Yeah boy, 2010 is almost in the can. Wham-o, Slam-o this year is almost done. What has happened? A whole lotta shit. Thats right; but what has been more constant than not is my never ending quest for food. Now that things are settling down a bit in my somewhat, but not really hectic life, I'll make an effort to post more. More food, more Lunch, more stuff.
So a quick update, whats been good lately? Well a recently read the Trib's food blog on Pho. Pho is always up, been to the usual haunts. A revelation I've come upon is that I enjoy eating Pho alone. Seriously. Take a good book, order a big ass bowl filled with the 'strange stuff' as some call it: tendon, tripe, meatballs? (I hope it's meat) and fatty backfatstrap, something. Then attempt, thats right, attempt to balance your book in front of your bowl of soup and eat. In the process destroying your book with little spots of broth on every page.
Right. Well this blog started about things in bowls and has digressed since. So look forward (all 0 people who read this) to some more comments about happy hours, beers and other shit. For example my crock pot has been doing overtime these past few weeks. With what? Anything. Thats right, throw anything in the pot, put it on low, add salt, walk away. I'll fill you in (talking to myself here) later. Cheers,
What Wah?!
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Fried Chicken in a Train?
Fried Chicken in a Train?
In a former train station without a brain?
Fried Chicken on a table?
Fried Chicken, no napkins available?
So I'm no Doctor Suess, alas. However I did have a chance to sample the new fried chicken place down at Freighthouse Square. Here is the down and dirrrtay:
Chicken first; glowing under a standard food warmer (understandable as their was an intense lunch rush to accomodate) chicken got slightly non-crispified. Flavor was good, very tender (soaked/marinated overnight in something delicious!). However at the price they pegged it at, which for us consisted of: 10 pieces of chicken, legs, wings & thighs (out of breasts), 4 large sides (Mac n' cheese, Mustard greens, dirty rice & mashed potatoes) cost a whopping $24.00 bucks. Holy beeejeeezus. It did feed three people easily, but at 8 bucks a pop? Who can afford that! Bah, chicken good but not exemplary.
Sides: Mustard greens, good and spicy. Dirty rice, decent. Mac n' Cheese, what you expect. Mashed potatoes? Gross, flakes with gravy mixed in. a def. no-no. Hmmm slightly dissapointing, with all the good food down at Freighthouse I don't think they will be getting any of my money soon. However a greek salad.... maybe some fried fish.... now thats something I can wrap my wallet around.
In a former train station without a brain?
Fried Chicken on a table?
Fried Chicken, no napkins available?
So I'm no Doctor Suess, alas. However I did have a chance to sample the new fried chicken place down at Freighthouse Square. Here is the down and dirrrtay:
Chicken first; glowing under a standard food warmer (understandable as their was an intense lunch rush to accomodate) chicken got slightly non-crispified. Flavor was good, very tender (soaked/marinated overnight in something delicious!). However at the price they pegged it at, which for us consisted of: 10 pieces of chicken, legs, wings & thighs (out of breasts), 4 large sides (Mac n' cheese, Mustard greens, dirty rice & mashed potatoes) cost a whopping $24.00 bucks. Holy beeejeeezus. It did feed three people easily, but at 8 bucks a pop? Who can afford that! Bah, chicken good but not exemplary.
Sides: Mustard greens, good and spicy. Dirty rice, decent. Mac n' Cheese, what you expect. Mashed potatoes? Gross, flakes with gravy mixed in. a def. no-no. Hmmm slightly dissapointing, with all the good food down at Freighthouse I don't think they will be getting any of my money soon. However a greek salad.... maybe some fried fish.... now thats something I can wrap my wallet around.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Pad-isgusting
Today I visited Silk Thai. I've been interested in Pad Thai after a few failed attempts at creating my own Pad Thai. My main problems have stemmed around not soaking the noodles long enough and buying a tamarind concentrate that while brown, is NOT sweet and delicious. So I thought I would try the Pad Thai at Silk Thai and My-o-my (sorry I couldn't resist). It was disgusting, first the overwhelming stench of vinegar and fish sauce made it innedible, also the sheer amount of sauce made it more a soup than stir-fried noodles. My head hurts and I fear my digestion system will be out of wack for a number of days after this experience.
