Can't be captured in words so I won't even try. I'm a bit stunned and trying to crawl back into my old brain. It was a carnival(e), it was a juggernaut, it was a bacchanal, it was a riddle wrapped in an enigma wrapped in a flesh-colored bodysuit.
On the Memorial Day holiday, smiller and I tried to go to Quan Nem Ninh Hoa, knowing, that we should have a plan B due to crowding and indeed, although there were a couple tables left, they informed us they were to-go only at the moment because a table of 48 was about to roll up. I don't think the entire restaurant could fit 48 folks, and I don't like to get the special rolls to go. I like to roll my own and get the little fermented sausage with the chili embedded in it (you know the one).
As we were figuring this all out at Quan Nem I was seeing several tables with banh xeo and suddenly that was the number one thing I wanted in the whole world!
Plan B: My Tho restaurant (by Pho City). I like the hu tieu there. So I ordered that, and got it in the style where you pour the broth over rather than the soup (more concentrated flavor
Here it is, I get it with rice noodles rather than clear. Look at that awesome shrimp-embedded cracker. There is also pork slices (chashu-like), peppery fish cake, chicharrone-type bits and quail eggs. Also celery and Chinese chives. These are all the names I know these things by. Crunchy onion bits too.
Here's the broth you pour over. This soup is so savory
So I had to order banh xeo because I had it in my mind. Here are the herbs that come with. I get real stoked when I get herbs that you don't see that often, like here is perilla/shiso/tia to (purple) and rau ram/Vietnamese coriander
But the one I was really excited about was sorrel (ew my nail looks dirty)
That said, the banh xeo was way overstuffed with bean sprouts (hate 'em) and just ok. But the soup is always a lock go to MY THO!!!!!!
