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Oooh, Vietnamese food is nice
- Thread starter Log4Girlz
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I don't mean to shit this thread up with stereotypes now but I want to know if this is only a SoCal thing for Vietnamese places.
Every freaking place packs their drinks with ice to the top so that you only really get two big gulps worth of drink.
WTF is with that? One time I went to Mr. Baguette and thought I would outsmart the system. "Without ice please" I asked for. I got a cup half full...
Viet food is still cheap in SoCal thankfully and such a good value but I always avoid the drinks now because I feel they are trying to rip me off.
Every freaking place packs their drinks with ice to the top so that you only really get two big gulps worth of drink.
WTF is with that? One time I went to Mr. Baguette and thought I would outsmart the system. "Without ice please" I asked for. I got a cup half full...
Viet food is still cheap in SoCal thankfully and such a good value but I always avoid the drinks now because I feel they are trying to rip me off.
skyfinch said:I agree. Vietnamese food is the best.
My mom makes amazing Pho and Banh Xeo. The nuoc cham she makes with it (dipping sauce) is so good, I could drink it.
Thank you for this!
Boken said:
Che Ba Mau (three colour drink). This is the quintessential Vietnamese dessert - a mixture of red bean, mung bean and Vietnamese jelly topped with shaved ice and coconut milk. Woo~ Most Vietnamese people love it
And this!
I just went to Huong's Vietnamese Bistro in Ottawa (saw a lot of recommendations on Ottawa Foodies) and had these. It was delicious. We have so many Vietnamese restaurants here..I really need to experiment some more.
Prax
Member
Hieberrr said:You need to experience street food in Vietnam! I went there last summer and ate bun Bo in the morning on the streets on those little xolourfil chairs. Bomb! I also went to some place called Quan Binh and omg, their sea food was amazing. Scallops in some light sauce, peanuts and some spices.... oh my gawdddddddd.
Going to Vietnam has made me like Viet food (which I hated while growing up)
Perhaps.. I ate in all the wrong places maybe?
I just can't manage a lot of Vietnamese food. I have been raised in Canada too long! xD
The taste seems all wrong!
A couple of years ago, I did go to Vietnam for the first time and had to eat a lot of .... food. Fruits were always welcome BUT THE CHICKEN WAS ALWAYS WRONG. And so was most of the meat! It's just ain't the same!
Maybe because I ate at a bunch of NON TOURIST places (stayed with poorer side of the family most of the time--which is more of the fishing village type--and I hate seafood), but yeah.... I was more scared of getting sick than anything (3 of my other cousins who came with me got really bad case of the chills and runs and stuff...).
I even ate black chicken! All the meat including the bone was black! It was so eerie! I guess it tasted like chicken, but it was in an herbal type of soup. Not my.. cup of tea so to speak.
I did have some AMAZING amazing raguot or something of that nature! It was like the reddest, best oily chili curry chicken dish in the worrrrld~! That was in a different place where the richer side of my family is.. and there is more food all around. I need to stay with the more well-off side more often. What was funny was tha wen i told them i didn't liek seafood, they were all "oh, don't worry all our fish come from the river!" and I burst out laughing.
I think I am way too suspicious of food over there. Seems like most of it is made in unsanitary conditions. Women's washrooms where people peed in holes in a stall and using a bucket of water to wash it down.. Not having any toilet paper and having to pay for it or carry a roll with you.. Oh so many horrors...
Prax said:
Damn you too whitewashed!
JK, its similar for me when I go back to China except its pretty modern in most parts now, except for the behavior of the general population.
As long as the food is cooked hot or doused in vinegar it will kill most of the bacteria. I went to a dimsum restaurant the other day here and ate some rice noodles which were room temp (looked like it was steamed an hour ago and then left to become cool), well bad risk taken.
Even though I've been here before I did not grow up here and get acclimated to the microbials in the ecosystem of China so sometimes I'll eat something and its off to the toilet. This visit hasn't been too bad as I've been careful to eat only hot or pickled foods but once in a while I take a chance. Can't wait to go to Hong Kong and enjoy modern civilization with real sanitary expectations.
