Best Vietnamese Summer Rolls? (pregnancy craving)

[ciaodog]

I have been craving a really fresh Vietnamese summer rolls... and Vietnamese Salads... and Bun with fresh vegetables.

Anyone know the place to go?

Everywhere I have been recently serves up summer rolls with wilted and slightly brown mint and lettuce. This doesn't have to be 'the most authentic place' you have ever been just some place that does these dishes well.

I am in Cambridge and noticed Elephant Walk (which I haven't been to yet) offers Cambodian Summer Rolls and Salads... Don't know if these are any different than what I have in mind? I plan to check them out...

Any other suggestions?

Thanks.

[ciaodog]

Thanks Boston board!

I made it to Pho2000 and had the perfect summer rolls and tofu salad! If only they were closer...

Happened to try Dok Bua Thai in Brookline for the first time and found a summer roll variant on their menu, no noodles but very fresh veggies and lots of peanut sauce. Hit the spot.

In my neighborhood made it to Porter Square Books and was pleasantly surprised by their rolls and cafe in general... Will check out Tamarind House one of these days...

Xinh Xinh is next on the list!

Thanks all.

[Deelicious47]

Oh! I could live on fresh rolls. Any season. Any time. I have tasted quite a few and you are in luck as I think some of THE best are at Tamarind House in Porter Square on Mass Ave. Always fresh. Lots of Thai basil and THE best peanut sauce. Be sure to ask for extra sauce. Enjoy.

[Bob Dobalina]

This place does not get enough love on the board. Fully competent, decent and yummy Thai. I think it's better than Sugar and Spice.

[MrsCheese]

Second the Pho Viet recs. I've also never been disappointed with Xinh Xinh, and we almost always get summer rolls. I remember them being decent at Pho Hoa too. (Both in Chinatown.) The only place I've had a bad one with brown lettuce and yucky sauce was Pho Pasteur in Harvard Square.

As an aside, I *love* summer rolls, and I while I love the standard with pork and shrimp, there is a special one I've been on the lookout for and haven't found since I lived in MA. When we lived in Cleveland, there was a place called #1 Pho (aptly named) that had these summer rolls that had Vietnamese bbq pork inside instead of the regular pork and shrimp. OMG. I think I could eat those every day for the rest of my life. Any idea if that was a one shot deal or if other restaurants actually make these?

[Wursthof]

I think pho so boston might be pretty close to what you are looking for. The pork is usually grilled with that nice fish sauce/sugar caramel. Try them out.
I also prefer to have mine with both fish sauce and peanut sauce.

[mjg0725]

Funny you mention that preparation. I was going to make that request at Pho 88 in Lowell. I always thought it would make their excellent summer rolls even better.

Try making the request sometime. Maybe they'll be able to make the addition?

[mjg0725]

MrsCheese, I had the Summer Roll with the outrageous BBQ pork from Pho 88 in Lowell recently. They'll make them as a special order, but only if they are not too busy. Apparently they also have a "roll your own" summer roll platter with all the fixins and you can order the BBQ pork for this if you'd like.

[MrsCheese]

Awesome, thank you!

[galangatron]

another vote for pho 2000

[Parsnipity]

Porter Square Books, right next to Tags Hardware in the shopping plaza, usually has fresh rolls at their little coffee bar. I'm not sure where they get them from, but it would be super convenient for you and I've always been impressed with them. Then, you can browse the baby name books...

[EllenMM]

I was just going to suggest PSB, as well. I had them yesterday - 3 /$5, and they were excellent - no brown lettuce in sight.

[beegirl23]

Pho Republic has some deelish summer rolls...

[ciaodog]

Thanks for the suggestions! I was looking for a quick fix... but am starting to think that this craving merits a trip to Dorchester for something better. How often do you have pregnancy as an excuse to drive across town for good food?

I will search the board for recommendations but if anyone has suggestions specific to Summer Rolls and fresh veggies I am all ears.

I wanted to ask -

EW in Brookline? What/Where is that?

Any ideas what the hours are at PhoViet?

Thanks again!

P.S. I did go to Elephant walk tonight... and was pretty disappointed. Probably had a lot to do with expectations as I had heard great things about it and wanted to try it for a long time. The Cambodian chicken salad was good but everything else seemed blah and overpriced. Worst of all - MY MISTAKE - they don't have fresh summer rolls on the menu (I had glanced at it online and wishfully read spring rolls as summer rolls).

[BarmyFotheringayPhipps]

I believe the entire Super 88 food court is open from 10:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., possibly slightly later on weekends.

