Pho Vi Hoa
It’s almost certain that outside the big Vietnamese communities any Vietnamese restaurant you see in America has the word pho in it. People must eventually have the impression that Vietnamese eat nothing but rice noodle soup. Of course, Japanese eat nothing but sushi and Americans have only hamburgers.
Mudpie found this place earlier in Los Altos, about 10-15 minutes car ride from SLAC. We strayed from the usual pho and ordered a gargantuan set of appetizers and main courses. Starting off was the familiar goi cuon, a salad wrap with some lettuce or garden herbs, some halved shrimps (mainly for decoration), a razor blade thin slice of boiled pork, some fresh bean sprout, and a little bundle of rice vermicelli. I took a bite by itself, and the meat couldn’t quite buff the plain veggie up, so a dip into the peanut sauce nearby was essential. It was a very light appetizer, and no matter how slowly you go you’re gonna finish the roll in at most 3 minutes. I don’t know what kind of sauce they serve with in Vietnam, but the peanut sauce here is just really good.
Next came the supposedly called cha gio (stated “in rice paper” on the menu). As I had lived in Vietnam for 17 years I believe I’m qualified to judge whether a roll of cha gio is actually made of rice paper (banh trang) or the fooling wheat sheet that makes the Vietnamese cha gio synonymous with the Chinese egg roll. So here goes: “rice paper” my foot. It’s not any more rice paper than the average mediocre egg roll you find at any Chinese buffet. Can you ever find a real cha gio in America anymore? I’d give them some credit for trying: the wrapper is indeed thin. But rice paper is translucent, this is as opaque as Venus’ atmosphere. Good egg roll, but honestly, I feel cheated.
Pictured above is goi ngo sen tom thit (lotus stem salad with shrimp and pork), which appeared suspiciously in the appetizer section, since we both ate some and even took the rest home for another meal. One thing to be noticed is Vietnamese salad is nothing like our usual American garden salad or Caesar salad. The waiter is not going to ask you what kind of dressing you’d like, and you need not innocuously remind “on the side, please”. There is no reason to fret over some little Ranch or bleu cheese dressing that will cause your calorie level to shoot up, or vinaigrette to make your taste buds sour. The salad is simply soaked in a mixture of salt, lemon juice, and sugar. Every piece of lotus stem, sliced carrot, sliced onion, cilantro, even the thin slices of boiled pork and the shrimp halves, has almost the same taste of that mixture, thoroughly and evenly. The lotus stem is a little crunchy, the pork is tender and mild, but not plain in the least, topped with crushed peanuts for some nuttiness. The salad is a meal in itself, so simple and elegant. And healthy.
But we didn’t stay healthy for long. For main course we had com tay cam (English name: clay pot) and old timer bun thit nuong (cold rice vermicelli with grilled pork).
The rice came with a small cup of pho broth, which I’m not sure what to do with. I’m pretty sure the rice wasn’t cooked in the pot, only served in it, because the pot wasn’t hot and the rice was almost flaming. The first spoon was excellent, the second revealed that it’s a rather oily combination of fried rice, fried shiitake mushroom, fried Chinese sausage, and fried chicken. The pot could be smaller than your cereal bowl, but it’s like the pot of Thach Sanh, it’s so filling you keep eating layer after layer but you just can’t finish it in one sitting.
Now this had been my craving for a long time. A bowl of chargrilled pork chops atop a soft bed of bún, some bean sprout and sliced cucumber at the bottom for a taste of freshness, sprinkled crushed peanuts and many a spoonful of nuoc mam pha (fish extract diluted in water, mixed with lemon juice, salt and sugar, and very little chopped garlic). I like the bun, the nuoc mam, and the veggie, but I would whisper *just* a little disappointment with the pork. It was definitely flavorful, but it was too thinly sliced. It wasn’t grilled long enough to bring out all the flavor. And it’s a little, just a little, dry. Beside, how are you supposed to cut that monstrously wide sheet of meat with chopsticks?
