The Lunch Lady of Saigon

 

The Lunch Lady of Saigon

93 Ossington Ave, Toronto, ON M6J 2Z2

(647)748-9550

Lunch Lady

Over all: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Service: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Food: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Atmosphere: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

September 3, 2025: I had looked forward to my second visit to Lunch Lady, hoping to repeat the great experience I had previously. Unfortunately, this evening, the kitchen execution severely let down the dining experience.

We arrived for our 9:00 PM reservation around 9:10 PM and were promptly seated. Our initial service was attentive, and our server was happy to accommodate our request to move to the patio, which was a nice gesture given the beautiful weather. We placed an order for two Wagyu Pho shortly thereafter. However, things quickly slowed down dramatically. After a 15-minute wait, we inquired about our meal and were told it was on the way. By 9:55 PM, nearly 45 minutes after being seated, we were offered a complimentary bone marrow dish as an apology and were assured the kitchen was backed up. We appreciated this service recovery effort. The bone marrow was indeed delicious—naturally fatty and rich—though a bit heavy for my preference (6/10).

The pho finally arrived at 10:15 PM, an hour after we first arrived. This extreme delay was the major source of our disappointment, as we were told the order may have been lost or affected by the patio seat swap. Regarding the pho itself, it was okay (6/10).

The combination of Wagyu and the addition of the poached egg made the broth heavy and creamy, certainly enhancing the richness of the flavour. However, despite the premium ingredients, I’ve had better pho experiences in the neighborhood.

Overall, I left disappointed. While the server was accommodating and the complimentary dish was appreciated, the nearly one-hour wait for a main course is unacceptable. I hope that Lunch Lady is simply experiencing growing pains or working out the logistics in the kitchen, and that these operational kinks can be ironed out quickly to match the restaurant’s potential.

July 8, 2025:

My First Taste of The Lunch Lady! Stepping into The Lunch Lady, you're immediately greeted by its super cool design, which totally nails that vibrant Vietnamese street style. I loved the open kitchen views too – it's fun to catch a glimpse of all the culinary action happening behind the scenes!

Service with a Smile (and a Little Learning Curve!) The staff here are truly friendly and so eager to please, which really makes a difference. You can tell they're doing their best to make sure you have a good time! While there was a tiny bit of confusion with getting different info from different folks, I'm sure that's just part of being a new spot, and their genuine effort totally shines through. Food Adventures: Some Hits, Some Misses (But Mostly Yummy!)

I gave the pho ga a try, and it was good, though I've had a slightly more flavorful version just around the corner. The presentation was lovely, but I did have to gently remind them for the essential side dish (you know, the basil, bean sprouts, lime, and sauces!) to really dig into my soup. On the bright side, the shrimp fritters were absolutely fantastic! Even for someone like me who's not usually a fan of edible shells, these were a delightful surprise.

Given that it's a new spot, it's understandable that a few things are still getting ironed out. For instance, the restrooms were missing soap and napkins, but I'm sure that's just a temporary oversight that'll be fixed soon.

All in all, despite a few tiny things, I think The Lunch Lady has a ton of promise! I'm already super excited to go back and try out more of their menu, especially the steak, brunch, and bahn mi. And honestly, their cocktail menu looks incredible – I can't wait to explore those! It's clear that with a little more time to settle in, The Lunch Lady is going to be a shining star on the Toronto dining scene.