Little Vietnamese Bistro - San Bruno

422 San Mateo Ave
San Bruno CA 94066

Parking: street parking and parking in rear

Hours: Tues-Sun 11am-9pm, Closed Mondays

Edited: January 7, 2022

Last Visited: November 2021

Food: 3 stars

Sadly, I'm editing this review because after a few additional visits, the quality of the food is not as good as when they first opened.  My most recent order of a combination pho was not hot enough. Although it was steaming upon arrival, it was not actually boiling hot and food got cold quickly.  While understandable that the pandemic has caused some rising costs due to cleaning, a new sign that is nearly illegible at the restaurant entrance now indicates an 18% service charge.  When I asked the waiter about this charge on my bill and what that was about, he mentioned the sign which is hardly noticeable and claimed that it's been there since the start of the pandemic.  However, after checking my bill from August, it was clearly a new charge.  I would have preferred that they would have just owned up to this, but this blatant misinformation was discouraging.  Coupled with the experience with the hainan chicken which really is just plain boiled chicken with lackluster sauces, this experience was disappointing.  

Last Visited: August 8, 2021

Food: 4 stars

Atmosphere: 3 to 4 stars

Service: 3 stars

Price: $$

Little Vietnamese Bistro opened recently on San Mateo Avenue in San Bruno.  Just when one might have thought that opening during a pandemic would be tough, this spot features a few menu offerings that seem fresh and new to the neighborhood and it's a welcome sight to see.  A fellow Bay Area Eats Facebook group member posted their takeout order and approval of their experience.

The first time I visited, I ordered one dish for takeout.  After calling in my order, I was able to quickly pay upon arrival, but still had to wait about ten minutes for the food to come out.  There were only two people front of the house and the place was about half full.  The phone was ringing frequently with more takeout orders and they seemed to struggle a bit with juggling everything which I attributed to their being new.  

- Seven Color Rice Plate - If you want to try a variety of items, the 3 color, 5 color, 6 color, or 7 color rice plates are a great way to go.  In this 7 color plate, there was egg loaf, shredded pork, pork chop, five spice chicken, egg roll, BBQ prawns, BBQ ribs.  While shredded pork is smaller in quantity than the rest, the amount of protein included in this plate is more than generous. Dipping sauce and a few vegetables, cucumber and pickled vegetables, accompany the dish.  There really is a ton of meat.  Even though I split this dish, it seemed like there was always more meat.  I enjoyed the BBQ prawns, pork chop, and egg roll the best.  If you haven't tried a Vietnamese egg loaf, it's like a quiche with mung bean noodles and black fungus.  Everything is super flavorful and each item is distinct (not all the same sauce or marinade for everything).  Fried shallots and green onions top the plate.  The amount of rice is also ample.  This dish could easily be shared by two light eaters.  Very good and great price.  $15.95

Fast forward to a month later and this time, I came for a dine in experience about 15 minutes after opening.  We were promptly seated and after ordering, food came out in a reasonable amount of time.  Both dishes arrived together.

- Garlic Noodles with BBQ Pork Chop - Noodles are mixed with minced garlic and sauce and pan fried with sliced onions.  Two large pork chops are grilled and top the noodles.  The pork chops are slightly sweet.  While it's not the loin, the pork is still meaty.  I would guess they're shoulder slabs with a bone on the edge.  There is a decent amount of fat on the chop, but that probably helps keep the meat moist.  Even after the fat has been removed, the portion is generous. Delicious.  $12.95

- Combination of well-done, rare beef, and beef ball noodle soup - Pictured here is a small sized portion.  The bean sprouts were really fresh.  Four wedges of lime were included, and two big sprigs of basil.  The broth was flavorful and there was a good amount of meat.  I also appreciated that the rare beef was still rare upon arrival.  The noodles are a bit wider than some of their competition.  I didn't notice any cilantro on top of the noodle soup, but there was a good amount of sliced red onion and green onions.  Another good sized portion.  I would order this again.  Small $10.95, Large 13.95

Hearty portions and great taste make Little Vietnamese Bistro worth checking out.  They offer a beef pho that has a bull pudendum (I don't know what that tastes like and you can look it up to see what that is) as well as a number of vegan dishes. 

While they had three people working the front of the house today, they still seem to be working out a lot of the kinks.  I noticed that they were pretty patient answering other patrons' questions about the menu.   Drinks come quickly, but they did not check on us after the food arrived, and it took me a while to flag them down to get a box for my leftovers and the check even though the restaurant was only half full again.  Nevertheless, I expect it will be a regular spot on my rotation.

Gao Viet Kitchen & Bar, San Mateo

313 South San Mateo Drive, San Mateo CA 94401
(650) 477-2524
Parking: street parking and paid parking lot nearby

Hours: Wed-Thurs 4pm-8:30pm, Fri-Sun 11:30am-9pm, Closed Mon & Tues

www.gaokitchen.com

Last Visited: June 12, 2021

Food: 3 to 4 stars
Atmosphere: 3 to 4 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $$ to $$$

Gao Viet Kitchen is a sister restaurant to local favorite, Ben Tre.  They offer a diverse menu that has elevated typical Vietnamese dishes that you might find at a pho restaurant like chubby pho (made of 24 hour beef bone marrow broth and filet mignon) and the Phozilla (pho with oxtail, a big beef rib, and available with giant freshwater prawns or a 1.5 pound Maine lobster) while also bringing street favorites like banh cuon (rice noodles rolls filled with pork, mushroom, and more) and banh knot (savory pancakes topped with shrimp), and banh beo (savory steamed rice cake with toppings) to the Peninsula audience.

Vietnamese art lines the stairway and tributes to the family members like grandma and her photograph line the other walls. 

Limited seating is available indoors and ample seating is available outside in the converted parking area that is lined with wood shutters to provide some privacy.  To avoid the crowds, come right when they open or off hours.  Menus are available via the QR code on the table and they are quite thorough with cleaning between patrons.

Much of the food portions lean large as the experience feels like a decadent version of what you might normally get from their sister restaurant and those like them.

- Pork Belly starter -  Banh Hoi noodles (rice noodles that are folded into individual rectangles/bundles) serve as the bed for chunks of roasted pork belly and served with pickled carrots and turnip and a lemongrass pork au jus dripping sauce.  First, the pork belly was roasted nicely and there was sufficient flavoring, but the kicker is the sauce.  Add the sauce to the noodles and the meat and it just takes the experience up a notch with the tartness of the lemongrass.  I couldn't eat the meat and noodles on their own without the sauce for the remainder of the meal.  The skin of the roast pork was unfortunately, not very crispy and actually a bit chewy.  If you look at the menu photo and compare it with what you see here, you'll notice the pork belly sliced quite differently - chunks in reality and fanned out neatly in slices on the menu.  Fortunately, this didn't affect the flavor, but the lack of crispy skin was a miss.  The noodles take on the flavor of the sauce so all in all, just ok.  I would probably go to my favorite Chinese BBQ shop for the pork belly in the future and make some rice noodles at home. $14.95

- The Big Gao Pho - This large bowl of pho contains a full beef rib, marrow, rare beef, 24 hour beef broth, grilled onion, and lots of spring onion.  This bowl is enough to share if you're not a big eater and the beef rib is definitely meaty.  The broth is rich and fatty from the marrow.  By the time the bowl reached the table, the rare beef was not rare anymore, but all the meat was welcome.  The marrow gets lost in the soup, but I still enjoyed the overall experience.  If you're trying to eat light, this is not the dish for you and you probably wouldn't want to drink all of the broth like you might with a regular bowl of soup noodles.  There was also a LOT of noodles - almost as much as if you were to order a regular pho with an extra serving of rice noodles. Tasty. $26  

Service when they're with you is great, but it does take a bit of time to get someone to come take an order or to be checked on since the restaurant got packed not long after opening and there are many people ordering takeout.  In summary, I will probably come back to try out other menu items like the street dishes and likely would skip the pork belly.