Also had were lettuce cups (not very good, reheated in microwave) and ginger chicken (bland, by ginger they mean wimpy brown sauce). Seriously come on guys! I dropped 20 bucks for what? A whole lot of belly ache... Boo, three thumbs down, and yes I used one of my big toes to round out that third thumb down. Step up your game Silk Thai, step it up.
Also had were lettuce cups (not very good, reheated in microwave) and ginger chicken (bland, by ginger they mean wimpy brown sauce). Seriously come on guys! I dropped 20 bucks for what? A whole lot of belly ache... Boo, three thumbs down, and yes I used one of my big toes to round out that third thumb down. Step up your game Silk Thai, step it up.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Southern vs. Northern
The epic battle is staged. Two dominating forces stand poised across from one another ready to put their lives on the line. They alone hold the truth to the timeless question that is: What is better? Southern or Northern style Pho?
I have had the opportunity (growing up in the mecca of diversity that is CA) to sample a number of different Pho "styles". From homemade Pho with beef bones still floating around, complimented by numerous veggies besides the basic trifecta of: bean sprouts, basil, lime. To classic Southern style, both with broth and on the side. To the enduring Northern style that most are familiar with. My personal choice? Well, since all good food comes from the South, I tip my hat to Southern style Pho. Hear is why.
1) Garlic, garlic, garlic. You gotta love having floating fried garlic on you soup, whole cloves of roasted garlic in the broth, and ground meat mixed with fresh garlic. I could knock over a sumo wrestler due to my garlic breath after a bowl of this stuff.
2) Cilantro! Love it; while present in Northern style pho, Southern style puts a big emphasis on it including it in the trifecta of fresh veggies.
3) Toppings, i'm done with beef for now. God said let them eat pork! The glories that is pork is readily apparent in Southern style, along with emphasis on shrimp, wontons, uhhhhh delicious.
That's it, i'm not discounting Northern Pho by any means. But when given a choice I will choose the South. Alas not many places offer these two distinct 'styles' get it while you can. Where can you get it? Vien Dong, woot woot. Cheers and happy slurping all! (if anyone actually reads this)
I have had the opportunity (growing up in the mecca of diversity that is CA) to sample a number of different Pho "styles". From homemade Pho with beef bones still floating around, complimented by numerous veggies besides the basic trifecta of: bean sprouts, basil, lime. To classic Southern style, both with broth and on the side. To the enduring Northern style that most are familiar with. My personal choice? Well, since all good food comes from the South, I tip my hat to Southern style Pho. Hear is why.
1) Garlic, garlic, garlic. You gotta love having floating fried garlic on you soup, whole cloves of roasted garlic in the broth, and ground meat mixed with fresh garlic. I could knock over a sumo wrestler due to my garlic breath after a bowl of this stuff.
2) Cilantro! Love it; while present in Northern style pho, Southern style puts a big emphasis on it including it in the trifecta of fresh veggies.
3) Toppings, i'm done with beef for now. God said let them eat pork! The glories that is pork is readily apparent in Southern style, along with emphasis on shrimp, wontons, uhhhhh delicious.
That's it, i'm not discounting Northern Pho by any means. But when given a choice I will choose the South. Alas not many places offer these two distinct 'styles' get it while you can. Where can you get it? Vien Dong, woot woot. Cheers and happy slurping all! (if anyone actually reads this)
Friday, March 13, 2009
Fried Chicken @ Terry's
God, fried chicken good. Waiting 3 hours for?!?!?! Terrible. Thats all that needs to be said. 3 freaking hours. Hmmm, maybe thats why the chicken was so good, because I consumed 4-10 beers over the three hours. Goodness.
T-Town Taco Trucks
Growing up as a teenager in California led to a certain father-son ritual which revolved around eating; well as a teenager, all father-son outings involved food. One, however did endure over the years, visiting and sampling various Taco trucks around the area. Now, for the past six years I find myself here in Tacoma. A place where my father does not live, the Mexican food is consistently decent (at best), yet the yearning for a plate of dollar tacos of various and questionable meat origins, still exists. So I present you this, my story of long lost love, of midnight eats, and an attempt to rekindle that feeling in your stomach that only 10 bucks worth of cheap, delicious tacos can fill.
