I had a chance to try take out at Grain of Rice for a gathering at my friend's house. When we phoned in the staff were so pleasant and patient to explain the menu and made many recommendations for our needs. After ordering for a group of 10 we were able to pick up our food within 20 minutes. Such quick service, for the amount of food that was ordered, as many restaurants spend 30+ minutes for take out. The food was amazing. Rice was flavourful and their tofu was delicious. I think the only con is price it is on the expensive side, compared to take out in Toronto, however it is worth it for the quality. If you're in the area and feel like Asian fusion cuisine you should give this a try. read more

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Ordered the "sizzling platter" to go. When i got home it was one small take out container that wasnt even full. It came with a small cup of rice. The meal cost $30. Not worth the price and definitely not a platter. read more

Grain of Rice use to have a whole thing on the website about how their prices are higher because they pay a living wage and do not except tips. Fair enough. Well now their prices are still higher than any other Pho restaurant, the servings are smaller without all the different types of meat you get at other restaurants and they expect tips. If I am paying $21 for a bowl of Pho I expect it to be loaded with meat and noodles and fill me up. Paying $25 ish for a bowl of Pho is crazy unless it is the most amazing thing ever, which it was not. The pho was good but needed the different types of meat other than steak. No meat balls or any other options unless you add them and then you are looking at a $30 bowl of pho. I will be sticking to pho hoan pasteur. They either need to get rid of tips again or lower the prices to a normal Pho restaurant price. Can't have both. read more

I have been to this location multiple times and every single time I'm amazed at how delicious the food is!! You can see that heart and soul are put into the creation of these dishes!!! 100% worse the cost! read more

I am not from Edmonton, in town for a short while. But this place is amazing. It was fresh, delicious, exact portion size was filling. Didn't finish the rice, but was still good. I would highly recommend checking it out. 5 stars cause i can't go any higher. Next time I'm in town in September I'll bring my mom here. read more

I was working in the area all last week and decided to pop into Grain if Rice. What a cute and cozy little place. The place was steady with take out orders and a few people seated inside. Their menu isn't big but I have learned places with small menus do amazing food with that little menu. We only wanted something light we got the YinYang Rolls. 3 salad rolls and 3 spring rolls. They get their beef from Viking Alberta (yay local) and they advertise that too which i like. I love supporting local farmers. The salad rolls and spring rolls were delicious. Loves that they brought cucumber lemon water to our table. Very elegant feel to this little spot. I have been wanting to go back every day since I've been there to try more of their items. Worth the trip if you're far away and if you are close why go anywhere else. read more

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Don't look now but apparently Edmonton is embracing forward thinking and becoming "trendy" these days. Grain of Rice, a Chinese/Vietnamese restaurant, is the latest to incorporate a no tipping policy to their menu. Grain of Rice is located waaaaaaaaaay west. I didn't even realize there was stuff this far west and I'm a west ender. The space is bright and modern but with a casual, laid back vibe to it. It's like a hybrid restaurant/fast food place. The menu is simple; a couple of appetizers, entrees and a few specials up on their chalk board above the kitchen. If you're one for food challenges, they're starting up a Wonton Challenge. The amount of wontons required to win (at life) is TBD. - Infused water - a nice touch from your boring, generic water. It came with mint leaves, lemon wedges and sliced cucumbers. - Pho ($15.00) - apparently, their broth is simmered for over 10 hours. I had a sip of the broth and it was very clean tasting. Ol was pretty happy with her bowl. Oddly enough, they bring you the tiniest portion of bean sprouts, with no basil in sight. - The OG bowl ($15.00) - this was actually well done; flavourful without being greasy and the rice had a nice wok hei to it. The scallops were pretty dinky along with the baby sized portions of gai lan. - Emperor's gold ($6.00) - probably the most expensive bun I've ever ate. Yes, it was $6.00 for ONE bun. Granted, it was good but there's no way you can ignore the fact that it was that pricey. Nice to see a few more restaurants opening up in the "burbs". I'm curious to see how they'll fare. For me, tough to judge after one visit but it seems they're catering more to the non-Asian clientele. read more

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Great tasting Teryiaki dishes here as well as large portions. The service was quick and efficient as it was a take out meal.

