Vietnamese Restaurants – Page 54

Pho T Cali

August 6, 2006 mmm-yoso Pho, Vietnamese Restaurants

*** An updated post on Pho T Cali can be found here.

*** Pho T Cali has closed

One thing I really enjoy about doing this food blog are the emails, most of the emails I receive are very nice, kind, fun, interesting, and sometimes quite entertaining. Of course I get my share of Spam, Shills, and other unsavory Emails; but I'd say 90% of them are at least fun. A recent email surely belonged in the "entertaining" category. Someone named "Pho-grrrl" sent me an email, that was really a single run-on sentence…."Hey, you have to eat at Pho T Cali, it's the best! Pho T Cali rocks!!! They make the best Pho, SO YOU HAVE TO GO THERE SOON! Pho T Cali ROCKS, woo-hoo!" For some reason, I started laughing, I was feeling a bit under the weather, but this email still cracked me up. I knew right away that this wasn't a "shill" message. I mean, I've only seen 1 Woman working at Pho T Cali, who I really wouldn't think of being a Grrrl, nor could I imagine Her using the term "rocks", nor ending a sentence with "woo-hoo".

But, since Pho-grrrl brightened my day, and since I was feeling a bit under the weather, and a bowl of Pho would be a nice tonic, I drove over to Pho T Cali.

Pho T Cali was formerly known as Pho Hoa Cali, and as far as I could tell the menu and staff are basically the same. The food had changed slightly, and the prices had gone up a bit since the change. I've always found the food at Pho T Cali to be quite middle of the road, in fact, I had considered doing Pho T Cali instead of Phuong Trang for my retrospective, as the example of MOR(Middle of the Road) Pho. Being MOR has it's benefits, Pho T Cali is very popular with a wide range of people.

Today I chose the Pho Dac Biet Xe Lua(Special – Extra Large bowl – $5.50). The garnishes are the basic basil-bean sprouts-jalapeno-lime quartet.

The very large bowl of Pho arrived soon after:

In keeping with the MOR theme, the broth was on the lighter side, with a very mild beef flavor, though a tad on the salty side. There was no outstanding flavor element, and the oil level was low. That is not to say it was bland, the green onions, onions, and all of the garnishes(including the jalapenos) gave the broth life. The portion of thinly sliced rare beef was pretty good, not tough at all, but a bit on the dry side. The brisket and flank were very tasty, though a bit on the fatty side. In keeping with safe theme, the portion of tripe was really small, and tendon was nearly non-existent.

There was a humongous clump of noodles at the bottom of the bowl.

The noodles weren't cooked enough and were tough, but they are usually fine. Overall, the Pho was as expected.

Don't get me wrong, Pho T Cali has the formula down, decent food, good prices, and is fairly consistent. When people ask me about trying Pho for the first time, I sometimes recommend Pho T Cali. The service is efficient, and the "appetizer sin", where the Pho, or other main course arrives before the Cha Gio or Goi Cuon has never happened to me here. Most of the dishes(except for the Bun Bo Hue, which is lousy), are done fairly well. Here's to you Pho-grrrl. Woo-Hoo! Or maybe Hoo-Woo…….

Pho T Cali
7351 Clairemont Mesa Blvd
San Diego, CA 92111

Hours – Sun-Thurs 830am-9pm
Fri-Sat 830am-930pm

Pho Tu Do

July 25, 2006 mmm-yoso Bun Bo Hue, Vietnamese Restaurants

*** Pho Tu Do has closed, and will reopen as a Sushi-Teriyaki Restaurant.

A few months ago; the "Twins" from Sandwich Emporium mentioned Pho Tu Do, and specifically, the various "Khai Vi"(appetizers) on the menu. Peter(or was it John) mentioned that the appetizers on the menu at Pho Tu Do are pretty hard to find in San Diego. Then, a few weeks later Howie of a A Foodie View, and His friend Codergirl also mentioned the unique(for San Diego) appetizers at Pho Tu Do. So last week, I finally made it to Pho Tu Do.

As I parked my car, I realized that I had eaten here several years earlier, and had a very mediocre bowl of Pho. But this time I was in search of something other than Pho.

Unlike many other Vietnamese Restaurants, the menu at Pho Tu Do is short; about 8 appetizers, 20 soup and Com Tam(broken rice) items, 13 beverages, and 4 desserts. It sure makes ordering easy – no "Vietnamese Menu Overload" here!

On this visit I started with Banh It-Banh Ram($3.75):

Two sticky, glutinous rice balls, with a mochi like texture is filled with shrimp and diced pork, lay on top of a fried croquette also filled with shrimp and pork. All topped off with green onions, that seem to be partially cooked, and ground shrimp. Served with a little bowl of Nuoc Mam Cham.

Though these appetizers were a bit on the heavy and oily side, the contrasting textures; the gooey glutinous sweet rice ball, against the slightly crunchy deep fried crouquette, were interesting. It was also a challenge to eat, being very hard to cut and quite hot. The shrimp tasted quite interesting, having a flavor that edged toward that of re hydrated dried shrimp, though not quite as intense. The shrimp also looked like it had been cooked in annatto oil, or some other annatto based product. Overall a very interesting appetizer.

