For the Love of...: ...Watercress Express (Calgary)

Overall - 8.5/10
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Food - 9/10
Service - 9/10
Ambiance - 7.5/10

Watercress Express' food definitely lives up to it's slogan "Viet-Modern Cuisine at its Best".  While they offer the standard pho (beef noodle soups), they have done a fantastic job offering up other creative options that are tasty and unique.  Located on the busy 17th Ave, Watercress Express is the perfect place to grab a bite to eat to-go or in our case, a sit down family meal with Baby S.  Although seating is limited, many patrons were ordering food to-go so we didn't have any difficulty getting our table of choice.  The menu is clearly visible above the ordering counter, with descriptions of each dish.  We were tempted by many dishes and ordered a variety of appetizers and mains, forgoing our usual bowls of pho.  The dishes were unique and flavourful and demonstrated a great balance of flavours and careful presentation.  The attention to detail was evident and we were impressed by our experience.  

The following pictures shows the deliciousness that ensued:

Crispy Char Siu Wontons

The wontons were perfectly crisp with the ultra tender sous vide char siu pork shoulder.  The addition of tart green apple slices on ginger scallion sauce was a winning combination. 

Chicken Wings

These chicken wings were absolutely delicious.  Crispy with a light glaze of caramelized chill lime sauce and sprinkling of sesame seeds and fried shallots.

Pineapple Nuoc Cham Pork Wrap

 The wraps were beautifully presented, pre-cut to look like sushi and easy to eat in one bite.  The sweet pineapple in this pork wrap was a tasty addition.

Tamarind Beef Wrap

The refreshing cucumber and tangy tamarind beef was delicious and satisfying.  My question is, how do they cut/wrap each slice so perfectly?

Grilled Pork & Spring Rolls Vermicelli

The grilled pork was tender and flavourful and the spring rolls crisp.  A great classic vermicelli dish done right.

Kimchi Fried Rice

The spicy kimchi fried rice mixed with the runny yolk of the fried egg made it extra tasty.

Nuoc Cham Braised Pork Cheek Bao 

Served up hamburger style, this boa containing tender pork cheek, sweet and tangy pineapple and green apple was a hit.  On this day, we also had a side of fried shoestring onions which were very addicting.

Woking Shrimp Stir Fry on Crispy Egg Noodle

The crispy egg noodles were topped with fresh shrimp and vegetables.

Watercress Express is definitely a place to check out if you're looking for a fresh take on Vietnamese cuisine with fast, friendly service and quality food.