mmm-yoso is on vacation. The part usually played by Kirk will be played by Cathy in the interim.
Hi. I've been watching the Blue Angels Air Show all day today it seems. (There was a night show..little joke there...).
So, it is cold out...rained on and off all day and I'd like a little spice...and I know exactly the flavors I want. They are here: The one on the right, Mien Trung. (I told you about La Basil, the one on the left, in Episode four.).
Mien Trung has been in the same location for almost 10 years now. They do not advertise. They don't have to . When you are good, word of mouth is your best advertisement.
Its family owned and run, the menu is simple and, technically, there is no Pho on the menu. The soup is listed under Bun- rice noodles. The broth is the *best* I have had in San Diego, bar none. The menu is
short and simple. 24 items total to choose from, not including beverages.
The #2- Bun Bo Hue Dat Biet (Large) $4.99- rice vermicelli soup with spicy beef...
Mom (in the kitchen) toned the spice down just a touch for us and it was perfect; I did not leave with my mouth glowing. The add ins were shredded cabbage and shredded lettuce and sprouts along with lime to squeeze in...
The broth here is unique- oily and with such deep, rich flavor. The rice noodles are not in a clump, but properly cooked and spread apart in the bowl. The beef, tendon and meatloaf are extremely flavorful, thicker cut, juicy. Every time we have eaten here, the broth is wonderful and the food has been very fresh tasting...and we have always been asked upon leaving if it was to our liking.
My little "test" for a Vietnamese restaurant is what condiments are on the table.
There is NO soy sauce, NO hoisin sauce, TWO hot chili pepper sauces AND the shrimp paste, white pepper and fish sauce. (All of these places have fish sauce in Kikkoman soy sauce containers...what happens with the soy?).
The #9- Bun Cha Gio ($4.50) is unique here. The bun (rice noodles) are abundant, not in a clump, the bottom, 'salad' part of the dish is the same cabbage and lettuce mix that is used as the mix in for the Bun Bo Hue and not too much. The toppings are the traditional chopped peanuts, but then you get pickled vegetables, fried garlic and cilantro. The cha gio are filled with pork and some fungus and rice noodle, but are mostly meat. The sauce served with has a good bite to it and is not sweet nor too salty.
A lot of food for a small price.
This time we also opted for #22, Banh Bot Nam La, rice cake steamed in banana leaf. It was topped with ground pork and shrimp, which more like the #21 (Banh Bot Loc La) but in any case, tasted very good.
You get 8 banana leaves filled with the mixture. It is a nice add in to your other foods and had a good salty topping flavor. ($3.75) It is served with the same dipping sauce that was served with the Bun Cha Gio. It takes about 15 minutes for them to be steamed for you, but that timing works out so you can eat it with the rest of your food, since that will come out pretty fast.
We have also ordered the #8 Bun Thit Nuong- Bun with BBQ pork- $4.99-and it is excellent, tender and crispy with great flavor. Also the #12 Hen Xuc Banh Trang -pancake with baby clams- $4.99- is excellent. Baby clams are an acquired taste, though...
You should notice there is no mint and no basil served here, as sides or toppings, making this a different style of Vietnamese than you have probably tasted. From what I can tell from Google-ing, it is authentic Hue food.
There are all of eight tables and a brisk phone in/take out business. You really will like it here. Not for any fancy tables, chairs or plates (although pleasant music is playing at all times and the TV is set to interesting channels I don't seem to be able to get ). You will like it for the quality of food and service. Care is taken with every plate served.
Mien Trung 7530 Mesa College Drive(at Linda Vista)(Next to K Sandwiches) San Diego 92111 (619) 576-0962
Tues-Sun 11a.m. to 8 p.m.
Hi Cathy - I'm glad you managed to post on Mien Trung, they are supposed to have the best Bun Bo Hue in San Diego, though I still haven't been able to make it there.
Posted by: Kirk | Sunday, 15 October 2006 at 10:26 AM
Its right there....Just park in front of K Sandwiches and walk on over....you can pick up something from K to take home....(we do- usually for breakfast the next day).
I googled Bun Bo Hue and the stuff here seems to be true Hue- the fatter noodles and its a beef/pork broth.
Posted by: cathy | Sunday, 15 October 2006 at 10:44 AM
I've been here a few times. Pretty good Bun Bo Hue but Kirk is the expert on that so I'm curious to hear what he has to say.
Posted by: Didi | Monday, 16 October 2006 at 03:35 PM
It is different tasting than other places, which is probably why I like it. Kirk may not like the oily part of it...I think that helps with the richness and the heat...I know Kirk was supposed to be going the other day. He will let us all know. His descriptions are better than mine in this category....and we may disagree, but I am just blogging about what I like....
Posted by: cathy | Monday, 16 October 2006 at 04:57 PM
darnit didn't see that it wasn't open monday i just went =x
instead i went to the place in the k sandwich plaza, pretty tasty.
more "authentic" vietnamese like pho traung
Posted by: clayfu | Monday, 16 October 2006 at 08:33 PM
Hi Clafu- Sorry about that. I didn't over-emphasize the hours...but don't feel bad...they were closed a couple of Tuesdays this past summer, and were closing up at 7 p.m. a few nights also...I suppose when its family run, you can make your own hours. Do go back, though. I know you will like it.
