As the weather cooled for a couple of days last week, I looked forward to having some noodles…..the hardest decision was, "what to get?" It was still a bit too warm for Bun Bo Hue from Mien Trung, on my last visit to Pho King I was accosted by some dude asking me for money twice, once before I went into the place and once leaving…..I also spotted him looking into the windows of my vehicle….man, what's going on here? And while Hu Tieu Nam Vang Kho from 777 sounded good, I wanted some soup. So I decided on heading back to Tu Thanh. I'd only visited once, back in December, and really enjoyed the Bun Mang Vit – Duck and Bamboo Shoot Soup. So it was time for another visit.
The place really looks like a proper restaurant now; there were several tables filled when I arrived, a very nice sign. The young gentleman working here will surprise you; he looks caucasian, but speaks Vietnamese….he's also efficient as heck. I also found a couple of parking stalls right past the restaurant, which was nice….I hadn't even noticed those before!
The broth was scalding hot, clean tasting, and fragrant, the bun perfectly prepared, and the bamboo shoots (you need to use dried bamboo shoots for a proper bowl) nicely stepped and rehydrated, adding a nice earthy scent to the broth, but still nice and crunchy.
The "goi vit", basically the duck and "salad", a combination of greens, herbs, and shredded banana blossom proves a nice counter-point. The duck, sliced, nicely flavored with a bit of chew.
And then of course there's the dipping sauce; savory nouc mam cham; sweet, the heady flavors of ginger, I'd say it's almost drinkable.
I did hit the spot!
One of the more interesting things, at least for me, is that I like ot eat this a number of ways…dip the duck in the broth, add a touch for the dipping sauce. dip the salad into the broth, then the dipping sauce, just go for the duck in the dipping sauce, just the veggies in the broth, just the dipping sauce like a true salad, add a touch of the sauce to the broth about halfway thru……heck, just drink that sauce….
As I walked to my car, I wondered how Chinese Kitchen was doing without Chi Tu Thanh making the bun mang vit? I guess I'll need to check them out….someday.
Tu Thanh
4804 University Ave. #A
San Diego, CA 92105
Hours:
Thurs – Tues 9am – 9pm
Wednesday 9am – 5pm
That sounds and looks delicious.
Hey Billy – They do a pretty good job with the Bun Mang Vit here…great by San Diego standards.
sounded wonderful!
Hi Kat – This really hit the spot!