I love this place. Super yummy... everything! I admit I love the ginger beef the most. Even if an order is meant to be shared, I can't. It's all just for me (it's that good!). I'd have posted a picture but, alas, I ate the ginger beef before there was evidence of my indulgence. read more

Amazing food! Best pho in Edmonton, with beautiful broth and fresh beef. My favourite comfort meal :D

I have mixed feelings about Grain of Rice. The food wasn't terrible but wasn't anything really noteworthy and exceptional that stood enough that would make me excited to go back again. I get Grain of Rice trying to take advantage of the local and sustainable ingredients that Alberta has to offer and are a no tipping establishment, but I feel that they didn't truly highlight or enhance the ingredients and it.could have been beef from anywhere... It was a little bit of a miss because it seemed they were trying a bit too hard to be trendy and kind of missed the mark. A little too much fusion, unfortunately. read more

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I expected this new local business to be at least 3-stars, but unfortunately I think it's only 3-stars at most. The Peaches and Shrimp were a little weak. The batter was soft and there wasn't anything special about it. Unfortunately, I've had much better elsewhere at a comparable price. The OG Bowl came out next. Fried rice, gai lan, and scallops. The scallops were terribly small and the gai lan was lacking - barely any actually. They were cut so small you thought they were green onions in your food. Two moments too late later, the Beef and Rice Noodles arrived. The beef was over-cooked and the dish overall was too greasy. Unfortunately another miss. Aside from the food, I'm not a big fan of their "don't tip" concept for two reasons: 1. It felt awkward to not tip for someone's service. They mention that it's because of their already-market-priced meals, but a tip isn't meant to replace that - it's a monetary "high five" for the customer service received. It's the big "Thank You!" at the end that we, consumers, give to show our gratitude. 2. As a business owner, the tip should provide a gauge of customer service temperature. Poor service = small tip, better service = bigger tip. As a business owner, I would want to evaluate how my staff are doing vs how many people have come through the door vs leftover food, and how or if the tips directly affect or relate to any of those variables. At any rate, if you can wait for this new business to gain some experience and "pan out" their meals, I'd wait. They are in a great location and I'm sure they'll find ways to improve over time! read more

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I was super excited to see a Vietnamese/Chinese place open up so close to home and have been in a few times now. I think there were a few kinks to iron out as they got up and running, but they're super active on social media and have been very open to feedback. It's one of two places in town with a no-tipping policy, and also focuses a lot on local ingredients where possible. That said, it's still pricy for Asian food, so be mindful of that. I had a bowl of pho and an order of 3 spring rolls, and it came to $25 ish. The food itself is ok - some hits and some misses. I liked their crispy noodles, but find their pho to be lacking depth in its broth. The spring rolls are better on its own, but I'm confused with their mixed appetizer platter that has them wrapped in rice paper and served alongside a flavourful ground beef and salad. Overall, I tend to have liked their Chinese dishes more than their Vietnamese dishes - but I'm always comparing it to my family's cooking, so I'm a bit biased. I think there is a lot of potential here and I'd love to see it flourish in our neighbourhood. read more

Grain of Rice - Pho and spring rolls - Vietnamese Near Me - Edmonton, Alberta

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For those who live in the west end, this place is worth a visit. It is a quaint little place with friendly staff. We arrived before the lunch crowd, but soon after we ordered, the place started to fill up. Their menu is not extensive, which to me means better quality control and well executed dishes. We ordered the beef pho and vermicelli bowl. Both dishes could have been a little more flavourful. I would have preferred more fish sauce for the vermicelli bowl but not a bad taste for this fusion Vietnamese restaurant. Their dishes are a little on the pricey side, but that is because the tip is already included in the price of the dish, so you don't have to pay any additional tip. read more

Grain of Rice - Vietnamese Near Me - Edmonton, Alberta

I went to Grain of Rice yesterday with my bf and we were both really impressed. We love that they source their ingredients locally and that you pay for the price on the menu (no tips). There wasn't an item on the menu that I didn't want to try! We shared the Viking wings and a beef & tofu dish. Both had great flavor. The service and atmosphere were also fantastic - we already new we wanted to come back before we even got our food. read more

Grain of Rice - Vietnamese Near Me - Edmonton, Alberta

Waited a while to eat here as it's out on the west side. Totaly worth it. Killer onion cakes, spring rolls, noodles. No options for the vegans really. Lemon tofu is very well done though. Hope to try the pho next. It's worth the drive, busy during the rush as it's gaining popularity read more

Grain of Rice - Green onion cakes are excellent - Vietnamese Near Me - Edmonton, Alberta

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I'm going to keep this one short and sweet... or, short and complaining :) I paid $20 for an or of spring rolls and dumplings. Sure, they were both pretty good, but for $20 it's doubtful I'll be back. I wanted to try the peaches and cream shrimp, but not for $25 And the icing on the cake was when I was paying and the machine didn't prompt for a tip. So I said "oh that's right, I remember seeing on your instagram that you're a no tipping establishment, that's neat". And the lady taking my payment replied with "Well if we get tips it just goes to the kitchen". Was that an attempt at asking for a tip, or was she trying to complain that she wouldn't get the tip anyways? I don't know, but either way it was an awkward comment. So, yes, it's good food. But too pricey even without tipping. read more

