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Learn Me What to Eat: Vietnamese and Thai
Judge-Z
Teacher, for Great JusticeUpstate NYRegistered User regular
Teacher, for Great JusticeUpstate NYRegistered User regular
So I'm going to eat at a Vietnamese/ Thai place (fairly nice, not ridiculously upscale though) for the first time ever this week. I'm no stranger to ethnic foods, but Vietnamese and Thai I have no clue at all about, and I have absolutely no idea what to try. I don't want to bug the waiter/ress about everything on the menu, and I'm juts picky enough to not be willing to ask the server what they recommend. So I'm looking for suggestions.
I have had store-bought instant Pad Thai before, but I'm aware this still makes me a Thai virgin. (Counting that as actually having Thai food is likely the equivalent of saying you've had sexual relations with a woman just because you wanked one out while thinking about her).
I have no preference between the options available to me - Vietnamese or Thai - and spicy does not scare me, but I prefer there to be flavor and not just heat. Not a huge seafood fan. I like meats in Chinese cuisine with a bit of crispiness to the outside, but this is not necessary.
So, H/A, please recommend away! Descriptions as well as names of dishes greatly appreciated!
I have had store-bought instant Pad Thai before, but I'm aware this still makes me a Thai virgin. (Counting that as actually having Thai food is likely the equivalent of saying you've had sexual relations with a woman just because you wanked one out while thinking about her).
I have no preference between the options available to me - Vietnamese or Thai - and spicy does not scare me, but I prefer there to be flavor and not just heat. Not a huge seafood fan. I like meats in Chinese cuisine with a bit of crispiness to the outside, but this is not necessary.
So, H/A, please recommend away! Descriptions as well as names of dishes greatly appreciated!
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For starters Satay is good. It's grilled beef/chicken with spicy seasonings, served with either a peanut sauce or a cool cucumber sauce. Spring rolls are always a good idea too.
Seriously I could eat pho everyday and be happy. It's a Vietnamese noodle soup with beef (usually), and you add your own seasonings to taste (siracha, hoisin, jalapenos, basil, lime juice, whatever else they decide to give you).
On the Thai side, lemongrass soup is yummy, and pad thai is a good starter noodle dish. I also really like red curry.
If you can, try and find a friend that's been to this place before, or who's experienced with vietnamese and/or thai food. They might have some good suggestions specific to that place. Or, do they have a website with a menu that we of the internets could check out?
The Best in Terms of Pants on JCCC3
Pad Thai can be good but I find that on average, unless its a nicer place, it sucks.
Panang Curry is an easy sale, even if you don't like coconut, the spices will drown out that taste.
Some places will have Siam Chicken/Tofu/Shrimp which is a delicious chili sauce over rice if you're looking for something without curry/coconut in it.
Some thai places carry a soup called Tom Yum which is amazing. It will clear out your sinuses, that's for damn sure.
As for vietnamese food, I've had a few vietnamese dishes and none of them impressed me. Don't bother with Pho, it's just broth and rice noodles + meat.
*edit* shakes fist at shug
Overall I think you'll find the Thai side of things more interesting, especially if you like spicier foods.
we also talk about other random shit and clown upon each other
The Best in Terms of Pants on JCCC3
It tastes fine, but for 11 bucks a bowl, I would expect a bit more punch.
we also talk about other random shit and clown upon each other
Thanks so far for the suggestions, and keep them coming. I have heard of this sinus-clearing soup before. Sounds tempting! I'm probably going to steer away from the Pad Thai, as I'm usually more interested in the non-starter dishes.
Satay sounds right up my alley, and I love peanut sauce (and can't have it at home. Daughter has allergies). Appetizer may have been sold!
Edit: the coworker I'm going with is a newbie too. This location just opened up near where we work. She's jazzed because of all the vegetarian dishes. In the city that birthed chicken wings and worships a good beef on weck, where families argue over what stand has the best hot dogs, finding an extensive vegetarian menu is golden for her. Me, I like new and exotic ways to make meat yummy!
