Family meal from Thanh Đa Quán, Houston
*Guest post in Vietnamese by my Mom, translated by me*
There are two places with the name Thanh Đa in Bellaire. One is Bún Măng Vịt Thanh Đa (Thanh Đa vermicelli soup with bamboo shoot and duck), and the other is Thanh Đa Quán. We happen to choose Thanh Đa Quán for lunch today, partly because they have the family dining option, which is rare in the States. The reason, I can only guess, is that most people who eat out like to pick their own items, or go to buffets if they don’t know what to pick. Family style lies between these two options, where the restaurant decides for the diners a fix menu (for example, Thanh Da Quan gives 4 dishes for 2 people, 5 dishes for 4 people, or 6 dishes for 6 people). The total bill for family dining usually comes out higher than a buffet ticket but lower than a combination of single plates.
Today, it is boiled duck with ginger dipping sauce, lotus stem salad with pork and shrimp, sour catfish soup, and claypot catfish, all for $21.6 (after tax, with rice included).
The diner is small but neatly organized, the seating arrangement is comfortable, and they have but four TV screens in the four corners. Two of them are tuned to American news and shows, the other two Vietnamese documentaries and movies, always a plus for me. (I’m not so fond of places that make the customers watch boring football games or unlaughable comedies.) Another thing I like about this particular joint is its staff’s friendliness, not a common thing at Vietnamese eateries. The waiting boys and girls, all small in age and size, have this casually gentle and respectful way toward even customers like me, who order to-gos and don’t give tips. The boy who brought out my order also apologizes profusely for the long wait, though I’ve actually enjoyed watching TV in those brief 20 minutes. 🙂 (The kitchen, he says, would gladly prepare the order for a speedy pickup if I call ahead.)
The good feeling from Thanh Đa Quán follows us home as we open the styrofoam boxes. There are a bit too few pieces of boiled duck, but all are tender and the accompanying not-so-spicy ginger mixed nuoc mam makes up in taste.
The lotus stem salad, a crunch-chewy bundle of lotus stems, shredded cucumber, celery, shrimp and boiled pork, is also not as spicy as its cousins from other restaurants. The apparent touch of lime gives the salad a refreshing boost, dusted with crushed roasted peanuts for occasional unconformities. It’s sour, but nowhere near as sour as the sour soup, which the chefs at Thanh Đa Quán must have made an effort to keep it true to its name. The fish slices are subtly luscious, the night-scented lily stems (doc mung) are airy and brightly green (I wonder how they get these so fresh in this icy winter weather), but nothing can hide the unforgiving, piercing acidity. I retreat to the pot and the stove: a re-seasoning is in order. Fortunately, sugar helps. It’s still the same fish, same pineapple, same tomato, same doc mung, same okra, but a few spoonfuls of sugar transform the soup from a duckling to a swan.
On the other hand, the clay pot fish is flawless. Two light golden catfish steaks shine in a thick bronze sauce, scenting off a homely wisp of nuoc mam and a caring embrace of caramelized sugar. Not overtly fatty, salty, or peppery, this clay pot fish is the epiphany of the Vietnamese marinating and simmering art. My daughter doesn’t like fish, but I’ll make sure to make her try this one next time she’s in town. It warms my heart realizing that even in this very American state of Texas, such simple yet articulate, inexpensive but valuable taste of my faraway homeland is still perfectly tuned.
Address: Thanh Đa Quán (Alief)
13090 Bellaire Blvd
Houston, TX 77407
(281) 988-9089
I have been absent for some time, but now I remember why I used to love this website. Thanks, I’ll try and check back more frequently. How frequently you update your website?
1Hey There. I found your blog using msn. This is an extremely well written article. I’ll be sure to bookmark it and come back to read more of your useful information. Thanks for the post. I will definitely return.
2Just what I was searching for, thanks for putting up.
3This is very interesting, You’re a very skilled blogger. I have joined your rss feed and look forward to seeking more of your great post. Also, I have shared your web site in my social networks!
4It’s actually a great and helpful piece of information. I am satisfied that you just shared this useful info with us. Please stay us up to date like this. Thanks for sharing.
5It’s really a great and helpful piece of information. I am glad that you shared this helpful information with us. Please keep us up to date like this. Thanks for sharing.
6Greetings! I know this is kind of off topic but I was wondering if you knew where I could find a captcha plugin for my comment form? I’m using the same blog platform as yours and I’m having difficulty finding one? Thanks a lot!
7Just desire to say your article is as amazing. The clearness in your post is just cool and i can assume you are a professional on this subject. Well along with your permission allow me to grasp your feed to stay up to date with drawing close post. Thanks a million and please continue the enjoyable work.
8Pembahasan mengenai Flavor Boulevard menarik, terutama cara topiknya dijelaskan secara runtut dan mudah dipahami.
9I’m not sure why but this site is loading incredibly slow for me. Is anyone else having this problem or is it a issue on my end? I’ll check back later and see if the problem still exists.
10Pembahasan mengenai Flavor Boulevard menarik, terutama cara topiknya dijelaskan secara runtut dan mudah dipahami.
11I like the valuable info you provide on your articles. I will bookmark your weblog and test again right here regularly. I am relatively sure I will learn many new stuff proper right here! Best of luck for the next!
12Very nice design and excellent content material, nothing at all else we want :D.