Having also heard that the Owners of Pho Tu Do(don’t know if it’s true or not) where from Central Vietnam, I decided to try the Bun Bo Hue (small – $5). The garnishes that arrived were on the skimpy side.

Though the bowl of Bun Bo Hue was quite large for a "small" bowl:

For me, this was a very disappointing bowl of Bun Bo Hue. First off the broth was cloudy and weak, and not very spicy at all(first time I’ve ever had to add slices of jalapeno to my Bun Bo Hue). The thick cut beef was very tough, though the slice of Pork Leg had some tasty edible meat on it. The noodles were overcooked and on the mushy side as well.

Still, I saw two other items on the menu that interested me. So, a few days later, I managed to talk the Missus into having dinner at Pho Tu Do. This time I ordered the Appetizer Sample Plate($6.00):

The tray arrived with 1 piece of the afore mentioned Banh It and 5 little plates of Banh Beo, each plate contained a little round rice cake, topped with fried pork, green onions, and ground shrimp. Topped with a touch of Nuoc Mam, I thought these were quite enjoyable.

But our hands down favorite item were the two pieces of Banh Bot Loc.

Two sticky "dumplings" made of tapioca flour is stuffed with shrimp and pork, and topped with ground shrimp and green onions. The ratio of filling to tapioca "cake" was perfect, as all of the flavors melded together in harmony. You could also still make out the flavor of the shrimp and the fatty pork, which kind of got lost in the huge glutinous Banh It. I think this would make a wonderful snack…..

We also got an order of Spring Rolls (Goi Cuon – $3.75).

These were okay, full of too much Bun, and not enough herbage to give it flavor. We both noticed that the Sot Dau Phong(peanut sauce) served with the spring rolls was very good.

The Missus ordered Her favorite hot weather dish Bun Cha Gio(vermicelli with Egg Rolls – $5.75):

This was a very large bowl of Bun. The Egg Rolls were very good, crisp and full of shrimp and pork flavor. The noodles were terrible, almost hot, and cut into small pieces, and over cooked. The only greens served with the Bun was a chiffonade of lettuce on the bottom of the bowl. Most puzzling was the Nuoc Mam Cham, on this visit, we both noticed that it was very weak in flavor, it tasted almost watered down, and even getting another bowl of the sauce didn’t help this dish, it just made it more watery. In the end, a very unrefreshing dish.

Still, every time we pass Pho Tu Do, we talk about stopping for a couple of orders of Banh Bot Loc…

The service at Pho Tu Do is quiet and efficient, and the clientele seemed to be mostly Vietnamese, in direct contrast to most other Vietnamese Restaurants in the area. Pho Tu Do almost always seems empty when viewed from the street, though when I’ve visited, there always seems to be a few people eating there.

Pho Tu Do
5430 Clairemont Mesa Blvd
San Diego, CA 92117

Ever Had These Before?

July 24, 2006 mmm-yoso Vietnamese Restaurants

My apologies, both work and the heat have affected my posting schedule………

So here’s a preview of the upcoming post. Some really interesting Hue-style street food, here in San Diego.

Really good stuff, that Howie from A Foodies View, and CoderGirl, in addition to the Twins at Sandwich Emporium mentioned to me……..

Stay Tuned!

Song Huong Food to Go

July 18, 2006 mmm-yoso Banh Mi, Bun Bo Hue, Sandwiches, Vietnamese Restaurants, What Ed Eats -You too can be like Ed!

Song Huong Food to Go is another little Mom-and-Pop hole-in-the-wall Vietnamese Diner/Snack Shop located on the corner of Menlo Avenue and El Cajon Boulevard.

This intersection of ECB, must feed a heck of alot of people. A Chau and Minh Ky, are right across the street, and Song Huong shares the strip mall with Thien Thanh Restaurant. Which is how we came to eat at Song Huong. After a recent visit to Thien Thanh, the Missus walked on over to Song Huong to order an Avocado Shake(which she thought was good, BTW). She noticed the Young Lady working there, who turned out to be the Owner’s Sister eating a pretty large bowl of Bun Rieu. So a few days later we dropped by for a quick meal.

The interior of Song Huong is small, and spartan, with a mere six tables, and boxes of supplies, and a cooler, along with the requisite high bar counter taking up most of the space.

The large middle table is usually occupied by family and friends, either reading, eating, or on one occasion participating in a very lively game of cards.

Song Huong also boasts an interesting variety of Banh Mi, all priced at $1.99:

I’m still waiting for Ed from Yuma’s opinion on the Sardine Banh Mi!

One quick look at the menu, and you’ll make an interesting observation. Most items are under $4.99!

In the mood for something spicy I ordered the Bun Bo Hue, the Spicy Noodle soup($4.50) without blood. A plate of "garnishes" soon arrived at the table.

The plate of herbs and veggies varies for Bun Bo Hue varies from restaurant to restaurant, and this version included mint, tiet to(purple perilla), shredded cabbage, bean sprouts, basil, and lettuce. Pretty much a little bit of everything.

A few minutes later the noodle soup arrived.

