NickTang

 

As much as I love trying out recommended places, Le Croissant Dore is probably not of the best first experiences I’ve had at new restaurants.

I came into the restaurant knowing that there would be reconstruction along the fronts of the entire shop block so that might deter people from coming in. Alas, the restaurant was empty when I stepped in set aside two shop ladies who were sitting and reading the paper. The interior design itself is pretty simple and fitting for a French bakery; the walls covered with art that gives it the appearance of a bakery in France.

Coming in for a meal, they suggested (along with my friend who recommended the place) Bo Kho, or beef stew with a mini baguette. Interesting to note is that they list both Coke and Pepsi on the menu but they only apparently serve Coke since I didn’t get what I ordered. I also have to comment on the ice that they provide in the glass along side the warm can… as soon as I poored in the soda, there was not a speck of fizzyness left and it became 100% flat. So it was a choice between warm Coke and flat Coke… not an easy choice.

Next up was the beef stew. When I saw it come out I because extra hungry. Included is a plate of Beef Stew, a small baguette for dipping, and a small dish for lemon, salt, and pepper. Little did the waitress know (or care) that there were insects all over the lemon and I was pretty grossed out… but instead of complaining, I simply moved it aside and prayed that the at least the beef stew would be free of critters. I suppose the bugs made me lose my appetite because the beef stew only tasted “alright” and did impress me all that much. And then comes the hair that I find in it which normally is a minor detail for me but had compounded with everything else that had happened thus far.

Not a place I will ever come back to.

 

Ah… Vung Tau II brings back many memories. My first experience with this restaurant is actually back at the original Vung Tau in San Jose back in the early 90’s when everybody was raving about “mi kho.” Ever since Vung Tau II opened in Milpitas, my family has gone there for both family style dinners as well as individual portion meals. I would take all my all of my friends there so they experience Vietnamese food that wasn’t “pho” and is still a definite must-go when I visit home.

The dish that I lived off of was Hu Tieu Nam Vang Kho but over the past few years switched to Hu Tieu Ba Nam Sadec Kho because of the crunchy shrimp cracker. Both dishes include clear slightly-chewy noodles covered in their special pork sauce, small pork grinds (pay attention to these), sliced pork meats, shrimp, chives, a small bowl of salty broth, and a side of additional vegetables. The difference between the dishes is that the former contains several normal size shrimp and the latter contains a large jumbo shrimp and also a fried shrimp cracker.

Prices in the restaurant have sored in recent years and Vung Tau in general is one of the priciest “Vietnamese for Vietnamese” that I’ve been to. Prices are actually pretty much identical to “Vietnamese for American” which are generally THE most expensive Vietnamese restaurants you can find. The last time I was in NorCal Vung Tau II was slightly less expensive than Vung Tau I with the Hu Tieu dishes at $6.95 as opposed to $7.95. Also be aware that they charge extra for “kho” dishes. I don’t know if that’s is supposed to be the case because it isn’t listed anywhere on the menu, but they always ninja’ed on an extra charge for it.

And falling within stereotype, Vung Tau II has one of the poorest services of any restaurant I’ve ever been to. Since my family eats at a lot of restaurants, we notice the migration of restaurant workers from one place to another and unfortunately Vung Tau II seems to have the worst of everywhere. I would always order the same dish but some how they’d mix it up with someone else’s or forget to make it “kho.” Be very clear when ordering. Also, if they seat you down near the restrooms they will tend to forget you. Ask to sit somewhere in the main room where you will be visible.

Parking during lunch and dinner hours can be a pain because the restaurant is located next to an Asian grocery supermarket (Lion) and also several other restaurants and shops.

4 stars because I love the food but not the extra baggage that comes along with it.

 

Asahi Ramen was the first ramen house that I have been to. After watching Naruto eat ramen religiously I knew I had to try it out and I wasn’t disappointed.

Upon entering the restaurant, the waitresses will all (yes all of them) greet you and promptly seat you unless all the tables are full. They will bring you water with lemon and some pickled vegetables (usually cucumber) to start off with while browsing their menu.

The menu has a small variety of different dishes, but I always go for the ramen which generally includes noodles, sliced pork meats, half a boiled egg, sweetened bamboo, ground pork, lots of green onions and bean sprouts. I usually order the Miso Ramen, which includes all of the above in a miso flavor broth. The size of the bowls are huge and I can barely finish it even though I can eat a lot. Most of the bowl will be broth and noodles with a small amount of additional toppings unless you order a meaty ramen. Overall, the broths tend to be a little bit on the salty side so drinking lots of water will be a must. Just keep in mind that most people won’t be able to finish the entire bowl including all the broth.

Price of ramen bowls range from $6.50 to $8 and most other dishes will also fall in that price range. Definitely a great place to order to go as well because the quantity of the ramen bowls is enough for two meals.

As for parking, beware that parking along Sawtelle, especially during lunch and dinner hours, can be quite a pain. There is metered parking along the streets but it may be hard to find parking because there are several restaurant and food shops along that stretch of road. Metered parking is $0.25 per hour.

4 Stars for great service.

 

Minh’s is another nostalgic restaurant for me. I first went to Minh’s when they first opened and they had no idea what Mi Kho was… too long ago for me to remember the year unfortunately. This restaurant used to be a family favorite but degrade in quality, service, and increase has taken it off the list.

The one dish that I eat every time I come is Bun Cha Dong Xuan (also known as Bun Cha Ha Noi) which is a northern style dish which includes thin rice vermicelli with a large amount of vegetables such as lettuce, cilantro, and mint and their signature grilled sliced meats and grilled meatballs soaked in a light fish sauce with pickled carrot and daikon.

Prices are good but it’s a little more expensive than normal Vietnamese restaurants. Service and atmosphere are of the typical Vietnamese restaurant.

The parking lot is small but the restaurant is not as crowded as it once was so it shouldn’t be too hard to park.

 

My first experience with Brodard was about 2 years ago when I first moved down to SoCal. It instantly became one of my favorite restaurants because their Pork Rolls still continue to make my mouth water every time I think of them.

Known specifically for their Nem Nuong Cuon or Pork Rolls, which are similar to Spring Rolls (or Summer Rolls for some people), Brodard creates these delicious wraps using a very soft rice sheet and fills them with lettuce, cucumbers, chives, a crunchy eggroll skins, and their special grilled pork meat. Their special pork sauce dip wins awards in my book. I’ve tried some of their other dishes as well from their extensive menu selection but always go back to the Nem Nuong Cuon.

Prices are normal at this location with some dishes being slightly more expensive than normal. Nem Nuong Cuons are $1.50 each and ordering 4 of them is quite filling. Their noodle bowls range in the $5-7 and their rice dishes slightly higher.

The atmosphere is actually quite nice for a Vietnamese restaurant. Service is not bad and granted the environment is nothing like their Brodard Chateau location, I would much rather eat here in the bright and well lit environment with lower prices than the very expensive prices at Chateau.

Located in the back of a 99 cent store parking lot, it isn’t the easiest restaurant to spot but that might be a good thing because it generally is very crowded. Parking is plentiful because there is parking in the front lot as well as the back lot.

5 Stars! You get what you pay for.