Tu Lan - Vietnamese, San Francisco

8 6th St, San Francisco CA 94103
(415) 626-0927
Parking: street parking
Hours: Tues-Sun 11am - 9:30pm
http://tulan-vn-restaurant.com/about.html

Last Visited: July 14, 2018

Food: 3 stars
Atmosphere: 2 to 3 stars
Service: 2 to 3 stars
Price: $ to $$

Tu Lan has been around since 1977.  This hole in the wall located next to the Tenderloin is known for its ginger fish and rice plates; pho is not their specialty according to friends, but the food is hot and relatively speaking, very reasonably priced.  From the outside, you wouldn't know it, but the restaurant is fairly deep and also has an upstairs dining area.  It's nothing fancy (the picture actually looks better than the actual decor); the tables are a bit tightly configured and they move everything around to accommodate the party as needed.

Rachel suggested we try it for some good eats.  We were quickly seated upstairs and food arrived pretty quickly without any particular order - it just comes as it's cooked.  Service is efficient, but you won't find any particularly attentive people.

- Imperial Rolls - These imperial rolls are filled with very flavorful beef (at least, I think it was beef).  Using rice paper rolls makes the texture different from that of Chinese-style egg rolls.  Not really a traditional filling, but they were juicy and tasty for something different.  Served with a fish sauce based dipping sauce and a few slices of cucumber over a bed of shredded lettuce.  Okay. $6.45

- Fried Fish and Ginger Sauce - This dish was the hidden gem.  Three rather large fillets are lightly battered and fried.  They're served with a chopped ginger sauce that also contains fish sauce.  The fillets are hot and the fish is served with chopped green onions and a wedge of lemon.  This was by far my favorite dish of the night and on its own, it would be four stars. $12

- Vegetarian Fried Rice - This vegetarian fried rice is curry-based in flavor.  There is an ample amount of broccoli, cabbage, tofu, carrots, and green onions.  There's also a good amount of pepper in the dish, but it's not overwhelming.  It's a good supplement to your main entrees and with it being so hot in temperature, it's great on a cold night. $10

- Pork Shish Kebab - While the name seems less than Vietnamese, it's essentially barbecued pork.  It comes with a lot of rice, so you'll definitely be full, but I thought the pork was just ok.  I've had better.  The pork is served with more fish sauce based dipping sauce and a few slices of cucumber. $9.70

The kitchen is pretty fast at whipping out dishes - more can be seen downstairs if you want to see their operations.  Our hungry bunch was very happy with their speed after our long day.

If you are in the neighborhood, Tu Lan is worth checking out for a quick bite to eat for very reasonable prices, although you will have to walk past or through a lot of street people and their wares.  If I have a chance to go again, I would definitely try out their fried noodles which looked like a sizable portion that came out steaming hot.

Hoa Ky - Vietnamese, Millbrae

447 Broadway, Millbrae CA 94030
(650) 697-4210
Parking: street parking

Last Visited: June 21, 2015

Food: 2 to 3 stars
Atmosphere: 2 to 3 stars
Service: 2 to 3 stars
Price: $ to $$

Pho is usually pretty decent, and I was hoping that since Hoa Ky often seems busy, it might also be pretty good, but unfortunately, I was extremely disappointed.  Service was worse than most Asian places which means it was pretty poor.  We waited a while for someone to come take our order and it took the kitchen a fairly long time to get food to us (pho is usually super fast since it's about assembly of ingredients in the bowl and adding broth, but here, the kitchen took a very long time).  Also, the tea tasted funny - I can't pinpoint what was wrong, but I can tell you it tasted off - how can you mess up the tea?

The atmosphere is very casual with menus and photos of various dishes found on the table under the plastic tabletops.

- Special Combo (with rare slices of steak, well-done flank, tendon, tripe, and beef ball) - I found the meat quality to be fair - although it came rare, it wasn't very good quality and you can taste it.  The soup flavor was ok though - not bad, not great.  Although there were the usual items in the accompanying condiments plate such as jalapeno, bean sprouts, cilantro, and lemon, it was noticeable that the thai basil was missing.

- Imperial rolls (3) - Filled with ground pork and glass noodles and served with a lettuce cup, cold rice noodles, carrots, green onions, peanuts, and dipping sauce, these were pretty good.  They were hot and crispy right out of the deep fryer and tasted very fresh.  The presentation could have been better - many restaurants put something in the dipping sauce to make it more appealing looking so that it doesn't look like a bowl of colored water.

Although the prices are very reasonable, considering that there are other pho places on the same street and nearby neighborhood, I can't in good conscience recommend this place except perhaps getting the imperial rolls since they were ok.

Saigon City - Vietnamese, San Mateo

418 E 3rd Ave, San Mateo CA 94401
(650) 350-8878
Parking: street parking

Last Visited: November 30, 2014

Food: 3 to 4 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 1 to 2 stars
Price: $ to $$

To get right to it, the food is good, but the service is absent.  When they're there, they're friendly, but it's hard to get someone's attention which can translate into long wait times.

I've now visited Saigon City twice - once on a very busy evening, and once during lunch not long after opening.  Both times, the food was good, but it seemed that the restaurant was understaffed - it took a really long time to have anyone come and take our order and while the food came out quickly, trying to get someone's attention at the end of the meal for the check is a big challenge.  Dinner took us more than an hour when the place was packed, but lunch was closer to 40 minutes.

The decor is pretty simple - tv in the back showing whatever game is on during your visit, brown siding from the middle of the wall to the floor, and framed art on the walls. The tables are kept very basic with paper placemats and wooden chopsticks in wrappers.

- Pho - There are the usual combinations of pho.  The special XL combo is offered with all of the fixings, but is only available in XL and priced at $8.25.   The other pho offerings come in the usual varieties in medium, large, and extra large sizes.  These range from in price from almost $7 to just over $8.  The broth comes super hot and the flavor is good.  The noodles were al dente and the quantity was ok for the large size, but I wouldn't have minded a bit more.  The picture shows the XL size.  The rare beef steak definitely comes rare and the basil and bean sprouts are super fresh.  Good stuff.  

- Grilled Pork Chop with Rice - The pork chops were grilled just right - tender, juicy, and slightly sweet from the marinade.  The slightly different thing about this dish, compared to other Vietnamese restaurants I've visited, was that the 'salad' that came with the pork chops were dressed with a big dollop of seasoned mayonnaise that turned out to be a great addition to the dish - that extra creaminess was quite good.  All of the vegetables were really fresh.  $7.50

As long as you can accept that the service will be mediocre but friendly, Saigon City is a place that offers good eats at very reasonable prices.  

Simmer Vietnamese Kitchen - Petaluma

299 North McDowell Blvd, Petaluma CA 94954
(707) 762-4288
Parking: in shopping center

Food: 3 to 4 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 3 to 4 stars
Price: $$

Last Visited: April 27, 2013

Simmer opened up about three weeks ago, so word is just getting around Petaluma about this place.  A couple of friends told us that it was worth trying, so of course, we had to go. 