Like the garnishes, Bun Bo Hue varies from restaurant to restaurant. For example, many restaurants will serve the Bun Bo Hue, as an almost clear broth with chili oil added for heat, and a bowl of fermented shrimp paste and chili paste on the side. Pho Hoa Hiep, and Convoy Noodle House serve their Bun Bo Hue in this manner. I prefer having all the flavorings already added and mixed into the broth, like Pho Ca Dao does. This was the latter version. The broth for this Bun Bo Hue was very straightforward and to the point, nice and spicy, but not very complex. The shrimp paste flavor was also quite muted. In what I found to be a unique touch, Lean Pork Sausage(Gio Lua) was added to the various cuts of meat in the soup. The meats(Thick cut beef, tendon, and some inedible pork parts) were not the best, most were tough and dry, but there was a heck of alot of noodles. The Bun Bo Hue succeeded in filling me up, and then some.

The Missus ordered the Bun Cha Gio Tom Nuong(Vermicelli with Egg Rolls and Shrimp – $4.50):

Like the Bun Bo Hue, this dish accomplished what it should. It really filled you up. The Cha Gio were stuffed with alot of pork, and the Missus poured two little bowls of Nuoc Mam Cham over the generous portion of noodles, and chowed it down. And left quite satisfied. Not quite the level of the Bun at Thien Thanh, but $1.50 cheaper.

A few days later, I decided to grab a Banh Mi, so I headed over to Song Huong, looked at the photos and placed my order for the Dac Biet(special). Now this is where I ran into a little miscommunication. This is the Banh Mi I received.

The bread was nicely toasted and had a combination of a crusty exterior, combined with doughy bread. I didn’t care for the tough cilantro twigs, but there was a good balance of pickled vegetables and cucumber. Beware the stealthy jalapeno, just when you don’t expect it, you’ll munch on a huge piece of jalapeno, hot enough to stop your heart. Of course, if you’re like Ed from Yuma, and driving while eating your Banh Mi……

What I thought was strange were the meats, which basically consisted of Char Siu, though there two types of Char Siu in the sandwich, pieces that were fatty, and looked like pork belly, and slices that were lean. I loved the thick "smear" of pate’, but didn’t care for the amount of mayo on my sandwich. But still, for $1.99, who’s going to complain.

Also, the Gentleman who took my order was neither the person who I believe is the Owner, nor the tiny Young Lady who speaks perfect English. Or maybe it was just the "Dac Biet" du jour?

Undeterred, I arrived back at Song Huong a few days later, and ordered the Banh Mi Dac Biet again($1.99). And this is what I got on this occasion.

So it was basically the same sandwich as before, but without the mayo, and this time with Gio Lua? Damn good sandwich, whatever it is. One thing I did notice; you should eat these ASAP, the bread goes downhill very quickly. Also, these are not the super long K Sandwiches style Banh Mi, but I think they have much more flavor.

One last thing, when ordering, grab one of the plastic menus, you’ll find that the numbers on the display, do not correspond with the numbers on the menu. Recently, I ordered some Buon Cuon($4.99) to go, using the numbers off the board, when I got to my destination I was shocked to find Bun Thit Nuong(Vermicelli with BBQ Pork)! Sorry no camera, but it wasn’t too bad, just not what I intended to order.

Song Huong opens at 6am in the morning for coffee and drinks, but the kitchen doesn’t get going until 730 or so. I think I’ll drop by one morning for the Scrambled Egg Banh Mi.

The folks are quite nice, though as mentioned above the are some communication issues, and other "quirks". Of course, if you speak Vietnamese, you’ll have no trouble. Song Huong is a well priced, take-out joint, so if you’re a bit low on cash…….and in the area, you can always grab a Sardine Banh Mi for two bucks!

One quick note: As with many parking lots in the area; it can be hell! I’ve been blocked in twice in this particular lot, and had to go from shop to shop to find the driver of the car that blocked me in.

Song Huong Food to Go
4650 El Cajon Blvd
San Diego, CA 92115

Thien Thanh

June 25, 2006 mmm-yoso Vietnamese Restaurants

*** Update Thien Thanh has since closed, sigh…..

I've still got 2 more posts on Portland, but I thought I'd take a short break and return "home" to San Diego. I've passed Thien Thanh Vietnamese Restaurant on El Cajon Boulevard hundreds of times. I thought it would be a good idea to finally have a meal there.

I don't ever recall hearing anything on Thien Thanh, so I thought it would be at the least an interesting visit. Thien Thanh is located in a strip mall on the corner of El Cajon Blvd and Menlo Avenue, just East and across the street from the strip mall that houses A Chau and Minh Ky.

The interior of Thien Thanh is quite clean, and bright. The menu is quite varied, and even has a section titled Dac Biet(Specials) which was almost all in Vietnamese(except the Steak & French Fries!!!):

Not quite sure what most of these are, I'm pretty sure the first 5 items are salads, but does anyone see anything interesting…..except the sashimi.

We started off with the Banh Xeo($6.00 – Vietnamese Crepe). A plate of very fresh lettuce, mint, and Tiet To(Purple Perilla), along with two small bowls of Nuoc Mam Cham.

Honestly, some of the freshest garnishes I've ever encountered in a Vietnamese Restaurant.

The very rich looking crepe arrived soon after. The Missus took a lettuce leaf, some garnishes, a large piece of the crepe, dipped her "bite" into the nuoc mam, bit into it, and made a face……. "What, is that taste….too rich!" I put together my crepe, and took a bite. It was very clear, to me. "There's alot of coconut milk in this."

Those that enjoy the taste of coconut milk will love this. I thought the strong coconut flavor detracted from the excellent ingredients. In the crepe were large plump shrimp, strips of pork(instead of the usual ground pork), and the crepe was fried to perfection.

The Missus ordered her remedy to the hot weather; Bun Cha Gio(Vermicelli with Egg Rolls – $5.95):

The Missus declared this Her favorite version of this dish. What set this apart, was the generous amount of Mint and Tiet To cut into a chiffonade. The Nuoc Mama Cham also went well with the dish, as it wasn't too sweet. Sounds like we'll be having a few more of these in the future.

I ordered the Com Tam Dac Biet(Special Broken Rice – $6.50):

As with the Dac Biet Com Tam dishes, a mixed bag. The Grilled Pork was tasteless and dry, and the Fried Bean Curd Skin with Shrimp was fried perfectly but bland. The Shredded Pork, which on a bad day can be like chewing on rubberbands, except rubberbands have more flavor, was surprisingly moist, and there was a little surprise, little pieces of garlic gave the pork flavor. I still haven't met a Steamed Egg(except one) that I didn't like.

And this was no exception. The broken rice was very moist as well. A pretty good dish on the whole.

I think we'll be making another visit to Thien Thanh in the near future. The service was very nice, and there are other interesting dish on the menu, like Bun Bo Hue, Bun Rieu(Northern style crab flavored broth with vermicelli), Bun Rieu Oc(the above with snails), Curry Lamb, and other items from the Vietnamese Menu. I found prices to be on the high side, but the quality and freshness of the ingredients explain why. No Pho Bo' on the menu, though Pho Ga' (Chicken Noodle Soup) is.

Thien Thanh Vietnamese Restaurant
4658 El Cajon Blvd
San Diego, CA 92115

Sun-Thurs 8am-9pm
Fri-Sat 8am-10pm

Nhu Y Restaurant

June 5, 2006 mmm-yoso Vietnamese Restaurants

*** Nhu Y is now Com Tam Thuan Kieu you can find an updated post here.

A few months back "Larry" commented on my post on Saigon Restaurant, and mentioned a few interesting dishes, one of which I've heard of, one which I'd never heard of, both of which I'd never tried. He mentioned eating these dishes at Nhu Y' Restaurant. On a recent quite warm afternoon, I asked the Missus what she'd like to eat. When she mentioned Vietnamese, I jumped on it! Mexican Food and Vietnamese Food are not among the Missus's favorites, so when She is in the mood for it, I really do try to take advantage of the opportunity.

Nhu Y' fronts the same very busy strip mall that contains Kim Chan Sandwich Shop. We had been to Nhu Y' a few times, but mainly for Durian or other drinks served there.

We'd always noticed that the clean but spartan dining room was never full, but that a few tables were always occupied. And this afternoon was no exception.

A serious Older Gentleman brought us our menus, which as is the norm, was quite large.

We started with the usual Cha Gio(Egg Rolls – $4.50):

These wonderfully crisp Cha Gio were served with the usual lettuce leaf, mint, and in this case Tiet To, the purple Perilla (Akajiso) minty flavored herb. The egg rolls were generously filled, though we thought the Nuoc Mam Cham was a bit on the sweet side. The Cha Gio were also fried very well, they were not oily in the slightest bit.

Due to the warm weather, the Missus decided on the Bun Chao Tom Cha Gio(Rice Vermicelli with Shrimp & Spring Rolls – $5.95):

Yes, more Egg Rolls! The Missus also was a bit disappointed with the shrimp. Instead of the "BBQ Shrimp" in the menu, she received "Shrimp Cake". Again, the Nuoc Mam Cham provided was a bit on the sweet side, and this dish tasted very routine, though the vermicelli had the perfect amount of pull and chew for our tastes.

I on the other hand was somewhat obsessed with the "Dac Biet" portion of the menu:

And there I saw it; "Bun Mam". Now I had heard about Bun Mam; someone had told me that it was a fermented fish or fermented shrimp based spicy broth. So when Larry mentioned Bun Mam at Nhu Y', I knew I had to try it. So of course I ordered it ($6.95). The first item to arrive was the mixed greens, much like I get for Bun Bo Hue. The one thing that kind of turned us off, was that some of the mint leaves were very brown and wilted. All the other garnishes were fine.

A dish of "Bun" also arrived. A thicker version of the Rice Vermicelli, also similar to the noodles in Bun Bo Hue. And soon enough the large bowl of soup, with a dark colored broth arrived.