The smell that triggers the memory:
It was 1:00am, I depart with several lovely friends from the New Frontier bar downtown. My head is filled with thoughts of grandeur, success, dreams & inventions on the horizon, and for some reason terrible jokes about Jesus & Heaven. I know tomorrow I''ll be flat on my back disowning my lovely friends, and swearing off alcohol for 10 hours. Then the noise begins, it starts in my stomach and soon spreads to my soul. It represents a hunger, a need, for cheap, delicious, soul-satisfying food. As we open the door to leave, the light shines upon us, blinded the smell hits me first, I know this smell. Composed of a certain type of grease, fresh cut limes & onions mixed with cilantro, add to that a hint of exhaust. This is the smell of a taco truck. Enriques taco truck to be exact. 3 Tacos later (damn those bartender tips, alas that's all the cash I had), uno de birria, uno de carnitas, y uno mas de pollo. I was satisfied. What I remember from the experience? Not much, but i'm in doubt as to whether or not the experience happened, after all how often do you wish a taco truck into existence? And it works?
South 12th & Junette
I've consumed ~ 15 Tacos from this truck. Good? Yes, they add the nice compliments of a roasted jalapeno, pickled carrots, spicy verde salsa. Carnitas were delicious, not dry, Birria (consistently my favorite) was good with ample amount of grease/fat (growing up Chinese, you gotta love it). I stayed away from the chicken, because seriously? Who would get chicken when pork is available? My co-worker/friend/fellow fried chicken lover, had a burrito. Skip the burrito, this truck has TACO written on the front for a reason. One regret, it has been to damn cold to eat tacos outside.
The smell that triggers the memory:
It was 1:00am, I depart with several lovely friends from the New Frontier bar downtown. My head is filled with thoughts of grandeur, success, dreams & inventions on the horizon, and for some reason terrible jokes about Jesus & Heaven. I know tomorrow I''ll be flat on my back disowning my lovely friends, and swearing off alcohol for 10 hours. Then the noise begins, it starts in my stomach and soon spreads to my soul. It represents a hunger, a need, for cheap, delicious, soul-satisfying food. As we open the door to leave, the light shines upon us, blinded the smell hits me first, I know this smell. Composed of a certain type of grease, fresh cut limes & onions mixed with cilantro, add to that a hint of exhaust. This is the smell of a taco truck. Enriques taco truck to be exact. 3 Tacos later (damn those bartender tips, alas that's all the cash I had), uno de birria, uno de carnitas, y uno mas de pollo. I was satisfied. What I remember from the experience? Not much, but i'm in doubt as to whether or not the experience happened, after all how often do you wish a taco truck into existence? And it works?
South 12th & Junette
I've consumed ~ 15 Tacos from this truck. Good? Yes, they add the nice compliments of a roasted jalapeno, pickled carrots, spicy verde salsa. Carnitas were delicious, not dry, Birria (consistently my favorite) was good with ample amount of grease/fat (growing up Chinese, you gotta love it). I stayed away from the chicken, because seriously? Who would get chicken when pork is available? My co-worker/friend/fellow fried chicken lover, had a burrito. Skip the burrito, this truck has TACO written on the front for a reason. One regret, it has been to damn cold to eat tacos outside.
Yakima & South 38th
My bud and I stopped here to refuel before heading into the East Asian Supermarket (more on this establishment later). Wolfed down a carnitas & birria (the staples) taco in 35 seconds. Delicious, they also have a 2 for a buck deal on puerco y pollo tacos... I'm wary of this. Not great tacos I would say, use a red salsa, skimped on the cilantro and onions. Birria was good though, stewed and cooked much longer than other taco trucks, had that delicious red look to it. Damn, i'm getting hungry.
I know there are more Taco trucks out there. I will find you, believe me that, I will find you...
Side note: Thanks Pops for getting me hooked on these
Thursday, February 19, 2009
My Lunch List... Part 1
I eat out for Lunch a lot... to much. And yes I capatilized "Lunch" because I see it as an event, something to look forward to and plan. I also try to keep my lunch options below 10 bucks. So in an effort to provide me with something to do at work I will try to critique my lunch outings. Here are the past two days:
Thursday, February 19th - All Star Burgers (6 of 10)
Grease is good, and if your in the mood for a it then stop by. Had a mushroom swiss burger that fell apart due to the large amount of grease involved in its creation. Delicious! Onion rings are better than normal with the proper crispy/almost burnt ratio I enjoy. Remember! GREASY & SALTY are the main qualities of All Star Burgers. It was also very reasonable priced with a normal burger going for 2.50ish, fries 99cents. boyah!
Wednesday, February 18th - Tatanka Take Out (7.5 of 10)
Should get a higher rating. Had the salad (in an effor to curb my terrible eating habits, seeing my lunch for today didn't help). Which included: Feta, Kalamata olives (diced), Tomatoes, Romain lettuce, Ground Bison, piece of rye toast. Very good, very filling, very expensive (9.50!!!) Thus, if your into this kind of health food then knock yourself out. Otherwise skip the bison, skip the salad. Hit up Freighthouse square... More on this later
Thursday, February 19th - All Star Burgers (6 of 10)
Grease is good, and if your in the mood for a it then stop by. Had a mushroom swiss burger that fell apart due to the large amount of grease involved in its creation. Delicious! Onion rings are better than normal with the proper crispy/almost burnt ratio I enjoy. Remember! GREASY & SALTY are the main qualities of All Star Burgers. It was also very reasonable priced with a normal burger going for 2.50ish, fries 99cents. boyah!
Wednesday, February 18th - Tatanka Take Out (7.5 of 10)
Should get a higher rating. Had the salad (in an effor to curb my terrible eating habits, seeing my lunch for today didn't help). Which included: Feta, Kalamata olives (diced), Tomatoes, Romain lettuce, Ground Bison, piece of rye toast. Very good, very filling, very expensive (9.50!!!) Thus, if your into this kind of health food then knock yourself out. Otherwise skip the bison, skip the salad. Hit up Freighthouse square... More on this later
An Ode to Fried Chicken
Oh Chicken, Fried Chicken,
With you I am smitten.
Crunchy skin and juicy meat,
Constantly drives me to eat,
Only the purest and best I desire.
Alas Tacoma lacks this one good meal,
And I thus I constantly out the liars,
Who claim their chicken is a deal.
Emotionless bastards they do not know.
The pain and suffering, the aching hole.
In my heart due to their lies,
Chicken, Fried Chicken, you I both love and despise,
Chicken, Fried Chicken.
My addiction to you is not healthy,
But you make me warm, in my heart & belly.
Yes Fried Chicken is delicious and holds a place in my heart. Alas I cannot/have not found a place in Tacoma worthy of my addiction. Fred Meyer can satisfy the cruelest of cravings, next on the list is Popeyes, KFC (usually gross), Stadium Thriftway, Southern Kitchen, and the cream of the crop. Not in Tacoma or WA alas is the holy grail of fried chicken: Roscoes chicken and waffles.... mmmmmmmmm
With you I am smitten.
Crunchy skin and juicy meat,
Constantly drives me to eat,
Only the purest and best I desire.
Alas Tacoma lacks this one good meal,
And I thus I constantly out the liars,
Who claim their chicken is a deal.
Emotionless bastards they do not know.
The pain and suffering, the aching hole.
In my heart due to their lies,
Chicken, Fried Chicken, you I both love and despise,
Chicken, Fried Chicken.
My addiction to you is not healthy,
But you make me warm, in my heart & belly.
Yes Fried Chicken is delicious and holds a place in my heart. Alas I cannot/have not found a place in Tacoma worthy of my addiction. Fred Meyer can satisfy the cruelest of cravings, next on the list is Popeyes, KFC (usually gross), Stadium Thriftway, Southern Kitchen, and the cream of the crop. Not in Tacoma or WA alas is the holy grail of fried chicken: Roscoes chicken and waffles.... mmmmmmmmm
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Things that come in bowls...
