Bambu

I was very excited when I heard there is a newly opened dessert place in my neighborhood. Bambu features Chè or Vietnamese home-made beverages, dessert drinks, and puddings. With over 70 locations in the U.S., the first store in Canada finally arrived in Vancouver. Since the store is very close to my house, I just can’t resist coming here more often.

Taro Lover & Vietnamese Traditional Coffee

He ordered a Chè, Taro Lover, while I sipped on the Vietnamese Traditional Coffee. My first sip to my coffee was bitter and strong, even with the help of the condensed milk. The owner/manager immediately offered to add additional condensed milk into it. As for the Taro Lover, I found it bland, but he loves it. The taro added a subtle sweetness to the drink, but he wished to have less pandan jelly and more taro.

Summer Delight

On my second visit, I decided to try another Chè, Summer Delight. And I found out that Bambu made the red tapioca in the house! Unlike the normal ones, there was a crunchy texture, almost like water chestnut, in each tapioca. I wonder what that is, and I think I am going to get this topping for every drink now! There was a lot going on in the cup, as there were six toppings in the drink. And I thought it was very filling for a drink. Also, I hope there was more coconut milk, so I can enjoy it like a drink, by sucking through the straw, instead of spooning the toppings.

Pandan Waffles

Pandan Waffles would be my favourite food in the store. As more and more restaurants and dessert places using pandan in these dishes, this ingredient is hard to master. It might turn out to be bitter if they are not used properly. During the grand opening, they offered samples of waffles, and we instantly fell in love.

The waffles were extra crispy on the outside, while inside remained chewy and mochi-like. So I went there and bought more! More importantly, they were not sweet or heavy. Though pandan flavor is quite subtle, its texture is what I fell for.

Overall Impression

Bambu offers unique dessert drinks, which they were barely seen in Vancouver, except for the Vietnamese restaurants. The waffles are definitely my favorite. Although they are very generous on the toppings in Chè, I prefer to have it like a drink more. Please be patient during this time, as most of the staff are fairly new. Since it is so close to my house, I would definitely return and try other beverages, such as smoothies and other coffees.

Taste: 4/5 • Service: 5/5 • Ambiance: 4/5 • Quality-Price: 4/5