One thing gave me pause; it was the cross cut slices of Catfish. Those that know me, understand that I rarely get catfish, I can't stand the muddy flavor of many fresh water fish. When I had ordered this, the Gentleman had told me there was Eggplant, pork, and "fishies", in the sauce. I had thought He was warning me about the fermented fish used in this dish, but I guess I was wrong. First off, the broth was rich, a touch sweet, salty, and slightly spicy. Yes, it was very "pungent", but I enjoyed it. The Missus didn't enjoy the broth on the first try. But a few minutes later she tried a sip again, and said, "it's pretty good, a little spicy, and rich." Amazingly, I enjoyed the catfish, no muddy flavor(probably due to the strong flavor of the broth), and very tender. Watch for those bones, though. The Eggplant was nice and tender; but my favorite part of the soup was this:

Yep, it a nice thin slice of fatty pork belly. Not "the other white meat" pork, but full flavored pork belly. Good stuff! Not quite knowing what to do, and seeing that the soup bowl was quite full, and that we were given two bowls(The serious Gentleman, was now smiling, I guess He enjoyed seeing that we really enjoyed ourselves), I put veggies in the bottom, some noodles, and then some broth, and ate it all up. Usually, I'd do the "dip" thing for the noodles, and pile the garnishes into the bowl; but it was ponderously filled. This was good stuff; highly recommended, if you don't mind a bit spicy, and slightly fishy. I told Ed from Yuma that He'd love this.

I recently revisited Nhu Y' alone. And the first thing the Gentleman asked me was, "Where is your pretty Lady?" I told Him She had to work, so it was just a solo visit. I asked Him for a recommendation, and he pointed to the Bun Cha Ha Noi($5.95). Such a coincidence, since this was the other dish that Larry recommended. It is also a favorite of Noodlepie. This quite large platter arrived:

Though the vegetable and herb garnishes are much different from the versions I've read about in Vietnam, and Nuoc Mam Cham is used instead of broth, this was a very flavorful and satisfying dish.

Two types of meat was provided; sliced BBQ Pork, and meatballs:

The BBQ pork was nice and tender, slightly charred, but a bit under flavored/marinated for my tastes, though the ground peanuts were a nice touch. The grilled meatball was good, meaty, not too tough, slightly charred, with a slightly peppery beefy flavor.

The drill started out with me grabbing a few leaves placing some Bun, garnishes, and meat; dipping in the Nuoc Mam, and so forth. It evolved to me making lettuce rolls, and eventually, finishing everything up mixed in a bowl.

Pretty darn good for about 6 bucks, eh? As I left, one of the Guys asked me "Are you sure, you don't need to get something for your wife?" Once you get past the serious and stoic front; pretty nice folks. Here's another post on Bun Cha.

Nhu Y Restaurant
4712 El Cajon Blvd Ste A
San Diego, CA 92115

Open 730am – 9pm, 7 Days a Week

Thanks for the recommendation Larry!

Tan Ky Mi Gia – Mira Mesa

May 22, 2006 mmm-yoso Vietnamese Restaurants

*** Tan Ky Mi Gia has closed

While on a recent shopping excursion to Lucky Seafood Supermarket, I decided to have a bite at Tan Ky Mi Gia, a Vietnamese-Chinese noodle and soup restaurant that had opened recently.

The generic, and simple interior was well lit and clean. Even though it was a bit on the early side(930 am), the restaurant was fairly busy.

As soon as I sat a middle aged Gentleman handed me a menu, and stood there, and waited, and waited…..making me feel rather uncomfortable. A quick thought went through my mind. Maybe I shouldn't even open the menu, I should just place my hand on top of it, roll my eyes back, and make moaning noises, "ommmm, ommmm", and then order something I'm sure a restaurant like this would have. But looking at the Gentleman's stoic stare, I just had the feeling he really wouldn't find anything funny with the "psychic ordering" routine. So after a moment I ordered the Won Ton Egg Noodle Soup($5.00). My soup arrived within 5 minutes.

The broth was light, halfway between the very clear broth at Minh Ky, and the darker richer broth at Luong Hai Ky. It was quite salty, and I wouldn't be surprised if there was MSG in it. There was a good amount of green onion floating around, and a few thin slices of dry and tasteless Char Siu. Also in the soup were six won tons, of the dense meatball with a slice of shrimp variety. The won tons were on the bland side, though it could be that the broth was so salty, most other tastes were cancelled out.

There was a good amount of perfectly crunchy, al' dente egg noodles in the soup.

Other then the noodles there wasn't much to make me return. I'd rather have the "loaded" Won Ton soup at Minh Ky, though the broth there is too light. Or the rich, darker broth, at Luong Hai Ky, though I understand that the Owner has passed on, and the restaurant is under new ownership. Since the area has quite a few restaurants, I think I'll let someone else make the next visit.

Notes: The prices at Tan Ky MI Gia range from about $4.75 for Wonton Soup, to $7.00 for Shrimp Chow Fun/Chow Mein. Most dishes are under $6, and the service, while not very friendly is efficient.

