I'm a bit under the weather, so just a short post for tonight.
Recently, on one of my "Honey Doo" weekend morning trips, I felt a bit hungry and was already on the way home from the "Sprouts - H Mart - Nijiya - Marukai - 99 Ranch Market" route. It wasn't overly hot yet and I do love my noodles for breakfast. It had been nearly two years since my last visit to Pho Hut. And even though my last couple of visits have been disappointing, I thought I'd give it another try.
Either they've changed the menu a bit or I hadn't been paying attention. I noticed that they had Hu Tieu Nam Vang on the menu??? I decided to take a chance and order it "dry"; that is with soup on the side.
It took a while for my dish to arrive......and when it did; well, it was Char Siu city.
A couple of things were obviously missing if you eat Hu Tieu Nam Vang Kho often enough. No bean sprouts (slightly blanched is best) and lime. No pork shank or bone in the broth....which was really salty....like MSG city.
But heck, if you like Char Siu, which, while being a bit on the dry side wasn't bad at all, maybe this might be your thing? The shrimp were overcooked and there were, thankfully for some, only one fish ball awaiting me in the bowl. Lot's of fried shallots.
The noodles were horrendously over-cooked and mushy and the sauce drizzled on the noodles for flavor, had none....or maybe it's because that sip of soup on the side had numbed my tastebuds?
Whatever the reason, I'm going to just drive past Pho Hut in the future......
Pho Hut & Grill
5252 Balboa Ave
San Diego, CA 92117
Well, that's a bummer. :(
Posted by: caninecologne | Wednesday, 11 September 2019 at 06:05 PM
feel better soon!
Posted by: kat | Wednesday, 11 September 2019 at 06:56 PM
Haven't been there, and now I probably won't! Hope you feel better soon.
Posted by: Sandy | Wednesday, 11 September 2019 at 08:45 PM
Hope you feel better!
Posted by: RedDevil | Wednesday, 11 September 2019 at 09:06 PM
It was CC!
Thanks Kat!
Not worth going out of your way for Sandy.
Thanks RD!
Posted by: Kirk | Thursday, 12 September 2019 at 07:02 AM
I commend you for giving them another shot. Too bad it didn't work out.
Posted by: Junichi | Thursday, 12 September 2019 at 10:14 AM
I like to check in on places that are reasonable priced every once in a while if I'm in the area Junichi. Though it often doesn't end up being worthwhile.....
Posted by: Kirk | Thursday, 12 September 2019 at 10:20 AM
I am frankly surprised that place is still open, but then we know the dearth of Pho places in Clairemont / Kearny Mesa area, so maybe people are desperate. I think some people get intimidated to go into Linda Vista for some odd reason (they're lovely people in my experience) for Pho Hoa Huong....the current place holder....
I stopped going to Pho Duyen Mai when they were out of limes -twice- in a row (not consecutive days) and lied to me, telling me there was a "shortage". The last time (with limes!), the pho was nothing like it was previously. I sighed and sulked out with resigned disappointment, know this relationship was "over".
Posted by: Alan in Clairemont | Friday, 13 September 2019 at 06:38 PM
Sad to hear about Duyen Mai Alan. I've got to get back; have only gone once since our offices moved away from Kearny Mesa. And....last time I checked; Mystic Grill still isn't open!
Posted by: Kirk | Monday, 16 September 2019 at 06:37 AM