It was really strange during those couple of days after returning from vacation. Much like last year's trip, I got back to wonderful San Diego feeling kinda…. well, melancholy I guess might be the right word. I was really relaxed and all, but after all of that eating, walking, and almost constant moving from place to place, planning our next day's activities, doing the logistics of where we had to be…. my mind and body was in a different mode. And sadly, during our entire trip, I really didn't crave anything….. the Missus kept asking me what food I missed, I often said "nothing". Trying to convince myself that I should be missing something other then Da' Boyz, I finally said "noodles". "Well, what kind of noodles?" "Ummm, well….. yeah, egg noodles…yeah, egg noodle soup, that's what I'm craving." So right after returning we headed to:
Tan Ky Mi Gia in Mira Mesa:
**** Tan Ky Mi Gia has closed
A place I've included in posts numerous times over over the years, often in themed posts (sorta like this one). Some Roast Duck Egg Noodle Soup would surely do the trick, until it arrived at the table:
That duck really didn't look what I had before. The skin was tough, the meat was also tough… and greasy. The noodles were prepared well, but the broth was super salty. Sigh…….
Tan Ky Mi Gia
9330 Mira Mesa Blvd #A
San Diego, CA 92126
By this time I'd really convinced myself that it was egg noodle soup that I was missing. Still, I really wasn't motivated to get into my car and drive down to City Heights…. so instead I decided to…
Gather anecdotal evidence to see if the inverse of a "rule" was true at Pho Convoy Noodle House:
**** Pho Convoy Noodle House has closed
You heard that rule, right? Never have Pho' at a place that doesn't have "Pho" in its name. Well, I was wondering if the inverse was true…. "never have Mi at a place with Pho in its name." And Pho Convoy Noodle House was the closest suspect. At first I was taken aback at that the price of the Mi Dac Biet (House special egg noodle soup) was $6.65…..but you have to remember, the last time I had Mi here was back in 2005!
I really don't remember getting the typical garnish for Pho' with my egg noodle soup. And was surprised at the size of the bowl that arrived at my table, and how much noodles were in it. Mushed up, tangled, overcooked noodles….. some of it cooked into clumps….
The broth was a bit too mild in flavor for me…. though the portion size was pretty huge.
Pho Convoy Noodle House
4647 Convoy St
San Diego, CA 92111
So perhaps it was true?
Now I had to confirm that you had to go a place like Minh Ky to get proper egg noodle soup:
I've been going to Minh Ky for quite a while; looking back, I noticed that I first posted on the place back in January 2006, man that's quite a while. I've become a fan of the Mi Sate Kho, the Sate Egg noodle Dry at Minh Ky, and that's what I've been eating on most of our visits, though the place has also been part of a few theme posts. I decided to order a Combination Egg Noodle Soup.
This was quite good; the noodles cooked to perfection, with a nice pull and crunch. The shrimp,
fish balls, and other stuff, well…… just routine. The broth was solid, mildly pork, hints of what tasted a bit oceany to me…salty, but not too MSG laden. Not a huge bowl, but just right for my appetite.
I should have sat back in my chair, and let out a good "aaaah", but I didn't. For some reason, this didn't do it for me…… it was good, but not what I really wanted.
Minh Ky Restaurant
4644 El Cajon Boulevard
San Diego, CA 92115
So what the heck did I want…… perhaps it was one of my favorites when I'm feeling a bit under the weather; Beef Sate Egg Noodle "dry", that is soup on the side. And I thought that I'd give a place that I really didn't care for on my previous visits a try….
Toan Ky Restaurant in Linda Vista:
**** Toan Ky has closed
I of course ordered the Mi Sate Kho, and when the bowl(s) arrived I was a bit surprised. First, at over six bucks a bowl, this was a pretty small portion, even for me. And what's with the fried won ton wrappers? What was this, Mandarin Canton?
The beef sate egg noodle "dry" is served a bit differently here. First, instead of being served egg noodles blanched in the standard Mi broth, served with the sauteed sate (say that five times quickly) sauce, beef, tomato, onions, and what have you, with the broth on the side. The noodles were served blanched in broth and almost everything else was in a fairly small bowl on the side. The beef was a thin sliced Pho cut, dumped in the broth to "cook"….. and what to do about the Thai Basil? Of course the sign does say Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese…… This tasted pretty watered down…. and that's saying a lot when it comes to sate.
The noodles were well cooked and under the noodles were bean sprouts and green onions…. which told the story of how this bowl was put together…. just like regular egg noodle soup, then rolled out into a bowl. Actually, just the noodles themselves tasted ok….. so even though this place is priced like Minh Ky and Tan Ky, and serves kinda snack sized servings, I may return to give the egg noodle soup another try.
Toan Ky Restaurant
6925 B Linda Vista Road
San Diego, CA 92111
I did get a kick out of the two guys who walked in and ordered "Foe", as in Fee Fie Foe Fum…. followed by another young lady who ordered the same thing… Foe… but when I stared over at their noodle soup, I had to agree…. it looked like "Foe".
Getting back to my craving….. still not satiated…. I was feeling so, well, blah, and unmotivated when it came to food. I'd already been home for a couple of weeks, what to do?
Stay tuned for part 2.