Alright since work is slow here is another post/ode-to-food-in-bowls:
Infinite Soups
God bless the Clapps. These 'salt-of-the-earth' type people are the willy-wonka style geniuses behind Infinite Soups. Imagine a place where you can almost see the teeming flavors in the air, where you can get a hearty cup of soup for 2.50, where you can sample over 20 types of soup to determine your choice, image Infinite Soups. This wonderful little shop located on Tacoma Ave right next to Malarkys Billiard Hall (a great place. Go inside, order 2 Bob Marleys, fork over $10 before you drink, consume said drinks, wake up 2 days later with a killer hang-over, a dog named pebbles in your house and a tatoo of the once and former pebbles the dog, oh you'll also wake up somewhere in Alabama). Anyways, I digress; Infinite soups is delicious. I bet you $5 (equivalent to a bowl of Pho) that you will find something to enjoy there. Oh btw they don't have any seating so get your soup to go, grab a mickeys 22 ounce from the convenience store across the street, hit Wright Park and pretend to be homeless as you eat your soup and drink your paper-bagged beer. Life experiences guys, life experiences.
Korean Bowls and the wrath that follows:
Be forwarned that this post does mention the after-effects of super-spicy korean food, in detail. This ones for you Leif.
Kim-ChiChige, Dol Sup BiBimBop, Spicy cold noodle soup, tofu hot pot. One things the Koreans got right are their bowl dishes. First they have totally wicked stone bowls that they fill mainly with super-spicy chili paste. Second the variations of super spicy chili paste are friggin awesome. Third, Koreans being hateful (i'm Japanese, Chinese & Korean. My Korean side hates the rest of my body) have developed a delicious food that doubles as direct retaliation against all other ethnic cultures (except maybe Indian) in the world. What happens? Shit happens, terrible, terrible shit. As red and hot as lava, you will literally cry from your butt after enjoying the greatest spicy meal of your life. Here is the DL on some of my favorite butt-hurting, soul-scorching, mind-numbing, bowl-using Korean dishes.
Kim-ChiChige (spelling is wrong)
Kim Chi (spicy pickled cabbage) bowled with pork and tofu in with chili's added to it. So good you can't stop eating it, so bad you can't stop shitting it. It really is delicious but I am only allowed to have it once a month as I habitually lose 10lbs after eating a bowl of it.
Dol Sup BiBimBop
While not a soup, this korean style fried rice is totally sweet simply for the fact that it comes in a friggin hot sizzling stone bowl. Comes with the general assortment of pan-chan on it (small korean side-dishes), topped with a fried egg. Toss it all with the jug of Korean style spicy ketchup they provide and bam you got instant deliciousness. Don't touch the bowl, it really is hot. Really, don't do it.
Tofu Hot Pot
This is the capstone of Korean bowl food. First it is similar to Kim-ChiChige in the form of super spicy, super red, wreak your gut 2x over style. BUT it has delicious additions of egg, mushrooms, seafood, and beef. It will fill you up, make you feel all warm inside, then give you something to talk to with your guy friends for the next 10 days... BTW you'll still be feeling the effects for 10 days. Do it, life experiences guys. Life experience.
Infinite Soups
God bless the Clapps. These 'salt-of-the-earth' type people are the willy-wonka style geniuses behind Infinite Soups. Imagine a place where you can almost see the teeming flavors in the air, where you can get a hearty cup of soup for 2.50, where you can sample over 20 types of soup to determine your choice, image Infinite Soups. This wonderful little shop located on Tacoma Ave right next to Malarkys Billiard Hall (a great place. Go inside, order 2 Bob Marleys, fork over $10 before you drink, consume said drinks, wake up 2 days later with a killer hang-over, a dog named pebbles in your house and a tatoo of the once and former pebbles the dog, oh you'll also wake up somewhere in Alabama). Anyways, I digress; Infinite soups is delicious. I bet you $5 (equivalent to a bowl of Pho) that you will find something to enjoy there. Oh btw they don't have any seating so get your soup to go, grab a mickeys 22 ounce from the convenience store across the street, hit Wright Park and pretend to be homeless as you eat your soup and drink your paper-bagged beer. Life experiences guys, life experiences.
Korean Bowls and the wrath that follows:
Be forwarned that this post does mention the after-effects of super-spicy korean food, in detail. This ones for you Leif.