Dynamite Ringo Matsuri
Member
How I learned to stop worrying, and love da stank.Prax said:
I kid, I never liked nuoc mam all that much growing up either, I always sub in xi dau or nuoc tuong is not bad either. Someone mentioned bun rieu earlier, god, I could never stand that stuff either. I'm like the worst fucking Vietnamese dude ever probably.
I laughed my ass off at this. My grandma lived in a run down old house in Saigon and it's just as you describe. My relatives in Da Nang and other parts of Saigon are much better off and enjoy the regular amenities that you would expect of a first world country. Staying in Saigon almost turned me off of Vietnam period. I haven't been back in about 11 years though, would be interesting to see how much of it has changed. I would imagine much of it has.Prax said:
Prax
Member
Yeah, that's exactly what happens for me. Soy sauce or nuoc tuong all the way! Bun rieu though. It's okay..! But I like tomatoes in general.. haha.Dynamite Ringo Matsuri said:
And well, they have AIR CONDITIONERS around my poor family's parts now! That's always an upgrade! On the other hand, my well-off side has like this.. 5 storey hotel-like home with butt-washing toilets, dragon scale fish pond, and elevator, and all this fancy jazz that you don't expect Vietnamese people to have. The mind boggles at the contrast.
I also realize that throughout the thread, people were confusing me with "banh cuong". To me, what has been called banh cuong = banh uoc (thicker rice paper sheets filled with meat or something), and banh cuong = summer/rice paper rolls. I AM RIGHT! YOU GUYS ARE WRONG! ;__;
Adam Blade
WWKC
At least he's not living in Japan like you, you traitor!Shouta said:
:3
Dynamite Ringo Matsuri
Member
Prax is a girl. And I'm gonna be in the San Gabriel/LA area in 2 weeks. Any recommendations for good places to hit up?
Adam Blade
WWKC
Whoops then... Sorry prax ...
But yeah, I went to VN once about 13 years ago and will never go again. I still prefer Viet food in America to that in VN currently. At least I don't get gastroenteritis here very often from eating out in the USA...
But yeah, I went to VN once about 13 years ago and will never go again. I still prefer Viet food in America to that in VN currently. At least I don't get gastroenteritis here very often from eating out in the USA...
Dude Abides said:
Need to go a bit south to my wife's home town, Buon Ma Thuot. Nice Quiet, relatively clean, and bowls of Pho, Com Tam, Bo Ne(steak and eggs on a hot plate) for about $2 a plate.
Basically if you travel to any of the Tourist stops (Hanoi, Nha Trang, Saigon) they're gonna jack up the prices on you if you're a foreigner. One of the few times being Chinese/Vietnamese has worked in my favor.
Ninja Scooter
Member
Pho + vietnamese iced coffee will cure your hangover real quick.
As a Vietnamese person, I think I could be the only one that doesn't like bun bo. I love all the other stuff though! This thread really makes me miss my parent's homecooked food, which was ALWAYS better than restaurants. Think I might have to buy a train ticket and visit home one of these days.
Adam Blade
WWKC
Shouta said:
I'm not you, Shota-kun.
theinfinityissue
Member
Starting with chinese food, then moving on to japanese, next to thai, and recently korean, I'm just nuts about all asian food. Vietnamese, I'm afraid, is the only exception. I just can't stand it. It's all loaded down with disgusting cilantro, and in general it just seems 6 different kinds of not up my alley. I've tried pho and a couple other things. I'd really like to give it another shot someday, I just don't want to waste my scarce dining out cash on something that I'm almost sure I won't like.
Maybe I'll pick something outta this thread and try it one more time.
Maybe I'll pick something outta this thread and try it one more time.
