Sunset Noodle House: Vietnamese Cuisine in Sault Ste. Marie

When Chan Ngo invited me for lunch at her new downtown restaurant, Sunset Noodle House, I was delighted to accept. She ordered for me and I was blown away by the variety and deliciousness of everything. I love Vietnamese cuisine! Our conversation centered around her wonderful food and the story of how she and her family came to live in Algoma. 

It started around three years ago. During an RV trip across Canada with her family (husband, two children and her mom) they stayed overnight in Batchawana Bay. The family was looking for a place to settle for the long term. “It was meant to be,” says Chan. “On our trip, we discussed the possibility of purchasing a trailer park. It was by chance while booking our next stay after Thunder Bay, we looked at Sunset Shores Resort and we found that it was for sale. We travelled there and looked around and fell in love.  We loved the opportunities and potential of Sunset Shores.” 

After the purchase, the family settled into the Batchawana Bay area, got to work with many improvements of the resort and soon opened a Vietnamese take-out eatery to complement the Sunset Shores Resort. “I was really missing Vietnamese food,” said Chan. “We decided that we wanted to offer this cuisine to the area and the response has been amazing. People loved our food. We really put our heart and soul into it.”

After the fantastic reception for her food in Batchawana Bay, the search was on for a dine-in restaurant location in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, and in January 2023, Sunset Noodle House opened at 133 Spring Street in the downtown area. 

Chan believes “Food is art, an expression of one’s self, and an extension of me. I choose to be passionate about it. I love how the ingredients are presented and how it relates to a great guest experience.” 

Chan first learned from her mother and then from cooking at Vietnamese restaurants in Toronto. "I learned food service techniques," she says. “Now I am the head chef and execute each dish and how it should be plated." Her husband Trieu handles the building and the finances.

The menu includes popular items such as Com Bo Luc Luc which is made from marinated ribeye beef as well as Pho, a rice noodle soup. Appetizers on offer include Cha Gio spring rolls and Banh Cuon, a thin layer of rice flour stuffed with meat and mushrooms. Check out the menu at Sunset Noodle House or visit their Facebook or Instagram accounts for so much more. 

One of the dishes I really enjoyed was the lobster—an 8-ounce Atlantic lobster tail stir-fried in a ginger scallion sauce. Chan encouraged me to try it, as I am not a big lobster fan. I am glad she did, it was so good!

Many menu ingredients are sourced locally as much as possible. Penokean Hills Farms is one supplier along with City Meat Market and local producers and retailers. “We do go to Toronto to pick up some of the items we can’t get in Northern Ontario like some of the sauces and special spices, but most of our menu items are sourced locally," she says. 

Future plans include renovating the restaurant building inside and out. “We also want to construct an outdoor patio where our guests can have a grill their own food experience.”

“We focus on quality and authenticity. We know that many of our guests may have not experienced Vietnamese food before or tried its wonderful flavours. We are happy to show them how to experience the cuisine. We want to be a tourist attraction and destination and promote culinary in Northern Ontario," added Chan.

With the help of their growing staff, the Ngo’s now run both businesses, Sunset Shores in Batchawana Bay and Sunset Noodle House in Sault Ste. Marie. Chan wanted to add “We want to thank everyone for supporting us. We are so grateful. We love the Soo and we think residents and all visitors to Algoma deserve the best.”

I was honoured to meet and share a meal with Chan. With their dedication and hard work, I have no doubt that their businesses will thrive and grow in Algoma. 

Sunset Noodle House 

Owners Chan and Trieu Ngo 
133 Spring Street, Sault Ste. Marie
Dine-in or take-out 
Vegetarian and Gluten free options 
PH: (705) 759-0000 
Web: www.sunsetnoodlehouse.ca
Facebook and Instagram: @sunsetnoodlehouse 
 

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