Mini Review: Mini Mango

Deciding where to go for a quick lunch that satisfies both meat and vegetarian cravings can be difficult, but this past week we found a great little spot that we both loved! Mini Mango is a small, casual Vietnamese restaurant located deep in the south side, on Ellerslie Road and 91st St. The inside is bright and inviting, with orange and red chairs, Vietnamese themed art, and colorful accents.

Steph ordered the Lemongrass Tofu Bánh mì ($7): perfectly cooked tofu simmered in a delicious spicy sauce on a crusty baguette topped with cucumber, onions, pickled carrots, garlic aioli, and cilantro (hold the cilantro). This sandwich was amazing! A great portion size, quality ingredients, and fantastic flavours made Steph a very happy customer! Mini Mango is also dedicated to proper preparation of vegetarian dishes, as their menu states they have "segregated preparation surfaces, frying oils, and strictly vegetable based ingredients" which sets any veggie's mind at ease. She would have liked a little more cucumber or veg, as it added a nice crunch and balanced out the spicy sauce, but the addition of cilantro for those who like its flavor would probably solve that problem.

Jackie tried the Five Colour Bowl ($12.50): a large helping of vermicelli noodles topped with prawns, chicken, beef, pork, and two spring rolls, as well as shredded lettuce, pickled carrots, bean sprouts, and cucumbers. Whew! It was as big as it sounds, stuffed with awesome ingredients and bursting with flavor. Jackie was pleased to find 3 large prawns, but did note that the meat wasn't super hot when it came out. There also was an extra $1 charge for wok frying instead of grilling, which she was charged for and not made aware of. However she thoroughly enjoyed the flavors and variety in the dish as well as the presentation.

Overall, we both really enjoyed our meals, and the atmosphere and prices were just right for a quick and satisfying lunch!

Steph's Rating: 4/5
Jackie's Rating: 4/5
Total: 8/10

www.minimango.ca