Foxy Fox 39
Banned
pho is good but like others said its not enough variety for me.
jon_irenicus
Member
Llyranor said:Love the pastry, hate the meat inside
The pastry is definitely my favorite part as well. I'd eat it similarly to how I'd eat an Oreo, pastry first followed by meat.
Nem Chua - A cured (uncooked?) pork appetizer often ubiquitous during Tet. Not really a fan of these but it does appear to be a uniquely vietnamese dish:
Thit Heo Kho Trung - Vietnamese braised pork with hard-boiled eggs. An item you'll be hard-pressed to find in restaurants but it's a very common home-cooked dish. I'm sure many who grew up in a vietnamese household will recognize this. My favorite has always been the egg; I could do without the pork belly:
Ca Chua Nhoi Thit - Tomatoes stuffed with pork. Another dish more common at home. My mom made a lot of these and I loved them!
Cha Trung Hap - Vietnamese meatloaf, usually comprising of pork, eggs, and mushroom. The one my mom made didn't quite have the yellow topping shown here. You can usually find these in the to-go restaurants when ordering Com Tam:
Banh Beo - Rice cakes topped with mung bean paste and shredded shrimp. Nuoc Mam (fish sauce) is often poured on top. I used to eat these quite often when I was younger. My palate has morphed to the point where I don't desire them any longer. You can often find these pre-packaged in styrofoam plates wrapped in plastic film in the deli shops that also sell Banh Mi (vietnamese-french subway sandwiches), at least in SoCal...
Dua Cai Chua - The vietnamese answer to the pickle:
Adam Blade
WWKC
Wow, I had all that growing up in my household.
I just was never really found of the banh beo. It was never filling enough. And you're a heathen for not liking the pork.
I just was never really found of the banh beo. It was never filling enough. And you're a heathen for not liking the pork.
ThaiGrocer
Member
Is that cubes of pork blood? I haven't gotten used to that yet. If ever. I'm so weak.spermatic cord said:
com tam
Fuck, going through this thread is killing me...
I'm half Viet, but my mom doesn't know how to cook any Viet dishes aside from maybe the Thit Heo Kho Trung as shown above. It REALLY doesn't help that there aren't many good places for Viet food in general in Boston or upstate NY.
I'm half Viet, but my mom doesn't know how to cook any Viet dishes aside from maybe the Thit Heo Kho Trung as shown above. It REALLY doesn't help that there aren't many good places for Viet food in general in Boston or upstate NY.
NaughtyCalibur
Member
Dresden said:
?
Ding ding ding!
But uh... what are they called? :S
NaughtyCalibur
Member
Boken said:
Banh Cuon (rice paper roll), a rarely mentioned Vietnamese food. Soft thin sheets of rice paper wrapped around pork and mushroom. It needs more appreciation!
Actually, nvm, THIS is what I was talking about. Sooo good.
Now I know the name, so I may just go out and grab some tomorrow haha. These local Vietnamese spots really need photos with their menu. :/
chickdigger802
Banned
pho is good stuff.
live at five point, atlanta, and this one restaurant pretty much feeds me for 3 days of a week.
live at five point, atlanta, and this one restaurant pretty much feeds me for 3 days of a week.
good stuff!!jon_irenicus said:The pastry is definitely my favorite part as well. I'd eat it similarly to how I'd eat an Oreo, pastry first followed by meat.
Nem Chua - A cured (uncooked?) pork appetizer often ubiquitous during Tet. Not really a fan of these but it does appear to be a uniquely vietnamese dish:
Thit Heo Kho Trung - Vietnamese braised pork with hard-boiled eggs. An item you'll be hard-pressed to find in restaurants but it's a very common home-cooked dish. I'm sure many who grew up in a vietnamese household will recognize this. My favorite has always been the egg; I could do without the pork belly:
Ca Chua Nhoi Thit - Tomatoes stuffed with pork. Another dish more common at home. My mom made a lot of these and I loved them!
