Hoai Hue Revisted

It had been a while since we'd visited Hoai Hue Restaurant, and a good amount of time since I last posted on the place. The Missus was craving some Banh Nam, so we decided to return to see how the place was doing. Business looked good as the place was half full when we arrived and filled up totally by the time we left.

I can't help but remember how the original Hoai Hue Deli used to be.

The folks here have always been nice to us and today was no different. The older gentleman brought over extra bowls for us to share everything.

The Missus got Her Banh Nam.

Loved the flavor imparted by the banana leaves. The Banh Nam seemed pretty thin, but the texture was very good. This was the best item of the meal.

We also quickly noticed that the fish sauce here is super watered down.

I went with the house version of their special Bun Bo Hue.....can't call it Dac Biet, because there is already a Bun Bo Hue Dac Biet on the menu. This is called the Bun Tom Hoai Hue.

 This has basically stayed the course over the years....you gotta give it to them for consistency. THe meatballs are still on the bland side, as is the Cha Lua. The other cuts of meat are a step above Mien Trung, the thick cuts of pork more tender, the pork hock has nice flavor, and the tendon chewy, but not too hard.

As for the broth, it still doesn't bring the heat and is  lacking in the lemongrass tones as well.  They seem to serve it a notch below what I think is optimal BBH temperature. The broth just seems kind of timid....something I'd usually never think of saying with regards to Bun Bo Hue......

It's not a bad bowl, just not quite up to Mien Trung.

The Missus also ordered the BanhIt Ram, basically glutinous rice dumpling on top of a fried glutinous rice base "dumpling" two ways.

The Banh It, the top "dumpling" was not bad, decent texture, slightly elastic, nice shrimp, though I'd like more pork, pretty good overall. The Banh Ram was not very crisp and much too chewy, even for Banh Ram, which really doesn't have much flavor anyway....if it's even harder then what we deem as normal, then yikes. Add to that lousy nouc mam cham. This stuffs sinks to the bottom of your belly and stays there.

I still think Hoai Hue has the (very distant) second best Bun Bo Hue in San Diego and the flavor and the rest seem pretty consistent. And the Missus enjoyed the Banh Nam, so we may be back sooner than I think.

Hoai Hue Vietnamese Restaurant
4660 El Cajon Blvd
San Diego, CA 92115

Comments

[kat]

yeah :)

[nhbilly]

Looks good

[Faye]

I swear you must be fluent in Vietnamese :)

Could you request the soup to have more heat (and spiciness) ?

[Kirk]

LOL Kat!

It's pretty good by San Diego standards.

Hi Faye - They have chili paste and mam tom on the table, but it's about everything put together. It would be like putting more lipstick on the pig. As for speaking VN? You gotta be kidding, I have enough problems with just English.

[Kirbie]

I keep forgetting to ask you if you've been to Ngu Binh in Little Saigon. This post reminded me of it once again. We went a few months ago though I haven't had a chance to post. Really liked the banh beo and the banh it kep banh ram there.

[Kirk]

Hi Kirbie - Yes, we did, that post is kinda in a backlog here as well.

[TFD]

Hi Kirk,

My mom says if it's a good bowl of BBH, then you don't need to add anything to it.

You should try the banh nam and it ram at Ngu Binh. No one down here can make it as good(as my mom's.)

Have you try the small cha wrapped banana leaf? They usually have them by the counter. They are pretty good. I think they put that in your soup. My parents often buy them to go.

I have to agree that the broth at Hoai Hue is not as good at Mien Trung. I think it's too sweet and not enough lemongrass for my taste.

[Kirk]

Hey TFD - We've been to Ngu Binh, I thought I texted you photos......