best vietnamese soup Ive ever tasted in OC

[savvysearch]

Hi, newbie here, adding my contribution to the forum.

Im very excited. I just found my restaurant that Ive decided to make as my go-to place for vietnamese soup. I just had the best 'pho' at a restaurant called Green Papaya *(not to be confused with the french/vietnamese restaurant of the same name) a few blocks on Brookhurst street north of the 405 exit/entrance. It is by far my best experience in Little Saigon. It was actually a mistake going in. I thought it was the french/vietnamese restaurant. I was hesitant to order the pho (the place was too decent looking to serve good pho)

For those not in the know, the soup is fish/beef broth based with rice noodles and thin slices of brisket, beef, tripe. When they served it, even before tasting it, I could tell it was going to be good. The broth was much clearer than other restaurants and the aroma was much more fragrant and with hints of onion and ginger. You could tell it was the 9 hour preparation of the soup unlike other places. the broth tasted richer, not over-spiced.

I forgot which one I had, but I think it was number 5 from the menu.

Edited July 31, 2003 by savvysearch (log)

[jschyun]

The soup can be chicken broth too. Chicken pho is not my favorite though.

I always passed by the Green Papaya because it didn't look like a proper Vietnamese restaurant. You know, a little mom and pop joint with tacky furniture and mirrors on the wall.

I usually go to the joint next to the Seafood Paravel, which is also on Brookhurst. My co-worker told me about it and it's pretty good, but lots of MSG. Good thing I like MSG.

[tissue]

in OC I go to Thanh My

[jschyun]

The pho place I was referring to earlier is called "Pho Thanh Long" on Brookhurst.

I checked up on Green Papaya and there is only one in Westminster or anywhere near it. The one I found is the French/Vietnamese restaurant, not a pho joint. You say this is not the one you are talking about. Can you say more precisely where it is? Thanks.

[savvysearch]

It's on Brookhurst. If you are coming from the south, exit 405 at Brookhurst, go North and it's on the left hand side. I'm pretty sure it is not the same restaurant as the french/vietnamese one. I think the one that you are refering to is the correct one. But if you go in, you will see that there is nothing French about the food., except was was influenced by France during the days of Indochine.

Edited August 13, 2003 by savvysearch (log)

[dfunghi]

We looked and looked and could not fing Green Papaya. Any other great reccomendations for Viet. Food? More than just pho. We will drive down again and try again.

D

[jschyun]

Green Papaya has changed hands and names. I forget the name, and I haven't tried it.

[jschyun]

For lots of diff dishes, but mediocre service, try Broda.

[dfunghi]

Broda? Any hints? Thanks

D

[jschyun]

Wait, are you looking for pho or stuff like rice dishes?

[dfunghi]

I am looking for things like excellent green Papaya salad, pancakes, pho, duck salad, etc...

David

Have tried all the westside has to offer. Not impressed. Would go down to OC fo rthe real food like I've enjoyed in SF

[jschyun]

I am looking for things like excellent green Papaya salad, pancakes, pho, duck salad, etc...

David

Have tried all the westside has to offer. Not impressed. Would go down to OC fo rthe real food like I've enjoyed in SF

Hmm, where did you go in SF? I'll try to match you up with what I think most closely approximates your SF experience. Actually, there are a lot more choices in OC than in SF, in my experience. Actually, there's a lot of choices in Oakland as well.

I just went to the place that used to be Green Papaya. Quan Quynh (sp) is on Brookhurst, off Margo I think is the street. Right across the street from my friend's place! Green Papaya was Franco-Viet food, but the new place allegedly specializes in food from the middle of Vietnam, as opposed to north or south.

I was low on cash, so just had a bowl of pho and it was a pretty decent bowl, good clear brown broth, not too much MSG. But the slices of tenderloin were dumped in the bowl before the soup was and had cooked to a uniform grey before I could eat it. Service was unbelieveably slow (20 min for a bowl of pho?) and they didn't have any sawtooth herb, and the noodles were still congealed together until I finally pulled them all apart and let the hot soup rejuvenate them. I'd rather go across the street to Pho 54 or Pho Thanh Long, but PTH have more MSG, FYI. Pho 54 sometimes has coconut juice served in the coconut, in season. I like that gimmick, but it's near impossible to spoon up the coconut shreds.

[jschyun]

This place recently (I think a couple months ago) changed hands to the people who own the Che Cali stores (they have good banh mi).

Right now is the grand opening and a handful of things are 50% off. This place was packed last night, which means this location is no longer cursed, I guess.

Was looking at a cup with the addresses and apparently there are 8 locations. most are in Westminster, but there were also locations in Garden Grove, Rosemead and Toronto.

[savvysearch]

Are you sure it's owned by the same people at the Cali places? I think the names are similar, but possibly different ownership. I miss Green Papaya's pho, but this place has really good mi. I now have to find another good pho place that isn't a dive.

[jschyun]

Are you sure it's owned by the same people at the Cali places? I think the names are similar, but possibly different ownership. I miss Green Papaya's pho, but this place has really good mi. I now have to find another good pho place that isn't a dive.

I guess it's true, because I saw the listing of their locations printed on the lemonade to-go cup that they handed me. It is not a franchise (yet) and their banh mi is better, and cheaper than Lee's Sandwiches. The crust is not as rock hard as at Lee's, or at least at the Lee's I've been to.

I was at Pho Bac recently, also on Brookhurst and I had some pretty decent pho, but it was really empty, which makes me uneasy. Also, they close early. Pho Thanh Long sucked the last time I went which was about a month ago. water brew.