Revisits: Fu An, 777 Noodle House, and Song Long (Westminster)

 Here are a bunch of revisits for you.......

Fu An:

*** 07/06/2016 Fu An is now Fuan Seafood

Since I first posted on this place right after their opening in September, I've been back a couple of times. I really hadn't bothered to take any photos until a recent visit with some friends. This visit clearly shows what I think the "state of Fu An's" is.

First, I've always gotten very friendly service, the folks here seem really nice. The food on the other hand has been uneven.

The batter on Shrimp with Exploding Pepper was on the soft and gummy side. It also strangely lacked spice.

The Fried Intestines with Dried Red Pepper, one of my favorite dishes here was nicely fried, but again, really lacked the "ma", the numbing hot that makes this dish so addictive.

As with previous visits; it's the Steamed Fish Filet with Green Onions and Chopped Chilies was the best item we had.

Though it too seemed a bit mild with regards to heat.

Strange, the diners who accompanied me were both Chinese, one of whom worked for a short while at Ba Ren and we had asked for spicy. But this came up a bit short. Kind of sad really. We have a good amount of Sichuan restaurants in San Diego, but none seems to take the lead with regards to the whole "suan-tian-ku-mala-xian" and top notch technique. I was hoping that Fu An would step up.

Fu An Garden
4768 Convoy St
San Diego, CA 92111

777 Noodle House:

It's really hard to argue with the prices here. The food itself can be quite good.

The Missus' favorite here is still the Tod Mun Pla. It has a very distinct Kaffir Lime Leaf flavor.

She actually prefers the version here to what the Original Sab E Lee serves.

When not getting the Hu Tieu Nam Vang Kho or the Intestine Noodle Soup, I'll usually go with the Intestine with Preserved Vegetable.

I've noticed that they've started adding more sour vegetable over the years and making this a bit more spicy. I'm not complaining.

The place also makes a decent, old school, "count every grain" of fried rice.

I've found the beef to be tough and the chicken to be somewhat suspect, so we stick with the shrimp version.

777 Noodle House
4686 University Avenue
San Diego, CA 92105

Song Long (Westminster):

Last year, FOY (Friend of Yoso) Kha, recommended Song Long to us for Cha Ca. And he wasn't kidding. We were recently in the area again and on a whim decided to drop by.

We arrived pretty early, about a quarter past 9, which made the place look like some strange, kind of kitschy VN-american diner. We only ordered one thing, the Cha Ca Thang Long ($16.95).

Man, the mam nem here is pretty heady....it's delicious, the Missus can practically drink the stuff, but man, it really is the gift that keeps on giving, as that aftertaste will stay with you for a while.

In what was a funny little vignette, a couple minutes after the greens and bun arrived, I think the guy working realized we weren't Vietnamese and brought over a bowl of nouc mam cham....we had been "gringo'ed!"

When the Cha Ca arrived I sat in awe......this looked way better than what we had last time. It was also delicious.

From the wonderful sweet and savory sauteed shallots, to the wonderful dill, moving to the moist and flavorful fish....not to mention the wilted scallions, this was quite good.

Needless to say, we're thinking about returning again soon....I hope it's always this good!

Song Long Restaurant
9361 Bolsa Ave Suite 108
Westminster, CA 92683 

Comments

[nhbilly]

I make made mam nem and dished it out to a few people friends that never had it and asked for seconds. LOL
If you can just get over the aroma. You'll definitely enjoy it with a good beer.

[Soo]

The chinese sausage fried rice at 777 Noodle House is really good too!

[caninecologne]

When you got gringo'd, did you ask for a different sauce?

[Kirk]

You really don't know unless you've tried it Billy!

Thanks for the recommendation Soo, I haven't tried that yet.

Hi CC - This was after the mam nem was delivered.......I'm thinking just in case the usual sauce was too much for us.

[Gypsy Jan]

I really miss Ba Ren also, they were very welcoming and insisted that we should bring our dogs into the restaurant. The dogs went under the table and never said a word during our meal. That's really gracious when you are bringing in a Rottweiler and a Great Dane.

[Kirk]

Hi GJ - It was a special place for us too. I really miss the place as well.

[John Dowd]

Fu Ann becoming "uneven" is the perfect description. The flavors, size of ingredients and texture of dishes I order here regularly is different every time I've been there over the past 3 months. Same thing happens to me at Spicy House as well. Almost zero consistency, it's disappointing since they started so well.

[Kirk]

Hi John - It's very frustrating, because on "good days" you really get a "taste" (literally) of the potential of the place(s).

[Faye]

I have yet to go to Fu An. It always looks empty from the outside. Is there a more favorable time to visit Fu An (lunch vs dinner)?

[Kirk]

Hi Faye - Early lunch or early dinner is probably best.

[plus.google.com/115967711886962573406]

I missed your first post on Song Long and just noticed this one. I'm glad you guys liked it. I have wondered how Fu An is. I have driven past it a number of times.

[Kirk]

Hi Kha - I believe this is you right? Thanks so much for the recommendation we love the Cha Ca there.

[plus.google.com/115967711886962573406]

Yeah, the previous post was Kha. Haha, I didn't realize my name wouldn't be put up on there.