Viet Noodle Bar

Viet Noodle Bar is the Banana Republic, and its sister restaurant, Pho Café is the Gap.

I didn't realized that this joint opened back in 2007...well, I guess if they had a bigger sign I would have eaten here much sooner. I don't quite seem to have much luck with other Vietnamese restaurants besides Viet Noodle Bar and Pho Café. It's probably because they serve Northern Vietnamese food, translation= simple food. I don't care if the haters think it's not "authentic" Vietnamese; the odor isn't as pungent as other restaurants.

Viet Noodle Bar has two sides; one side has the grand communal table for people who don't mind eating with strangers and the other side has a bunch of 2 tops for people who are scared of other peeps.

Dee and I came here just before closing and had the #3 Bo Bia Chay - Fresh Veg/Tofu Spring rolls

and the #23 Bun Bo Xao Xa - Lemongrass Beef Noodles

We wondered what the missing #1 dish was...they should make #1 the Bun Cha Goi Thit Nuong (Beef Vermicelli Noodle) and there sandwiches were unavailable. The #3 was delicious! It was so good that we had to order another round. The #23 was very light. I wished it had more flavors; nonetheless, I would order it again. The noodles are not like Pho Café's Vermicelli Noodle as you can see from the photo, which is a little out of focus...

Oh, Dee had a Vietnamese coffee (strong), and I went for the Organic Mint Soy Milk - OMG, it smelled and tasted so good! I need to try their Cinnamon flavor, which was sold out.

I'll be back with a bottle of vino to try the White Fish sandwich with the Organic Cinnamon Soy Milk.

p.s. The books are just for décor. It's not a swap library.

Address: 3133 Glendale Blvd, LA CA 90036
Phone#:(323) 906-1575
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BANH MI MY THO

Shauna D's Banh Mi Crawl: Part 4 of 4

Banh Mi My Tho was our final stop. At this point we said screw "crawling," let's drive! Thanks Ahn T for driving! Banh Mi My Tho was the tiniest place out of the 4 places-no chairs but a counter for you to stand and eat...prices are cheap - $2-3.

Shauna and I split the BBQ Pork.

It was pretty good; I probably would have enjoyed it a lot more had I not ate beforehand...

AJ and Ahn had the BBQ Beef. I managed to take a bite of their sandwich and you know what? I couldn't tell the difference between the BBQ Beef and BBQ Pork at that moment. Stuffed.



Al was brave enough to order his own sandwich - the Pork Loaf.

I didn't try it-- no more room!!!

I also ordered a large Vietnamese coffee for $2.50 (I think..) hoping it would help me...and it didn't. Their coffee is super strong, so just go for a small.

Overall, BMMT has tasty Banh Mis and my #2 Banh Mi place.

Thanks Shauna for hosting the event!

Address: 304 W Valley Blvd Alhambra, CA 91803
Phone#: (626) 289-4160
Rating: 4 out of 5

BANH MI CHE CALI

Shauna D's Banh Mi Crawl: Part 2 of 4

Banh Mi Che Cali was our 2nd stop. I wished I did some research...I found out after the crawl that if you Buy 2, you Get 1 FREE ! Drats! Not that the $2-3 for a Banh Mi was going to hurt me...

I had the BBQ Beef. It was ok...all the BBQ sauce is underneath the meat.


Shauna stuck to her Meatball. Now that's a fully cooked Meatball sandwich, and it was much better than Mr. Baguette's.


Marcus had the Sardines. You have to like Sardines to eat this sandwich; sardines are too fishy for me.


I forgot what Linden ordered...was it the Saigon or BBQ Pork? Since I don't remember the sandwich, I guess it wasn't memorable. I do remember his Marinated Mangos, which were incredibly sour.

Banh Mi Che Cali was the busiest place out of the 4 - I guess this is where all the Chinese/Vietnamese people go to? They also offer other Vietnamese food. I'll have to come back and try their Pork Rice Noodle Rolls.

Address: 647 W Valley Blvd Alhambra, CA 91803
Phone#: (626) 293-8396
Rating: 3 out of 5

MR. BAGUETTE

Shauna D's Banh Mi Crawl: Part 1 of 4

Mr. Baguette was Shauna's Banh Mi Crawl 1st stop...and I wished it was our last stop.