Kim-ChiChige, Dol Sup BiBimBop, Spicy cold noodle soup, tofu hot pot. One things the Koreans got right are their bowl dishes. First they have totally wicked stone bowls that they fill mainly with super-spicy chili paste. Second the variations of super spicy chili paste are friggin awesome. Third, Koreans being hateful (i'm Japanese, Chinese & Korean. My Korean side hates the rest of my body) have developed a delicious food that doubles as direct retaliation against all other ethnic cultures (except maybe Indian) in the world. What happens? Shit happens, terrible, terrible shit. As red and hot as lava, you will literally cry from your butt after enjoying the greatest spicy meal of your life. Here is the DL on some of my favorite butt-hurting, soul-scorching, mind-numbing, bowl-using Korean dishes.
Kim-ChiChige (spelling is wrong)
Kim Chi (spicy pickled cabbage) bowled with pork and tofu in with chili's added to it. So good you can't stop eating it, so bad you can't stop shitting it. It really is delicious but I am only allowed to have it once a month as I habitually lose 10lbs after eating a bowl of it.
Dol Sup BiBimBop
While not a soup, this korean style fried rice is totally sweet simply for the fact that it comes in a friggin hot sizzling stone bowl. Comes with the general assortment of pan-chan on it (small korean side-dishes), topped with a fried egg. Toss it all with the jug of Korean style spicy ketchup they provide and bam you got instant deliciousness. Don't touch the bowl, it really is hot. Really, don't do it.
Tofu Hot Pot
This is the capstone of Korean bowl food. First it is similar to Kim-ChiChige in the form of super spicy, super red, wreak your gut 2x over style. BUT it has delicious additions of egg, mushrooms, seafood, and beef. It will fill you up, make you feel all warm inside, then give you something to talk to with your guy friends for the next 10 days... BTW you'll still be feeling the effects for 10 days. Do it, life experiences guys. Life experience.
Holy !@#$
It has been almost a year since a posted last. Well since I am the only one who reads this I guess I don't really owe anyone anything. But I did promise myself in an early post that I would blog about Pho on Sundays & Vien Dong. Well first things first Pho on Sundays:
Sunday Pho:
Once upon a time I woke up Sunday afternoon and realized: a) my head felt like millions of tiny mice had tap-danced the night away on my naked skull wearing clogs b) my clothes were covered in mud, dirt and blood (hopefully my blood) c) I was friggin starving. The solution? Quite simple you would think: Pho. So I got my lazy, still-slightly drunk, physically hurt body out of bed and attempted to roll for some Pho. I got 2 closed signs, now Pho like air/water/food & shelter should be something that is available to people 24/7. The fact I couldn't find any not only hurt my pride but also my physical/mental health as I proceeded to cry in my car until I found another delicious bowl food: Kim Chi-Chige. More on this later.
Vien Dong:
In my quest for delicious meat-based broth & noodles I was pointed towards Vien Dong. While some say it is better than V&V I must disagree. Excellent Pho? Yes. They rock a Southern Vietnamese style of Pho that has more cilantro and includes Chinese style chashu that is downright delicious. Also, since they have little to no seating you often get pho splash-back from other, close by tables. This causes both pain and longing as while boiling hot, sometimes you get hit with another style of pho that makes you realize you'll have to come back to sample them all. 6 of10 easy breezy.
Sunday Pho:
Once upon a time I woke up Sunday afternoon and realized: a) my head felt like millions of tiny mice had tap-danced the night away on my naked skull wearing clogs b) my clothes were covered in mud, dirt and blood (hopefully my blood) c) I was friggin starving. The solution? Quite simple you would think: Pho. So I got my lazy, still-slightly drunk, physically hurt body out of bed and attempted to roll for some Pho. I got 2 closed signs, now Pho like air/water/food & shelter should be something that is available to people 24/7. The fact I couldn't find any not only hurt my pride but also my physical/mental health as I proceeded to cry in my car until I found another delicious bowl food: Kim Chi-Chige. More on this later.
Vien Dong:
In my quest for delicious meat-based broth & noodles I was pointed towards Vien Dong. While some say it is better than V&V I must disagree. Excellent Pho? Yes. They rock a Southern Vietnamese style of Pho that has more cilantro and includes Chinese style chashu that is downright delicious. Also, since they have little to no seating you often get pho splash-back from other, close by tables. This causes both pain and longing as while boiling hot, sometimes you get hit with another style of pho that makes you realize you'll have to come back to sample them all. 6 of10 easy breezy.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
V & V Pho
V & V Pho off of 56th and South Tacoma Way is hands down the best Pho in Town. Nothing is better. No MSG yet wonderful savory broth, solid fresh springrolls, good beef & carrot soup, excellent prices (a small for under 5) combined with excellent service, always good parking and simple, solid pho all make V & V excellent. Team that with the tag line "pho and jazz" and you make for a very nice pho eating experience. So what else is their to say about such a wonderful pho place? Combinations, these people have real tendon (think melt in your mouth), homemade meatballs (excellent), and really good lemonade sodas. The combos are killer, fatty brisket, real lean brisket, steak, tendon, the whole nine yards. Go there, now...
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Pho Bac
Praise be the lords that have placed a Pho place a mere 3 blocks from my house. Thus even when it is pouring down rain, when thunder shakes the great city of Tacoma, or when my car gets stolen I still have access to cheap, wonderful soup. The dl on Pho Bac is this: any place that doesn't have a menu and simply uses a poster is bound to be good. This place has a poster and a very very small selection, here let me list them: brisket, raw beef, combo, chicken, tofu, shrimp. I have never seen anyone order the shrimp or tofu. Good, cheap and close is all it takes to make Pho Bac on 11th and MLK and winner for me. Besides they are getting to know me, now the wonderful ladies who work here no longer laugh at me when I stumble into the door at 6:55 begging for one last bowl for the day. Seeing a grown man cry over soup (not even spilt) is oh so very sad.
I'll be back soon with more updates including: Vien Dong possibly the best Pho in Tacoma (once I get more reliable internet... and a car.... bastards)
I'll be back soon with more updates including: Vien Dong possibly the best Pho in Tacoma (once I get more reliable internet... and a car.... bastards)
Monday, September 17, 2007
Some Cali Pho-un
Yes it is a terrible pun, however when looking for some quality Pho after a day of fishing Pho-un is not as bad as "Pho Queen" a believed derivative of a once and former "Pho King". If your still reading perhaps you should reconsider.
The backstory; to interject some personal history, my Pho days started in the Bay Area. Our family found Pho after moving out to California from Brookline MA. Needless to say Pho had not made the immigration to the East Coast by 1992. I am sure that by now Pho has engulfed all of America except for Tennessee and other 'states' where a phonetic 'f' on a sign would cause cars to crash, pedestrians to stop in confusion and distrust and babies to cry.
So my childhood work with Pho revolved around late night escapades to various Pho establishments in the Bay that stayed open past 9. The reasoning being that Pho is the perfect cheap food for a growing boy, or for munchies. However this trip back to the bay was simply for relaxing and the chance to eat some good Pho was a pleasant surprise indeed. So on to the facts:
Pho NAM Vietnamese Restaurant located in Sunnyvale near Lawrence Express Way is a funny little Pho place that my father pointedly stated looked as if it had been a former ice cream parlor. Apparently 1 of 4 Pho NAMs in the states (according to the excellently designed business card available at the counter next to fake flowers that seemed to be rotting), hell they even have one in Texas. The basics: regular ho-hum menu, even split into the usual categories that allow all non experienced pho persons a shot at figuring out what gets put in pho (the categories being: for the beginner! regular pho! for the adventurous eater! yes with the exclamation marks, eating pho after all is exciting). The good: cheap, four people fed and full for under $25 = excellent, fresh veggies (wilted basil does not add to the Pho experience), good portions, open on Sunday**this will be discussed later!. The bad: they do use MSG as most pho places do, wilted fake flowers, broth cloudier than I enjoy it and saltier as one experienced pho eater pointed out.
