Westboro Subs Ottawa Review – Disappointing Vietnamese Dishes Not Worth Returning For – Average EV Score: 4.9/10
Reviewed by Tastes of Ottawa
Each dish is rated using our EV Score (Enjoyment-to-Value Score), based on enjoyment, price paid, and benchmark pricing.
Table of Contents
Westboro Subs Restaurant Overview
1262 Wellington St. W, Ottawa, ON K1Y 3A5
Westboro Subs is a very casual spot located in the heart of Westboro. The setup feels much more geared toward takeout than dine-in. There are only about four tables available, and the overall experience reflects a quick-service, cafeteria-style approach rather than a full sit-down restaurant.
You order at the counter, receive your food on a tray with plastic or wooden utensils, and handle your own cleanup afterward. It’s simple and functional, but it doesn’t offer much in terms of dining atmosphere. That’s not necessarily a problem if the food delivers — but in this case, it didn’t.
Parking in Westboro can be hit or miss depending on the time of day, but the location itself is central and easy to find. Staff were friendly throughout the visit, which was one of the few positives.
Despite the convenient location and friendly service, the food is what ultimately matters. Based on this visit, it wasn’t enough to justify coming back.
Would return? No.
Bun Cha Ha Noi
Menu description: Harmonious balance of flavours. The smoky savoury grilled pork patties/meatballs are perfectly complimented by a sweet and savoury fish sauce-based dipping broth. Fresh and pickled carrots, green papaya, and herbs (Perilla and Eisboltzia Ciliata)
Enjoyment: 4/10
Price Paid: $18
Benchmark Price: $17
EV Score: 3.8/10
Order Again? No.
Going in, I expected something closer to a vermicelli bowl — which is a common expectation when ordering Vietnamese dishes like this. Instead, it came plated differently, which isn’t inherently a problem, but it immediately didn’t align with expectations.
The bigger issue was the execution.
Two of the pork patties were ice cold, which completely ruined the dish. That alone made it difficult to continue eating. When you’re expecting freshly grilled meat, getting cold pieces suggests the dish may not have been prepared to order.
The grilled pork itself was also underwhelming. It lacked depth of flavour and didn’t have that freshly grilled, smoky quality you’d expect from a dish like Bun Cha Ha Noi.
The dipping broth — which should be a key component — didn’t stand out enough to save the dish either. Overall, the entire plate felt like it lacked care in preparation.
This ended up being a below average meal, and after encountering cold meat, it wasn’t something I wanted to continue eating.
Banh Mi – Viet Sub
Menu description: Filled with housemade pate, cold-cut Vietnamese ham, and cold-cut pork roll. Topped with pickled carrots, cilantro, and cucumber with our homemade Vietnamese mayo spread on our fresh bread.
Enjoyment: 6/10
Price Paid: $11
Benchmark Price: $11
EV Score: 6/10
Order Again? No.
The Banh Mi – Viet Sub from Westboro Subs was average at best.
There’s nothing inherently wrong with it, but it doesn’t stand out — especially when compared to stronger options in Ottawa like BanhMiYes.
The bread was one of the main issues. It was too crispy, to the point where it actually cut the roof of my mouth. A good banh mi should have a light crisp exterior, but still be easy to bite through. This one crossed the line into being unpleasant.
The filling itself was just okay. The portion was average — not overly generous, but not lacking either. It didn’t feel particularly memorable or well-balanced compared to better banh mi spots.
One positive was the brown sauce, which added a nice flavour to the sandwich. It helped elevate the overall taste slightly, but it wasn’t enough to make the sandwich stand out.
Overall, this is a mediocre banh mi, and with better options available nearby, there’s little reason to choose this over competitors.
Fresh Grilled Meat Rolls – Pork
Menu description: Vermicelli noodles, lettuce, pickled carrots, cucumber, and cilantro wrapped in rice paper with your choice of savoury chicken, beef, or pork. Served with our housemade peanut sauce.
Enjoyment: 6/10
Price Paid: $10
Benchmark Price: $8
EV Score: 4.8/10
Order Again? No.
The Fresh Grilled Meat Rolls (Pork) from Westboro Subs were slightly below average.
The biggest issue here was the rice paper, which felt dry and slightly hard when biting into it. That’s usually a sign that it wasn’t stored properly or had lost moisture before being served.
Fresh rolls should have a soft, slightly chewy texture that holds everything together smoothly. Here, the texture was off and made the eating experience less enjoyable.
The pork inside was decent, but not particularly flavourful or memorable. It did its job, but didn’t stand out in any way.
The highlight of this dish was the peanut sauce, which had a great consistency and flavour. It was smooth, well-balanced, and easily the best component of the rolls. Unfortunately, a good sauce can only do so much when the rest of the dish is lacking.
Overall, this dish fell into the slightly below average category and didn’t leave much of an impression.
Final Thoughts
Westboro Subs has a convenient location and a simple, casual setup that works well for takeout. The staff are friendly, and the ordering process is quick and straightforward.
However, the food is what ultimately defines the experience — and that’s where things fall short.
The Bun Cha Ha Noi was a major miss due to cold meat and lack of flavour. The Banh Mi – Viet Sub was average and easily outperformed by other options like BanhMiYes. The Fresh Grilled Meat Rolls had texture issues that made them less enjoyable.
Across all dishes, there was a consistent theme of underwhelming execution, whether it was temperature, texture, or overall flavour.
With so many strong Vietnamese options available in Ottawa, this visit didn’t provide a reason to return to Westboro Subs.
If you’re looking for a great place for Banh Mi, check out my review on BanhMiYes.