With Simmer, Pho Ngoc Tranh, and Thang Long, we now have three Vietnamese restaurants in Petaluma.  Thang Long started it all, but as can be seen from the date of my review of them, I haven't been back in a while.  Pho Ngoc Tranh, located in the OSH shopping center, opened up in 2012, and that seemed to be good for competition.  Simmer is located in the same shopping center as Thang Long, albeit on the far side of the shopping center, but it's going to be interesting to see if Petaluma can sustain this many Vietnamese restaurants within a close distance of each other.

Walk into Simmer and notice that the space is very open.  Once you get past the shelves holding Asian figurines, you'll see the rather large fish tank in the rear with beautiful brightly colored tropical fish.  Just outside, along the window are lots of newly planted green bamboo plants; the colors of the restaurant are warm and inviting.  The rather large head statue in the rear is a little unusual - it's about the height of a small toddler, but it still seems appropriate.  What seemed slightly unfinished is the very bare side wall opposite of the windows.  A large painting or series of paintings would spruce that up a bit. 

We were greeted by one of the waitresses who seated us near the window.  Their one page paper menu seems like a good way to help locals feel comfortable with the selection and less daunting than what you might find in the city.  Pho, vermicelli noodles, fried rice, curry, stir fry, are typical items that you will find on the menu, and there's even a few kid's menu dishes available.  The waitress was very friendly and happy to answer questions for those new to the menu.  Ice water arrives in a tall glass with a thin slice of cucumber. Orders are taken by the waitress on an electronic device.

- Combination Pho - Individual plates of bean sprouts, sweet basil, sliced jalapenos, and a lime wedge arrived which was a nice way to cater to small town locals unaccustomed to the typical shared plate of garnishes/condiments.  The piping hot soup broth in the bowls was delicate, but slightly salty on its own.  Eaten with the other ingredients, the soup is more balanced and flavorful.  Fresh slices of red and yellow onion accompanied floated in the bowl along with rice noodles, beef brisket, tendon, tripe, a meatball, and slices of rare eye round steak.  It was nice that they had put the eye round steak on top, so most of it had not cooked through, giving the customer the option to eat it rare or plunge it into the broth further.  I thought the quantity of meat and noodles were ample and matched the price charged for the bowl.  I also appreciated that the noodles were not served in the bowl in a clump and had been loosened a bit (not always the case in the city).  While it isn't the best quality of meat that I've had in pho, it was certainly acceptable.  Good.  Regular $8, Large $9.50

While the food rating is good, you should consider that I only had one dish.  As for service, the staff is friendly, but may have a tad too much commentary, though not unprofessional - I think the staff may still be feeling this out a bit.  I noticed that they asked patrons where they were from and whether they worked nearby to get a sense of whom was coming in - this was fine - what is a little strange is to comment that our order of two bowls of the same pho dish is easy, good, and direct.  Another oddity - it's weird to hear Biggie Smalls playing on the radio in the background - they may want to consider another channel to cater to a more diverse audience.  Attention to detail seems to be the key - my friends told me that they had to request the dish of condiments when they ordered their pho, so that issue has been resolved, but things like no chopsticks in the silverware holder (it seemed that all tables except ours had chopsticks) and making sure that napkins are stocked (we had none at our table, although the server did bring them eventaully), would help improve the experience.

Overall, Simmer is a good find and I would be willing to go back.  Pricing is higher than what you might expect to find for this dish in San Francisco, but reasonable compared to local competition.  Amongst the three Vietnamese places in Petaluma, I would rank them first in the pho category and service.

Ben Tre - Vietnamese, South San Francisco

219 Grand Ave, South San  Francisco CA 94080
(650) 952-2243
Parking: pay parking lot, street parking
Hours: Sun-Thurs, Sat 10am-9:30pm, Fri 10am-10pm
http://www.bentrerestaurant.com/

Last Visited: June 12, 2012

Food: 3 stars
Atmosphere: 2 to 3 stars
Service: 2 to 3 stars
Price: $ to $$$

After a couple of lunch visits and a dinner visit, I've had a chance to try a few different dishes.  I give Ben Tre three solid stars for food, but if everything was consistent, it could get a slightly higher food rating.

Like most Vietnamese places, service here isn't great, and lunchtime is extremely crowded on weekdays, so factor that in when you go for a visit.   As for setting, it's pretty crowded.  The tables are close together and the television screens are usually on.  It feels more like a cafeteria than a restaurant. 

- Ben Tre Appetizer Combination - Imperial Rolls, Spring Roll, Grilled Meatball, Sugarcane & Crispy Shrimp, Rice Vermicelli & Lettuce - The rolls were fresh, but I found the meat items to be a bit dry.  $11.25

- Ben Tre Rice Platter - BBQ Pork, Imperial Roll, and Fried Chicken Wings.  For the rice platter combination, you can choose from a variety of meats (pork, porkchops, short ribs, beef, chicken) and accompaniments (imperial rolls, chicken wings, noodles, shredded pork, fried egg, meatloaf, shrimp cake). The fried chicken is crispy, but the meat lacks flavor.  The bbq meat is good, but they forgot to give me the dipping sauce for the plate and I had to ask them for it.  Ironically, they remembered to give everyone else their dipping sauce.  The imperial roll is good.  The quantity is good for the price and good for lunch because it arrives quickly. $8.85

- BBQ Pork with Garlic Noodles - This dish is also offered with other meat if you prefer to select something else.  I was surpised that the garlic noodles were flavored with small deep fried garlic pieces.  I'm fairly certain that garlic noodles, as known to fusion Vietnamese restaurants, isn't made this way.  While the garlic flavor is definitely present, I missed the buttery quality of the noodles that I've had at other places.  Good meat, but the noodles aren't what you would expect.   $12.50

- Shrimp and Vegetables with Yellow Rice in a Clay pot - While this isn't the exact name, it describes the contents of the dish.  Four pieces of shrimp are barbecued and put on top of slices of onions, bell peppers, and young corn.  All of this is placed over yellow rice.  It was nice to try this dish since it's new to me, but I probably wouldn't order it again.  If you like onions that are just cooked and still a little sharp, you'll enjoy this a lot.  The shrimp was a little dry since it had been grilled.  The rice looks more flavorful than it actually is.  $9.15

Ben Tre is a good spot for rice plates and bbq meats.  I'm sure the pho is probably fine too, but I found the seafood to be a little too dry because of the grill.  This is a good stop for rice plates - stick to the classic items and you should be good to go.  Expect to eat lunch quickly because if you don't, they'll be sure to give you plenty of hints - the check will come before your table is done and they'll check back with your frequently. 

Pho Ngoc Tranh - Vietnamese, Petaluma

1390 N. McDowell Blvd, B1, Petaluma CA 94954
(707) 665-9888
Parking: in parking lot
Hours: Daily 10:30am - 9pm
http://www.phongocthan.com

Last Visited: May 12, 2012

Food: 3 stars
Atmosphere: 3 to 4 stars
Service: 2 to 3 stars
Price: $ to $$

I saw a friend check in to Ngoc Tranh and was excited to find that another Vietnamese restaurant has opened up in Petaluma to give Thang Long some competition.  Thang Long has been able to monopolize the Petaluma Vietnamese food marketplace for a long time.

