2.49 Nem Nuong Ninh Hoa
Posted on September 10, 2009
Filed Under Best of the Best, Vietnamese | 4 Comments
Yes, yes, we’re back in a big way this week. I’m very pleased to introduce my good friend and personal food guru, Mr. Michael Kwan, who will be guiding us through the menu at Nem Nuong, a Vietnamese eatery specializing in Khanh Hoa cuisine.
Just a real quick plug first, though. One of my favorite Taiwanese restaurants in the San Gabriel Valley is closing its doors on September 20th, so I wanted to re-recommend it and point everyone to my original entry here. This is one of those places that I just kept on going back to, because the food’s so good and wholesome. I’m disappointed that Uncle Chen’s is closing its doors, but I suppose it’s better to have eaten and lost than never eaten at all. Give them a try if you can, you just might catch me there.
Here’s this week’s entry by our guest writer, Michael Kwan:
As you enter the doors of Nem Nuong Ninh Hoa, you will be pleasantly surprised by the charming décor. This isn’t the kind of Vietnamese restaurant that serves the common dishes you’re accustomed to getting like Pho, spring rolls, or cheap sandwiches. No no — none of that — here you will be experiencing the unique food that is synonymous to the region of Khanh Hoa, Vietnam — A local specialty like the Philly Cheesesteak, the Chicago Deep Dish Pizza, Spain’s Paella, Chinese Dim Sum — you get the idea!
So what exactly should you expect? Swine Divine and Savory Shrimp, and simple, rustic elegance that is true to it’s region and explosive flavors!
Unless you get there right when it opens or after the lunch rush, you will be sure to find crowds of people and a waiting list. But as you know that’s a sign that this is a place that is worth waiting for!
Central Vietnamese Beef Soup Noodles - Beef Shank, Pig Feet, Pig Blood
Kevin asked, “Is this pork’s blood soup?” and when he heard the answer was yes he quickly exclaimed “SWEET!”
This dish turned out to be deviant, meaty, hard core and tasty — Kev’s must-haves!
Slurp up the noodles and enjoy the variety of meat, and if you’re daring, drink as much soup as you want — it’s more subtle than you’d expect — the reddish broth can be deceiving.
Special Rice Cake Steamed Right on Small Bowls
This is a signature dish here, so you’ll see everyone with these little bowls of goodness! Shrimp powder on a delightfully refreshing rice cake - what makes it fun to eat is trying to peel it out of the little bowl perfectly in one shot with a spoon - slap on some fish sauce and devour these perfect bites one after another.
House Special Charbroiled Pork Meatballs on Skewers of Ninh Hoa
Charbroiled Pork Meatballs on Skewers
Charbroiled Pork Patties wrapped w/ banana leaf
Charbroiled Sour Pork Patties
Shrimp Egg Rolls
Rice Paper and Fresh Herbs Lettuce
Here you can make several different variations - any way you like it!
The charbroiled flavor of the pork prepared three different ways, with a perfectly crunchy shrimp egg roll and wrap it all up in the rice paper - add your herbs (optional fresh garlic or hot peppers) and enjoy biting into your temporary creations of goodness!
Shrimp Cake Wrapped w/ Crispy Bean Curd with Tiny Rice Sticks
Shrimp cake is dense yet soft and perfectly pairs with the crispiness of the bean curd - add fish sauce and you got flavor extraveganza!
Iced Fresh Soy Milk - refreshing and tasty, great way to counterbalance the savory flavors.
Iced Coffee - no waiting for the drip, served to you already made and mixed with condensed milk - yummy!
This is a family run establishment that was started by 1st generation immigrants from a southern Vietnam district called Ninh Hoa. This place won’t break the bank either - no entree is over $15. There are other places in the area called Nem Nuong, so be careful which one you go to. For an extension of your Vietnamese flavor pallet by experiencing the authenticity of dishes from the region of Ninh Hoa - you’ll get it all here!
Nem Nuong Ninh Hoa
9016 Mission Dr
Rosemead, CA 91770
(626) 286-3370