Mercey Vang
Latest Reviews
Phi Chay Thai Cuisine
First visit today 08/22/2023 for lunch and it was great! There was only one server and we were the 6th table (x2). Flavors were true Thai, delicious, and affordable!!!!!! The dining room was medium-sized, well-kept, and inviting. The restroom was clean and there was a refreshing scent. Definitely, a repeat, must-visit spot! Going back for sure to try other dishes. I'll update!!
1. Boat Noodle (7/10): Savory, seasoned well, and not overly salty. Hardly sweet at all and preferred- what boat noodles should taste like. I added only lime, chili powder, and chili oil for a hint of heat. The beef slices were very tender and the meatballs had a good bite- not overly cooked nor too soft. PREFER spice aromatics to be more prevalent-it was mild).
2. Grilled Mussel Appetizer (7/10): Well-baked small mussels with sticky sweet fish sauce drizzled on top with/ green onions. Very tasty, sweet & salty. PREFER more sauce because as it sat, the sauce got thick and began to dry/harden. Great that there were like slices to drizzle- made the dish even better with a tang.
3. Crispy Tossed Salad (4/5) Fresh vegetables with the star being the dressing. It tasted like a honey mustard, poppy, sweet fish sauce flavor. Loved it! The crispy factor was the crispy wonton strips. Would have loved cucumbers!
4. Pork Belly Pad Kra Pao (2/5): Very good taste but on the sweeter side and the pork belly had more fat-to-meat ratio. This made it just fatty in flavor and the bite was not great (as if not rendered very well).
1. Boat Noodle (7/10): Savory, seasoned well, and not overly salty. Hardly sweet at all and preferred- what boat noodles should taste like. I added only lime, chili powder, and chili oil for a hint of heat. The beef slices were very tender and the meatballs had a good bite- not overly cooked nor too soft. PREFER spice aromatics to be more prevalent-it was mild).
2. Grilled Mussel Appetizer (7/10): Well-baked small mussels with sticky sweet fish sauce drizzled on top with/ green onions. Very tasty, sweet & salty. PREFER more sauce because as it sat, the sauce got thick and began to dry/harden. Great that there were like slices to drizzle- made the dish even better with a tang.
3. Crispy Tossed Salad (4/5) Fresh vegetables with the star being the dressing. It tasted like a honey mustard, poppy, sweet fish sauce flavor. Loved it! The crispy factor was the crispy wonton strips. Would have loved cucumbers!
4. Pork Belly Pad Kra Pao (2/5): Very good taste but on the sweeter side and the pork belly had more fat-to-meat ratio. This made it just fatty in flavor and the bite was not great (as if not rendered very well).
Hương Thảo Vietnamese Cuisine
12/29/2022
Unexpectedly, a very great Vietnamese restaurant despite its location amid a strip mall that doesn't seem very vibeful. The flavors are worth it and repeat visits are highly recommended.
Food: Very satisfying and freshly cooked/created. It'll remind you of what Vietnamese flavors should taste like and you'll come back.
Service: Greeted and seated with a smile and a directional sway of the arm to the area of choice for seating. Pick your table. Served with water beverages promptly. She came to ask to place our order after a few minutes but it was our first time. She gave us enough time (5-7 min) which is almost plenty because I like to look at everything!
Atmosphere: Spacious interior with tables and chairs (table for 2 (small table), 4 (medium table) & 6 seaters (LG table). Minimal art decor and plenty of plants and flower decor coat the entire restaurant. Plenty of lighting from outside into the glass windows and interior lights were perfectly bright. Single stalled male & female shared restroom which was clean and normal. The restaurant overall is a typical appearance but the visit should be for its flavors and textures of food.
1. Huong Thao Noodle Soup w/rice noodle soup $12.50‐5/5 (seafood w/ choice of rice or egg noodle) *MUST TRY ITEM
Refreshing clear broth, tender and surprisingly, perfectly cooked seafood (mussel, shrimp, pork/shrimp meatball slices, scallops, squid). The best seafood bite was with the squid and scallops! The broth is perfectly sweet and salty with hints of spice. Served with a bed of beansprouts, basil, jalapeños, and lime. It was so good I forgot I had herbs!!
2. Pork & shrimp spring rolls $6.25 4/5 (qty 2 rolls)
Fresh rice wrapper because you can smell the rice aroma, rice noodle vermicelli was soft, pork tenderloin slices and shrimp were tender.
*Served with a knife to slice the roll, accompanied with Nuac Mam sauce (taste of fish sauce stronger than palm sugar but I loved it) and peanut sauce. Add housin for nutty sweetness and Sriracha for heat!
3. Fried Pork Eggrolls $6.95 5/5 (qty 4 rolls) *MUST TRY ITEM
Crispy exterior, moist pork filling, and seasoned perfectly you can eat it on its own.
*served with a bed of Romain, basil, cilantro & cucumbers; Exactly how it's supposed to be served!
4. Pepper Steak $11.95-3/5 (small platter enough for 3-4 people)
Thinly sliced beef tenderloin with refreshing, yet still crunchy and not overcooked bell peppers, onions, and carrots. Stir-fried with a sweet sauce. Ordered the dish medium on the spice-heat level which was very mild when eaten. Tasted like regular sambal (vinegar based) with a touch of Sriracha was their spice choice for spiciness. It's an acquired taste so if you're expecting a chili oil toss for this dish it is not available at this location.