Overall: again fairly good Pho, not top-o-the-line but worth at least another visit (especially if I am in Texas), price under 5! I would give it a 4.5 out of 10
Pho-on people
The backstory; to interject some personal history, my Pho days started in the Bay Area. Our family found Pho after moving out to California from Brookline MA. Needless to say Pho had not made the immigration to the East Coast by 1992. I am sure that by now Pho has engulfed all of America except for Tennessee and other 'states' where a phonetic 'f' on a sign would cause cars to crash, pedestrians to stop in confusion and distrust and babies to cry.
So my childhood work with Pho revolved around late night escapades to various Pho establishments in the Bay that stayed open past 9. The reasoning being that Pho is the perfect cheap food for a growing boy, or for munchies. However this trip back to the bay was simply for relaxing and the chance to eat some good Pho was a pleasant surprise indeed. So on to the facts:
Pho NAM Vietnamese Restaurant located in Sunnyvale near Lawrence Express Way is a funny little Pho place that my father pointedly stated looked as if it had been a former ice cream parlor. Apparently 1 of 4 Pho NAMs in the states (according to the excellently designed business card available at the counter next to fake flowers that seemed to be rotting), hell they even have one in Texas. The basics: regular ho-hum menu, even split into the usual categories that allow all non experienced pho persons a shot at figuring out what gets put in pho (the categories being: for the beginner! regular pho! for the adventurous eater! yes with the exclamation marks, eating pho after all is exciting). The good: cheap, four people fed and full for under $25 = excellent, fresh veggies (wilted basil does not add to the Pho experience), good portions, open on Sunday**this will be discussed later!. The bad: they do use MSG as most pho places do, wilted fake flowers, broth cloudier than I enjoy it and saltier as one experienced pho eater pointed out.
Overall: again fairly good Pho, not top-o-the-line but worth at least another visit (especially if I am in Texas), price under 5! I would give it a 4.5 out of 10
Pho-on people
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
In search of Pho
This story starts best on a dark and stormy night. It also works well after a heavy night of drinking. Or perhaps for the more nostalgic, when looking for simple comfort food reminiscent of another, slightly more exotic, place. What I am essentially hinting at is the ability to engorge a bowl of noodle soup approximately the size of ones head. Now being a relative new-comer to Tacoma (but an old hand in the eating of Pho) I set two goals for myself this summer. First, find housing, employment, and all those small things associated with life before the rain starts to descend upon us. Second, find a true, authentic bowl of Pho. The first was accomplished with much hemming and hawig, the second is still an ongoing adventure.
Pho 32, location: somewhere in the Tacoma Mall area (that vast expanse of sprawl that has attached itself to Tacoma like an unwanted leech -ahem- thats another story). The basics: cheap, sizable, the usual menu, nothing special. The advantages: limited contact with other Pho-digestors coupled with the colorful menu make ordering and engorging (even by ones lonesome) possible even while under the influence. This in tandem with the 2 am closing on the weekends makes it a good last-ditch Pho possibility. The negatives (READ THIS!): MSG, holy shit this place uses enough MSG to make boiled seagull taste like chicken; good chicken (apologies to chickens and to persons who have sampled seagull and found it does taste like chicken). After one late night escapade to Pho32 my head was pounding so much that even drinking didn't feel like a good idea, rough. Overall: not bad for a quick lunch, try to to frequent more than once a month as matter of health.
Price: $5/6 without drink Quality: 2.5/10
Stay tuned for updates
Pho 32, location: somewhere in the Tacoma Mall area (that vast expanse of sprawl that has attached itself to Tacoma like an unwanted leech -ahem- thats another story). The basics: cheap, sizable, the usual menu, nothing special. The advantages: limited contact with other Pho-digestors coupled with the colorful menu make ordering and engorging (even by ones lonesome) possible even while under the influence. This in tandem with the 2 am closing on the weekends makes it a good last-ditch Pho possibility. The negatives (READ THIS!): MSG, holy shit this place uses enough MSG to make boiled seagull taste like chicken; good chicken (apologies to chickens and to persons who have sampled seagull and found it does taste like chicken). After one late night escapade to Pho32 my head was pounding so much that even drinking didn't feel like a good idea, rough. Overall: not bad for a quick lunch, try to to frequent more than once a month as matter of health.
Price: $5/6 without drink Quality: 2.5/10
Stay tuned for updates
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