Located in the OSH shopping center in the former location of Jerome's BBQ, Pho Ngoc Tranh has remodeled the interior so that the bright colors on the walls and dividers, semi-open kitchen, and new furniture give the restaurant a very fresh, clean feel.  Open for about two months now, Ngoc Tranh is a family-owned restaurant.  Their menu features a lot of very appetizing photos to help you decide what to order and to educate customers about what to expect from their dishes.  Ngoc Tranh also seems very tech savvy in that their take out menu even contains a QR code (those funny squares with blotches in between that you scan to your phone).

It feels like they are still working through some of the kinks of a opening a new restaurant.  Service is warm and friendly, but not particularly fast - it seems a little amateur in nature in how they serve bowls of noodles and other plates.  The check also takes a while to come. 

- Special Combo Beef Noodle Soup - Rare steak, well-done brisket, flank steak, tendon, tripe, and beef balls are served in hot beef broth with vermicelli noodles.  These noodles were a bit wider than what you typically find at most Vietnamese restaurants.  A plate of lemon wedges, jalapenos, bean sprouts, and thai basil were also served with the soup. While the flavor was good and the broth was fairly light, I found the quantity to be smaller than what I expected.  The price point is about a dollar too high, especially after considering the quantity.  Presentation is clean and simple. $7.95

Ngoc Tranh offers a lot of the typical items found at Vietnamese restaurants including spring rolls, Vietnamese sandwiches, vermicelli, and BBQ meats.  In the display refrigerator out front, desserts like 3 color pandan jelly entice patrons.  One of the more unusual items that they service is imitation chicken over noodles listed in the vegetarian section of the menu. 

The flavors are good and the service is friendly, although there is room for improvement.   These prices will hopefully be sustainable in this area, but are notably about 10% higher than what you would find in places with greater competition.  It will be interesting to see how locals respond to some of these new offerings.

Simply Vietnam - Pho, Vietnamese, Santa Rosa

966 North Dutton Ave, Santa Rosa CA 95401
(707) 566-8910
Parking: in parking lot
Hours: Mon to Sat 10am to 9pm, Sun 11am to 5pm

Last Visited: June 21, 2007

Food: 3 stars
Service: 3 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Price: $ to $$

Formerly the home of Cam Ranh Bay, Simply Vietnam has added some finishing touches to the restaurant along with a fresh coat of paint. Although the fare remains the same, the fresh earthy colors, new furniture, and unique décor has made Simply Vietnam stand out from its predecessors. The rooms are painted with a color brighter than terra cotta, but not orange. There is a tree and other leafy metal sculptures decorating the facility that are unique and interesting to look at. The ceiling fan looks like large leaves.

During the three times I have visited, twice for lunch and once for dinner, the restaurant has been fairly busy. Twice there have been only two younger women on the wait staff, and once it appeared to be two brothers.

On each table is a black basket containing the usual pho seasonings (sricha chili sauce, fish sauce, soy sauce, regular chili sauce, and more) and a chrome container holding fork and knives as well as chopsticks. A napkin holder is also set on each table.

During the first visit, the place was bustling. Everything moved at a fast pace. During my second visit, the floors were rather dirty, and the table we were seated at was wet. I downgraded the rating for atmosphere from three stars to two to three stars. The third visit was a little slower in pace, and it seemed like they had finally found the groove in which they fit. Things ran smoothly without a rushed feeling and I upgraded them back to three stars for atmosphere.

- Egg rolls (3) – The egg rolls contain minced pork, prawns, and mixed vegetables. They were plated and cut before served. The egg rolls were served with a sweet vinaigrette sauce. I found them to be a little darker than I prefer, okay in flavor, but also lacking the juiciness I like. Okay. $4.25

- Combination Beef Noodle Soup – This noodle soup contains rare sliced steak, well done brisket, meatballs, and tripe. Each pho comes with a side dish of bean sprouts, Thai basil, jalapeno, and lime. The menu says mint comes with it also, but mine came with cilantro instead. During my first two visits, I found the pho to be very good. During my most recent visit, the well done brisket had some soft bones on them, and I found them difficult to eat. Overall, good, but the last time left a bad impression because of the brisket alone. Flavor was still good. Small $5.25, Large $5.75, Extra Large $6.75

- Coconut Juice – Refreshing, coconut juice is a standard. $2

Overall, I found that Simply Vietnam is a good stop for lunch or dinner, reasonably priced, and friendly. The presentation is nicer than some of the other Vietnamese restaurants, and the tables themselves are spaciously placed, offering more personal space. They offer typical Vietnamese dishes such as bun, pho, or rice dishes with grilled meat. The new décor has added sparkle to the place, and I would certainly return.

Thang Long - Vietnamese, Petaluma

175 N McDowell Blvd, Petaluma, CA 94954
(707) 778-8851
Parking: in shopping center
Closed for lunch on Sundays

Last Visited: November 12, 2005

Food: 3 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 2 to 3 stars
Price: $ to $$

When you enter Thang Long, you are immediately drawn to look at the aqua blue walls which have a mural of fine detail. You might be able to get lost in the wall mural. It’s different than what you would typically expect. The water is beautiful and there’s a little row boat in the water as well as a gazebo on one of the walls. The main façade has three new large panel windows which bring in a lot of light.

Thang Long is typical in that the chopsticks, spoons, and typical pho condiments are all on the table self serve style. They have the usual offerings of pho, vermicelli, and the like. Tables are spaciously placed.

On our most recent visit, we had the following items, but most visits consist of some form of beef pho.

- Cha gao - There are three fried spring rolls per orderwith pork inside the Vietnamese rice wrapper. Served with fish sauce dipping sauce. I found the minced pork inside to be a bit dry, but it was a crispy wrapper and fried to a nice golden brown. $4.25

- Combination Beef Pho – available in many sizes. This time we tried the extra large to see how large it really was. There is definitely enough to serve two in an extra large bowl. Soup seasoned with lots of flavor – garlic salt, beef broth base etc containing the well done beef brisket, rare eye round steak, and beef balls. I would have liked more tendons and tripe. As always, it was filling, and had good flavor. The pho deserves three to four stars. Small $4.95 Large $5.95 XL $6.95

- Shrimp Fried Rice – The flavor behind the shrimp fried rice is good, and there is an abundance of small shrimp, but I found the texture to be a little on the dry side. The rice kernels are intact and separated, so the consistency was good, but a little dry for me. $5.95

- Grilled Marinated Pork served with steamed rice – Pork slices are grilled and topped with chopped peanuts and chopped green onions. All of the meat is placed on a large lettuce leaf. Chopped lettuce, carrots, cucumber slices, and daikon accompany the meat. Steamed rice is served on the side. A small bowl of fish vinaigrette (fish sauce mixture) is served on the side. I enjoyed this dish a lot – the flavors were good and the meat was very tender. $6.50

- Coconut Juice – You can start to see a pattern that I enjoy young coconut juice.The price of the juice went up by 25% since my last visit, which seemed a bit of a high increase to me. $1.95

Overall, it’s a good place to go, especially if you want Pho in the Sonoma County area. It’s not as crowded as the Pho place on Sebastopol Road in Santa Rosa, and it offers almost as good flavor (it’s almost as good, but you won’t walk out of this place as thirsty which equals less MSG). I wasn’t as pleased with the non-pho dishes, but there pho is their specialty, and with that, they do excel. Note that prices have increased by about ten percent this year.

It was a while since my last visit in late 2003. This time, I had the large size combination beef pho and was quite satisfied with the food. Service was a whole other matter. It appeared to be the dinner time of the servers because they disappeared. For fifteen minutes or more at a time, it seemed you couldn’t find anyone for anything.

The additional item tried this evening –

- Sugarcane Shrimpstick – Three pieces of fresh sugarcane are wrapped with shrimp paste and grilled. The shrimp sticks are accompanied with vermicelli noodles, lettuce leaves, cilantro, cucumber slices, and dipping sauce. The sweet flavor of the sugarcane infuses into the shrimp paste, and the shrimp was grilled nicely. The dipping sauce works well with the shrimp. One method of eating this dish is to remove the shrimp paste from the sugarcane and wrap it with vermicelli, cilantro, and cucumber in the lettuce leaves. However, the lettuce leaves we were served weren’t fresh - they were wilted and starting to discolor. The sugarcane is very fresh, and that was the redeeming factor in this dish. The shrimpsticks with the sugarcane is good, but the length of time it took to receive this dish and the lack of freshness of the accompanying vegetables were disappointing. $8.95

I stand by my earlier statement – stick to the pho and you’ll be satisfied.

Banhwich - Vietnamese, San Francisco

1105 Taraval St, San Francisco CA 94116
(415) 665-2233
Parking: street parking

Last Visited: July 13, 2011

Food: 2 to 3 stars
Atmosphere: 2 stars
Service: 2 to 3 stars
Price: $

I was trying to avoid traffic on the way home one night and decided to stop into Bahnwich, mostly because it's located near Marco Polo Italian Ice Cream and I figured I would be close to dessert.  While I had read some reviews about it being a small shop that is frequented by youth from the nearby school and that the cashier looks like she's twelve, I wasn't deterred.  I used to work at my parent's family business and I too was often mistaken for much younger than I was. 

In any case, I came with an open mind and a hungry stomach.  I walked in and saw a very cluttered setup.  The menu was displayed on a sign above the main counter and there were stools next to the counter by the   window.   Behind the main counter and in the rear of the store, there was stacks of stuff piled up on top of each other.  While I can appreciate that it's a family business, there were a few things that were offputting.  The clutter could have been hidden behind a curtain.  The young girl behind the counter was watching television and never even said hello.  Her father was very fast at preparing my order which is why I even gave them a two to three star rating for service, but there is a lot of opportunity for improving customer service as a whole.

- Barbecue Pork Banh Mi - The meat was microwaved and put into a toasted roll along with the pickled carrots and fresh cilantro.  The pork was well flavored and juicy, but had a few tendons in it.  At these prices, it's a great value and the food is satisfying. $3.80

I wouldn't mind paying even a dollar more for this if the service were better.  As is, I would consider stopping back if I were in the area, but it's not a place I would go out of my way to patronize.  Service like this is barely tolerable when the food is good.  Hopefully they recognize this soon.

My Ha - Vietnamese, Santa Rosa

385 Aviation Boulevard #B, Santa Rosa, CA 95403
(707) 527-8882
Parking: in shopping center

Last Visited: October 23, 2004

Food: 4 stars
Atmosphere: 4 stars
Service: 4 stars
Price: $ to $$

This establishment has by far been the cleanest Vietnamese restaurant I have visited in Sonoma County. In a new building next to the Airport Cinemas, it has a fresh coat of paint, clean carpet, and new everything – from tables, to chairs, to dishware. It’s a refreshing change from the dingy dusty pho places in the county. The walls are bright, the windows bring in a lot of light, and it’s competition is Quizno’s subs, right next door (totally different sector of the market). Prices here are a little higher than the other places, but My Ha’s menu is clean – limited selection, but good choices and quality food. They even had a lunch buffet which looked appetizing – I just couldn’t eat that much for lunch. My Ha is going for a more upscale look. They still use paper napkins, but there were four servers for a lunch hour on a weekday which is pretty impressive.

- Pho – Well Done Beef Brisket, Eye Round Steak - This dish came in a big bowl. Did that come across clearly? The bowl is big. Unlike other pho restaurants, their pho was one size fits all. Each person received their own accompaniments – lime, jalapenos, bean sprouts, and thai basil. I would have liked more noodles and one of my dining companions felt the meat wasn’t lean enough. Her eye round steak was very rare; mine was well done. The soup is hot, but could be just a touch hotter in temperature. Also, although they give you a lot of jalapenos, I dropped most of them in my soup and didn’t taste their presence at all. They didn’t look dried out, but they were missing their fire. Overall, it was still good. $5.75

- Bun Cha Gio,Thit Nuong – Imperial Rolls and barbecued pork – A large bowl is layered with a salad (made of shredded lettuce, beansprouts, cilantro, mint leaves, and shredded cucumber) and topped with room temperature rice vermicelli. An imperial roll is cut into pieces and placed on top of the vermicelli. Thin slices of barbecued pork are seasoned with lemongrass are also placed on top of the vermicelli. Crushed peanuts garnish the dish. Dressing with a fish sauce base is served on the side and poured on top of the noodle mixture. The barbecued pork is very nicely done, not overcooked. The salad mixture gives the dish a light crunch, and the dressing accompanies all of the ingredients well. The thing I liked most about My Ha’s bun is that the vermicelli is room temperature. At many places, you’ll find that the vermicelli is cold like it just came out of the refrigerator. Although this is refreshing in summer, in the winter, it is less pleasant. Very good. $6.50

- Coconut Juice - More ice than juice, but still refreshing with fresh pieces of coconut meat $2

- Banh Kem Flan – The flan is served on a dish and topped with a maraschino cherry. The top of the flan is golden brown and slightly bitter. The bitterness doesn’t make the dish taste bad, but rather adds complexity to the flavorings. The texture is smooth and a bit more solid than other flan I have tried, but still good. $2.25

The nice thing about getting the Pho is that you get your own dish of thai basil, bean sprouts, and lime. They aren’t stingy about giving you these ‘condiments’ for your Pho. Unlike other places, each of us at the table received our own plate. As for what could be done better, if they were going for the truly high class crowd, the bean sprouts would no longer have the bean or the thread at the bottom of the sprout.

On my second and third visits, I had another version of pho with meatballs. One thing My Ha is excellent at is explaining what the dish is made with. For example, they’ll let you know the meatballs are made with pork or that the seafood noodles will have two kinds of noodles. If you’re hesitant about trying Vietnamese food, this place is perfect for you since they’re patient enough to answer any questions and they anticipate the concerns one has. My previous conclusion remains the same - Definitely worth another trip back to My Ha.

Pho Saigon II - Vietnamese, Richmond

3288 Pierce St, Ste A116, Richmond, CA 94804
(510) 528-6388
Parking: in shopping center parking lot
Hours: Mon-Thu, Sun 10 am - 9 pm, Fri-Sat 10 am - 10 pm

Last Visited: June 4, 2011

Food: 2 to 3 stars
Atmosphere: 2 to 3 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $ to $$

Located in the Ranch 99 shopping center, Pho Saigon is very casual and super fast.  We met some friends there for a pho dinner and found it to be okay overall.  While we used to visit Pho Saigon more frequently about a decade ago when the shopping center first opened, it's been a while since we've been back.

Like many other pho restaurants, the atmosphere is simple with chopsticks, spoons, napkins, and condiments already set at a station at the table. The windows that separate the restaurant from the main hallway are left undecorated and the restaurant as a whole is fairly bare when it comes to decorations.

After sitting down, we were promptly brought plastic cups of water and given a bit of time to peruse the menu.  After placing our order, it seemed like onlhy minutes before the meal arrived.

