The charm of crunchy-skin grilled fish
Thiên Phú has been in my draft list for over 18 months. I wanted to write a post worthy of their dishes, but a proper post requires proper pictures, and either I was too hungry at the time or I just sucked at taking pictures at the time (I still suck now, but less than before) that every single picture was blurry like a blizzard. I was more concerned about food than food blogging so I didn’t snap many shots and didn’t check the clarity of the shots I took before digging in. I also didn’t know any photo editing. Basically, I was plain dumb.
At many points I thought about abandoning the post altogether, but we had a good meal that time and I even fed the birds in the parking lot while waiting for my friends to come join us. The birds were full, we were full. The restaurant was, as usual, empty except for us (because their menu is catered to large groups and wedding parties), so we got extra attention from the staff. Such memories kept me from deleting the draft that had nothing but terrible pictures. Then my parents came to the rescue when they revisited Thien Phu in the spring and took some luminous shots, like the beef and shrimp salad above and the seafood stir fry on rice below.
The salad, like most Vietnamese salads soaked in that half sweet, half tangy mixed fish sauce, was yummy. The seafood stir fry was nothing beyond expectation, they said, but at the very least, Thiên Phú brown sauce was not fattily thick like that goo in Phở Hà’s pan-fried phở. Dad’s vermicelli with stir fried beef was a good sweep, as evident from its picture.
If you’ve read my blog for long enough, you probably would notice that my dad almost never orders anything but beef, while Little Mom goes for shrimp or fish nine times out of ten. Naturally, Thien Phu ranks high in my parents’ list because their specialties are the 7 courses of beef and the whole grilled fish.
We’ve never tried all seven beef courses at once. We just choose a few that sound most savory, and for this party of 5, something shareable. Like beef that can be wrapped in rice paper and dipped in sauces. The chunky, fatty steamed beef balls (bò chả đùm) was broken into coarser bits to be scooped with a rice crackers or wrapped with lettuce. Razor-thin leaves of still red beef were dunked into heated vinegar for a simple, tender, and tangy completeness of bò nhúng dấm. Halved shrimps joined the beef in a similar fashion to make tôm nhúng dấm. Dad even dipped it in mắm nêm (ground anchovy sauce) to tighten the taste.
Then there’s the good old style of flopping beef slices on a hot black grill pan and hearing it sizzle while loading the wet rice paper with bean sprout, herbs, pickled radish and daikon. I also put a slice of unripe banana in my bò nướng vỉ roll because its cookie-like texture and clinging aftertaste are fun, although they don’t add much to the roll as a whole.
Leaving the blurry images of December 2009, we’re back to the present: grilled beef ball on rice. The marinade was sealed inside its smooth, gritty texture, each ball was so juicy it would shame a plump mango.
The seafood dishes are not subpar either. Loaded with shrimp, squid, and broccoli, mì hải sản (seafood noodle) had the sweetness of hủ tíu Nam Vang (Phnom Penh ka tieu) and the strength (and curly noodles) of ramen. The more broth we drank, the more delicious it got.
But there is one thing that everyone gets when they go to Thiên Phú: the crunchy-skin grilled fish (cá nướng da giòn). The whole catfish is enough for two by itself, grilled hiddenly in the kitchen until its skin breaks a crackling sound and glisters like topaz, then it’s brought out to you topped with crusted peanuts, cilantro and lime wedges. Its flesh stays white, juicy and soft. Roll up a side piece, you can savor its pristine, naturally sweet taste or dip it in nước mắm. The second grilled fish I had here this May was better than the one I had in December 2009, and so were their beef dishes. It’s good to see a good place gets better.
Just watch out for bones.
Address: Thiên Phú Restaurant
11360 Bellaire Blvd Ste 100
Houston, TX 77072
(281) 568-1448
(in the same parking lot as Giò Chả Đức Hương)
Lunch for 5: $76.03
Some truly wonderful posts on this internet site, appreciate it for contribution.
1I couldn’t resist commenting
2Pretty great post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed surfing around your weblog posts. In any case I will be subscribing in your feed and I’m hoping you write again soon!
3Very interesting info !Perfect just what I was looking for!
4I do not even know how I stopped up here, however I thought this post was good. I do not know who you might be but certainly you’re going to a well-known blogger in the event you aren’t already 😉 Cheers!
5Hi! Someone in my Myspace group shared this site with us so I came to give it a look. I’m definitely loving the information. I’m bookmarking and will be tweeting this to my followers! Fantastic blog and terrific style and design.
6This is very interesting, You’re a very skilled blogger. I’ve joined your feed and look forward to seeking more of your wonderful post. Also, I’ve shared your web site in my social networks!
7Awsome post and straight to the point. I don’t know if this is in fact the best place to ask but do you folks have any ideea where to hire some professional writers? Thanks in advance 🙂
8Thanks for sharing superb informations. Your site is very cool. I’m impressed by the details that you’ve on this site. It reveals how nicely you understand this subject. Bookmarked this website page, will come back for extra articles. You, my pal, ROCK! I found just the info I already searched all over the place and simply could not come across. What a great web-site.
9An interesting discussion is worth comment. I think that you should write more on this topic, it might not be a taboo subject but generally people are not enough to speak on such topics. To the next. Cheers
10I have learn a few good stuff here. Definitely price bookmarking for revisiting. I wonder how much attempt you put to make such a fantastic informative web site.
11Just a smiling visitor here to share the love (:, btw outstanding design.
12Someone essentially help to make seriously posts I would state. This is the first time I frequented your website page and thus far? I surprised with the research you made to make this particular publish amazing. Wonderful job!
13I’m not sure the place you’re getting your information, however great topic. I must spend a while studying much more or understanding more. Thank you for wonderful information I used to be looking for this info for my mission.
14Hello there, just became alert to your blog through Google, and found that it’s truly informative. I am gonna watch out for brussels. I will be grateful if you continue this in future. Numerous people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!
15Hello, i think that i saw you visited my blog thus i came to “return the favor”.I’m attempting to find things to improve my website!I suppose its ok to use some of your ideas!!
16Thank you 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 information being shared freely out there.
17I really like your writing style, fantastic information, regards for posting :D.
18What i do not understood is if truth be told how you are no longer actually a lot more smartly-appreciated than you may be now. You’re so intelligent. You know therefore considerably in relation to this matter, produced me personally believe it from so many varied angles. Its like women and men aren’t interested unless it is one thing to do with Girl gaga! Your own stuffs excellent. All the time handle it up!
19What’s Going down i am new to this, I stumbled upon this I’ve found It absolutely helpful and it has aided me out loads. I am hoping to give a contribution & aid other customers like its helped me. Good job.
20You have observed very interesting details! ps nice site.
21I will immediately seize your rss feed as I can’t in finding your e-mail subscription link or newsletter service. Do you have any? Kindly allow me know in order that I may just subscribe. Thanks.
22I think this internet site holds some rattling good information for everyone. “It is easy enough to define what the Commonwealth is not. Indeed this is quite a popular pastime.” by Elizabeth II.
23I think you have remarked some very interesting points, appreciate it for the post.
24Aw, this was a really nice post. In concept I wish to put in writing like this additionally – taking time and precise effort to make an excellent article… however what can I say… I procrastinate alot and by no means seem to get something done.
25I am not rattling good with English but I come up this rattling leisurely to understand.
26Hey There. I found your weblog the usage of msn. That is an extremely well written article. I will be sure to bookmark it and return to learn more of your helpful information. Thanks for the post. I will certainly return.
27Lovely just what I was looking for.Thanks to the author for taking his clock time on this one.
28There is noticeably a bundle to learn about this. I assume you made sure good points in features also.
29Pretty! This was a really wonderful post. Thank you for your provided information.
30I’ll immediately clutch your rss as I can’t in finding your email subscription link or e-newsletter service. Do you have any? Please let me know so that I may subscribe. Thanks.
31Hey! This is my first visit to your blog! We are a group of volunteers and starting a new initiative in a community in the same niche. Your blog provided us valuable information to work on. You have done a wonderful job!
32Respect to op, some fantastic information .
33I think other web site proprietors should take this site as an model, very clean and wonderful user friendly style and design, as well as the content. You’re an expert in this topic!
34Howdy! Quick question that’s entirely off topic. Do you know how to make your site mobile friendly? My site looks weird when browsing from my iphone 4. I’m trying to find a theme or plugin that might be able to fix this issue. If you have any suggestions, please share. Thank you!
35Throughout the great pattern of things you actually receive an A just for hard work. Where exactly you actually lost me personally ended up being in all the facts. You know, they say, the devil is in the details… And that couldn’t be much more correct here. Having said that, let me say to you what exactly did do the job. Your text is highly persuasive which is probably the reason why I am making an effort in order to comment. I do not really make it a regular habit of doing that. Next, even though I can notice the jumps in reason you make, I am definitely not sure of how you seem to unite your ideas which inturn help to make the conclusion. For right now I shall subscribe to your point but trust in the foreseeable future you connect your facts much better.
36I think this is among the most vital information for me. And i’m glad reading your article. But wanna remark on few general things, The web site style is great, the articles is really great :D. Good job, cheers
37I and also my friends were actually going through the excellent pointers from your web blog while quickly developed a terrible suspicion I had not thanked the web site owner for those tips. All the young men are actually for this reason joyful to see all of them and have in effect truly been loving these things. Appreciation for genuinely considerably kind and for figuring out this form of impressive subject areas millions of individuals are really desperate to discover. My very own sincere apologies for not expressing appreciation to earlier.
38An interesting discussion is worth comment. I think that you should write more on this topic, it might not be a taboo subject but generally people are not enough to speak on such topics. To the next. Cheers
39Great write-up, I’m normal visitor of one’s site, maintain up the excellent operate, and It’s going to be a regular visitor for a long time.
40Appreciating the commitment you put into your blog and detailed information you present. It’s nice to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the same out of date rehashed material. Great read! I’ve bookmarked your site and I’m adding your RSS feeds to my Google account.
41I like this web site so much, saved to my bookmarks.
42I like the valuable information you provide in your articles. I’ll bookmark your blog and check again here regularly. I am quite certain I will learn plenty of new stuff right here! Good luck for the next!
43Some truly interesting details you have written.Aided me a lot, just what I was looking for :D.
44Great site! I am loving it!! Will be back later to read some more. I am bookmarking your feeds also.
45I was curious if you ever considered changing the structure of your website? Its very well written; I love what youve got to say. But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so people could connect with it better. Youve got an awful lot of text for only having one or two pictures. Maybe you could space it out better?
46What i do not realize is in fact how you’re not really a lot more neatly-favored than you might be right now. You’re so intelligent. You realize thus significantly in relation to this topic, made me individually consider it from numerous various angles. Its like men and women aren’t involved except it is something to do with Woman gaga! Your individual stuffs excellent. Always handle it up!
47Rattling nice style and design and wonderful subject matter, practically nothing else we require :D.
48You are my inspiration , I own few web logs and infrequently run out from to post .
49Some times its a pain in the ass to read what website owners wrote but this web site is real user pleasant! .
50