bsquared2's Profile
Vietnamese Food
Pho Pasteur (also called Pho Hoa) is very famous. I highly doubt the one in Chinatown is related. I did hear that the original owners sold and moved to the US, but who knows if that is true. If they opened a shop in SGV, it would be big news. Plus, I've heard meh things about the one in SGV. Golden Deli is my fav place not in Little Saigon.
It makes sense that somebody who wanted to open up a Pho joint in SoCal would call it Pho Pasteur. Usually when we go eat that dish in Saigon we go to Pho Pasteur. It is the one place that is in the tourist books but it still respected by the people living there. That said, we don't eat it that much. I like trying other dishes instead. How about some My Quang or Bun Bo Hue at Nha Trang in SGV? I love that place. It's like having your Vietnamese friend's Auntie cooking for you (or in my case, my Mother in Law)
Bun Bo Hue is the dish that I don't think gets the respect from Westerners that it deserves. More Lemongrass, Chili....I get a buzz off of a good bowl of Bun Bo Hue.
Vietnamese Food
I would order a dish without beef then. How about some tasty Bun Thit Nuong? I've never heard of Pork Pho and you would still have a broth full of beefiness.
But enough with the Pho. How about some Bun Oc or Canh Chua? Pho is fine, but I like to dig a little deeper. If you like Pork, you might try Bun Cha Ha Noi. That is the next level.
Vietnamese Food
I"m talking about Pho Hoa on Pasteur in Saigon ;) From what I hear, that same pot has been going for years.
Now if you want to talk Bun Bo Hue.....
Vietnamese in Orange County (specific dishes)
Quan Hy has the best rice cakes. Even when I go to VN, it's hard to match their's.
Dat Thanh for spring rolls. No coconut, jicama etc. Just pure pork goodness.
There are plenty of VN vegetarian restaurants. I don't know about Vegetarian Pho. Maybe you just want a good vegetarian noodle soup.
Vietnamese Pancakes (Banh Xeo) & Fried Bread for Pho
Just curious... where are those photos in saigon from? I"m not the biggest Banh Xeo fan (my wife thinks that it's boring), but those don't look that great.
I took a cooking class in Vietnam and one of the dishes was Banh Xeo. Seemed like a weird choice since to me it is a dish that is better eaten at a place that specializes in it. It's a lot of work to get it just right.
I kind of like Banh Khoai more since it is a little smaller and easier to eat. I'm sure there are some Hue restaurants in Little Saigon that have a pretty good version.
Canton Restaurant – Delicious Cantonese Fish Congee (Porridge) and Cha Ca Thang Long (Vietnamese Turmeric Fish with Dill) in Little Saigon
But Vietnam was colonized by the Chinese for a long time. You do see a lot of Chinese influence in many aspects of life, not just food. Even though maybe 1% of the population is Chinese, I'm sure that there is a larger percentage that has some "chinese blood" .
Congee is something many people eat for breakfast in Vietnam and a dish mothers make for their kids. Like I said, our daughter loved eating fish congee so I want to give this place a try.
Banh Mi Bread anywhere near West Hollywood
I don't think Lee's would work in many parts of LA. Rents are too high and they would have to raise the price of the sandwiches. Plus, most of the Lee's locations outside of Little Saigon aren't very good. The main one on Brookhurst is fine for a late night Banh Mi, but the others, not so much.
If you want a good Banh Mi in Metro LA, I recommend Spice Table. Might run you close to $10, but they do use high end ingredients.
For good bread, Le Maison is one of my favs. Plus, the ladies who run the place are the nicest bakers in the world.
Vietnamese Food
Pho Hoa (or Pho Pasteur) is a very famous Pho Joint in Saigon. Any place would love to have some kind of association with it. Taking names from places in VN is very common. I love to go to Nhu Lan in Saigon for a Banh Mi or late night snack. There is one in Garden Grove, but it is not the same people.