- Combination Pho - As is typical, you'll find that the noodles are soaking in hot soup and covered with the meat of your choice depending on the pho dish that you ordered.  Also, accompanying the hot soup is a dish of bean sprouts, jalapenos, lime wedges, and Thai Basil.  These items were fresh, but according to one of my dining companions, the beef meatballs in her soup was not so fresh today - while not spoiled, they were completely flavorless which seems to indicate that they have been in the freezer for quite some time.

Nobody else had any issues with their meal, so I left the food rating at 2 to 3 stars.  With this quick service, this is a great place to go for a fast meal and the price is great for those on a budget.  It seemed that a lot of the tables around us were getting fried chicken wings, so I might consider trying that the next time I come back.  While it's not a destination restaurant, it's good when you're looking for a hot bowl of noodle soup.

Noodle Palace - Vietnamese, Thai, Santa Rosa

1310 Petaluma Hill Road, Santa Rosa CA 95404

(707)  528-1548

Parking: in parking lot
Hours: Mon - Sat 10:30am - 9:30pm, Sun 10:30am - 8:30pm

Last Visited: July 2, 2011

Food: 3 to 4 stars

Atmosphere: 3 stars

Service: 3 stars

Price: $ to $$

My aunt and uncle recommended we try out Noodle Palace.  If ever the phrase 'looks can be deceiving' were appropriate to talk about a restaurant, Noodle Palace is certainly the place where if you were looking only at the outside, you might run in the opposite direction fast.  However, I've now been there twice, and both times, I was pleased with the food.  If you can look past the white building with red roof and homemade white sign with red letters, you might enjoy what Noodle Palace has to offer.

My guess is that location once housed a Mexican restaurant.  With a white brick wall and metal fencing above the wall surrounding their own parking lot and more metal bars covering up the windows of the restaurant, the outside decor doesn't seem to fit Southeast Asian or Vietnamese food.  When you see the arches inside the restaurant, you might also be surprised, but inside, you'll find a simple and clean environment with large wall murals depicting Thai or Laotian women dancing and of course, the giant flat screen television (very common for restaurants of this style in the Bay Area).   A white board at the front shows that Noodle Palace has added a number of specials to its Vietnamese menu and the specials are typically Thai curries and other Thai dishes.  The restaurant has morphed into offering Southeast Asian food.  I talked to the owner and found out that they're of Cambodian descent, so they pretty much feel comfortable cooking everything from that region.  In the cooler up front, you'll see the selection of beer available and get a look at the tri-colored drinks/desserts (rainbow drink) unique to Southeast Asian cuisine.

During our first visit for dinner, we had bowls of pho.

- Pho -  The hot soup came with with well done flank, brisket, tendon, and tripe.  As is typical with these bowls, the noodles are formed into a ball at the bottom with hot broth poured on top along with the selection of meat you have chosen.  Accompanying the soup is a plate of bean sprouts, Thai basil, jalapenos, and a wedge of lime.  I liked how the broth was lighter than some of the other places in town, but still very flavorful and delicious.  Good. Four stars.  XLarge $7.95, Large $6.95, Small $5.95

- Pad Thai  - The pad thai came with a choice of meat.  When we asked the server about the chicken and whether it was breast or dark meat, she responded breast meat.  One of my fellow diners ordered this dish with chicken and the other with pork.  The chicken turned out to be dark meat.  The pork tasted like it had been boiled and then stir fried, so it wasn't very flavorful and a little dry.  The noodles were good - softer than some other preparations we had tried, but not falling apart yet.  The flavors also weren't as sweet which we appreciated.  Bean sprouts, shredded carrots, and lime wedges accompanied the noodles.  Presentation looks a little messier than some others that I've seen, but the taste was good.  The carrots were a bit on the dry side - however they're storing it, it should be covered with saran wrap to maintain moisture better.  Aside from that, I found it alright.  Three stars.  $8.95

- Rice Plate with BBQ Pork, prawns, and egg rolls - The BBQ Pork is marinated and sliced thin, then grilled.  After it comes off the grill, it's sliced into small squares.  The meat is served with a skewer containing three grilled shrimp, an egg roll, pickled vegetables, white rice, dipping sauce, and a bowl of clear broth.  There is a lot of food on this plate!  The BBQ pork tasted super fresh and with the dipping sauce, it's a great balance of sweet, salty, and grill flavoring.  The shrimp was cooked just right - tender and succulent.  The egg roll was crispy and very fresh.  The pickled cabbage and carrots added texture and balance to the dish.  I was delighted with the plate that came and enjoyed it thoroughly.  Four stars!  I would definitely get this again.  $7.95

Service is friendly and when it comes to pho, it's fast.  For stir-fried dishes, the wait time is longer. I was disappointed that our server didn't know that the chicken meat for the pad thai was actually dark meat.  Also, when you're waiting for your check, you might want to flag down the server because they don't normally bring it until you ask.  Payment is made at the front counter. 

Overall, the food is reasonably priced and the value is great.  From what I've tried so far, I would stick to the Vietnamese dishes for more authentic flavors, but I would be willing to try a Thai curry dish or two to see how it goes. 

If I were to give Noodle Palace some advice, I would suggest they work on their servers' knowledge of the food more and also consider upgrading the exterior.  A little paint in bright Southeast Asian colors (maybe chartreuse or orange) or at the least, a change of their signage, would guarantee attracting more customers, and once inside, the food will keep them coming back.

Pho Vietnam - Santa Rosa

711 Stony Point Road #8, Santa Rosa CA 95407
(707) 571-SOUP (7687)
Parking: in shopping center parking lot
Hours: Mon-Sat 10am to 8:45pm, Sun 10am to 7:45pm

Last Visited: December 28, 2010

Food: 4 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 2 to 3 stars
Price: $ to $$ (prices shown are from 2006, so they may be higher)

Pho Vietnam is a crowded and popular place, for lunch or dinner.  Now that it's taken over the unit next door, it's not quite as difficult to get in as it once was when it would be have people waiting outside.  With the expansion, it seems more spacious and  the pace over service is less frantic.  The great tasting pho is so flavorful and delicious that it’s one of the best in Sonoma County if you enjoy full flavored broth.

On each table is a holder containing chopsticks, soy sauce, fish sauce, hot sauce, and a squeeze bottle of chili sauce. Bowls of pho (beef noodle soup) come in small, large, and extra large – these are displayed above the counter to help customers get a better sense of what they’re in for. To go orders are an extra 25 cents.
The recent remodel and expansion has done wonders for the place with a lot more space in the rear for larger parties.  The colors are brighter and lighter, probably to keep up with the increasing competition and since it was due for a makeover anyway.  The chairs are new, but the same great food is there. I increased the atmosphere rating from 2 stars to 3 stars.

- Cha Gio – Egg Rolls – The egg rolls I tried during the last few visits have only been fair. The color of the rolls have been a little too dark, indicating prolonged frying time, or not so fresh oil. Just okay. They still taste good though. $3.50

- Combination Rolls - Traditional rice paper rolls are filled with shrimp, mint, lettuce, pork, and rice noodles  Peanut sauce accompanies the dish.  They do a nice roll - fairly standard in its offering.

