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
Having 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!
1Hey There. I found your bblog thhe usee off msn. This iss a really well writen article.
I willl make suure to bookmark itt annd ccome bac tto leaqrn extra off your helpful information.
2Thanks ffor tthe post. I will definiteloy comeback.
xnxx
I’m not sure why but this blog is loading very slow for me. Is anyone else having this problem or is it a issue on my end? I’ll check back later on and see if the problem still exists.
3I am not sure where you are getting your information, but great topic. I needs to spend some time learning more or figuring out more. Thank you for fantastic info I used to be searching for this information for my mission.
4I like the efforts you have put in this, thank you for all the great blog posts.
5Hi, i think that i noticed you visited my weblog thus i got here to “return the desire”.I am trying to find issues to improve my web site!I guess its ok to make use of a few of your ideas!!
6Thanks for another informative blog. Where else could I get that kind of info written in such an ideal way? I have a project that I am just now working on, and I have been on the look out for such info.
7After 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.
8This actually answered my drawback, thanks!
9Some times its a pain in the ass to read what website owners wrote but this site is very user genial! .
10I want looking through and I conceive this website got some genuinely utilitarian stuff on it! .
11Thank you for every other informative blog. Where else may I get that kind of info written in such an ideal way? I’ve a undertaking that I am simply now running on, and I’ve been at the look out for such information.
12This is a topic close to my heart cheers, where are your contact details though?
13Some genuinely fantastic work on behalf of the owner of this web site, perfectly great subject material.
14I enjoy the efforts you have put in this, thanks for all the great blog posts.
15Loving the information on this internet site, you have done great job on the posts.
16I love what you guys are usually up too. This kind of clever work and coverage! Keep up the great works guys I’ve included you guys to my personal blogroll.
17I have learn a few good stuff here. Certainly price bookmarking for revisiting. I wonder how much attempt you put to make such a fantastic informative web site.
18I have read a few just right stuff here. Definitely worth bookmarking for revisiting. I wonder how much effort you put to create one of these great informative site.
19I have been surfing on-line greater than 3 hours these days, yet I never discovered any attention-grabbing article like yours. It’s pretty value enough for me. In my view, if all web owners and bloggers made excellent content as you probably did, the web will likely be a lot more helpful than ever before. “Now I see the secret of the making of the best persons.” by Walt Whitman.
20Thanks for a marvelous posting! I seriously enjoyed reading it, you can be a great author.I will make sure to bookmark your blog and will come back in the future. I want to encourage you to definitely continue your great posts, have a nice morning!
21An attention-grabbing dialogue is price comment. I believe that you should write more on this matter, it may not be a taboo topic however generally individuals are not enough to speak on such topics. To the next. Cheers
22Hey there! I just wanted to ask if you ever have any issues with hackers? My last blog (wordpress) was hacked and I ended up losing several weeks of hard work due to no backup. Do you have any methods to stop hackers?
23I have read a few just right stuff here. Definitely value bookmarking for revisiting. I wonder how much effort you place to make such a excellent informative web site.
24I have been absent for a while, but now I remember why I used to love this site. Thank you, I’ll try and check back more often. How frequently you update your website?
25hi!,I really like your writing so a lot! share we keep up a correspondence more about your article on AOL? I need an expert in this area to resolve my problem. Maybe that is you! Looking forward to see you.
26Those are yours alright! . We at least need to get these people stealing images to start blogging! They probably just did a image search and grabbed them. They look good though!
27It is really a great and useful piece of information. I’m satisfied that you shared this useful info with us. Please stay us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.
28Very nice pattern and fantastic content, practically nothing else we want :D.
29I really enjoy studying on this site, it has fantastic blog posts. “Never fight an inanimate object.” by P. J. O’Rourke.
30certainly like your web-site however you need to test the spelling on quite a few of your posts. Several of them are rife with spelling problems and I in finding it very bothersome to tell the reality on the other hand I’ll certainly come again again.
31Can I simply say what a aid to seek out somebody who really is aware of what theyre talking about on the internet. You positively know the best way to deliver an issue to mild and make it important. Extra people need to read this and understand this aspect of the story. I cant imagine youre not more popular because you definitely have the gift.
32I like this post, enjoyed this one thankyou for posting.
33I’m impressed, I have to say. Really hardly ever do I encounter a blog that’s both educative and entertaining, and let me let you know, you have got hit the nail on the head. Your concept is excellent; the issue is one thing that not sufficient individuals are speaking intelligently about. I am very completely satisfied that I stumbled across this in my search for something relating to this.
34After study just a few of the weblog posts on your web site now, and I truly like your method of blogging. I bookmarked it to my bookmark website listing and can be checking again soon. Pls check out my web page as well and let me know what you think.
35Hello there, I found your website via Google while looking for a related topic, your site came up, it looks good. I’ve bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
36Hi there, You have done a fantastic job. I’ll definitely digg it and personally recommend to my friends. I am sure they will be benefited from this site.
37Hello, i think that i saw you visited my web site thus i came to “return the favor”.I’m trying to find things to enhance my web site!I suppose its ok to use a few of your ideas!!
38I really prize your piece of work, Great post.
39As I website owner I think the content here is real wonderful, thanks for your efforts.
40The following time I read a blog, I hope that it doesnt disappoint me as a lot as this one. I imply, I do know it was my choice to learn, however I truly thought youd have something fascinating to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about one thing that you can repair if you werent too busy looking for attention.
41After 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.
42Howdy! Someone in my Myspace group shared this site with us so I came to take a look. I’m definitely enjoying the information. I’m book-marking and will be tweeting this to my followers! Terrific blog and superb style and design.
43I do enjoy the way you have framed this particular situation plus it does provide me some fodder for consideration. However, through what I have observed, I simply just trust when the comments stack on that people continue to be on issue and don’t get started upon a tirade involving the news du jour. Anyway, thank you for this fantastic piece and even though I do not necessarily go along with it in totality, I regard the viewpoint.
44hey there and thank you to your info – I have definitely picked up something new from right here. I did then again expertise a few technical issues the usage of this site, as I experienced to reload the web site lots of occasions previous to I could get it to load properly. I have been puzzling over in case your web host is OK? Not that I am complaining, but slow loading instances times will often impact your placement in google and could harm your high quality ranking if ads and ***********|advertising|advertising|advertising and *********** with Adwords. Well I’m adding this RSS to my email and can glance out for much more of your respective interesting content. Ensure that you update this once more very soon..
45Good day! This is kind of off topic but I need some guidance from an established blog. Is it difficult to set up your own blog? I’m not very techincal but I can figure things out pretty fast. I’m thinking about setting up my own but I’m not sure where to start. Do you have any points or suggestions? Thank you
46Utterly pent written content, Really enjoyed looking through.
47I also believe hence, perfectly pent post! .
48Nice post. I learn something more challenging on different blogs everyday. It will always be stimulating to read content from other writers and practice a little something from their store. I’d prefer to use some with the content on my blog whether you don’t mind. Natually I’ll give you a link on your web blog. Thanks for sharing.
49Hello I am so glad I found your blog, I really found you by accident, while I was looking on Aol for something else, Regardless I am here now and would just like to say cheers for a marvelous post and a all round entertaining blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to read through it all at the minute but I have bookmarked it and also added your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read a great deal more, Please do keep up the superb job.
50