit well with smooth top. Not the freshest grape on top.

idearabbit_breka_davie40Do NOT order the smoothie from Breka. I love Breka for their pastry and coffee, but their smoothies are not good – in fact, maybe the worst I’ve ever had, to the point we actually returned it.

I thought I would go healthy and order a smoothie, hoping for some real fruits and yogurt. I ordered the Acai Pomegranate Blueberry Smoothie (small) $4. When I took the first sip, I was shocked at how sweet it was. Sheepie tried it and even he, who has a huge sweet tooth couldn’t believe it. We joked that it tastes like just concentrated syrup with ice. When we went to complain to the staff, she explained that they had a syrup that they mixed with ice! I was disappointed in not having absolutely zero real fruits, but not being able to drink it at all because it felt like we would become diabetic from that drink, we asked if we could exchange it for an iced coffee instead.

I’m glad that the staff was nice enough to do that. But I wont be ordering their smoothie again!

idearabbit_breka_davie41 idearabbit_breka_davie42

 Taste: carrotcarrotcarrotcarrot    Price for Value: carrotcarrotcarrot

Atmosphere:  carrotcarrotcarrotcarrot   Service:  carrotcarrotcarrot