Yay! Another good place on the west end! For years the west end has been plagued by generic franchise restaurants, slowly, this is starting to change. Simple decor with modern music that isn't too loud playing over the speakers. The spring rolls to start were fantastic, piping hot fresh with chunks of chicken in them, possibly the best I've ever had. The OG rice bowl for my main came out piping hot with scallops and flying fish roe sprinkled on top that gave the dish a nice popping texture. Service was good, only knock is that my wife's and my main dish did not come out together, probably 4-5 minutes apart. Prices look a bit higher than normal but the portion sizes are fair for the price. I'll be back. read more

We have known about this place for a long time but since it is far away from where we live we would always chose closer venues to eat. We have our favourite Vietnamese place that is close to home but one day we decided to take the trek out west and finally try Grain of Rice. It was a hot day and I had been outside most of it. I was parched and the complimentary infused water hit the spot! The space is clean, inviting and modern. The server was very enthusiastic and attentive. She was very helpful in assisting us to decide on the menu items. Everything looks so good, and there were many gluten free options for my Celiac dinner date to try out. We wanted everything on the menu so we will be back to work our way through the menu. We were both very happy with our dishes. I had the vermicelli bowl and it had to be one of the best that I have had in the city. We are looking forward to coming back and trying more items! read more

I made a special trip to try this place out even though I have several pho places nearby. It was totally worth it! Delicious food and a nice touch with the infused water in the carafe, it's the little things. The broth is delicious! read more

Grain of Rice - Vietnamese Near Me - Edmonton, Alberta

Had this housin beef, curry chicken sizzling platter and the spring rolls. Housin beef was amazing, tender beef lots of flavour The spring rolls were good too. The curry chicken sizzle platter was not as flavourful as I thought. Service was excellent. read more

The pork vermicelli, beef cubes and pho is my go to. No tip establishment. The staff is friendly and well trained. You could definitely work on your laptop and enjoy some Vietnamese coffee + appetizer. read more

Spectacular place! Loved the flavor of everything, the firecracker combo was divine best Vietnamese coffee as well, must try!!!! Need a bit better of explaination so you know what everything is as you want to try it all after having one thing!!!! read more

Absolutely amazing service, fast timing from order to food delivery, locally sourced meats, amazing perfectly cooked food! (Even the tofu). No stringy, chewy inedible beef here. I can't even begin to explain how awesome our experience was there tonight. Just go. You will not be disappointed! We'll be back. Lots! read more

Really good food and friendly service, however it was quite expensive for pho. I ordered the vermacelli and it was delish!

Best vermicelli bowls in the city, lots of lemongrass flavour. They are a no tip establishment, bowls are priced at $16 for lunch (no spring rolls) and $19 for dinner with spring rolls. Better to come for dinner as you will not have to order a full size order of spring rolls with your bowl. read more

Fresh Delicious food!!! I ordered the black bean chicken platter and my husband ordered the satay seafood platter, both were amazing! Place was super clean and decorated beautifully. Service was super fast and friendly. Honestly I couldn't ask for a better experience. Check out this place for your next meal, you will not be disappointed read more

The food here is pretty good but I find it to be overpriced. I'm all for using local ingredients, no tipping etc but I still find the prices a bit steep. The peaches and shrimp tastes really good, would have again. The portions aren't huge though read more

A great addition to the West end. This hidden gem is located in the new strip mall off Winterburn Road. The sourcing of local suppliers and the motto of minimizing the carbon footprint is admirable. As mentioned in previous reviews, providing the mildly flavored water is a nice touch. The service is quick & friendly. The specials in addition to the regular menu provides a nice selection. The food is fresh with a nice flavor. We tried the beef hot plate special which was enough for two to share. Ample beef along with the crispy & fresh veggies (side of plain rice) were very tasty. The chicken & Chinese sausage menu dish with rice was good but as good as the sizzling hot plate. The salad rolls & green onion cake were good starter. Despite the Spartan furnishings and somewhat fast food feel of the restaurant it is definitely worth a repeat visit. Due to the limited space take out is an option. They are still working on their liquor licence so non alcoholic beverages are the only option currently. If you like fresh Asian fusion its worth a try. But if you are looking for an intimate dining experience it may not meet your standards. read more

I definitely recommend coming here. The food is absolutely delightful. It can be a bit pricy though, so watch out for that. This is my favourite place to go eat phõ and I love their spring rolls and I'm obsessed with their lemonade. This place gets a 10/10 from me. read more

