Que Ling Vietnamese Cuisine  – 248 Boulton Ave, Toronto, ON M4M 1Y3
Country: Vietnam        
Must-try dish: #3 Que Long Special Pho
Seating: Mostly indoor seating with a table or two outside on a covered patio. 
The high: Besides the in-demand and delicious Vietnamese specialities here, they serve pots of ice cold tea on warm days.
The low: You may have to wait a few minutes for a table, as they’re always all full. But with the quick turnaround, it’s not a long wait time. 

When picking a place to lunch on a steamy July afternoon in Toronto, Vietnamese isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. It’s more of a wintertime kind of vibe with the comforting soups, warm pots of tea, and heavy presence of noodles. Que Ling however, has transitioned perfectly into the summer months in the city. With all the classics and a few specialty items on the menu, they also serve the traditional pots of tea but have them chilled in the hotter months to cool people down. Trust me, it works. 

The family-run affair is impressive, to say the least. No matter the season, or the time of day, the tables are full. The clientele varies in age but it’s predominantly Vietnamese expatriates. The employees (family members) are constantly on the run serving bowls of soup and noodles then cleaning the tables. It’s a well-oiled machine that just so happens to also be tasty. 

It’s all about the broth when it comes to pho. North Americans have a poor habit of immediately adding Hoisin and Sriracha the instant the soup comes to the table without even tasting the broth. But this isn’t correct practice in Vietnam. The broth should have the flavour, not have flavour added to it. Needless to say, Que Ling does broth the right way. 

Of all the appealing options, you can’t help ordering the #3 Que Ling Special. It’s a hearty bowl of beef parts and noodles in one of the most fragrant broths we’ve tried in Toronto. This is it when it comes to Vietnamese soups. An eclectic line-up of beef populates it: rare beef, brisket, tendon, and tripe, alongside handfuls of rice noodles. But the broth steals the show, and could stand alone without the other ingredients. This secret spice instantly captures the taste buds, and you won’t be able to leave any behind. 

Spring Rolls are the only shareable appetizer, and it felt like the perfect day to have warm rolls stuffed with shredded pork to accompany the soup. They’re cut in small pieces making it a quick bite size snack. With the dramatic range in spring roll quality across the city, we want to highlight that these are some of the better ones we’ve had in the city. 

Que Ling is a daytime spot that fills up quickly and remains full throughout the afternoon. If you want an early dinner, you could order before 7pm, but otherwise take a break and get a pho. 

Eat with you soon, 

Mandrea Bike
(Mat & Andrea)