Quick answer: On a Vietnamese menu in Quebec, soupe tonkinoise means pho, the rice-noodle soup in beef broth. Rouleaux impériaux (also called nems) are fried rolls (chả giò). Rouleaux printaniers or rouleaux de printemps are fresh, unfried rice-paper rolls (gỏi cuốn). Vermicelles are rice vermicelli bowls (bún), and sandwich banh mi is the Vietnamese baguette sandwich. The glossary below covers everything else you’re likely to see, in French, English and Vietnamese.
French is the main language of business in Quebec, so most Vietnamese restaurants in Montreal, Quebec City and Gatineau print their menus in French first, often with English and Vietnamese alongside. Some French names were in use long before many diners outside Quebec had heard of pho. Several thousand Vietnamese people, many of them students, already lived in Quebec before 1975, and Montreal remains home to Canada’s second-largest Vietnamese community (38,660 people in the 2021 Census).
The result is a vocabulary you won’t see on menus in Toronto or Vancouver. Quebec’s official language office (OQLF) lists soupe tonkinoise, soupe pho and pho as coexisting terms in Quebec. Elsewhere in the French-speaking world, it notes, soupe pho and pho are more common. Tonkinoise refers to Tonkin, the historical French name for northern Vietnam, where pho originated.
| On a Quebec menu | In English | In Vietnamese | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soupe tonkinoise · soupe pho · pho | Pho, beef noodle soup | Phở | Beef broth simmered for hours with ginger, onion, clove and cinnamon; rice noodles |
| Tonkinoise au bœuf | Beef pho | Phở bò | The default version |
| Pho gà / tonkinoise au poulet | Chicken pho | Phở gà | Lighter chicken broth |
| Dac biet (spécial) | House special pho | Phở đặc biệt | Several beef cuts, often including tripe |
| Bun bo Hue | Spicy Hue-style beef noodle soup | Bún bò Huế | Lemongrass and chili; thicker round noodles |
| Soupe-repas | Meal-size soup | — | A large bowl meant as a full meal |
| On a Quebec menu | In English | In Vietnamese | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rouleaux impériaux · nems | Imperial rolls, fried spring rolls, egg rolls | Chả giò (south) · nem rán (north) | Fried. Traditionally rice paper filled with pork, rice vermicelli and black mushrooms; some Montreal places use a wheat wrapper |
| Rouleaux printaniers · rouleaux de printemps (frais) | Fresh rolls, salad rolls, summer rolls | Gỏi cuốn | Not fried. Soft rice paper, herbs, vermicelli, usually shrimp and pork |
| Sauce d’arachide | Peanut sauce | Tương đậu phộng | Usually served with fresh rolls |
| Sauce au poisson | Fish sauce / dipping sauce | Nước mắm / nước chấm | Usually served with fried rolls and vermicelli |
The most common mix-up for visitors is ordering rouleaux impériaux expecting fresh rolls. Remember: impériaux = fried, printaniers = fresh.
| On a Quebec menu | In English | In Vietnamese | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vermicelles · bol de vermicelles | Vermicelli bowl | Bún | Cold rice vermicelli with toppings, herbs and fish-sauce dressing |
| Vermicelles au bœuf grillé | Grilled beef vermicelli | Bún bò nướng | — |
| Vermicelles + rouleau impérial | Vermicelli with imperial roll | Bún chả giò | Common combo |
| Riz · assiette de riz | Rice plate | Cơm / cơm tấm | Broken-rice plates may be listed as riz brisé; check with staff |
| Bœuf grillé | Grilled beef | Bò nướng | — |
| Sandwich banh mi · sandwich vietnamien | Banh mi | Bánh mì | Baguette with pâté or grilled meat, pickled carrot and daikon, cilantro |
| Assiette combo n° 5 | Combo plate no. 5 | — | Many Montreal menus are numbered; ordering by number is normal |
The OQLF notes that in French, pho is usually pronounced like the French word feu, though fo is also heard. In Vietnamese, phở has a rising-dipping tone that most English and French speakers approximate as “fuh”. Any of these will get you a bowl of soup. For the Vietnamese pronunciation in detail, see how to pronounce pho.
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Une soupe tonkinoise au bœuf, s’il vous plaît. | A beef pho, please. |
| Petit, moyen ou grand format ? | Small, medium or large? |
| Sans coriandre, s’il vous plaît. | No cilantro, please. |
| Est-ce que les rouleaux sont frits ? | Are the rolls fried? |
| Pour emporter. / Pour manger ici. | To go. / For here. |
| Est-ce que c’est épicé ? | Is it spicy? |
Many restaurants in Montreal also serve customers in English, but menu item names often stay in French.
Is soupe tonkinoise the same as pho? Yes. Soupe tonkinoise is a French name for pho, the Vietnamese rice-noodle soup in beef broth. Quebec’s language office lists soupe tonkinoise, soupe pho and pho as coexisting terms in Quebec.
Why is pho called “tonkinoise”? Tonkinoise comes from Tonkin, the historical French name for northern Vietnam, where pho originated.
Are rouleaux impériaux fried? Yes. Rouleaux impériaux, also called nems, are fried rolls (chả giò in southern Vietnam, nem rán in the north). Fresh, unfried rolls are usually called rouleaux printaniers or rouleaux de printemps.
What does “vermicelles” mean on a Vietnamese menu? It means a bowl of thin rice vermicelli (bún), usually served at room temperature with grilled meat, herbs, pickled vegetables and fish-sauce dressing.
Do I need to order in French in Montreal? No. Staff at many Montreal restaurants also speak English, but knowing the French dish names helps you read the menu.
