Me: " What do you think of Mai’s Kitchen on Bolsa and Magnolia?"
Vietnamese Co-worker: “Good. Nothing too special, just homestyle food.”
Well I didn’t grow up in a Vietnamese household! So really this was a treat for me.
I’m not an expert on Vietnamese food but I like to think I am better than average, there is a world beyond Pho that is undiscovered!
Fresh Coconut Juice, don’t forget to scoop out some of the meat.
Jackfruit Salad, this hit the spot! The flavors from the lime, mint, peanuts, and fried shallots made this come alive.
Catfish soup. Sour from the tamarind, but also slightly sweet. Tomato, pineapple, celery, and herbs add to this very flavorful broth.
Be sure to lookout for the “Family Dinners” on the menu. You pick a protein, veg, and a soup, those 3 items came out to be $24. Only thing better is going over to your Viet friends house for dinner.
Holy god @JeetKuneBao! That looks like legit home-style cooking. My Mom hasn’t made the catfish in years since my Dad was diagnosed as pre-diabetic…I miss the unctuousness of the braising liquid over rice and the slippery, chewiness of the skin…it’s the one time where I don’t require my fish skin to be crispy. I need to roll over sometime. Thanks for bringing back fond memories for me.