- Pho Bac Biet – Combo Noodle soup – As always, my multiple visits have found the broth consistently flavorful, and the temperature is always boiling hot (to cook the rare eye round steak). The noodles do come in a clump, but can be easily broken apart. The meat topping the rice noodles include eye round steak, well-done brisket, flank steak, tendon, and tripe. A dish containing lemon or lime, bean sprouts, and Thai basil accompany the soup. The majority of the time, these vegetables are fresh due to the constant flow of customers coming into the restaurant. Very good. Small $4.50, Large $4.95, Extra Large $5.95

- Nuoc Dua - Coconut Juice – Always refreshing. $1.95

Service can use some improvement.  Less experienced servers often run multiple rounds for items and seem inefficient - this was the case with a recent large group dinner that I attended.  However, the waitress was very friendly and that made up for her lack of experience quite a bit. 

Pho Vietnam is a great place to fill up, especially on cold winter nights, for a very reasonable price. You’ll find excellent, rich tasting beef broth and fresh food. A great value, and a local favorite casual dining spot.

Lee's Noodle House - Vietnamese/Pho, Santa Rosa

1010 Hopper Ave, Santa Rosa CA 95403
(707) 523-2358
Parking: in shopping center parking lot
Hours: Mon – Sat 9am to 9pm, Sun 10am to 8 pm
http://leesnoodlehouse.com/

Last Visited: March 4, 2006

Food: 3 to 4 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 2 stars
Price: $

Lee’s Noodle House is located in a small shopping center amongst some other small restaurants and businesses. The room is a bright yellow with light streaming in from the front windows. It’s an open space where you see the little nook on the left with several tables, and everything else is right in front of you. Directly above the wood paneled counter area are some white wall insets displaying plants. One of the other nooks contains a fat buddha figure. Other wall hangings of various flowers are displayed around the room. Red lanterns hang from the ceiling in front of the counter.


The tables are topped with green tablecloths and covered by glass tops. Light maple wood chairs surround the tables. On top of each table is a napkin holder and a small lazy susan containing standard Vietnamese condiments including fish sauce, soy sauce, red chili paste, hot sauce, Maggi sauce, salt, and pepper. A stack of chopsticks are also placed upright in a container on the table. Underneath the glass is a color photo showing some of their specialties. It’s great for those who have never tried Vietnamese food, and even better, the photo and the real-life dish actually do look the same.

Thus far, I have visited only for lunch. Each visit has been good and quite consistent in terms of service.

- Combination Beef Noodle Soup (Pho Dac Biet) – The standard eye round steak, well-done flank seak, soft tendons, tripe, and fat brisket are served over rice noodles in a hot broth. A plate of bean sprouts, thai basil, jalapenos, and lemon or lime accompany the noodles. Overall, it’s a great bargain. The broth is light, and I imagine similar to home made versions of the dish. It’s not as heavy in flavor as others, but still very good. Regular $4.65, Large $5.50

- Grilled Pork & Egg Roll with Rice Noodle (Bun Thit Nuong Cha Gio) Cold rice noodles are topped with thin slices of grilled pork and an egg roll cut into sections. Cilantro, chopped peanuts, sliced carrots, and sliced pickled turnip strips are served with the grilled pork. There is also a side of fish sauce vinaigrette. The pork has excellent flavor. Everything had a fresh flavor and the mixture of textures and flavors are balanced in combination. Good. $5.75

- Lee’s Special Noodle – A quarter of a roasted chicken (dark meat) is placed in a bowl of light broth and egg noodles. The plate of bean sprouts and basil served with the combination soup also accompanies this one. This broth is a little different than the beef broth, but it too has that great flavor that is further accented by the fresh herbs. The chicken has excellent flavor and the skin has a beautiful golden brown color. It’s a little hard to maneuver since it’s not cut into pieces, but it does taste great. It’s a great dish to try. Only one size available. $6.50

When the place gets busy, it will take forever to get a check, so you have to ask for it. If you need anything, it’s better to be outspoken, otherwise you might not receive what you need. They bring food quickly, but service as a whole is fair. Granted, there’s only one person servicing the entire room. However, you can still get in and out within an hour. Value is excellent. No single item on the menu exceeds seven dollars. It’s great for a quick lunch on the go.

PPQ Dungeness Island - Vietnamese, San Francisco

2332 Clement St, San Francisco CA 94121
(415) 386-8266
Parking: street parking
Hours: Open 11am to 10pm, Closed Tuesdays
http://www.ppqdungeness.com/

Last Visited: August 14, 2004

Food: 4 stars
Service: 3 stars
Atmosphere: 3 to 4 stars
Price: $ to $$$$

Upon entering PPQ, you’ll see a wide open space with chandeliers containing a rainbow of glass lamp covers in a modern design, simple lines, and blue. The counter is to your immediate right. There is a bar area to your left which is primarily used for storage, but you’ll see the glasses hanging from the ceiling in the bar area. The tables are maple colored and the chairs are black with nice horizontal lines created by the backs. Further in the restaurant, the long tables seating six people are to your right, and more rectangular tables are throughout the restaurant. To your left is a wall mural of scenic blue. In the rear is the aquarium housing a fish that looks like Gill from Finding Nemo – this was pointed out by Lawrence who recommended PPQ with enthusiasm. In the bottom tank, you’ll see the many large crabs roaming around the tank. The background of the tank is a beautiful blue, giving the atmosphere a nice serene feel. In the very rear of the restaurant just past the restrooms is a banquet room. Music plays in the background.

Lawrence’s must try recommendation is the Peppercorn crab. After trying the varieties offered, this is his favorite since the others are cooked in broth, whereas this one is fried, singling it out from the rest.

Service is interesting. I didn’t find it particularly inviting or friendly until the end of the dining period. They weren’t overly attentive or lacking in giving us attention, just not as friendly at first. After being seated, we received American style teacups and a teapot filled with hot tea.

We ordered the Dinner for Two ($42.95) and added a vegetable dish.

- Imperial Rolls – With the dinner for two, two imperial rolls are each cut in half. These four pieces are served with a light sweet dipping sauce (made with fish sauce) and on the same plate is the chicken salad (see below). These rolls are filled with ground meat and some vegetables. They’re deep fried until very crispy, and were good, although they could be larger in diameter which equates to more filling. A regular serving is 6 pieces for $4.95.

- Chicken Salad – The salad is comprised of very thinly shredded lettuce, red cabbage, carrots, and topped with small slices of marinated chicken and fried shallots. It’s quite refreshing with its light dressing while remaining crisp. The chicken had been marinated in fish sauce, giving it a seafood flavor more than chicken flavor.

When you order the crab, you’ll receive a white plastic bib with a big orange crab on it, and to make sure you make no mistakes, the word crab is also on the bib. Your server will tie it around your neck prior to the start of the meal.

- Peppercorn Crab – The menu describes it as whole Dungeness crab lightly fried then sautéed with garlic and black pepper. The crab itself is very large and easily serves two, perhaps three people. What the menu doesn’t tell you is that the garlic is deep fried also, and there is lots of it. The garlic is chopped into little pieces and the crab is served over a big mound of the garlic pieces it was fried with mixed with black pepper. The garlic flavor is infused into the fresh succulent crab. The batter is definitely light and dotted with black pepper. When you’re done eating this crab, you can’t taste much but garlic. Very good. Price is seasonal

- Garlic noodles – Yellow noodles are tossed in garlic sauce which infuses each noodle. It’s garnished with parsley. There’s so much garlic, you can see the little white pieces. Imagine tossing spaghetti with parmesan, except instead of parmesan, all the little white specks are garlic. The noodles come out hot and so soft. The texture of the noodles was very impressive, so soft that they melt in your mouth. As they get to room temperature, they’ll taste more like regular noodles. The garlic is definitely present. Very strong garlic flavor. $5.95

- Fried Banana with Ice Cream – Four pieces of banana are covered in a tempura batter and deep fried. This is accompanied with a dish of coconut ice cream. The banana pieces are drizzled with syrup and a light sprinkling of black sesame. The banana was wonderful. Hot on the inside, the flavor of the batter isn’t too sweet and the syrup doesn’t overwhelm the treat. It’s wonderful. The coconut ice cream is so infused with flavor. I have my doubts that they make the ice cream themselves, but it’s good quality ice cream, and just perfect after a garlic filled meal. $3.95

I would say PPQ is trying to reach for a slightly upscale feeling. It has a nicer atmosphere than many other Vietnamese restaurants and is neat and clean. Presentation is nice. Service could be improved. The prices for pho, bun, and rice plates are moderately priced. The main dishes are slightly higher priced than its competition (hence the reason for saying they’re going for a more upscale crowd). However, the crab offerings certainly make PPQ more special than the rest. Also, if you’re a garlic lover, definitely try the garlic noodles.