13I conceive this web site has got some very great info for everyone. “Loving someone is easy but losing someone is hard.” by Shelby Harthcock.
14Pembahasan mengenai Flavor Boulevard menarik, terutama cara topiknya dijelaskan secara runtut dan mudah dipahami.
15Some times its a pain in the ass to read what website owners wrote but this website is really user friendly! .
16Pembahasan mengenai Flavor Boulevard disusun dengan cukup jelas dan membantu memahami konteks topik.
17I’m really enjoying the theme/design of your site. Do you ever run into any web browser compatibility problems? A handful of my blog readers have complained about my blog not working correctly in Explorer but looks great in Firefox. Do you have any recommendations to help fix this issue?
18Hi there, I found your web site via Google while searching for a related topic, your web site came up, it looks good. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
19Pembahasan mengenai Flavor Boulevard menarik, terutama cara topiknya dijelaskan secara runtut dan mudah dipahami.
20Your place is valueble for me. Thanks!…
21Hello there, I discovered your site via Google even as looking for a related matter, your site came up, it appears to be like good. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
22It’s actually a great and helpful piece of information. I am satisfied that you just shared this useful info with us. Please keep us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.
23Its fantastic as your other posts : D, thanks for posting. “To be able to look back upon ones life in satisfaction, is to live twice.” by Kahlil Gibran.
24Pembahasan mengenai Flavor Boulevard menarik, terutama cara topiknya dijelaskan secara runtut dan mudah dipahami.
25I went over this web site and I conceive you have a lot of wonderful information, saved to favorites (:.
26It’s really a nice and useful piece of info. I’m happy that you shared this helpful info with us. Please stay us informed like this. Thank you for sharing.
27Very interesting subject, appreciate it for putting up. “Ok. Sex is fine. Sex is good. Sex is GREAT Okay, okay, we need men for sex… Do we need so many” by Sybil Adelman.
28I’ve recently started a blog, the info you provide on this web site has helped me tremendously. Thanks for all of your time & work. “The word ‘genius’ isn’t applicable in football. A genius is a guy like Norman Einstein.” by Joe Theismann.
29Thank you for the sensible critique. Me and my neighbor were just preparing to do some research about this. We got a grab a book from our local library but I think I learned more from this post. I am very glad to see such wonderful information being shared freely out there.
30제주 노래방은 매장마다 이용 방식이 다를 수 있어 원하는 분위기와 비용 구성을 먼저 확인하는 게 좋겠습니다. 관련 내용은 제주노래방 안내에서 참고할 수 있습니다.
31제주 가라오케와 노래방의 이용 방식, 가격 확인 방법을 알아보는 분께 참고할 만한 안내 페이지입니다. jejukaraoke.isweb.co.kr
32제주에서 가라오케를 알아볼 때는 위치와 이용 구성을 함께 확인하면 좋습니다. 제주가라오케 안내에 방문 전에 확인할 항목들이 정리돼 있습니다.
33I like what you guys are up also. Such intelligent work and reporting! Carry on the excellent works guys I have incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it’ll improve the value of my site 🙂
34A person essentially lend a hand to make seriously articles I would state. That is the first time I frequented your website page and so far? I surprised with the analysis you made to create this actual put up extraordinary. Magnificent process!
35Thanks for all your efforts that you have put in this. very interesting info .
36You have observed very interesting points! ps decent internet site.
37There is noticeably a bundle to know about this. I assume you made certain nice points in features also.
38Woh I enjoy your posts, saved to bookmarks! .
39Outstanding post however , I was wondering if you could write a litte more on this topic? I’d be very thankful if you could elaborate a little bit further. Kudos!
40I together with my friends have been studying the great tactics from your web blog while the sudden I had a horrible suspicion I never thanked you for those techniques. These ladies were consequently very interested to read through them and now have certainly been using them. Thanks for turning out to be quite considerate and also for deciding on some wonderful useful guides most people are really eager to be informed on. My sincere apologies for not expressing gratitude to sooner.
41The other day, while I was at work, my cousin stole my apple ipad and tested to see if it can survive a thirty foot drop, just so she can be a youtube sensation. My apple ipad is now broken and she has 83 views. I know this is entirely off topic but I had to share it with someone!
42Valuable info. Lucky me I found your web site by accident, and I’m shocked why this accident did not happened earlier! I bookmarked it.
43hello!,I like your writing very a lot! percentage we keep in touch extra about your article on AOL? I require an expert in this space to unravel my problem. May be that’s you! Having a look ahead to peer you.
44Regards for helping out, good info .
45Fantastic site. A lot of useful information here. I’m sending it to some friends ans also sharing in delicious. And naturally, thanks for your sweat!
46Hey there! I’ve been reading your weblog for some time now and finally got the bravery to go ahead and give you a shout out from Atascocita Tx! Just wanted to tell you keep up the excellent work!
47Great beat ! I would like to apprentice while you amend your web site, how can i subscribe for a blog site? The account aided me a acceptable deal. I had been a little bit acquainted of this your broadcast offered bright clear concept
48Some genuinely fantastic posts on this internet site, appreciate it for contribution. “It is not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and a good writer.” by E. B. White.
49You are my intake, I have few web logs and sometimes run out from post :). “Analyzing humor is like dissecting a frog. Few people are interested and the frog dies of it.” by E. B. White.
50