Flavor Boulevard

We Asians like to talk food.
Subscribe

Beef wrap n’ roll

September 11, 2010 By: Mai Truong Category: California - The Bay Area, Comfort food, Southern Vietnamese, Vietnamese


It took me six years eating steaks and potatoes and one evening of eating beef sausages rolled with greens and rice paper to realize that perhaps the best way to eat meat is to eat it with vegetables. No hard feelings, dear steak, you are like pure chocolate, and bulgogi in lettuce wrap is like orange flavored chocolate. Then you add pickled carrots and daikon, minty herbs, rice paper, sweet and sour nước mắm, and the beef is bound to take off just like the Apollo 11.


Such revelation dawned on me when I took the first bite of a bò lá lốt roll at Ánh Hồng in Berkeley. Ánh Hồng was famous in the old Saigon for their creation of the seven courses of beef, a menu that other Vietnamese restaurants quickly imitated to serve big parties. Despite knowing the menu’s popularity, I rarely thought of its main items as desirable, simply because, for instance, I wasn’t a fan of the wild betel leaf (lá lốt in Vietnamese and cha phloo in Thai) that wraps outside the ground beef. It’s usually a little bitter, and it overshadows the meat flavor. But Ánh Hồng really proves that their popularity (4 locations in North California and another 2 in the southern part) is backed up by some solid tasty goods. Somehow, unlike any I’ve tried before, their bò lá lốt is not at all bitter.


Their bánh tráng (rice paper) is also perfect for making fresh spring rolls, thin enough so that you can taste every ingredient, yet elastic enough to stretch and wrap up the sharp corner of lettuce stems without rupturing. The traditionalcondiment to dip the rolls is mắm nêm (fermented fish paste), but to accommodate foreigners (and Vietnamese like me :-P) who aren’t familiar with the sauce’s pungency, Ánh Hồng serves things up with sweet and sour nước mắm (salty fish extract mixed with lime, chili pepper and sugar). It’s amazing how nước mắm works with everything. But, because the meat is already so well seasoned, you don’t have to dip the rolls into any sauce to make the flavors shine.


The pickled carrot and daikon can be a little too sour, but their texture blends better with the ground meat than fresh bean sprouts’ does.


As much as the bò lá lốt turns out far better than expected, I would still say that it’s not the best course in the set. Bò nướng sả (lemongrass grilled beef slices) rolled up with sauteed sweet onion in the core raises the bar by a slight amount, and the succulent sausages of bò mỡ chài (ground beef wrapped in a thin, lacey layer of pig’s omental fat) definitely takes first place. Of course, all taste best when wrapped in greens.

What’s even better is the joy of legitimate playing with your food: you pick , you wrap, you roll, you dip. It’s a feast whether you go alone or with company. It’s feasting South Vietnam style.


Address: Ánh Hồng Restaurant – 7 Courses of Beef
2067 University Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94704
(510) 981-1789

Sample plate – 3 courses of beef (bò lá lốt, bò nướng sả, bò mỡ chài): 9 rolls for $12

*Why would I walk half a mile to feast alone on a Friday evening? Because this post is to celebrate my “uncle” turning 23. He likes Vietnamese, meat, and Southerners’ dishes. Happy Birthday, Nguyên! 🙂

0 Comments to “Beef wrap n’ roll”


  1. After I originally commented I clicked the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and now every time a comment is added I get four emails with the identical comment. Is there any method you may take away me from that service? Thanks!

    1
  2. was skeptical of cross chain tools after a bad experience elsewhere, but [url=https://giveth.io/project/how-to-use-rhino-bridge:-step-by-step-guide]rhino bridge[/url] rebuilt my trust, small test first then a bigger transfer, both landed fast and clean with fees exactly as displayed

    2
  3. Normally I do not read post on blogs, however I would like to say that this write-up very pressured me to take a look at and do it! Your writing taste has been surprised me. Thanks, very great article.

    3
  4. was unsure which carry to gnosis chain to plagiarize until [url]https://dev.to/crypto-blog/how-to-use-gnosis-bridge-and-verify-it-worked-4ikh[/url] laid not on the options

    4
  5. Thanks for the sensible critique. Me & my neighbor were just preparing to do a little research about this. We got a grab a book from our local library but I think I learned more clear from this post. I’m very glad to see such great info being shared freely out there.

