Bun at Ngon Bistro. Fantastic.

[karykat]

We went to Ngon Bistro for dinner last night. I've been in a bit of a rut there. Usually get the broken rice with chicken or appetizers if we are there during happy hour.

My broken rice sounded kind of wintery for a hot humid summer night.

So I had the bun with beef.

Amazing. All the greens were so fresh. They just screamed, "fresh!"

All the accompaniments were fresh too. They were very generous with the beef, I thought, especially given the modest price, and was wonderfully flavored beef. I learned later that it was the Thousand HIlls beef.

Together with a great draft beer, perfection!

(Had to share.)

[turtlebella]

The Bun is totally my rut dish at Ngon. And I've no wish to get out of the rut!!! :)

I couldn't agree more. Very fresh with the greens and nice cilantro. I really like the fish sauce too- I have to get more though.

[The Dairy Queen]

HA HA! Rut dish. It's a great rut to be in, no?

~TDQ

[karykat]

I was in a broken rice rut. Now I'm in a bun "new rut." (?!)

At least for the summer when everything is so fresh.

[kriminalrat]

I have always held Pho Tau Bay's Vermecelli salad as the gold standard but I will have to try Ngon's.

-----
Pho Tau Bay
2837 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55408

[karykat]

What do you like about Pho Tau Bay's?

Always open to new places.

And do they have good egg rolls for the salads? (I like the egg rolls at Mai Village even though other things don't compare well to Ngon,)

-----
Pho Tau Bay
2837 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55408

Mai Village
394 University Ave W, Saint Paul, MN 55103

[kriminalrat]

Just like you said with Ngon...The fresh veg/herbs make it pop. The rolls are excellent and the pork is some of the best I've had. Mix everything together and it is classic.

[turtlebella]

I tried to word this in a way that wasn't totally obscene. But I'm not sure I was very successful? But seriously, Ngon is very rut-worthy place for our family. The other day I actually got pho but that's because I was sick. So was my husband but he couldn't get out of his bahn mi rut there either. Even the toddler has a rut: their sweet potato fries...

[churchka]

Their bun is my favorite anywhere. It is more salad like with all the fresh herbs and greens. So good.

[semanticantics]

Can you describe the broken rice dish? I'm a veg, and have eyeballed the broken rice with mock duck.

[karykat]

I'm familiar with the chicken broken rice. The marinated grilled chicken is served over the rice so that the wonderful juices sink into it. There is a soy-flavored sauce on the side that is great over the rice. And some little vegie garnishes - some pickled carrots and radish, some cucumber . . .

I think the flavors from cooked mock duck would help permeate the rice.

I've love it. But like I said, a little wintery when there are fresh greens also on the menu.