This is the closest one could get to Vietnamese food from Palo Alto, and unarguably a good find (a decent one, if you’re uncompromisingly picky about real cha gio). It’s cheap and takes credit card. We didn’t have to wait long for our food to arrive, but if you expect attentive service coming to ask “Is everything okay?” and refill your water every 10 minutes, don’t come here. Vietnamese restaurants respect privacy of their customers, so no need to worry about putting food in your mouth the correct way (as there is none). The only thing that bothered me about this place was the chatty nature of the hostesses. When the restaurant wasn’t packed after prime lunch time, our ladies comfortably spilled out to each other, across the counter and tables in Vietnamese with heavy Southern accent, numerous pieces about friends and relatives. Not that many could understand them, but some background music would be more pleasant I think. See menu.
Phở Vỉ Hoa Restaurant
4546 El Camino Real Suite A12
Los Altos, CA 94022
Lunch for two: $21.81
Hello There. I found your blog using msn. This is a very well written article. I will make sure to bookmark it and return to read more of your useful info. Thanks for the post. I will certainly return.
1Thank you for the auspicious writeup. It in reality used to be a leisure account it. Glance complicated to more brought agreeable from you! By the way, how could we communicate?
2Hey I am so excited I found your webpage, I really found you by accident, while I was browsing on Digg for something else, Nonetheless I am here now and would just like to say cheers for a marvelous post and a all round thrilling blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to read it all at the moment but I have book-marked it and also added in your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read much more, Please do keep up the great job.
3Thanks for sharing superb informations. Your website is very cool. I am impressed by the details that you’ve on this web site. It reveals how nicely you perceive this subject. Bookmarked this web page, will come back for extra articles. You, my pal, ROCK! I found just the information I already searched everywhere and simply could not come across. What an ideal website.
4Enjoyed looking through this, very good stuff, regards. “Love begets love, love knows no rules, this is the same for all.” by Virgil.
5Real wonderful information can be found on blog. “We should be eternally vigilant against attempts to check the expression of opinions that we loathe.” by Oliver Wendell Holmes.
6Thanks for any other magnificent post. The place else may just anyone get that type of information in such an ideal approach of writing? I have a presentation next week, and I’m on the look for such information.
7Some times its a pain in the ass to read what website owners wrote but this web site is very user friendly! .
8Great site. Lots of useful info here. I’m sending it to a few friends ans also sharing in delicious. And obviously, thanks for your effort!
9Yay google is my world beater helped me to find this great internet site! .
10You are my breathing in, I possess few blogs and rarely run out from to brand.
11Great line up. We will be linking to this great article on our site. Keep up the good writing.
12Loving the info on this site, you have done great job on the posts.
13Can I just say what a relief to find someone who actually knows what theyre talking about on the internet. You definitely know how to bring an issue to light and make it important. More people need to read this and understand this side of the story. I cant believe youre not more popular because you definitely have the gift.
14Wohh precisely what I was searching for, regards for putting up.
15I was suggested this website by my cousin. I am not sure whether this post is written by him as nobody else know such detailed about my trouble. You are amazing! Thanks!
16Very interesting points you have observed, thankyou for posting.
17I like this website because so much useful material on here :D.
18You should participate in a contest for the most effective blogs on the web. I’ll advocate this website!
19Having read this I thought it was very informative. I appreciate you taking the time and effort to put this article together. I once again find myself spending way to much time both reading and commenting. But so what, it was still worth it!
20I think this internet site contains some real good info for everyone. “He who has not looked on Sorrow will never see Joy.” by Kahlil Gibran.
21I believe you have mentioned some very interesting details, appreciate it for the post.
22You made some nice points there. I did a search on the subject matter and found most guys will go along with with your website.
23I have learn a few just right stuff here. Definitely price bookmarking for revisiting. I surprise how so much attempt you put to create any such magnificent informative site.
24Wow! This could be one particular of the most useful blogs We have ever arrive across on this subject. Actually Wonderful. I am also a specialist in this topic therefore I can understand your effort.