The rumor I always heard was that Pho Pasteur always has the bones cooking so they get that real beef flavor. I know people who just buy the soup and fix the noodles at home. I don't eat Pho that much since I would rather eat Bun Bo Hue or Bun Oc, but I still like Pho Pasteur.
Banh Mi Bread anywhere near West Hollywood
Banh Mi Bread? A really good baguette will suffice. BTW, banh mi means bread.
A really good french bakery would get the job done. Some places in VN use a bit of rice flour in their baguettes, but I really think that is to save money.
One of my favorite VN bakeries is Pierre on Brookhurst in Little Saigon. I live in WeHo and I would go to Le Maison du Pain on Pico. They make really good sandwiches too. Mendocino Farms makes a decent WeHo version of a Banh Mi Thit. At least my Vietnamese wife says it gets a thumbs up.
Vietnamese Pancakes (Banh Xeo) & Fried Bread for Pho
I know what you are talking about, but not that many places serve Chinese Donuts with Pho in LIttle Saigon. We always like to eat at Pho Pasteur in Saigon, and they have the donuts. I don't really eat them very often since I don't like fried bread that much.
But if you give me a good baguette and some Bo Kho, I"m in heaven.
Banh Xeo you can find at many places. I think it is one of those dishes that is only good if it is done right. There's only one place in Saigon where I eat Banh Xeo. My wife doesn't like it because she thinks it is boring.
I took a cooking class in VN where they taught me to make it. Maybe I will open a food truck serving Banh Xeo.
Canton Restaurant – Delicious Cantonese Fish Congee (Porridge) and Cha Ca Thang Long (Vietnamese Turmeric Fish with Dill) in Little Saigon
Keep in mind that Vietnam was colonized by the Chinese and they do share a border. Saying there is a Chinese influence in Vietnam is like saying there is a Mexican influence in California.
If you go to District 5 in Saigon, there is a huge Chinese population and a really cool market Cholon.
There are many ingredients that are similar. The great thing about the Vietnamese (my wife is Vietnamese) is that they have a knack for taking the best things about a culture (the French or Chinese) and adapting to their own. Thus , a Banh Mi or Caphe Sua Da is French influenced, but still distinctly Vietnamese.
I love seafood congee and will have to try this place. When we were in Nha Trang, our 2 year old daughter ate seafood congee for breakfast and loved it. Of course, that was the freshest seafood you could get.
Susina cakes vs. Lido bakery for a birthday cake?
Wow. From the frying pan into the fire. I've never been a fan of the service at SLJ.
Maybe it would be a good idea to post about the best LMP in LA ;)
Susina was really bizarre Especially when I said I would leave. They simply didn't care. I would (maybe) understand if it was their last pie, but they had a few. Unless they have a side business selling day old+ baked goods.
But it is a good LMP. Too bad will will NEVER try it again. I have a long memory ;)
Susina cakes vs. Lido bakery for a birthday cake?
I've had weird experiences at Susina. I went there in the mood for Lemon Merengue Pie and saw about 4 of them behind the glass. I ordered a slice and the guy behind the counter said I couldn't have it because he would have to slice up a new one (this was about 7pm at night). He said that if somebody else came in and ordered a slice, he would let me order a slice.
He was very rude and suggested I would like the Key Lime as much since it pretty much is the same thing. When I mentioned that I would go somewhere else instead, he was pretty much OK with that.
I felt like I was on an episode of Seinfeld. I used to go there often, but I haven't been there for months. There are other places in town that are grateful for my business.
Great L.A. Times Piece on Central Vietnamese Food in the L.A. Area
I would like a second opinion too. The place in El Monte was just OK.
My wife thinks I'm too crazy for Hue food and if I choose a mediocre place when we go to Little Saigon, she won't be happy.
KyoChon
Went to Koreatown recently and it was gross. Chicken was still good, but everything was dirty. I also miss the table service. I can't recommend it anymore. All the tables were dirty and nobody cleaned them the whole time we were there.
I love Kyochon and hope they can get it together.
