mmm-yoso!!! A food blog based in San Diego. These hot summer days have Kirk and Ed(from Yuma) out and about and busy with so many activities. Cathy is writing because she isn't out. Or about. Or active.
I was reading Kirk's latest "Circling Back" post, with the last photo being Bo Tai Chanh (which was unimpressive to him, as it was to me) and thought I'd share a version I've enjoyed.
Yes, I've written a few posts about Pho Pasteur, because it is a place where the Mister and I default to when we know we want a nice meal (or when we want to go to K Sandwiches and the line is sometimes daunting.). Looking at the other posts, my photos are all from this table, Table 4, where we are always seated when we come here (I can tell you where the Table 4 is located at just about every Asian restaurant in the County, by the way).
We started this meal sharing Nem Nuong Cuon ($4.99), because I am now on a quest for San Diego's best version, after trying the Nem Nuong at Brodard (which I still have to post about). These were freshly made, tightly wrapped, the seasoned pork patties were very good. Noodle, lettuce and fresh mint filled the rice paper skin. I like this version.
The Mister ordered Bun Bo Xao ($7.99), which has been my usual order at Pho Lucky lately (again, I need to post on it). Bun (cold rice noodle on top of salad) topped with lemongrass-onion flavor beef. This version was a bit less 'delicate' than the one at Lucky, but quite enjoyable; the salad part (under the noodles) includes shredded cucumber as well as mint with the mixed lettuces.
The menu at Anh Hong has 196 numbered items, with a few subsets of said numbered items. We have tried almost half the menu here, always picking one which is 'new' to us.
This "Lemon Beef Salad"($10.99) was skipped over on the menu by me so many times, either because of the price or because I wasn't in a mood for salad. This marinated thinly sliced beef was **wonderful**. Barely cooked in citrus, so very tender and beefy flavored meat, a pleasant citrus based dressing (you will notice both versions (mine and Kirk's) are surrounded with lime slices, not lemon) and topped with peanuts, fresh herbs (and celery leaf)...and you can see underneath- no lettuce, but instead ribbons of cucumber, carrot, daikon, onion and...celery. I don't know why, but that celery and cucumber just made it all come together and I really liked this salad.
I have now tried 'Lemon Beef' salad at quite a few other Vietnamese restaurants this summer, and the version here is my favorite, so far.
I hope your week is good!
Pho Pasteur Ahn Hong 7612 Linda Vista road San Diego 92111 (858) 569-7515
This was the first VN restaurant we ever tried. Went there with a friend who's girlfriend was Vietnamese.
Funny that you've always been seated at the table of DEATH!
Posted by: caninecologne | Monday, 11 August 2014 at 05:06 PM
It still is a nice place, cc. I'm fascinated with the menu here. On the plus side, we almost always are seated immediately.
Posted by: Cathy | Tuesday, 12 August 2014 at 03:01 AM
Everything looks so good!
Posted by: TFD | Wednesday, 13 August 2014 at 07:09 PM
We've never had anything here that wasn't good, TFD. There's this stuffed squid on the appetizer menu that wasn't what I thought it would be (not breaded or fried) and it was kind of odd at first, but by the end of the plate, I wanted more...
Posted by: Cathy | Thursday, 14 August 2014 at 04:38 PM