Chinese Kitchen (Chi Tu Thanh Nha Hang) Revisited - This time it's Banh Canh

You know, I had one of the young ladies who works at the dry cleaners flummoxed.... she just couldn't figure me out. I'd run into her twice at Que Huong, once picking up a sandwich at Cafe Dore, once while eating at the now defunct Huynh Hoa Tuu. She knows I live nowhere near those places, and yet we're there eating...... She knows I'm not Vietnamese, but there I am tucking into Bun Oc. I think she finally figured out that I just love to eat when she saw me getting something to eat at Chinese Kitchen. I guess in her mind, I must really love to eat, if I'd make the effort to head out to "Chi Tu Thanh Nha Hang" for soup. All of this led to a conversation one day about Chinese Kitchen. I mentioned to her that I'd been going there since 2006, when you were served from an actual little hole-in-the-wall from this actual hole-in-the-wall. I also told her that all I get there is the Bun Mang Vit...... the young lady told me that I needed to try some different things, and recommended the Banh Canh, a soup with noodles made from rice flour and tapioca flour that reminds me of udon.

And this weekend's rainy weather seemed just perfect for a nice bowl of Banh Canh, so I headed out to Rolando, and Chinese Kitchen.

 

I hadn't been back here since May of last year, and it seems that on every visit there's a change or two made to the place. This time it was the bright blue signs.

 

All that Chinese fast food stuff is still served here, but it's what's on the smaller menu on the side wall that matters. Prices have gone up a mere 50 cents in a year and a half, but it's still pretty cheap.

The mustard yellow paint job, that seemed so sparkly and new is starting to fade a bit.... but I've never come here for the ambiance.

 

Things move here at a relatively measured pace.... which for some reason made me think of Laos. After ringing the bell out front, placing my order, and having a seat, waiting about 15 minutes, my Banh Canh Tom Cua ($5.50) arrived.

 

The soup seemed a little light, but it had a nice clean flavor, wasn't too salty, and the addition of a squeeze of lime really lifted it. It was also piping hot, something I look for in my soups. The noodles were prepared to a perfect slippery al dente.

And yes, there were actually a couple of pieces of real crab (not surumi) in the soup.

 

Not a whole lot of crab, but hey, when was the last time you actually saw real crab in a soup that's five bucks and change in San Diego? For some reason this really took me back to a stand we called "same-same" in Luang Prabang.

The nice woman also brought me out a little pot of tea (gratis), and asked me the inevitable question, one she's asked me before; "are you Chinese?"

When I finished eating, she actually brought me a toothpick dispenser! No tax either...... she simply told me "Five-fifty....."

Though the Bun Mang Vit is still my favorite here, another customer told me to order the Chao (rice porridge) here next time.... so maybe I will.

 Chinese Kitchen (Chi Tu Thanh Nha Hang)
6160 University Ave
San Diego, CA 92115

Postscript: As for the girl at the dry cleaners. I once dropped off a menu for The Original Sab E Lee. Guess who I've seen twice while waiting for takeout at TOSEL??? It is indeed a small world.......

Comments

[Alan]

Kirk: Again, I enjoy your posts! My wife and I are also Asian foodies and that is all kinds of Asian foods. But regarding the Vietnamese dishes, I am only familiar with a few by name. Is there a website or something where I can print-out the typical Vietnamese dishes, including all the Pho variations with the English translations?

[Nate]

That Banh Canh Tom Cua looks so great - nice and simple!

[bill]

Can't wait for it to get colder to start making my soups.
Bun Rieu
Pho
Hot and Sour soup
Hieu thieu - but some how always turn into wonton soup
curry udon
soondubu
Yes, not being in SoCal I had to learn how to make some of these food.

[bill]

...for the wife.

[Kirk]

Hi Alan - Wow, that's a great question..... I've really just learned thru exposure. I'm sure that Wikipedia might be a good start:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnamese_cuisine

Hi Nate - Yes, simple and the perfect thing for a rainy day.

Hi Bill - You are such a great guy!

[Liz]

This looks perfect for the chilly rainy weather that has hit us in SD :)

[kat]

sounds perfect for autumn :)

[MikeW]

I'm real old ABC. I remember when it actually sold chow mein chop suey. I think, either relatives or family friends actually owned it way back when.

[Kirk]

Hi Liz - Yes, it was nice and comforting.

Hi Kat - Perfect!

Hi MikeW - That's interesting; I was wondering about the history since folks had mentioned that the shop itself has been around forever. They still have chow mein and chop suey on the menu..... not sure how good it is though! Thanks for taking the time out to comment.