Posted by: cathy | Monday, 16 October 2006 at 09:42 PM
Hi Cathy - Actually, the oil content is about "medium", it's not really oily, at least for my standards. The Bun Bo Hue, is quite good, the broth balanced, nice sour-salty-spicy, and though I enjoy my version a bit more "pungent", and I thought the spice level to be on the mild side, all of which can be adjusted, it is very good. We did eat a whole bunch of stuff, and I'll probably do a post a bit later....but the Missus loves the Bun Rieu here, I mean She really loves it.
Posted by: Kirk | Tuesday, 17 October 2006 at 10:58 PM
...and that is the difference between us, Kirk...I thought the spice level was just enough heat...on the edge of too much... and you thought it was mild...That's why we blog!
I was curious about the Bun Rieu, but have never tried it here. Now I will.
Posted by: cathy | Tuesday, 17 October 2006 at 11:59 PM
Hi Cathy--I'm a big fan of Bun Bo Hue, so I made a point of going to this place the other day and getting the #2 Large Dac Biet. That was one fine bowl of soup! Plus I had a lovely little chat with the son who works the front-of-house. They forgot to put the pork blood in, even after I specifically told them too--apparently they couldn't quite believe this crazy Caucasian woman liked the stuff! :-) We had a good laugh about that, and I really didn't miss it with all the other stuff going on in that bowl. But I am going to re-remind them when next I go: yes, the white girl really does want it full-on with pork blood and all!
Posted by: mizducky | Wednesday, 18 October 2006 at 06:45 PM
Hi MizD- So glad you liked it...The way I get around it is to sort of make the shape of a small bowl with my hands, like I want the blood in a small bowl on the side...saying "yes, please, blood"...I guess it is rare that Caucasians have an appreciation of the proper foods...so rather than "waste" it, they just don't give us any....Just like they seem to automatically bring us a fork...(grrrr)
Posted by: cathy | Wednesday, 18 October 2006 at 11:53 PM
once again i go.
thursday 7pm.
closed
=(
Posted by: clayfu | Sunday, 29 October 2006 at 01:08 AM
Oh, no, clayfu...its gotta be that they just close when it looks like nobody else is coming in that day, since they close at 8 p.m. anyhow...or maybe they were going home to watch the World Series on Thursday... It is open (and busy) at lunch time....I know both Mizducky and Kirk have been there since I blogged about it (and Kirk will be putting up his notes about Mien Trung this week).
Posted by: cathy | Sunday, 29 October 2006 at 06:14 AM
Long-time lurker here. Tried this establishment today, 17 months after the last previous post. Perhaps I don't possess the qualified palate of some, but I found the #1 Spicy Beef Soup lacking in beef flavor nor any hint of star anise or clove. Sour as it was, it didn't need any lime, nor was any offered. Toughest beef I've ever encountered at a Vietnamese restaurant. Perhaps there's been a change in ownership or cook staff?
Posted by: TheManOfBronze | Wednesday, 19 March 2008 at 02:59 PM
Welcome to the other side of the blog, TMoB! It sounds like you hit a particularly off day at Mien Trung. If you look at the link to map of the Revised Rotation(in the left column, under "Pages", you'll see it is still one of Kirk and His Missus' favorite places-and his blogging about it- The meat is not always tender and is chopped roughly, more home made, but I kind of like it that way. The owners, workers and cooks are a family from Hue, which makes the food far more authentic. Maybe something was going on and Mom wasn't the cook that day. Do try it again. No, you don't get mint or lime here. It is more of a 'working man' type of style of food.
Posted by: cathy | Friday, 21 March 2008 at 03:04 PM
o man...totally forgot about this place. my first bun bo hue was here and i loved it! i think i'm going to have to get some viet food for lunch tomorrow. i will def. have to go here next time i come down. i had ba ren for dinner after our lunch haha...it was delicious!
Posted by: sawyer | Tuesday, 11 August 2009 at 10:30 PM
Good God Sawyer - You must have a really fast metabolism!
Posted by: Kirk | Tuesday, 11 August 2009 at 10:36 PM
Sawyer, you found my first Vietnamese Restaurant post! This is still the best BBH I have had, even though I seem to be at Lucky weekly. I have been craving Ba Ren this week for some reason. Lunch was *excellent*. I need to post on all of that food.
Kirk-Sawyer got a foot massage next door, after we ate. Apparently that is the secret to helping the metabolism. Perhaps we need to do some research. :)
Posted by: Cathy | Wednesday, 12 August 2009 at 06:03 AM
I'd forgotten that it was you, Cathy, who discovered this gem of a restaurant. No doubt I read this post, but had forgotten about it by the time I made it to the Mien Trung. Unfortunately, I haven't had the bbh or the bun rieu there on either of my visits to SD this summer. bummer.
Posted by: ed (from Yuma) | Wednesday, 12 August 2009 at 08:10 AM
There are only so many meals you can fit into a day, ed. I've been here a few times this summer, took photos, just haven't posted...
Posted by: Cathy | Wednesday, 12 August 2009 at 05:40 PM
haha i like this "you might like" tool you guys have at the end of the posts.
foot massage for 20 bucks isn't bad at all hehe...it's more like a full body cuz you soak your feet for some time.
haha kirk i wish. swimming in pb and getting the beer munchies worked up my appetite again. that and i didn't have pancakes for breakfast =p
i feel ya ed. too many places to try!
Posted by: sawyer | Wednesday, 12 August 2009 at 07:54 PM