KEM COBA

One of my favorite things about summer is being able to enjoy frozen treats such as ice cream! After our picnic, we planned our next stop which was Kem CoBa. It's hard to miss this ice cream shop because of its pink awning and lengthy lines. The line basically went around the block. Why? Because this shop is not your typical ice cream shop. They offer exotic, gourmet flavors such as Orange Cardamom, Passion Fruit, and Strawberry-Lychee. It's ice cream and sorbet made with a French-Vietnamese twist. Literally. The owners are both French and Vietnamese.

Kem CoBa translates to "third aunt's ice cream",
but technically CoBa is the second aunt in the family.
Vietnamese kinship terms are confusing!

The atmosphere just brings you back to your childhood - eating ice cream on a hot summer day. I had the strawberry sorbet which was super fruity and refreshing. Just what I needed after those Schwartz sandwiches! Kem CoBa was the perfect way to end the day. That rhymed!

Kem CoBa
60 Avenue Fairmount Ouest
Montréal, QC H2T 2M1
Canada

BUN SAIGON

On our first night in Toronto, my family decided to take a vote on what type of cuisine we should have for dinner. The two candidates were Vietnamese and Chinese; we unanimously chose Vietnamese. After the short election, we walked about 20 steps from our hotel and discovered Bún Saigon.

Bun Saigon simply means “Noodle Saigon”.

At Bún Saigon, they offer traditional dishes like the classic Pho (Noodle Soup) and Bún Thịt Nướng (Grilled Meat Noodle Bowl). I usually order something that my parents barely make at home whenever we go out to Vietnamese restaurants. Smart huh? I ordered the grilled meat combo dish. It’s basically grilled chicken and pork with rice on the side as well as some vegetables (lettuce, tomato, and cucumber). I also had some samplings of the Cảnh Chưa Cá (Sweet and Sour Soup with Fish) as well as the Cá Kho Tộ (Braised Fish). Both were equally delicious.

Overall, the staff was friendly and they made us feel right at home. The atmosphere was super casual and family oriented which reminded me of the Vietnamese restaurants back in California. If you’re searching for traditional Vietnamese fare in Toronto, then Bún Saigon is the place! This little gem is located right next to a Chinese bakery (one of my guilty pleasures).

Bún Saigon 252 Spadina Ave
Toronto, ON M5T 2C2
Canada