Revisits – Tu Thanh and Tan Ky Mi Gia

I finally had some time for breakfasts this past weekend and decided to head up to City Heights.

Tu Thanh:

This one I was actually craving for some reason.

It was a bit chilly and I wanted some noodle soup…..and not Pho nor Bun Bo Hue. It had been quite a few months since I last visited, though my relationship with this Bun Mang Vit goes back nearly a dozen years. Not as much banana blossom in the salad nor rehydrated bamboo shoot these days; though it seems like more duck. The duck had a nice toothsomeness and a nice dunk in the gingery and sweet nuoc mam gung does the trick in terms of flavor. The noodles were done right; the broth had a bit more richness than usual.

Though I think it's still that wonderful nuoc mam gung that makes this dish tick.

While working my way through the soup I suddenly had a realization. Because of what we'd been eating at home and out and our trip to Italy, I hadn't had rice in over a month! Crazy.

Even more crazy……

I wasn't craving rice at all.

Tu Thanh
4804 University Ave. #A
San Diego, CA 92105

The next day, after making my usual stop for bread at Con Pane in the morning; I headed back up to City Heights. It was just after 8 and many places were still closed. I'd recently been to Minh Ky and I wanted to wait awhile before checking out Mi Quang Mien Trung again. A place popped into my head. I hadn't been there in several years.

Tan Ky Mi Gia:

**** Tan Ky Mi Gia has closed

Like maybe over three years. Tan Ky Mi Gia is so discreetly hidden, I wasn't even sure the place was still open……

Same owner as in the days it was Tan Ky Mi Gia, then Hing Ky Mi Gia, then back to Tan Ky Mi Gia again. There must be a story here…..and I've heard one or two different one's. The place hasn't aged real well. In the past I'd go with a egg noodle soup, or a duck and egg noodle soup. But this time I went with the Beef Sate Egg Noodle "dry".

And while this didn't look particularly inspiring, it did the trick. The beef was surprisingly tender, the egg noodles cooked perfectly, there was a good amount of savory-pungent sate sauce, and the tomatoes added some nice acid. That broth was not very good though….too much MSG, not much other flavor for my taste. Still, this did the trick.

The one interesting thing I noticed was how much the prices here have gone up. This was now $8.25…..strange because down the street Minh Ky's version is $6.75. Times must be tough.

I need to return to see if the duck is still decent here……

Tan Ky Mi Gia
5237 El Cajon Blvd
San Diego, CA 92115

To me, it's places like this that make San Diego tick…….