Little Saigon Adventures

:sweat_smile: Perfect!

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The Vox Kitchen


Tonight’s menu…

Hmmm if you are like me (kinda of an ass), you would probably dismiss this place at a glance. The only theme to this menu is perhaps Asian and Asian fusion. That F word!!! I extremely dislike (not going to use the word hate) what I call “Asian-fusion-stoner-Instagram food”. Cough Smorgasburg Cough 626/OC Night Market.

There is no denying that The Vox is currently one of Little Saigon’s most popular new school restaurant. I wouldn’t call it Instagram food. There is Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Vietnamese, Peruvian, and Mexican influences all over the menu.

But it’s just good solid food! Yes.


I know I know, salad is usually a waste of hard earned money, but the Chinese in me has to have some greens. This was Arugula, Pear, Burrata, Candied Nuts, and Balsamic Glaze.


Garlic Noodles with Prawns.
Prawns were perfectly cooked with some nice grill flavor! Garlic Noodles, great flavor and great chew. Well made! Reminds me next time I am in SF I need to hit up that Dungeness crab and garlic noodle place (somewhere in the Avenues).


Lomo Saltado. Perhaps one of the most recognizable fusion dishes in South America. Question…am I hypocrite if I like lomo saltado but hate/dislike Instagram-asian-fusion dishes???

The Filet Mignon pieces were perfectly cooked, no chew.

I originally thought The Vox did a Bo Luc Lac Lomo Saltado?

To nitpick I thought there was too much fries in the dish and it needed slightly more vinegar/soy flavor to bring it all in. There was not much vinegar/soy aroma when the plate hit the table. The Aji was fine but I personally could use a little more kick.

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Bo luc lac lomo saltado sounds crazy good.

mee and greet has one that i need to try
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bv49CjDhYp5/

That garlic noodles with shrimp dish looks so much like the dish at Garlic & Chives.

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ppq

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New Hanoi specialist located at the Ramada on Garden Grove x Brookhurst (next to Seoul Do Soon Yi Kimchi Co which is next plaza over FYI to take home some good kimchi)


Quan Bun Co Giao Thao

Open 6 days a week, closed Wednesday, 8am-4pm.

This is a nightclub after hours and a pretty dank ass Hanoi specialist restaurant during the day!! I am the only Non-Viet here…and I love the smell when I walk in!


Menu, yes there is some basic bitch items but this heavily leans towards Hanoi/Northern.


The BEST damn condiment tray in Little Saigon, although some pickled garlic would make it the GOAT condiment tray.

That purple-grey stuff is Mam! It is pretty dank and funky but filled with flavor! You are going to want to add 1-2 small spoonfuls into your Bun Rieu/Canh Bun!!

That is pure grounded up chiles, if you like it a little spicy add a spoonful. I do.

That other XO looking sauce I am told is for Bun Bo Hue.



Bun Rieu. There is a small thing of tamarind sauce on that plate and a nice variety of veg. Pretty damn good! I would say Quan Bun Ban Mai is slightly more funky but you can just add some more Mam!


Pickled Chicken Feet with special dipping sauce.
Never had chicken feet other than in a soup or at dim sum. A little hard to eat but a nice taste.


Nem Ran Cua Be.
Crab rolls. I guess you eat this like Bun Cha Hanoi? I enjoyed eating this!

I’ll be back for the Canh Bun!

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Brodards

Looks great! Aroma great!

But the texture of this Bang Xeo is weird, almost mealy-like.

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Banh xeo sadly not their strong suit. It’s suprising actually since their claim to fame is the nem and the sauce, both central region province quang nam speciaties. And if you get the Banh xeo in quang nam, it’s small 6 inch size very crispy Banh xeo, not these large southern Saigon style ones.

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New post from The Infatuation LA for the best of Little Saigon. @JeetKuneBao and others, how does this stack up to your faves in the area? I’ve been meaning to go to Little Saigon but due to the sheer volume of restaurants (and how many places seem to be “one-trick ponies”) I’m unsure of where to go and what to order for the “best” experience. Would this list from The Infatuation be a good start? If not, what are the suggestions? Thanks in advance!

Re: “one trick ponies”

VN restaurants are generally specialists. Going to a place that does it all is going to lead to average results.

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Song Long - an OG that serves classic French/Vietnamese fare. A truly dying sub genre. Maybe not the best but certainly an essential.

Brodard - also an essential for the summer rolls.

Thien An - the default answer for 7 courses of beef

Le Croissant Doré - been eating fruit tarts here for ages and the texture is great but they do use a sweet glaze on the fruit which some may find off putting

Trieu Chau - maybe one of the oldest restaurants in LS (it’s not really in little Saigon). I didn’t understand the place as a kid and now I crave it as an adult because I don’t have it around me :frowning:

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Certainly, one-trick ponies aren’t a bad thing at all; I rather an establishment does 1 thing very well rather than many things at a level of mediocrity. But it also makes me second-guess myself when I go to a new restaurant, lest I fail to order the house specialty.

Also, many thanks for the recs! So it seems The Infatuation list is relatively in line with tastes of FTCers.

for this particular list they basically took a safe sample of popular classics and newbies. nothing too out there. you probably won’t have mind blowing experiences at all (or even most…) of these places, but they are all well regarded in the Vietnamese community.

Dare I ask where one would go and what one would order for mind-blowing experiences, if you or others would be so kind as to share? I realize that this entire thread is dedicated to such things, but with 300 posts and counting, I’m mildly overwhelmed lol.

depends on your dining experience, but if I only had 1 chance to impress someone I would take them to Favori (if they’re ok with a dated restaurant and only focus on the food) for the baked catfish, or Newport Seafood for a standard dinner (ie basil clams, bo luc lac, kung pao chicken, etc) with house special lobster.

the rest of the list is simply good food, not wow food (if that makes sense).

I’m sure others will disagree with me shortly :slight_smile:

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One day of eating in Little Saigon isn’t enough.
@DoubleThinker, @Ns1’s list and notes is a good place to start. Then go through places or things that you find are interesting in this thread. This is a great resource.

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Frechuss

This is a pretty solid place for both sweet and savory snacks/small dishes. A big variety of juices to choose from (pennywort, watermelon, sugarcane, coconut, etc)


Pandan Waffles. I think these are good on their own no need for ice cream or toppings.


Bot Chien. Made with a little taro added with the rice flour instead of the usual. These were well crisped up and tasty. The soy sauce is doctored up…tangy and garlicky? Veggies were fresh and bright, I like to mix those in and ladle the soy on top, ladle as needed. Good dish. I am nitpicking like a dick but I wish the hot sauce wasn’t just a single packet of Sriracha.


Avocado-Durian. Smashed up avocado with a scoop of Durian ice cream, with nuts and shredded coconuts. Not the biggest sweets guy but this is combination was fine. This is their signature dessert.

I’ll be back to try the watermelon juice, which is kinda my favorite in the summertime when I was younger on a typical weekend day in the SGV. Vegetarian egg rolls sound pretty good with taro mixed in.

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Reminds me I need to get @Ns1 favorite Vietnamese ice coffee at Bambu.

i thought @Ns1 favorite coffee was at Di Vang? :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye: