**** Que Huong has closed
It had actually been a while since we've been here...... a couple of weeks ago I met PeterL and his lovely wife Ange for dinner at Que Huong. Strangely, Peter nor his brother John had ever heard of this place. We had a fine meal and there was something I noticed that evening at Que Huong. I've been coming here since 2005, when the current owners had just taken over the place. (Geeez....I've been doing this blog for waaay too long!) Because I'll usually visit in flurries, with long gaps between visits, I've started noticing something about Que Huong....a good thing. The place has slowly evolved from mainly a hot pot, drinking place, with karaoke and all that stuff, to a place where folks still come to drink a bit later on in the evening, but with more of a dinner crowd. I've seen birthdays and other events; one of the owners, a burly young man named Jay, told me he's even done a couple of weddings! Good for them. It's nice to see a place hitting its stride...there's no more "specials" haphazardly written on the mirrors.
You just have to take a dish like the Ốc len xào dừa, the snails braised in coconut milk. The presentation of the dish is not much...well, prettier.
It's now a totally different dish. less sweet, a bit more spicy, you're not overwhelmed with too much "coconut water". Because they serve mainly Vietnamese, the cook is not afraid to provide a nice amount of Rau Ram.
Jay told me that they went through several cooks before finding good matches who could make the dishes of the Central Vietnamese Coast the way he and his sister wanted.
On this evening we had both the Jackfruit salad.....
And the version with Wild Boar......
And a dish I used enjoy, but with some hesitation...the Catfish Clay Pot. You see, I love Nuoc Mau, Vietnamese Caramel sauce, one of "mother sauces" of Vietnamese cuisine. It is sweet-salty-savory-pungent....you name it. I also love the slices of pork belly used to line the clay pot and how it basically bubbles with joy as it arrives at your table.
What I didn't enjoy was the muddy flavor of the fish.......but on my last two visits there was nary a hint of muddy flavor. Yes, it's not a huge dish, quite small honestly, but there's a lot of stuff going on here, most of it good.
And of course there are those Fish Sauce Chicken Wings, as I've mentioned before, flavorwise, these are my favorite wings in San Diego hands down.
It doesn't matter who I bring here one taste of the wings and they're sold (right Dennis, Peter, Candice, Josh, etc, etc, etc......). I'm glad these haven't changed.
I guess because the place is tucked away behind Burger King on University, it just kinda slips my mind....it really shouldn't. My bad........
Que Huong Restaurant
4134 University Ave
San Diego, CA 92105
Postscript: A couple of weeks later, Peter took his brother John, to dinner. I received a text message that evening "Wow, fish sauce chicken wings....delicious!!!" He didn't even need to tell me where he was....
Love the Que Huong Kirk! It's been too long since my last visit myself.. :)
Posted by: Dennis | Tuesday, 20 September 2011 at 07:59 PM
Well now you've got me thinking 'bout them wings again Dennis!
Posted by: Kirk | Tuesday, 20 September 2011 at 08:33 PM
hi kirk - i also like the tamarind wings! their caramel prawns are also awesome. there are so many items on the menu that i still want to try out. the owner jay is supernice too!
Posted by: caninecologne | Tuesday, 20 September 2011 at 10:09 PM
Wow! The wings look wonderful!!! Keep posting the great pics! Wish we had such a restaurant in our area!!!
Posted by: CandiRae | Wednesday, 21 September 2011 at 05:21 AM
Okay, you've got me sold just on your picture of the wings, Kirk. I'm a sucker for wings and I know how much you love your wings. So if you say these are the best in SD, then I've surely been missing out.
Posted by: Carol | Wednesday, 21 September 2011 at 04:27 PM
Hi CC - I find the tamarind wings a bit weak, though everything they make with Nuoc Mau tastes good.
Hi CR - Perhaps there's a place in youyr area that serves these, you just haven't found it yet?
Hi Carol - In terms of flavor, those are my favorite.
Posted by: Kirk | Thursday, 22 September 2011 at 07:18 AM
I'd forgotten about this place too. I gotta get over to SD again soon.
Posted by: ed (from Yuma) | Thursday, 22 September 2011 at 07:31 AM
Snails in coconut milk and catfish in caramel sauce are two of my favorite Vietnamese dishes. Can't stand the muddy flavor in some catfish either.
Posted by: Chubbypanda | Thursday, 22 September 2011 at 12:08 PM
Hi ED - I know.....the place just kinda slips my mind. I hope to see you both soon!
Hi CP - Nothing quite as good as OC, but those wings......
Posted by: Kirk | Thursday, 22 September 2011 at 09:30 PM
ooh bubbling with joy... I want some! everything looks just delicious
Posted by: foodhoe | Friday, 23 September 2011 at 10:01 AM
Hi FH - I was quite good!
Posted by: Kirk | Friday, 23 September 2011 at 03:39 PM