Restaurant Review
02 Aug 2007

Saigon Restaurant – San Diego

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2 Comments

July 20, 2007
Cuisine: Vietnamese

4455 El Cajon Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92115

Phone: 619-284-4215
Website: none

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Appetizer: Bò Bía – stir fried jimica and carrots, Chinese sausage, shredded scrambled eggs, all wrapped in a rice paper roll and dipped into a peanut sauce ($3.50)

Banh Tam Bi – rice noodles with shredded pork, vegetable, & coconut milk ($6.75)

Bò 7 Món – Seven Courses of Beef

Course I: Bo Nuong Vi – lemon grass and sesame marinated beef cooked on a hot plate with butter

Course II: Bò Nhúng Dấm / Beef Fondue – slices of Tenderloin fondue at your table in a simmering vinegar sauce

Course III: Bo Cha Dum – steamed Beef Meat Balls
Course IV: Bo La Nho – beef wrapped in grape leaves
Course V: Bo Moi Chai – grilled Beef Sausages
Course VI: Bo La Lot – beef Wrapped in Wild Betel Leaf

Course VII: Chao Bo / Beef Rice Soup – a rich flavorful beef rice soup

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During my last weekend in America, my brother and his main squeeze came to San Diego for a brief visit. On his first evening in America’s Finest City, he was aching for some beef—seven whole courses of it. My family usually goes to Anh Hong Pho Pasteur in Clairemont for bò 7 món, but Cousin Phil suggested we try Saigon Restaurant due to a favorable review from his dad. Unfortunately, his dad forgot to mention that service was terrible at this restaurant. I guess we’ll just have to stick with our old stand by Anh Hong from here on out for good eats and prompt service.

While my dining companions enjoyed bò 7 món ($16.99—for two), I decided to order bo bia and banh tam bi instead. Seven courses of beef is six courses too many for a vegetarian-leaning, sprout-loving gal like me. The bo bia, like most of the food at Saigon Restaurant, were huge; perhaps twice the size of average spring rolls. I’m usually against super-sizing, but I may make an exception for Vietnamese treats. The extra-fatty rolls were stuffed with an abundance of carrots and jicama. Sadly, the disproportionate amount of vegetables to protein over powered the Chinese sausage and scrambled egg.

For my main entrée, I wanted to try a new dish. My mom suggested banh tam bi. Banh tam bi is reminiscent of classic vermicelli noodle dishes (bun), but with an unexpected sweetness. The coconut milk sauce in combination with nouc mam is what makes this offering extra special. I really enjoyed this selection and will be on the look out for it in Vietnam.

Even though I don’t like all seven courses of beef, there are a few that I am awfully fond of. The bo la nho is nutty and delicious and the final soup brings back fond memories of nursing childhood colds with a bowl of hot porridge.

Saigon on Urbanspoon

Restaurant Review
02 Aug 2007

The Brigantine – San Diego (La Mesa)

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July 17, 2007
Cuisine: Seafood

9350 Fuerte Dr
La Mesa, CA 91941

Phone: 619-465-1935
Website: www.brigantine.com

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Calamari Strips ($5.50)

Spinach Salad ($4)

The Brig’s Famous Fish Taco with Cheese ($2.75)

Bowl of Clam Chowder ($3.50)

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Just above I-8 on the foothills of Mt. Helix, lies a hidden gem in the Jewel of the Hills. The Brigantine has been a family favorite for quite some time because of their awesome fish tacos and killer happy hour. It’s hard to believe that fish tacos were priced at 99¢ when my brother first discovered this place back in high school!

In a generous mood, my mother invited my grandparents, Aunt Phoung, Uncle Thanh, Cousin Michael, and me to The Brig for dinner. There’s nothing quite like attending happy hour with family. Trust me.

We started the evening with an order of calamari strips for the table. The calamari were served with catsup and a watery tartar sauce. I didn’t care much for the dipping choices, but the calamari was tender and curiously French fry-like in shape. I find that most battered calamari are either served as rings or shriveled up strips so these were totally novel.

To supplement the calamari, my mom and I shared a spinach salad topped with bacon, hard boiled eggs, and tomatoes dressed in a light vinaigrette. The salad certainly wasn’t cutting edge, but definitely a solid plate of greens.

A round of fish tacos followed our appetizers. In a sea of competitors, namely Wahoo’s and Rubio’s, many San Diegans believe that The Brig serves up the city’s best fish tacos. While fast food fish tacos have their merits, The Brig’s use of top notch ingredients simply puts them over the top.

The Brig’s fish tacos consist of two large hunks of flaky white fish, battered, deep fried and wrapped in a corn tortilla. The taco is adorned with a red cabbage slaw, pico de gallo, and topped with mild cheddar cheese. Add a little hot sauce and this baby is unstoppable. 99.9% of the time my grandparents shun non-Vietnamese food, but they surprisingly love these fish tacos. Score one for assimilation!

Winding down our happy hour feast, everyone (minus me) enjoyed some clam chowder. Creamy soups just aren’t my cup of tea.

Brigantine Seafood on Urbanspoon

Restaurant Review
02 Aug 2007

Sala Thai – San Diego

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1 Comment

July 13, 2007
Cuisine: Thai

6161 El Cajon Blvd Ste A
San Diego, CA 92115

Phone: 619-229-9050
Website: none

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Pad See Oew – Stir fried rice noodles, broccoli, egg, and soy sauce ($7.95)

Pad Thai – Stir fried narrow rice noodles with tofu, bean sprouts, crushed peanuts, egg, and Thai seasonings ($7.95)

Mango with Sweet Sticky Rice ($3.95)

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My family is afraid of three things:

  1. Communism
  2. Getting fat
  3. Thai pirates

The first two fears are somewhat self-explanatory, but the third needs some insight. Pirates steal and rape. And even though Thai pirates stole and raped the Vietnamese people a good long while ago, some family members still hold a grudge. In fact, my late Aunt Van refused to eat Thai food due to her distaste for pirates (pun intended). Luckily, there isn’t any beef between pirates and my mom, so we go out for Thai food whenever my mom is too tired to cook.

Sala Thai is one of our favorite spots because of their reasonable prices and good location. As per usual, I ordered Pad Thai with tofu. What can I say? I know what I like! Sala’s Pad Thai was far sweeter than Pad Thais I’ve enjoyed in the past, but not overly so. The sweetness was delicate and welcomed. The thin rice noodles were just as I like, al dente.

My mom ordered a noodle dish called Pad See Oew for her entrée. This dish is very similar to chow fun due to the shape of the noodles and soy sauce seasoning. She liked it well enough, but similar to me, Pad Thai is her fave.

For dessert we shared some mango with sticky rice. The rice was warm and drenched in a creamy coconut milk. The sweet and tart flavors of the mango and coconut was a perfect ending to our meal.

Sala Thai on Urbanspoon