25Excellent blog here! Also your website loads up very fast! What host are you using? Can I get your affiliate link to your host? I wish my site loaded up as quickly as yours lol
26The next time I read a blog, I hope that it doesnt disappoint me as much as this one. I mean, I know it was my choice to read, but I actually thought youd have something interesting to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about something that you could fix if you werent too busy looking for attention.
27I am not certain where you are getting your information, but good topic. I must spend a while studying much more or working out more. Thanks for fantastic info I used to be searching for this info for my mission.
28I see something really interesting about your website so I saved to fav.
29I’d forever want to be update on new blog posts on this web site, saved to favorites! .
30This blog is definitely rather handy since I’m at the moment creating an internet floral website – although I am only starting out therefore it’s really fairly small, nothing like this site. Can link to a few of the posts here as they are quite. Thanks much. Zoey Olsen
31You should take part in a contest for one of the best blogs on the web. I will recommend this site!
32Fantastic beat ! I would like to apprentice while you amend your site, how can i subscribe for a blog website? The account aided me a acceptable deal. I had been tiny bit acquainted of this your broadcast provided bright clear concept
33What i do not realize is in fact how you are no longer really a lot more well-appreciated than you might be now. You are very intelligent. You recognize thus significantly in terms of this topic, made me for my part believe it from a lot of various angles. Its like women and men don’t seem to be involved except it’s something to do with Lady gaga! Your personal stuffs outstanding. Always take care of it up!
34You have brought up a very superb points, regards for the post.
35I have been exploring for a bit for any high quality articles or weblog posts on this sort of space . Exploring in Yahoo I ultimately stumbled upon this web site. Reading this info So i am glad to exhibit that I’ve a very good uncanny feeling I came upon exactly what I needed. I so much certainly will make sure to don’t forget this web site and provides it a look regularly.
36That is the appropriate blog for anyone who desires to seek out out about this topic. You notice a lot its nearly laborious to argue with you (not that I actually would want…HaHa). You positively put a brand new spin on a subject thats been written about for years. Great stuff, simply great!
37whoah this blog is great i really like reading your articles. Keep up the great paintings! You know, a lot of individuals are searching around for this information, you could aid them greatly.
38Your style is so unique compared to many other people. Thank you for publishing when you have the opportunity,Guess I will just make this bookmarked.
39Thanks for some other magnificent post. The place else may anybody get that kind of info in such an ideal method of writing? I’ve a presentation next week, and I am at the search for such information.
40After study a few of the blog posts on your website now, and I truly like your way of blogging. I bookmarked it to my bookmark website list and will be checking back soon. Pls check out my web site as well and let me know what you think.
41What’s Happening i’m new to this, I stumbled upon this I’ve found It positively useful and it has helped me out loads. I am hoping to give a contribution & aid other customers like its helped me. Great job.
42I am not really fantastic with English but I come up this really easy to read .
43Hi my family member! I want to say that this article is amazing, nice written and include almost all important infos. I’d like to see extra posts like this.
44wonderful points altogether, you just won a new reader. What might you recommend about your put up that you simply made a few days in the past? Any positive?
45naturally like your web site however you have to check the spelling on quite a few of your posts. A number of them are rife with spelling problems and I to find it very bothersome to inform the reality on the other hand I will surely come back again.
46I like what you guys are up too. Such clever work and reporting! Carry on the superb works guys I have incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it will improve the value of my site 🙂
47Thanx for the effort, keep up the good work Great work, I am going to start a small Blog Engine course work using your site I hope you enjoy blogging with the popular BlogEngine.net.Thethoughts you express are really awesome. Hope you will right some more posts.
48I was very pleased to seek out this net-site.I wished to thanks for your time for this glorious learn!! I positively enjoying each little little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you weblog post.
49Hi there just wanted to give you a brief heads up and let you know a few of the pictures aren’t loading properly. I’m not sure why but I think its a linking issue. I’ve tried it in two different internet browsers and both show the same outcome.
50