Com Tam Thuan Kieu - San Diego

*** This place is back to being Nhu Y

A couple of weeks ago, FOY (Friend of Yoso) "Yummy Yummy" told me that the folks from Song Huong had taken over the Nhu Y location. When I saw the new name of the place, I got a bit excited.

 

Yes, that's right..... Com Tam Thuan Kieu, the same name as the small chain of restaurants in Orange County and San Gabriel. I recently did a post on the Garden Grove location. Now I'm pretty sure that this restaurant isn't affiliated with those, and the menu pretty much confirms this......

 

It's the same menu as Nhu Y... in fact on this first visit the menus still said Nhu Y. In fact the only thing that had changed were the prices.... Still, perhaps I could still hope for some decent Cơm Tấm in San Diego.

Not much much different in decor following the hand-over either.

 

The Missus loves a good Tan Hu Ky - Fried Bean Curd Wrapped Shrimp Paste. So She went for the Bun Tan Hu Ky ($7):

 

The portion size was fairly generous, and the Missus enjoyed the flavor of the Tan Hu Ky. Since my dish hadn't arrived yet, She gave me a taste. The flavor of shrimp really came through. I do prefer the bean curd skin (aka Yuba) done a bit lighter and crisp.

Since this place is called Com Tam Thuan Kieu, of course I had to have the Com Tam Dac Biet.

 

Also known as Com Tam Bi Cha Tan Hu Ky Thit. This came with the usual bowl of broth, which was pretty weak. The Bi (shredded pork) was moist, but a bit short on flavor.

 

The Cha (steamed pork-egg "cake") was nice and moist, and I would have really enjoyed this, had it not been for the camphor-like background flavor.

 

I've already covered the Tan Hu Ky......

 

The grilled pork chop had a nice, not overly sweet nor salty flavor, if on the tough side. The Com Tam was moist, though it wasn't the most fragrant broken rice I've ever had. Overall, I thought this was decent.

A couple of weeks later I returned. There was one dish that I usually ordered at Nhu Y, the Bun Mam. I was wondering how the Bun Mam($8) fared since the change in ownership. By this time, the covers of the menus had been changed and now read Com Tam Thuan Kieu. For a minute I thought that perhaps the menu had changed, but no, only the covers of the menus were new.....the menu was still the same as Nhu Y.

 

I could smell the pungent bowl of Bun Mam before it hit the table, the strong smell of fermented fish arriving before the bowl. I had forgotten how much food this was. A large plate of veggies and herbs, another plate heaped with Bun.

 

 The broth was as before, salty, slight sweetness, pungent, and spice, all converging in a bowl.

 

The bowl was loaded with eggplant, two slices of surprisingly unmuddy catfish, and of course there's the pork belly. Perhaps a bit on the tough side, but possessing some nice pork flavor.

 

Using up all the ingredients meant eating three bowls of Bun Mam..... a good amount of food for one.

 

Did I notice a difference since the change from Nhu Y? Not really.... I have a feeling that the same cooks are at work in the kitchen.

 So perhaps the Com Tam is not Westminster level, but it's not bad. That Bun Mam is still my favorite version in San Diego.......

Com Tam Thuan Kieu
4712 El Cajon Blvd Ste A
San Diego, CA 92115

Comments

[mills]

mmmmm I come here and I get hungry for things that are hard to find here in Germany...*sigh*

[Kirk]

Hi Mills - I so glad to know you're still reading! ;o)

[moowiesqrd]

Grrr... so sad to hear that they're not affiliated with the LA/OC contingent. Thuan Kieu used to have a location on San Gabriel Blvd. (might still be there, actually) that had the BEST com tam. I especially liked it with chao tom. Someday, that perfect com tom will come to San Diego.

[Kirk]

Hi GF - Last time I checked, they were still there.