Khanh Hoa Dac Biet Kem Nuong 9738 Westminister Garden Grove
Maybe. The people at NNKH are so nice... I feel like I am cheating....
Khanh Hoa Dac Biet Kem Nuong 9738 Westminister Garden Grove
Even the Nem Chua? I haven't been anywhere in LA/OC that can touch them on that. And the Shrimp in the Egg Roll is a strong point in NNKH's favor.
Khanh Hoa Dac Biet Kem Nuong 9738 Westminister Garden Grove
I was just in Nha Trang. Did have some amazing seafood. Cuc Gach Quan is one of my new favorite restaurants in Saigon. Down home country food in a space owned by an architest. Right up my alley.
On a local note...brought a souvenir back for the folks at Spice Table and had a great dinner. I tell ya, Little Tokyo is our new hangout
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The Spice Table
114 S. Central Avenue, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Nha Trang
311 E Valley Blvd, San Gabriel, CA 91776
Great L.A. Times Piece on Central Vietnamese Food in the L.A. Area
I have to say, went to Kim Hoa Hue today and was a little underwhelmed. I love Hue food and when I visit Vietnam and I am always looking for a good place.
My wife had the Bun Bo Hue and it needed a little more zip. Com Hen was OK. Nem Nuong Spring Rolls were pretty good, but not as good as NNKH. Rice Cakes were OK too.
I will give some of the Little Saigon places a shot. Been to a few of them already. I do like the BBH at Quan Hy and they do have the best rice cakes in town.
In LA, I would recommend Nem Nuong Khanh Hoa and Nha Trang. The Bun Bo Hue is good at both places and the Spring Rolls at NNKH are the best in SoCal. I like the My Quang at Nha Trang even though their version is a little different.
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Nem Nuong Khanh Hoa
1700 W Valley Blvd, Alhambra, CA 91803
Quan Hy Restaurant
9727 Bolsa Ave, Westminster, CA 92683
Kim Hoa Hue
9813 Garvey Ave, El Monte, CA 91733
Nha Trang
311 E Valley Blvd, San Gabriel, CA 91776
Khanh Hoa Dac Biet Kem Nuong 9738 Westminister Garden Grove
I don't think so. We are pretty chummy with the folks who run the SGV version and they know we go down to Little Saigon a lot. I can't imagine they wouldn't tell us about another restaurant.
By the way..... I just got back from the REAL Khanh Hoa, but I didn't have any Nem Nuong. I did have some amazing seafood though. And if you want to find out about an amazing restaurant, ask me about Cuc Gach Quan....
The Spice Table - Perceptor's Photo Report
Well, the food in Singapore is spicy. Just went back last week and had a really good dinner. But the biggest secret of Spice Table is their lunch. Excellent Banh Mi and I heard they added rice bowls. I'll be there this weekend.
Spice Table is one of my favorite new restaurants and is one of the reasons we are in Little Tokyo every weekend. And Shin Sen Gumi, Lazy Ox, Fat Spoon, Demitasse Coffee.....the list keeps growing.
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Little Tokyo Restaurant
150 E Bonita Ave, San Dimas, CA 91773
The Spice Table
114 S. Central Avenue, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Good New Asian Joints in Hollywood - Ikemen and Soy Sauce Roll & Bowl
BTW, that is probably the worst name for a japanese restaurant. I can't think of anything more generic. But I will give it a try. If you say it's good and the menu looks reasonable.
Good New Asian Joints in Hollywood - Ikemen and Soy Sauce Roll & Bowl
They may be "Ikemen" , but there outfits were giving me 80s nightmares. The porkpie hats are a little weird. Maybe the girls will start wearing Flashdance sweatshirts and leggings.
But....the noodles are very good. It's a dinky place though and in need of better air con. If you want noodles and live in Hollywood, this is a fantastic choice. And they stay open until 4am on weekends. In my clubgoing days, I would be all over this place.
Really friendly service too. Even with the skinny ties.
