Great L.A. Times Piece on Central Vietnamese Food in the L.A. Area

[Servorg]

Thanks to Linda Burum of the L.A. Times for this great story in today's food section and linked over on the Food Media Board: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/814450 which I didn't want to see vanish without at least putting it into the CH database.

List of Restaurants Reviewed Here:

Southern California restaurants serving central Vietnamese cuisine.

Hue Oi

9752 Chapman Ave., Garden Grove, [phone]. 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesdays to Mondays (closed Tuesdays).

Huong Giang Food To Go

14282 Brookhurst St., Garden Grove, [phone]. 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

Huong Giang Restaurant and Deli

14564 Brookhurst St., Westminster, [phone]. 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. daily.

Huong Vy

9372 Westminster Ave., Westminster, [phone]. 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

Kim Hoa Hue

9813 Garvey Ave., El Monte, [phone]. 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays to Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m Sunday (closed Mondays).

Ngu Binh

14092 Magnolia St., No. 116, Westminster, [phone]. 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays to Sundays.

Quan Vy Da

9950 Bolsa Ave. No. A-B, Westminster, [phone]. 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesdays to Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays to Sundays (closed Mondays).

Quan Hop

15640 Brookhurst St., Westminster, [phone]. 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays to Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Quan Hy

9727 Bolsa Ave., Westminster, [phone]. 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

Tay Thuong

9904 Westminster Ave., Garden Grove, [phone], 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays to Wednesdays (closed Thursdays).

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Quan Hop Restaurant
15640 Brookhurst St, Westminster, CA 92683

Ngu Binh Restaurant
14072 Magnolia St, Westminster, CA 92683

Quan Hy Restaurant
9727 Bolsa Ave, Westminster, CA 92683

Kim Hoa Hue
9813 Garvey Ave, El Monte, CA 91733

Huong Giang Restaurant and Deli
14564 Brookhurst St, Westminster, CA 92683

Huong Vy
9372 Westminster Blvd, Westminster, CA 92683

Huong Giang Food To Go
14282 Brookhurst St Ste 8, Garden Grove, CA 92843

Hue Oi
9752 Chapman Ave, Garden Grove, CA 92840

Quan Vy Da
9950 Bolsa Ave, Westminster, CA 92683

Tay Thuong
9904 Westminster Ave, Garden Grove, CA 92844

[Porthos]

Perhaps some other hounds can chime in on these recs and dishes?

[bsquared2]

I would like a second opinion too. The place in El Monte was just OK.

My wife thinks I'm too crazy for Hue food and if I choose a mediocre place when we go to Little Saigon, she won't be happy.

[catbert]

funny (to me at least), i was at quan hy the weekend before the article came out. it's really gone downhill since i first went. one of those, wish could have money back moments. the servers were even trying to convince another table the dish they brought out was the dish they ordered so the guy was forced to eat it. when he was nearly done, they came out with the correct dish and told him which dish he had eaten.

[ns1]

As a vietnamese person who lived in little saigon for 20 years, I still don't know what half those dishes referenced in the article are.

[Servorg]

I've added all the ones that Linda listed into the database that were missing. Maybe you'll try some of these and add a houndly perspective?

[ns1]

already passed the link around to my hound friends, a visit/crawl almost guaranteed.

[Servorg]

Great...I look forward to reading your take on any or all of them.

[bsquared2]

I have to say, went to Kim Hoa Hue today and was a little underwhelmed. I love Hue food and when I visit Vietnam and I am always looking for a good place.

My wife had the Bun Bo Hue and it needed a little more zip. Com Hen was OK. Nem Nuong Spring Rolls were pretty good, but not as good as NNKH. Rice Cakes were OK too.

I will give some of the Little Saigon places a shot. Been to a few of them already. I do like the BBH at Quan Hy and they do have the best rice cakes in town.

In LA, I would recommend Nem Nuong Khanh Hoa and Nha Trang. The Bun Bo Hue is good at both places and the Spring Rolls at NNKH are the best in SoCal. I like the My Quang at Nha Trang even though their version is a little different.

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Nem Nuong Khanh Hoa
1700 W Valley Blvd, Alhambra, CA 91803

Quan Hy Restaurant
9727 Bolsa Ave, Westminster, CA 92683

Kim Hoa Hue
9813 Garvey Ave, El Monte, CA 91733

Nha Trang
311 E Valley Blvd, San Gabriel, CA 91776

[Servorg]

I see that Gourmet Pigs wrote up (with photos) Quan Vy Da: http://gourmetpigs.blogspot.com/2011/...

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Quan Vy Da
9950 Bolsa Ave, Westminster, CA 92683

[ns1]

I went to NNKH today and I gotta say I felt Nem Nuong Ninh Hoa was way better, both in sauce and nem nuong.

If you haven't been to NNNH yet please go and let me know what you think; if you have, well let me know what you think anyway haha.

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Nem Nuong Ninh Hoa
9016 Mission Dr, Rosemead, CA 91770

[TonyC]

this piece is AMAZING, but its SGV rec is a little weak (as is the offerings of Hue food in SGV).

Quan Mien Trung was the best central style Vietnamese cuisine in WSGV. It didn't last. I know Nha Trang is much loved, but I much prefer the feel of Banh Xeo Quan in Rosemead.

Ngu Binh's mi quang was mentioned, but that, too, was a bit underwhelming. Tay Thuong was mentioned as a newcomer, but I found evidence of it from '07 (can anyone verify?). Love Tay Thuong for its value and near tranquility.

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Ngu Binh Restaurant
14072 Magnolia St, Westminster, CA 92683

Banh Xeo Quan
8742 Garvey Ave, Rosemead, CA 91770

Nha Trang
311 E Valley Blvd, San Gabriel, CA 91776

Tay Thuong
9904 Westminster Ave, Garden Grove, CA 92844