Chao Mami is a new, family-run express Vietnamese restaurant in downtown Vancouver, offering quick, comforting bites inspired by home cooking.
Pictured: The family behind Chao Mami.
The name Chao Mami translates to “hello” and “mom”, a tribute to the warmth and comfort of home. As the team shares, “Cooking a feast for the family was always one of Mom’s greatest joys,” and they’re now bringing that joy to the wider community.
This family has called Vancouver home for many years. After the Vietnam War, their parents spent time in a refugee camp in Hong Kong before being given the chance to start a new life in Vancouver. In 2013, they opened a restaurant called Brokenrice, which became a staple in Burnaby. Years later, the siblings relaunched it as Chao Mami.
Chao Mami Express, their newest venture, opened earlier this year inside the Granville Skytrain Station. They describe it as an “express Vietnamese restaurant focused on sharing our mom’s comforting flavours in quick, delicious bites.” The menu features fast, flavourful options like phở, rolls, baos, mini soups, and more — all crafted to deliver a “fresh, authentic taste with a creative spin!” They also offer a daily happy hour from 2–6 PM, with $10 phở and a 3-for-$10 mix-and-match deal.
Their favourite thing about being located downtown? The energy, the hustle and bustle — and most importantly, the people. They’re excited to build lasting relationships with their customers through delicious food and warm hospitality. As they put it, “we hope to help bring more energy, love, and culture into the city’s transit hubs — areas we feel could be so much more vibrant, like those in places such as Japan, Korea, or Singapore.”
You can find Chao Mami Express located inside the Granville Skytrain Station at the Dunsmuir entrance (80-678 Dunsmuir St). Check out our video review here.