Cha Trung Hap - Vietnamese meatloaf, usually comprising of pork, eggs, and mushroom. The one my mom made didn't quite have the yellow topping shown here. You can usually find these in the to-go restaurants when ordering Com Tam:
Banh Beo - Rice cakes topped with mung bean paste and shredded shrimp. Nuoc Mam (fish sauce) is often poured on top. I used to eat these quite often when I was younger. My palate has morphed to the point where I don't desire them any longer. You can often find these pre-packaged in styrofoam plates wrapped in plastic film in the deli shops that also sell Banh Mi (vietnamese-french subway sandwiches), at least in SoCal...
Dua Cai Chua - The vietnamese answer to the pickle:
Aruarian Reflection
Chauffeur de la gdlk
Dynamite Ringo Matsuri said:
Golden Deli is generally considered the best Vietnamese in L.A. The main restaurant is in San Gabriel, but they opened a new location in Temple City that has better decor with less of a line. I just went to the TC location yesterday. Really tasty meal.
Great King Bowser
Property of Kaz Harai
Viet-GAF represent. I just spent a year living in Saigon but now I'm back in London. This thread has got me fiending. My mum usually makes all manner of awesome Vietnamese food, but she's just gone back. Luckily Vietnamese food is getting really popular in London, so there's a pretty good variety of places to go, not quite as good as back home though.
Great King Bowser
Property of Kaz Harai
NaughtyCalibur said:
Goi Cuon
sleeping_dragon
Banned
OuterWorldVoice said:
dude, is called banh mi thit or pork roll or chicken roll (banh mi ga) for that matter not sandwich , lol
sleeping_dragon
Banned
Second said:
a few years ago it was voted the most healthy foods in the world on average.
UpperCaseN
Member
hey! I'm Vietnamese and my mom makes this! We always put it over rice, but my mom yells at me because I put so much of that broth in it makes it like a soup. I also cut around that fatty piece and remove it.jon_irenicus said:Thit Heo Kho Trung - Vietnamese braised pork with hard-boiled eggs. An item you'll be hard-pressed to find in restaurants but it's a very common home-cooked dish. I'm sure many who grew up in a vietnamese household will recognize this. My favorite has always been the egg; I could do without the pork belly:
Dynamite Ringo Matsuri
Member
Awesome. Damn... TC... Haven't been there in 10 years... Memories haha, it's gonna be a quick bus ride away, many thanks!Aruarian Reflection said:
Oh yeah, just as an aside, but I do believe that Anthony Bourdain's favorite food is Vietnamese, and we all know he's a fuckin' boss. Take that global cuisine!
Dead Prince
Banned
my mom makes a different version.Gryphter said:
i assume this is the same too. my mom makes this. the thai name is Tom Khem i guess. this one is darker since they let the sugar caramelize more than usual. theres juice too. just too lazy to find a new image D:
Growing up i noticed how there's always a mixture of vietnamese, thai and lao food going on at my house lol.
I didn't even know that Pho was a vietnamese word when i was younger.
Dynamite Ringo Matsuri
Member
Hey Prince, I was curious in exploring Thai food while out in LA, any particular dishes you'd recommend?DMPrince said:my mom makes a different version.
i assume this is the same too. my mom makes this. the thai name is Tom Khem i guess. this one is darker since they let the sugar caramelize more than usual. theres juice too. just too lazy to find a new image D:
Growing up i noticed how there's always a mixture of vietnamese, thai and lao food going on at my house lol.
I didn't even know that Pho was a vietnamese word when i was younger.
Phantast2k
Member
At first I thought it's balut/"trứng vịt lộn" 
Viet-Germans refer to it as Babyente (baby duck).
The yolk was pretty good as far as I remember. The rest not so much..
My favorite dish is summer rolls. I was introduced to Viet cuisine with Pho/summer rolls and still like them the most.
Viet-Germans refer to it as Babyente (baby duck).
The yolk was pretty good as far as I remember. The rest not so much..
My favorite dish is summer rolls. I was introduced to Viet cuisine with Pho/summer rolls and still like them the most.
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