Tan Ky Mi Gia
9330 Mira Mesa Blvd #A
San Diego, CA 92126

Before I Pho’-get: The Pho’ Retrospective – Phuong Trang, Convoy Noodle House, Pho Hoa Hiep, Pho Ca Dao (ECB), Pho Cali, Pho Viet Cali, Lucky Pho

May 15, 2006 mmm-yoso Pho, Vietnamese Restaurants

*** For updated content on Pho' you can check out our Pho category.

As promised, here's my Pho' retrospective. But first I made a stop at Phuong Trang:

*** An updated post on the Pho at Phuong Trang can be found here.

Why Phuong Trang? I know I've already done a post on Phuong Trang, but I consider the Pho' there to be the most "middle of the road" Pho'. Not too dark, not to much oil, no strong clove, anise, or cinnamon flavor. That's not to say I don't like it, I've eaten there on many occasions, and don't mind it at all. The Pho' is very accessible, and when someone who's never had Pho' asks me where to go, I sometimes recommend Phuong Trang for that reason as well.

Today's bowl is the Extra Large Combination($5.25). The rare steak is always a good bet here, and the brisket is usually pretty good. Today there was a shortage of tripe, and the beef flank was mostly inedible fat. I also find that Phuong Trang always provides a good amount of Basil, Bean Sprouts, and Jalapenos, at least for my taste. Though I've noticed that quantities have gotten smaller; also no Ngo Gai is provided. The noodles are usually just the right texture. So there you go, your perfect, consistent, middle of the road Pho'.

I've come to understand that Pho' preferences vary wildly from individual to individual. Even more then Banh Mi. Some like a lighter broth, some darker, some enjoy a good quantity of oil, while others are just plain grossed out by it. Some even want the soup brought at a scalding hot temperature, but another said that if the broth is too hot, you won't be able to eat it, and the noodles will get too soft. I won't even get into the various cuts of meat! You get the point, right?

So I'll just list the bowls, and tack on a short impression, and maybe some notes….. All bowls are of the "combination"(Dac Biet).

September 11, 2005 – Convoy Noodle House

*** An updated post on the Pho at Convoy Noodle House can be found here.

*** Convoy Noodle House has closed

Impressions: A darker-full bodied, broth, stronger clove flavor. Meats are routine and are sometimes inconsistent. Skimpy garnishes, no Ngo Gai.

Notes: One of my regular stops, I like the broth, and usually a good quantity of meat.

Convoy Noodle House
4647 Convoy St
San Diego, CA 92111

January 16, 2006 – Pho Hoa Hiep

Impressions: Lighter broth, the flavor of the cilantro, green onions, and garnishes(including Ngo Gai) come through. Love the tendon here, also usually a very generous amount of tripe. Didn't care for the rare steak. Noodles were the normal clump.

Notes: On a subsequent visit, the soup was exactly the same, so looks like a very consistent bowl.

Pho Hoa Hiep
6947 Linda Vista Road
San Diego, CA 92111

February 5, 2006 – Pho Ca Dao (El Cajon Boulevard Location)

Impressions: Broth a shade richer then Pho Hoa Hiep. Lot's of green onions and cilantro for flavor, which was very balanced. Tendon at Pho Ca Dao, is my favorite, generous amount of brisket, though a bit too fatty. Rare steak was on the tough and dry side. Quantity of garnish on the small side.

Notes: Though I usually have the Bun Bo Hue here, I think the Pho' is pretty good.

Pho Ca Dao
5223 El Cajon Blvd
San Diego, CA 92115

March 1, 2006 – Pho' Cali

*** Pho Cali has closed

Impressions: If you're in Mission Valley and must have a bowl of Pho', this is your only choice. Broth had medium oil content, slight anise flavor in medium-light broth. On my visit, the noodles were a cold clump in the bottom of the bowl. Very skimpy on the garnishes, and I didn't care for the meat, rare steak and tendon was tough. The broth is okay, though.

Pho' Cali
1400 Camino De La Reina #105
San Diego, CA 92018

March 19, 2006 – Pho Viet Cali

*** Pho Viet Cali has closed

Impressions: The Dac Biet was pretty expensive, $6.15. Terribly stingy on the garnishes. Light, unremarkable broth. In addition to all the "usual" cuts of beef, this bowl had meatballs. Overall, lot's of meat, generic broth, a bit pricier.

Pho' Viet Cali
6755 Mira Mesa Blvd. #113
San Diego, CA 92121

March 28, 2006 – Lucky Pho'

Impressions: Darker broth, with a hint of anise and clove. Oil content varies; on this trip it was low, on another slightly higher. Noodles are routine, but good. The meats are not the best, and are on the inconsistent side, some days the tendon is very tough, likewise with the brisket, etc. Adequate garnishes, with Ngo Gai.

Notes: This broth is to my taste, and that is the main reason I return. The meat at Pho Ca Dao and Pho Hoa Hiep are better.

Lucky Pho' in Lucky Seafood Supermarket
9326 Mira Mesa Blvd
San Diego, CA 92126

May 10, 2006 – Bolsaa Vietnamese Restaurant

*** Bolsaa has since closed

Impressions: The garnishes are adequate. Broth on the light side, with low oil content. I found the rare steak to be good, but the rest of the meats were on the tough and dry side. Noodles were fine, not mushy and not too chewy.

Notes: On this visit, the broth was very salty; though I've been informed that it was probably a "glitch".