Throw in some tom yum and you'll have one hell of a meal.
we also talk about other random shit and clown upon each other
I wouldn't enjoy pho for $11/bowl, either. San Diego is lousy with Vietnamese restaurants (at one point there were at least 6 on the cross street near me). Maybe 2 years ago it was $4/bowl, and now I think it's about $5-6. So I guess prices vary regionally.
flat noodles in dark soy sauce and basil and yum
edit: NOT ON THE MENU WHY
It should look something like this:
http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/4556/saigon20menu.jpg
And it'll make it easier to recommend an item.
I've heard it pronounced fa. Is this totally wrong, or possibly a regional thing.
Bun - which is a cold Vietnamese vermicelli salad - is probably one of the best things ever.
Fuck I want some pad see ew now. There's a thai spot next to my favorite bar in SF that's open until like 3AM, and drunk pad see ew is proof of god's love.
I used to work with two vietnamese guys who were fluent and they both pronounced it "Foe", but they had pretty solid English as well so they may have intentionally anglicized it.
we also talk about other random shit and clown upon each other
Already did, above, so look and recommend away!
Fuck, this thread is making me hungry!
Consider trying durian for the experience, but possibly not the flavor.
Yeah, holy crap $11/bowl is insane... mine is $3.75 for a good sized bowl, $4.75 for a monsterous feed-a-whole-family bowl. MMmm...all this talk of pho makes me want some right now...
In looking at the Vietnamese menu, the "Vermicelli (Bun)" sounds like my #33 - it's a cold(ish) noodle dish, and very refreshing. I get mine with a spring roll and BBQ pork - just substitue whatever you want on top I suppose. Their pho does not have tripe listed, nor brisket, nor meatballs, nor tendon, so it should be good starter pho, if you're not feeling brave. The best pho is usually at the not-so-nice looking places - if you try this pho and like it, maybe go to a smaller hole-in-the-wall place and try their pho to compare.
On the Thai side, I would probably get the curry, since you don't necessarily want pad thai, and because I loooooooove curry. And no pad see ew is sad
As for the pronunciation of pho, all the Vietnamese that I know say "fuh," including the waiters who barely speak English at my pho place... but who knows? I don't exactly speak Vietnamese, so who am I to say? XD
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Because this looks like a VERY "American Thai" place. I like my divey little authentic joints. Can't throw a rock without hitting one in Portland.
Also vietnamese places often have ricepaper spring rolls which are often ridiculously good.
See how many books I've read so far in 2010
You can't go wrong with the grilled pork, unless you don't like pork. Add some nuoc Mam (fish sauce) and it's heavenly. It is seriously some of the best food I've ever had.
Whiskey Thieves?
Rye. But Whisky Thieves is a sweet place too, as long as it isn't super packed. And they don't take plastic, which is simultaneously a bad thing and a good thing.
Oh, and I just remembered The Outsider is across the street. Dive bar love right there.
Appetizer: Chicken Satay and Tom Yum Goong soup if I'm hungry.
Main course: torn between Panang Curry and Bun.
Dessert: Mango motherfucking ice cream.
And yes, this is a very Americanized southeast Asian restaurant, but it's the only one close enough for me to go to easily. A lot of Asian restaurants around here serve Vietnamese and Thai food, but they're not really Thai or Vietnamese - they're Chinese restaurants with diversified menus.
(Not as diversified as this place. Sorry, but I'm not buying tacos and pasta at the same place I get my sesame beef.)
Thanks plenty for the suggestions. I'll let everyone know how it goes.
Alternatively, bet your friend to order durian ice cream.
if you can get near the blvd everyone i know loves jazmine for thai food. ive only eaten there once years ago when i didnt know much about thai but it was nice.
if you want the best/cheapest chinese/vietnamese you absolutely have to go to red pepper on maple. it is some of the best chinese food for ridiculous prices. the lunch special is insane and the amount of pho you get for 6 bucks is daunting. owned by really nice people too.
As for Ying's, ufo, I do enjoy a lot of their food - it's just I have a hard time accepting a restaurant attempting to pull off that many ethnic specialties under one roof. It's like all the restaurants of Epcot Center in a single strip mall eatery! Thanks for the suggestion about Jasmine - I'll check it out when I go shopping for my wife's birthday (which I do out in that direction).