Le Colonial - French/Vietnamese, San Francisco

20 Cosmo Place, San Francisco CA 94109
(415) 931-3600
Parking: pay parking in nearby lot, limited street parking
Last Visited: 2002
http://www.lecolonialsf.com/

Food: 4 stars
Service: 4 stars
Atmosphere: 4 stars
Price: $$$ to $$$$

It’s been a while since I visited Le Colonial. Alison recommended I try the place. Perhaps it was the mood I was in, but after going to the theatre, this seemed like a perfect place to go. It’s rather difficult if you’re going to make the attempt at finding street parking, but Le Colonial is worth it.

Upon entering, you’ll need to take a flight of stairs to the dining area. There is a quaint dining area where the sun streams in immediately before the entrance and greenery is all around. Inside, it’s a classy place with black and white photos of the days of old in Saigon. You’ll enjoy the atmosphere. Upstairs is a lounge, which I hear is a happening place late at night.

- Salmon salad rolls – Vietnamese rolls are filled with salmon, dill, cucumbers, and herbs. They are cut and served with a flavorful dipping sauce. $11

- Crab cakes – These are crusted with coconut and come with a cilantro chili sauce. $12

- Satay – The chicken satay was rather average. Still quite tasty, but not spectacular.

I enjoyed more dishes, but can’t remember what I tried. I think there was a clay pot dish with rice in it as well as some other great plates. All the dishes are presented wonderfully, and the service is very good. It is elegant dining in a setting with a lot of ambiance, and the food is satisfying. This is not the place to go if you plan to compare it with the price of typical Vietnamese restaurants. However, you will likely be pleased with the approach they take to make fine Vietnamese food in a beautiful setting.

Lam Hoa Thuan - Chinese, Vietnamese, Hong Kong Style BBQ

2337 Irving Street, San Francisco CA 94122
(415) 661-1688, (415) 661-8078
Parking: street parking
Hours: Open Daily 9am to 9pm

Last Visited: June 6, 2010 (Prices shown for most items are from a visit in March 2005)

Food: 3 to 4 stars
Service: 3 stars
Atmosphere: 2 to 3 stars
Price: $ to $$

Enter the restaurant and to your immediate left is the display of roast duck, chicken, and other assorted barbecued items. They’re especially well known for their barbecue and boiled free range chicken with salt. People line up to buy these items to go. I've waited two hours for the chicken (I probably won't do that again, but the fact that I did it tells you something about whether or not it tastes good).

The restaurant is extremely well lit. The walls are light in color, with wood paneling from the middle of the wall downward. On the right side are large mirrors running the length of part of the room. Red lanterns dangle from the ceiling along with strings of Christmas lights. On the opposite side of the room is a large wall hanging with brightly colored trees and an interesting scene.

There are lots of picture frames with Chinese calligraphy in gold on bright red backgrounds. A listing of specialties is also posted on small sheets of paper along the wall. In the back of the room, you’ll see more large calligraphy as well as a large cabinet containing a rather large Chinese figurine thought to bring protection and wealth to the restaurant. Incense is burned to this figure.

The restaurant is busy, so often times, the big tables are shared. There is a lot of hustle and bustle throughout the restaurant. It’s not a quiet atmosphere. Service may vary depending on time of day.

On each table, you’ll find marinated spicy peppers, chopsticks (both plastic and bamboo), and a multitude of sauces – soy sauce, chili sauce, hot sauce, and of course salt and pepper. You’re set to go to flavor your dish any way you wish.

- Phodacbiet (Combination pho) – Unlike some other pho places, Lam Hoa Thuan serves up pho in only one size, but it’s a pretty large bowl. The combination pho includes rare steak, well done beef brisket, flank steak, tendons, and strips of tripe. The fragrance of fish sauce was particularly strong, but after the first few bites, you won’t notice it much. Accompanying the pho is a dish of bean sprouts, Thai basil, slices of jalapeno pepper, and a lemon wedge. The portion is hearty and the ingredients are all fresh. Very good. $5.20

- Com Thit Quay and Com Vit Quay (Roast Pork and Roast Duck over Rice) – The plate is half filled with rice, a quarter filled with roast pork, and a quarter filled with roast duck. The roast pork skin is crispy and golden. The roast duck also has a nice flavor. Both are above average in terms of flavor compared to other establishments – not too strong, and not to weak. After trying these items to go, they seemed to be just okay when I tried them sitting down in the restaurant. Maybe there’s just something about having a whole box of the duck at home with homemade dishes, or sitting in the car and eating the skin of the roast pork before the crunchiness disappears. It could be the quantity in comparison to take out orders, or the lack of vegetables soaked in the juice of the roasted items. This is not to say the roasted items were bad, but something seemed lacking. On my second visit, I found the duck to have a crisp skin, but again, the duck skin was just fair. Okay overall. $5.20

- Nuoc Dua Tuoi (Young Coconut Juice) – Of all the coconut juice I’ve had that was served in a glass, this is definitely amongst the best. The coconut flavor is especially fragrant and tasted delicious. As usual, pieces of young coconut are floating in the juice along with lots of ice. Very very good. Even better if you take out some of the ice to prevent the flavor from being diluted. $1.65

2010 visit: Still as busy as ever, the lines for the bbq are still out the door.

- Gravy Egg and Shrimp over Rice - While this description doesn't translate nearly as well into English as the Chinese name, it's still likely to give you a full stomach. In Chinese, it's called smooth and creamy egg over rice. The egg is cooked with hot oil and shrimp until it reaches an almost gravy-like consistency. Then it's put over an abundant bed of rice. While it's way too much rice for me, it would be great to order this dish with another main entree - you could easily have enough rice to serve two people. Good. $5.89

- Rice Stick Noodles Singapore Style - Singapore style means curry seasoning. The rice noodles are cooked with shrimp, red bell pepper strips, onion strips, green onion strips, jalapeno slices, bean sprouts, bbq pork strips, and of course, dry curry seasoning. This makes for a very flavorful noodle dish since the seasoning covers every strand of delicate rice noodle. The portion is also hearty for this dish. Good. $5.49

The value is definitely present at Lam Hoa Thuan. The barbecued and other items sold at the counter are great, especially the boiled chicken with salt. If you’ve never had this type of chicken, you’ll find the flavor and taste different than Foster Farms or other brands available at the local grocery stores.

If you can’t try them for sit down dining, buy some of their roast pork. You’re sure to be pleased. It’s a great place to go for barbecued items Chinese style. You’ll probably be pretty happy with the Vietnamese food too.