[galleygirl]

I believe someone up thread mentioned Pho So 1 in Dorchester for your summer roll needs. If you're doing the Dorchester trip, go there, but make sure you go to Pho 2000 for the crispy salads; they are #1 for those. They're the only place where you can get jellyfish on top, if your pregnant heart desires, and shrimp hips to scoop it up with. before, and or after, hot Ba Le Bakery closer to Columbia Rd, for take-out spring rolls, salads, banh xiao, and loads of bun-like stuff that feeds into your cravings. You can afford a bunch. Then, go to Ba Le_CAFE_, about a block from the restaurants cited, and check out their summer rolls and other rice noodle and salad based treats. You'll discover Vietnamese street-food like things that you probably never knew existed, you'll come back with lots of snacks to plow thru, and you may even get the craving out of your system. Sounds like a craving for clean food that makes you feel good; you may never get it out of your system...
ETA: And fo the not-so-clean food, the Cafe has a dish that contains little cubes of rice flour noodle material panfried in egg...Mmmmmmmm

[Wursthof]

great suggestions

I will add Canh Chua at Sunrise Restaurant as a must have dish. I order it whenever I see it on a menu and no other restaurant comes close to being as good as theirs.

Banh Xiao is a must have also but not all restaurants make it.

[galleygirl]

Ba Le Bakery has pre-made ones on weekends; a little greasy, but great. I've never been a big fan of the canh chua at Sunrise, but I am a big fan of Canh Chua...No one beats mine, tho!

[Wursthof]

I make a pretty good canh chua too, I love that stuff. It's like medicine. What don't you like about it at Sunrise?
Maybe I should clarify that I always get the chicken version because the one time a long time ago that I did get the fish/shrimp version I didn't like that. The chicken version knocks my socks off everytime though.

[galleygirl]

I just remember trying them out once and not thinking they were all that....Nothing special, so I didn't bother going back...

[Wursthof]

I'll agree that most of their stuff isn't all that. Last time I tried their dumpling soup and the dumplings were so good I got another order. The only thing I usually go there for is the canh chua. Now I can have a small soup with dumplings before my big spicy sour soup!!

[tallullah]

Who knew shrimp had hips?!

Seriously though, I'm very excited to try out all these places in my new 'hood.

[galleygirl]

Typing is not my first language, :)
I am too lazy to fry up shrimp chips at home, tho, so I have to hit the streets...

[tallullah]

I finally got my midwestern meat and potatoes husband to try shrimp chips and he loves them! Getting him to try something beyond a big bowl of Tai has been a struggle and I'm pretty happy he liked them. This bodes well for future experiments.

[yumyum]

EW in Brookline is Elephant Walk, so you can scratch that one off your list.

[galleygirl]

Clear up the confusion, when you're at a Vietnamese place; goi cuon...

[cmd]

I can't speak for authentic (and I've read on here that there are far better Vietnamese places, but my experience is limited) but I've never had anything brown or wilted at Pho Lemongrass in Brookline.

[ysb]

is there a difference between spring rolls and summer rolls, or can they be used interchangeably?

[cmd]

I'm not the expert, but summer roles are also called fresh rolls (at the places I've had them), and aren't fried. They have a mix of chicken or shrimp (or not, if you get vegetarian ones), vermicelli, basil, and some vegetables wrapped in rice paper. I like them with peanut sauce.

The spring rolls are the little fried things :).

[galleygirl]

So, is this craving for nearby and convenient, or worth a trip to Dorchester to gorge yourself on fab Vietnamese dishes and deli?

[ChickenLittle]

You need Le's!!! They're right in Harvard Square, in the space that was formerly Pho Pasteur. They have my favorite summer rolls! Fresh, quality ingredients. I could eat them every day. I love their soups too. And, they deliver!

[BostonZest]

Pho Pasteru in Brighton were the first Summer rolls or fresh rolls that I ever had. It was love at first bite. I like the ones from the Pho Viet's stand at the 88 food court. Everytime I've had them they have been super fresh and lovely.

Here's a photo from last summer if it helps you decide.

http://www.bostonzest.com/2008/07/coo...

[BarmyFotheringayPhipps]

Naturally, you're hampered by the fact that it's February, but last night I had lemongrass pork bun with perfectly decent, non-brown veggies from PhoViet in the Super 88 food court in Allston. Their summer rolls are pretty good too.

[Wursthof]

A bit out of the way for you but Pho So Boston on Dorchester Ave in Dorchester has the best Goi Cuon I have ever had. I think they make them to order because anytime I have gotten one the noodles were at nice room temperature and the pork was hot as if it just came off a griddle or grill and still had that nice vietnamese caramel flavor on it.

[Taralli]

We've enjoyed the spring rolls at EW in Brookline many times with their fresh ingredients.

[gourmaniac]

not sure if these are the best, but siaigon sandwich on Washington at Kneeland is our go to for fresh rolls and I prefer the tofu to the shrimp ($3.50 for three +sauce).