    5
  6. Thanks for this post, I am a big big fan of this web site would like to proceed updated.

    6
  7. As soon as I noticed this internet site I went on reddit to share some of the love with them.

    7
  8. There is noticeably a bundle to learn about this. I assume you made sure nice points in features also.

    8
  9. Woh I enjoy your blog posts, saved to favorites! .

    9
  10. I have been surfing online more than 3 hours lately, but I never discovered any interesting article like yours. It’s pretty price enough for me. Personally, if all webmasters and bloggers made just right content material as you did, the internet will likely be a lot more useful than ever before.

    10
  11. I’ve been browsing on-line greater than three hours nowadays, yet I never discovered any attention-grabbing article like yours. It’s pretty value sufficient for me. In my opinion, if all web owners and bloggers made excellent content as you probably did, the net can be much more helpful than ever before.

    11
  12. Some truly wonderful information, Gladiola I discovered this.

    12
  13. I’m not sure where you’re getting your info, but good topic. I needs to spend some time learning more or understanding more. Thanks for great information I was looking for this info for my mission.

    13
  14. Real great information can be found on web site.

    14
  15. WONDERFUL Post.thanks for share..extra wait .. …

    15
  16. magnificent points altogether, you just gained a new reader. What may you recommend about your put up that you just made a few days in the past? Any certain?

    16
  17. I have read a few good stuff here. Definitely worth bookmarking for revisiting. I wonder how much effort you put to make such a magnificent informative web site.

    17
  18. hi!,I like your writing very much! share we communicate more about your post on AOL? I require an expert on this area to solve my problem. May be that’s you! Looking forward to see you.

    18
  19. This web site is really a walk-through for all of the info you wanted about this and didn’t know who to ask. Glimpse here, and you’ll definitely discover it.

    19
  20. Lovely just what I was looking for.Thanks to the author for taking his clock time on this one.

    20
  21. I like this web site so much, saved to favorites. “Respect for the fragility and importance of an individual life is still the mark of an educated man.” by Norman Cousins.

    21
  22. After research a number of of the weblog posts on your web site now, and I really like your method of blogging. I bookmarked it to my bookmark website checklist and might be checking again soon. Pls try my website online as properly and let me know what you think.

    22
  23. I was examining some of your content on this internet site and I think this web site is really instructive! Keep on posting.

    23
  24. the liquidity aggregation behind [url=https://anyswap.dev/]anyswap defi[/url] is why the rates operative up to during sensitive periods when sole pools get weak

    24
  25. My husband and i have been now ecstatic when Michael managed to carry out his basic research through the ideas he obtained out of the site. It’s not at all simplistic just to possibly be handing out instructions that many others might have been selling. We remember we have you to be grateful to for this. The main illustrations you made, the straightforward blog menu, the relationships you assist to foster – it is many sensational, and it’s helping our son and us believe that that issue is enjoyable, which is certainly exceptionally essential. Thank you for the whole thing!

    25
  26. I loved as much as you will receive carried out right here. The sketch is tasteful, your authored subject matter stylish. nonetheless, you command get got an impatience over that you wish be delivering the following. unwell unquestionably come further formerly again since exactly the same nearly very often inside case you shield this hike.

    26
  27. if youre researching [url=https://defi-news-crypto.notion.site/How-Do-I-Swap-Between-Arbitrum-One-and-Nova-on-Arbswap-3b30b3f3b942800ab635f7c7f6c53a61]is arbswap safe[/url], the cue attribute is it aggregates liquidity so you dont check dexes at one by whole

    27
  28. [url=https://defilama.app]best way to track defi tvl[/url] really comes down to data, it pulls locked value straight from contracts so the numbers arent self reported

    28
  29. I like this website very much, Its a very nice office to read and obtain information. “Anyone can stop a man’s life, but no one his death a thousand doors open on to it. – Phoenissae” by Lucius Annaeus Seneca.