I have visited Grain of Rice with friends on several occasions now and we have always felt the service to be friendly and attentive. Good variety in the selection with good portions and great, fresh flavours - favourites are the grill pork chops and the peaches and shrimp! Would also say that after trying several Viet coffees in town, they're one of the few places that balances the sweet and bitterness just right. Mad respect GoR's mission to source locally and sustainably but especially growing up with immigrant families we really appreciate their commitment to ensuring staff are paid a livable wage. Happy to support local! read more

I came here two times, first time I came with my boyfriend who is allergic to peanuts and he ordered the vermicelli with beef, they put crushed peanuts on top of the beef and when he told the waitress (whom looked like the mother) that he was deathly allergic to peanuts and couldn't eat it, she gave him the hardest time and even said it was his fault for not mentioning it! Peanuts were not a part of the ingredient list nor did the menu say anything about allergies. She made him feel terrible for having an allergy. I came back a second time with my family after I had abdominal surgery and I wanted something light so I ordered the pho. It was okay, but not 20$ worth. But that's not why I'm writing this review, the new waitress decided to charge my family twice for our 100$ dinner and once again, gave us a very hard time and told us that we were wrong even though we had both transactions on our account. The til girl gave us her phone to talk to the boss and she accused us of taking her phone? She could've given us his phone number instead of telling her boyfriend we "took her phone" and had her boyfriend make a scene in front of the whole restaurant! How unprofessional! We will never be coming back as they have the worst customer service I've ever experienced and our family will be passing this message along as we are apart of many of the community clubs. This happened on April 20th and we still haven't received our refund for mediocre food. read more

When my husband and I went for the first time to Grain of Rice we weren't sure what to expect, but I will tell you: we were nicely surprised! The food is absolutely delicious and the staff is super friendly! Their salad rolls are amazing! The beef Gailan, yummy! There's not even one item from the menu I asked and did not like. Everything is delicious! Totally recommend! read more

I love the food here, but for god sakes get high chairs, it says good for kids, how can it be good for kids if you don't have high chairs. I'd like to make this my place to go once a week with my child, instead of having to cook. Get high chairs and you'll get 5 stars. I haven't been back since my child is able to sit in one. So please get high chairs. read more

Interesting new take on a regular Chinese/Vietnamese restaurant. Portions are large and meant to be shared. The Pho has improved in flavour since it opened. The other dishes are great and the done well in terms of flavour, greasiness and overall presentation. The 2 things that stood out the most but are subjective to each customer's views. - They don't have a freezer so everything is made with ingredients that are fairly fresh and most items sourced locally if possible. - They are a no tipping establishment. This is reflected in the larger portions and higher price tag. It is actually refreshing to go in and see the prices are what you are paying for. The tipping concept is outdated and extremely flawed. You tip for better or excellent service....except this only applies to the waiters/waitresses. When was the last time you felt obligated to tip a salesperson, plumber, person who cuts your lawn. Did you tip the person serving you McDonald's? Just a ranting thought. Why not just expect great customer service to begin with and they get paid a fair wage (Grain of Rice has a fair wage compensation for thei front of house staff) I personally support the concept and will be back again. read more

Let's just start out with a few things.... 1. This place is terribly overpriced for an underwhelming selection of Chinese dishes. 2. I went in and asked for a takeout of two orders of rice. The server stated, " We do not sell rice by itself, you have to by another dish with it". I asked her what the reasoning for that was, and she replied, " Well we might run out of rice". OK, first of all, is this not a CHINESE restaurant??? Second, Why were they refusing my business?? I have never experienced that in a restaurant in my entire life. Now this is the kicker... there was NO ONE in the restaurant on a Sunday evening at 5 pm. They are concerned about running out of rice??? 3. The owner seems very arrogant and defensive in his comments to people on this site, definitely not following a good business model!! read more

Sometimes you don't know what to expect from Asian food, and I've been all over Asia. I paid $30 for two dishes and waited about 15 minutes for my take out. It would have been nice for a fork to be included, since I took the food to the park. They were pretty good, but not what I was expecting for that price. I think the price will definitely cause me not to eat there again. But the inside is nice, and the staff are nice as well. read more

Worth the drive, food is excellent the pho is especially good. Service was friendly and quick. Will defiantly be back. Good job on the interior as well nicely laid out read more

Very friendly staff. The beef vermicelli is delish. The shrimp and peaches is also a favorite. The prices tend to be higher but the ingredients are quality and local when possible. Plus they have the top built into the price. read more

Good food fast service with a responsive owner. My kind of place, get it while the getting is hot. Locally sourced food and a clean kitchen lol some of the chinese spots ive seen haha.. But thats just my opinion read more