Bolsaa Vietnamese Cuisine
4646 Convoy St
San Diego, CA 92111

Well there it is, and those in San Diego probably have noticed that many of the popular Pho' establishments, such as Pho Hoa Huang, Pho Van, Pho Hoa Cali, Pho T Cali, and so on, have not been "represented". All in due time. And maybe I'll have enough bowls of Bun Bo Hue soon to do a retrospective on that as well.

Until then; like DietChiliCheeseFries always says – "Eat the Pho!!!!"

Bolsaa Vietnamese Restaurant

May 10, 2006 mmm-yoso Pho, Vietnamese Restaurants

*** Update, Bolsaa has since closed. And is now the Crab Hut.

Yep, you read that right; it’s Bolsaa with 2 "aa’s" at the end. Not to be confused with Bolsa on Mira Mesa Boulevard, though I’ve been told that there is a connection. This Bolsaa is located in a strip mall along with several other restaurants on Convoy St.

About a year and a half ago, I had a decent bowl of Pho’ Ga (Chicken Rice Noodle Soup) at Bolsaa, and then had forgotten all about the place. Recently, on a trip to Balboa Tofu House I saw the Bolsaa sign and made a mental note to revisit Bolsaa. And so here I was……

The interior of Bolsaa is alot larger then the tiny storefront would indicate, and is quite clean. There’s also the requisite bar area, that almost all Vietnamese Restaurants seem to have for the express purpose of hiding the cash register.

The restaurant also never seems to be full, no matter what time of day I’ve visited.

On this trip I ordered the typical Pho’ Bo(Beef Noodles Soup) Combination(Rare Steak, Brisket, Flank, Tendon, and Tripe) Extra Large($5.75), compared to the Combination Large($5.25), or just the Combination ($4.75), for some reason I see some humor in this, though I can’t quite understand why. As is the norm, the garnishes arrived first:

I thought the amount of Basil was perfect for my tastes, though the bean sprouts were lacking. What to do about the lemon wedge??????

The large bowl of Pho’ arrived steaming hot to the table.

The rare steak was perfect, thinly sliced, and soft. The rest of the meat items didn’t fare so well, most were dry and tough, and the amount of tripe was negligible. The noodles weren’t in a solid clump on the bottom and were about as good as they could possibly be, not mushy, and not too chewy. The broth was on the light side, and very generic. The oil level was low, and the only very distinctive trait I could really get a handle on was how "salty" it was. It got to the point where I finished the noodles, but couldn’t bring myself to finish up the broth. Who knows, could be a glitch, but man was it salty.

On a recent morning I did manage to make another visit to Bolsaa, and this time decided on a change of pace and ordered the Chicken with Lemon Grass and Hot Pepper($6.95). The dish was delivered on two plates, first, a really "healthy"(or depending how you view carbs, unhealthy) portion of rice:

Then the good size portion of chicken:

The dark meat chicken had been cut into cubes then stir fried with onions. The sauce had a slight sweet-soy/fish sauce taste. There was almost no spiciness or heat, and the dish was on the oily side (even for me….). I honestly felt that I could do better at home. Pass on this one…..

I’ll probably visit Bolsaa again in the (maybe not so near) future. Though I’ll probably have the Pho’ Ga, or check out the Pho’ Bo, just to see if the bowl I had was a glitch.

Some Notes: I’ve been to Bolsaa four times over the years, and it’s always been a pretty quiet, not too crowded restaurant. With current construction in the mall, the parking spaces are always being reconfigured, and during certain hours parking is at a premium. The menu at Bolsaa in not as large as other Vietnamese restaurants; of course it’s all relative if you consider 120+ items to be a smaller selection. So at least Vietnamese Menu Paralysis won’t take over!

Bolsaa Vietnamese Cuisine
4646 Convoy St
San Diego, CA 92111

Open Daily 9am – 10pm

If I can get my "act" together, I’ll probably do my Pho’ Retrospective post some time next week.

A Banh Mi Retrospective

May 4, 2006 mmm-yoso Banh Mi, Sandwiches, Vietnamese Restaurants

A while back I promised Joseph E, a listing of the various Banh Mi’s I’ve had the pleasure of eating in San Diego. So finally, I’ve gotten my act together and here it is. First off, I need to apologize for taking so darn long. I only recently purchased some removable storage, and finally started copying all my back-up photos from CD to storage.

One of the really fun things I noticed as I dug up all these photos, and looking over my posts, is how much my taste in Banh Mi has changed since I did my first Banh Mi post back in June of 2005. I used to be strictly a BBQ Chicken/Pork Guy, and now I say “bring on the head cheese/sausage/pate!” Anyhow, I’m including links to the original posts, a short note on the visit(s), notes on follow-up visits, and such. I hope you all enjoy, and for those expecting a brand new restaurant/food post, please excuse…..I’ll have something new tomorrow!(Note all prices reflect the cost at the time of the original post.)

June 13, 2005 – A Chau

Impressions: Alot of filling, though I never did get the Dac Biet(special). The bread was too soft and doughy. Nice amount of chilies and pickles. Very filling sandwich.($2.50)

Notes: I need to revisit A-Chau soon. I used to grab a sandwich there all the time, but when I started doing the food blog, I got caught up in trying new restaurants all the time. I haven’t revisited since this post….my bad!

