“We’ve never lost our authenticity, what makes us attractive to our customers.” “We’ve seen a lot of Vietnamese restaurants come and go on the Ossington strip,” she says, referring to the area formerly known as Little Saigon. Inside the tight 60-seat space, traditional Vietnamese art hangs on the walls, including a six-foot-wide painting of nine horses running, representing the lucky number in Vietnamese culture.īeyond the decor, the dining experience is steeped in family legacy and expertise, explains Linda Nguyen, the 33-year-old owner of the quaint restaurant first opened by her mother and great aunt. And it’s hard to miss: outside on its north wall, its iconic turtle mural holds court on Argyle Street. Golden Turtle has been an institution on the busy few blocks of Ossington between Dundas and Queen since opening in 1987. This is not my first visit at Toronto’s oldest Vietnamese restaurant, and it won’t be my last. I bite into a deep-fried pork spring roll and have to resist devouring the rest of the appetizer before I swallow. (Read about other Toronto landmarks like Gwartzman’s art supply store and the Runners Shop on Bloor.)

The rare beef pho at Pho Rùa Vàng Golden Turtle Restaurant is a sublime experience: The bone-marrow broth is flavourful, with notes of lemongrass and green onion and mint the tender beef practically melts in my mouth and the rice noodles absorb it all as I slurp.

Golden star vietnamese restaurant