VFAs like acetate are the major soluble metabolites of food waste leachates after digested. Therefore this study investigates the effect of acetate on growth rate and nutrient removal efficiency of Chlorella vulgaris to treat digested food waste leachates. The initial acetate concentration varied from 0 to 20 mM. As a result, Chlorella vulgaris growth rate was increased as high as the concentrations ranged from 0 to 20 mM. The same trend was observed with $NH_4$-N and $PO_4$-P consumption. The highest growth rate and the highest $NH_4$-N, $PO_4$-P removal rate were observed at acetate concentration of 20 mM. The microalgae growth rate and $NH_4$-N, $PO_4$-P removal rates were 1.5, 1.8, 2.3 times higher than the condition without acetate.