The best part of Shauna's crawl is eating family style. The sandwiches were splint amongst five hungry, hungry, hungry hippos.

I bought the Saigon, which was narly tasting because the liver was dominating the sandwich. I think I spent $4 total?


Shauna D had the Meatball, which looked um...not done. Someone was trying to convince me that it was red food coloring, but I don't think so. Needless to stay it was bland and gross.


Al ordered his #2 Mr. Baguette sandwich - Meatloaf (that's what Mr. Baguette calls it, but it's just Pork). It was bland.

AC ordered some Ham sandwich on a Brioche bun (it's not really a Brioche, but they call it that...). Like most of the Mr. Baguette's sandwiches, I find it to be boring as well.

Marcus had the winning sandwich - Al M.'s #1 Mr Baguette sandwich - the Roast Beef on a Sesame Baguette.


As Shauna D. mentioned, it was annoying that Mr. Baguette did not put the marinated veggies into the sandwiches.

I wished Mr. Baguette was our last stop because it was the most expensive of the 4 joints and the worse.


Address: 8702 Valley Blvd Rosemead, CA 91770
Phone#: (626) 288-9166
Rating: 3 out of 5

SAIGON SANDWICH & BAKERY

Shauna D's Banh Mi Crawl: Part 3 of 4

Saigon's Sandwich & Bakery was our 3rd stop and my favorite! At this point, we were definitely "crawling" to here. Originally Shauna had 10 Banh Mi places!!! Yeah...that's very ambitious and luckily Shauna cut her list to 4. It was completely empty when we arrived but packed by the time we left. As the other Yelpers mentioned, this is place to order to go and not dine in; it's tiny! Sandwiches are cheap - $2-3 range.

I had the Vietnamese Beef Sausage -excellent!


Shauna had the BBQ Pork - another good sandwich!


Marcus had the Saigon -so good!!


Saigon's is the place to get your Bahn Mi!

Address: 718 E Valley Blvd San Gabriel, CA 91776
Phone#: (626) 288-6475
Rating: 5 out of 5

ABSOLUTELY PHOBULOUS

We had take-out the other day from Absolutely Phobulous, and when I opened my box, I was wondering if the the beef was dog meat.

Yummm...not.

I was craving Vietnamese food and A.P. was the closest restaurant. It got a lot of negative reviews but it was closest Vietnamese restaurant from my work. How hard is to mess up the food? Yeah...well, not too hard at A.P. I took a few bites of the beef vermicelli and just had to stop, but then again, I had their Royal Rolls (marinated pork sausuage sping rolls) and felt quesy afterwards. The eggroll was super oily --it just poured out at the end. I wasn't expecting it and now have oil stained on my jeans.

My boss ordered the Vietnamese Stir, and boy, it did not look appetizing at all (wished I took a picture of it)! He didn't touch his vegetarian vermicelli. However, another colleague enjoyed his Fresh Spring Rolls (shrimp & vermicelli) and his Chicken over Rice. If I had to order something from there, it would be the Chicken over Rice because it surprisingly looks edible. I took a few bites of the tomato rice that comes with the chicken and it was actually good.

Oh, Tila Tequila dines here often.

p.s. They don't deliver and accepts C.C. with $10 min charge.

Address: 350 N La Cienega Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90048
Phone#: (310) 360-3930
Rating: 1 out of 5

PHO VIET

If you're allergic to crustacean, don't come here.

I was craving some Goi Cuon, and was excited that Pho Viet was walking distance, but to my bad luck, they only offer it with shrimp. One would think that they can make it with beef since it is a restaurant...and then I asked if I can have the vermicelli with beef instead of shrimp and pork and guess what the answer was? NO! Maybe they only have a microwave in the back?

They suck. Thank goodness I can trust Pho Cafe; I just need to drive...

Address: 209 S. Vermont Ave Los Angeles, CA 90004
Phone: (213) 381-3300
Rating: 1 out of 5

Update: 3/16/09: R.I.P. - CLOSED