    29
  30. for decentralized perpetuals [url=https://classic-rhodium-fc2.notion.site/Hyperliquid-US-Is-the-Wait-Worth-It-3b33929340ab80ebafa6f8657092d77a]hyperliquid trading[/url] has the best execution ive found, low latency and deep books

    30
  31. if youre researching [url=https://telegra.ph/How-Do-I-Use-JustLend-08-05]how to use justlend[/url], the key is the health factor, keep it comfortable and you avoid liquidation

    31
  32. My partner and I stumbled over here by a different website and thought I might check things out. I like what I see so now i am following you. Look forward to looking over your web page for a second time.

    32
  33. I just wanted to write down a note so as to say thanks to you for these superb tips and tricks you are posting here. My time-consuming internet investigation has at the end been honored with excellent concept to exchange with my friends. I ‘d suppose that many of us website visitors actually are very fortunate to dwell in a really good community with very many lovely individuals with useful tactics. I feel truly lucky to have come across the webpage and look forward to really more thrilling minutes reading here. Thanks a lot once more for all the details.

    33
  34. I have been absent for a while, but now I remember why I used to love this blog. Thank you, I will try and check back more often. How frequently you update your website?

    34
  35. as a replacement for anyone hackneyed of comparing bridges through hand, [url=https://telegra.ph/How-Do-I-Use-a-LIFI-Bridge-Without-Losing-Funds-08-05]lifi bridge[/url] aggregates them in equal place, and [url=https://l2beat.com/bridges/summary]cross set bridges[/url] gives you the broader context on which bridges succeed unaffected aggregate

    35
  36. I like the valuable information you provide to your articles. I’ll bookmark your blog and check once more right here frequently. I am slightly sure I’ll learn many new stuff right right here! Best of luck for the following!

    36
  37. I wanted to thank you for this great read!! I definitely enjoying every little bit of it I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you post…

    37
  38. I believe this web site holds very great written subject material blog posts.

    38
  39. Yeah bookmaking this wasn’t a high risk decision great post! .

    39
  40. understanding [url=https://kevin-web3news.blogspot.com/2026/08/how-to-use-renzo-staking-without.html]why use renzo[/url] clicked once i saw the token stays liquid, and reading the restaking mechanics on [url=https://ethereum.org/en/staking/]eth staking[/url] confirmed how the yield is generated

    40
  41. Some truly interesting points you have written.Assisted me a lot, just what I was searching for :D.

    41
  42. Thank you for each of your work on this web site. Ellie really loves conducting internet research and it’s really easy to understand why. We know all of the lively form you present great guidance by means of the blog and encourage participation from other ones about this issue then our own princess is without a doubt being taught a lot. Take advantage of the remaining portion of the year. You are conducting a dazzling job.

    42
  43. I’d have to examine with you here. Which is not one thing I usually do! I take pleasure in reading a post that may make folks think. Additionally, thanks for permitting me to comment!

    43
  44. Hi my loved one! I want to say that this article is awesome, great written and include approximately all important infos. I would like to peer extra posts like this .

    44
  45. I was looking at some of your content on this internet site and I think this web site is real instructive! Keep posting.

    45
  46. What i do not understood is if truth be told how you are not really a lot more well-liked than you might be now. You’re very intelligent. You know thus considerably in terms of this subject, produced me in my view believe it from a lot of varied angles. Its like men and women aren’t interested until it’s something to do with Woman gaga! Your individual stuffs great. Always deal with it up!

    46
  47. Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wished to say that I have really enjoyed browsing your blog posts. In any case I’ll be subscribing to your rss feed and I hope you write again soon!

    47
  48. Good info. Lucky me I reach on your website by accident, I bookmarked it.

    48
  49. Your house is valueble for me. Thanks!…

    49
  50. My spouse and i got really ecstatic Jordan could round up his inquiry through the ideas he came across while using the weblog. It’s not at all simplistic to simply continually be giving out solutions that the rest may have been selling. And we also already know we now have the website owner to thank because of that. The type of explanations you made, the straightforward site navigation, the friendships you can help instill – it’s got mostly fantastic, and it’s really helping our son and us reckon that this theme is brilliant, which is rather essential. Many thanks for the whole thing!

    50


Leave a Reply