A-Chau
4644 El Cajon Blvd Ste 111
San Diego, CA 92115

June 28, 2005 – Cafe Dore

**** Cafe Dore has closed

Impressions: At the time I had this sandwich, I thought it was the best I’d had in San Diego. The bread was toasted and crusty, and there was a great balance of vegetables, cilantro, chilies, and fillings. Well maybe a little light on the chilies….. I loved that the cilantro was mostly leaves and not tough, chewy, stuck between your teeth cilantro.($2.50)

Notes: Follow-up visits(last one in December of last year) were not quite as good. There is a tendency to “over-toast” the bread making it disintergrate into a crumbs when you bite into the sandwich. I still enjoy the fillings at Cafe Dore.

Cafe Dore
4135 University Ave
San Diego, CA 92105

June 29, 2005 – Bale French Sandwich Shop

**** This location of BaLe has closed

Impressions: Before K Sandwich, the most “accessible” Banh Mi. Mild flavors, crusty bread, and very consistent. I’ve always thought that Bale “hollowed out” their bread a bit to increase the crust to bread ratio, but it’s probably the product of a too active imagination.($2.75)

Notes: Still very consistent, I’ve found Bale to be doing very brisk business on my last visit(December 2005).

Bale French Sandwich Shop
6937 Linda Vista Rd
San Diego, CA 92111

July 15, 2005 – Sorrento European Bakery

**** Sorrento European Bakery has closed

Impressions: Sorry, probably one of the worst photos I’ve taken thus far…. Actually, this visit was a mistake, I didn’t follow instructions, and thought that this was the Banh Mi place. Very light, low on vegetables, I felt this sandwich was missing a certain “something”. The fillings were very tasty, but I could eat 3 of these. I did think the bread was nice and crusty.($2.50)

Notes: I was soon corrected on the location of the correct Banh Mi purveyor, I’ve never returned.

Sorrento European Bakery
6755 Mira Mesa Blvd #117 – in the Sorrento Plaza Shopping Center
San Diego, CA 92121

July 19, 2005 – Linda Vista Food to Go

**** Linda Vista Food to Go has closed

Impressions: Hidden away from most of the traffic on Linda Vista Road, this sandwich was on the small side, and had too much cucumber, and not enough cilantro. Very little meat in the “Dac Biet”, and to add insult to injury, the sign at the time said $2.25, but they charged me $2.50.

Notes: I’ve been back for the pretty good spring rolls. Needless to say, I haven’t had another sandwich at this little shop. Nice people though!

Linda Vista Food to Go
2405 Ulric Street
San Diego, CA 92111

August 23, 2005 – Fusion Food & Boba Cafe

**** Fusion Food & Boba Cafe has closed

Impressions: Don’t know what to make of it; lot’s of meat filling, but the ham tastes like the packaged stuff from the supermarket, sometimes the bread is toasted, sometimes not; the rolls differ from time to time too. Alot of people like this place, so it must be me…… The BBQ pork did taste good.($2.50 – $3.50)

Notes: Haven’t been back.

Fusion Food & Boba Cafe
8038 Clairemont Mesa Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92111

November 2, 2005 – K Sandwiches

Impressions: If you’ve never had a Banh Mi before, this is a good place to start. Safe enough even for my co-workers who enjoy them. The sandwiches are also quite large:

And very inexpensive($1.99 – $2.99). Do ask for extra “pickles”(I’ve never had to pay for them), because they can be really stingy with them. The bread is baked on the premises which can be a plus.

Notes: Think of it as San Diego’s version of Lee’s Sandwich’s.

December 28, 2005 – Kim Chan Sandwich Shop

**** Kim Chan has closed

Impressions: A favorite of Ed from Yuma, the BBQ pork was terrible, but the meat in the combination (Dac Biet) is excellent. I’ve had both stale bread, and perfectly toasted bread here, but portions(for the combination) are always well balanced, and flavorful.($2.50)

Notes: When this place is “on” the “combination” is very good. Only a few items in English, but they must have about twenty or so in Vietnamese. A real Mom-and-Pop operation.

Kim Chan Sandwich Shop
4712 El Cajon Blvd Suite N
San Diego, CA 92115

March 19, 2006 – Pho’ Viet Cali

**** Pho Viet Cali has closed

Impressions: This was the sandwich I was supposed to get when I mistakenly went to Sorrento Europena Bakery. A decent sandwich, though on the expensive side($2.95). I enjoyed the pate, though there was way too much mayo all over the bottom of the sandwich. Also, not enough pickled vegetables, though good meat. No hot chilies either!

Notes: I haven’t been back.

Pho’ Viet Cali
6755 Mira Mesa Blvd. #113
San Diego, CA 92121

March 27, 2006 – Express Deli in Lucky Seafood Supermarket

Impressions: Kind of skimpy on the meat, but lots of pickled vegetables. I really didn’t enjoy the bread that much, not crusty enough. Worth the $2.25 price for sandwich, but not much more.

Lucky Seafood Supermarket
9326 Mira Mesa Blvd
San Diego, CA 92126

Whew, so there it is. Only ten different shops, I’m a bit disappointed. Well hopefully, I’ll do better in the future!