Most Kid Un-Friendly Restaurants In LA.
We were going to eat at Lukshon with our daughter when they first opened and they pretty much told us to get lost. The place was empty and they said we could sit outside (it was 50 degrees outside). We had reservations and it was around 6pm. The hostess said we could sit outside and then walked away and never came back.
Even if the food is good, I will never give them a penny. We've been to many other restaurants and they were very nice. It wasn't even that they were "kid un-friendly", they were "kid - hostile".
Next time you want to go out to eat, I would skip Lukshon and go to Spice Table. Great food and the owners understand that people have kids. They are the sweetest people and the service is top notch. Very friendly and very welcoming.
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Lukshon
3239 Helms Ave, Culver City, CA 90034
The Spice Table
114 S. Central Avenue, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
101 Noodle Express - Culver City????
I wouldn't worry about it. Very disappointing. Love the original, but the CC location has tiny portions and high prices. It tasted like it was made a week ago.
Kyochon, on the other hand, fared a lot better. Piping hot wings. I will say that they keep confusing me by changing their menu and adding a lot of items that dilute the brand. But it was one of the best Mall Food Court meals I've had (which isn't saying much). 101 Noodle Express was a big drag though.
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101 Noodle Express
1408 E Valley Blvd, Alhambra, CA 91801
Coffee Tomo - new on Sawtelle
$200 direct from the farm? That seems a little high.
I think those farmers had a real party after you left.
I had some in Vietnam and it was about $5 a pound. Hopefully it was authentic.
Baby Blue Barbeque
Baby Blues stinks. Their pulled pork was like something I would get at a hospital cafeteria. Went there once and thought it was terrible. Did give them another chance later since I love BBQ. Guess what? Still terrible.
Of course there is elitism when discussing food on a blog. That's the whole point. And some places are just bad. Especially with BBQ. In fact, I would say most BBQ places aren't good. I"ve been all over the country eating BBQ and have been to some terrible places. But finding those needles in a haystack are worth the trouble.
Coffee Tomo - new on Sawtelle
I just posted about Portola Coffee Lab in OC. If you are serious about coffee, that is worth the drive.
I did like Coffee Tomo. Didn't think it was amazing, but Sawtelle really needed a place like that. Did have the sweet potato pretzel and enjoyed it. When they brought it to me it was so hot, I burned my lips and mouth, but "no pain, no gain".
I"m waiting for the Artisan Ramen place to open in the same building. Then I can eat Ramen, have a pretzel and coffee, then shop at Giant Robot. That is Geek Heaven..
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Coffee Tomo
11309 Mississippi Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90025
Portola Coffee Lab - Costa Mesa
I went there when they first opened. Those guys are nuts. Truly nuts about coffee. I had a coffee made with their "Trifecta" Machine and it was very good. Never heard of that machine, but I liked the name. Made a fantastic cup of coffee.
Chatted with the owner / roaster for a bit about their coffee. They really had a refreshing attitude. You could tell they knew their stuff but they weren't snobby or judgmental about it (hello? Intelligentsia). I will stop their whenever I am in OC. Used to go to Kean (which is fine), but these guys are a couple of notches above.
The only downside is the location. A bit hard to find. On their website, they assume you know where the SOCO collection is. I will say that the space is nice and airy. The retail shops were closed and my young daughter could run around without bothering anything.
Portola is serious stuff and gives any coffee shop in LA/OC a run for their money.
Banh Mi Che Cali - overrated! Buu Dien - underrated!
I would like to take credit for calling out Spice Table as the best Banh Mi west of the 710 and maybe best in LA. Having enjoyed the restaurant already, we met the chef's Vietnamese wife so when we heard about it, we were there the first day. Great restaurant and really nice people.
Just joking about the credit, but please try it if you like a top notch authentic Banh Mi! We also had some tasty Curry Chicken Wings too. I think the value is there too since the meat is very high quality.
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The Spice Table
114 S. Central Avenue, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