Unexpectedly, a very great Vietnamese restaurant despite its location amid a strip mall that doesn't seem very vibeful. The flavors are worth it and repeat visits are highly recommended.
Food: Very satisfying and freshly cooked/created. It'll remind you of what Vietnamese flavors should taste like and you'll come back.
Service: Greeted and seated with a smile and a directional sway of the arm to the area of choice for seating. Pick your table. Served with water beverages promptly. She came to ask to place our order after a few minutes but it was our first time. She gave us enough time (5-7 min) which is almost plenty because I like to look at everything!
Atmosphere: Spacious interior with tables and chairs (table for 2 (small table), 4 (medium table) & 6 seaters (LG table). Minimal art decor and plenty of plants and flower decor coat the entire restaurant. Plenty of lighting from outside into the glass windows and interior lights were perfectly bright. Single stalled male & female shared restroom which was clean and normal. The restaurant overall is a typical appearance but the visit should be for its flavors and textures of food.
1. Huong Thao Noodle Soup w/rice noodle soup $12.50‐5/5 (seafood w/ choice of rice or egg noodle) *MUST TRY ITEM
Refreshing clear broth, tender and surprisingly, perfectly cooked seafood (mussel, shrimp, pork/shrimp meatball slices, scallops, squid). The best seafood bite was with the squid and scallops! The broth is perfectly sweet and salty with hints of spice. Served with a bed of beansprouts, basil, jalapeños, and lime. It was so good I forgot I had herbs!!
2. Pork & shrimp spring rolls $6.25 4/5 (qty 2 rolls)
Fresh rice wrapper because you can smell the rice aroma, rice noodle vermicelli was soft, pork tenderloin slices and shrimp were tender.
*Served with a knife to slice the roll, accompanied with Nuac Mam sauce (taste of fish sauce stronger than palm sugar but I loved it) and peanut sauce. Add housin for nutty sweetness and Sriracha for heat!
3. Fried Pork Eggrolls $6.95 5/5 (qty 4 rolls) *MUST TRY ITEM
Crispy exterior, moist pork filling, and seasoned perfectly you can eat it on its own.
*served with a bed of Romain, basil, cilantro & cucumbers; Exactly how it's supposed to be served!
4. Pepper Steak $11.95-3/5 (small platter enough for 3-4 people)
Thinly sliced beef tenderloin with refreshing, yet still crunchy and not overcooked bell peppers, onions, and carrots. Stir-fried with a sweet sauce. Ordered the dish medium on the spice-heat level which was very mild when eaten. Tasted like regular sambal (vinegar based) with a touch of Sriracha was their spice choice for spiciness. It's an acquired taste so if you're expecting a chili oil toss for this dish it is not available at this location.
Kbop Korean Bistro
Excellent Korean spot in dinky town! Very spacious with small and long tables. Pleasant and friendly service. A must-visit location! Definitely coming back.
1. Jampong $16: Flavorful and exactly the right amount of spice and saltiness. Seafood (clams, shrimp, calamari rings, octopus tentacles, and baby scallops) were perfectly tender. A good amount of veggies but could use more ratio to noodle proportion. Very generous bowl!
2. Du Bu Dae Chigae $12: Rich and flavorful broth, perfectly cooked Ramen, and ingredients. Rice was cooked well. Bowl was worth it and it came out sizzling!
3. Fried Mandu (veg) $11: Crispy exterior with a moist interior. Tad bit soggy filling but good. Came in a quantity of 8 per order. The dumpling soy sauce was good but a bit salty. When eaten with the mandatory it paired well.
4 Kimbap $6.25: One roll to go. The daughters enjoyed it at home but said it was salty but ok.
Banchan sides:
A. Sweet pickled cucumbers: Crunchy & fresh but sweet. Sliced onions round out the bite.
B. Napa cabbage kimchi: Mild and tangy but very crisp and great.
C. Fish cake slices: Mildly sweet but savory and the texture is perfectly soft and not tough.
1. Jampong $16: Flavorful and exactly the right amount of spice and saltiness. Seafood (clams, shrimp, calamari rings, octopus tentacles, and baby scallops) were perfectly tender. A good amount of veggies but could use more ratio to noodle proportion. Very generous bowl!
2. Du Bu Dae Chigae $12: Rich and flavorful broth, perfectly cooked Ramen, and ingredients. Rice was cooked well. Bowl was worth it and it came out sizzling!
3. Fried Mandu (veg) $11: Crispy exterior with a moist interior. Tad bit soggy filling but good. Came in a quantity of 8 per order. The dumpling soy sauce was good but a bit salty. When eaten with the mandatory it paired well.
4 Kimbap $6.25: One roll to go. The daughters enjoyed it at home but said it was salty but ok.
Banchan sides:
A. Sweet pickled cucumbers: Crunchy & fresh but sweet. Sliced onions round out the bite.
B. Napa cabbage kimchi: Mild and tangy but very crisp and great.
C. Fish cake slices: Mildly sweet but savory and the texture is perfectly soft and not tough.
Arirang Korea Restaurant
I love food and I can say, this is an authentic, worth the value and flavor, Korean joint.
It's not someplace fancy and upscale, so expect attentiveness. The environment is like your traditional walking, order, grab and eat, set your tray of dishes on the rack and go.
The reason for your visit here would be for the flavor and enjoyment of the food.
It's not someplace fancy and upscale, so expect attentiveness. The environment is like your traditional walking, order, grab and eat, set your tray of dishes on the rack and go.
The reason for your visit here would be for the flavor and enjoyment of the food.