Before meeting up with some friends to see Drag Me to Hell, PK and I decided to get some Vietnamese food at Xinh Xinh. The plan was that we were going to get a vermicelli and a seafood dish. However, when we walked in, PK couldn’t take her eye off the Banh Xeo (Vietnamese Crepe) that the person next to us was eating.
So, we decided to get the crepe. It is listed as an appetizer, but it is more than enough for a meal. It was good, and was packed full of bean sprouts with a bit of shrimp and chicken. We also got the Mucrang Muoi (Spicy Fried Calamari).
As usual, we had a great meal at Xinh Xinh.
Verdict: Delicious as always!
Cheap, Chinatown, Vietnamese
Boston, Cheap, Chinatown, Vietnamese
Before going to see the Bouncing Souls and Lifetime play on Thursday, PK and I met up with Tio in Chinatown. I was craving the roasted pork at the Hong Kong Eatery, but when we walked by Xinh Xinh, I remembered reading something good about their soup on chowhound.com.
Unfortunately, it was way too hot outside for pho, so we tried some other items on their menu. We started with Chim Cut Roti (roasted quail; $8.95), which was quite good–mainly due to the tasty marinade. For our main course, PK went with her favorite Vietnamese dish– Bun Thit Nuong (grilled pork with vermicelli; $5.95). This was very good! She had tons of food in her bowl, and the pork was deliciously grilled & marinated (even though a few pieces were a little too charred). I ordered the Ca Kho to (catfish hot pot; $9 or $10). This was also very good.
Verdict: Not the best Vietnamese food in Boston, but it is still very good. 
Boston, Chinatown, Vietnamese
Over a month ago (don’t know why I forgot to post this one earlier), when going to see Strangers with Candy, PK and I decided to grab a quick meal at Le’s. I have never eaten at Pho Pasteaur’s Harvard Square location, but since we are huge fans of their restaurants in Allston and Chinatown, we knew that we would not be disappointed.
We both ordered a Tsing Tao ($3.95). I had a small Cahn Chua (hot and sour soup with catfish ($7.95) and PK ordered a Shrimp, Pork, and Crispy Spring Roll Vermicelli (Tom Thit Cha Goi Bun $6.95). I was pleasantly surprised withe my soup since I rarely stray from the bun or pho at Vietnamese Restaurants. PK’s dish was good, but did not seem as delicious as at the other locations since they were a bit skimpy on the amount of pork (but not on the bean sprouts) and the marination was not as flavorful.
Verdict: Since there are not many under $10 places for a sit down meal in Harvard Square, I recommend Le’s even though the quality of the food and the service was worse than the other Pho Pasteurs (or Le’s) around town.
Cambridge, Vietnamese
I picked PK up from work and we were in the mood to grab something in the area. We were both curious to try Pho Lemongrass since many people have told me that they like it. I started off with the Midori Melon Margarita ($5.75) and PK had the Raspberry Margarita ($5.75). This was my very first margarita in a Vietnamese restaurant, and it will probably be my last even though it was not really that bad, just way too sweet (and I could barely taste the alcohol). For an appetizer, we ordered the Sugar Cane Shrimp Cake ($8.95). I had high expectations for this since I love Pho Pasteur’s version. However, this one was not even close to as good, tasting more like filler than shrimp. For our main course, PK had the Chao Tom Bun ($8.25) which is rice vermicelli with grilled shrimp, pork, and a spring roll. I had the Pho Fisherman ($7.25) which was fish broth with shrimp, calamari, fish cake, and imitation crab. PK’s meal had a good flavor, but it was not as tasty as Pho Pasteur since it did not much come with much pork, the pork was not as well marinated, and the vermicelli just did not taste as good as it should. I am not sure if this was due to the thickness of the vermicelli or the brand that they used. My broth was excellent, but the rest of my fish pho was a complete disappointment since it only came with two medium sized shrimp, one fishball, two small pieces of squid, and two small pieces of imitation crab meat.
Verdict: Pho Lemongrass is more expensive than Pho Pasteur. They do not give you as much meat or fish as they do at Pho Pasteur. I would have rather eaten at Pho Pasteur or tried Pho 2000 in Dorchester.
Brookline, Vietnamese
On Friday before heading out to see Darkbuster play at O’Briens, PK and I decided to go for a quick/cheap dinner at Pho Pasteur. We started off with an order of Goi Cuon Dau Hu (Vegetarian Fresh Rolls). I had a small Dac Biet pho ($4.75; beef noodle soup with rare steak, well done brisket, beef flank, tendon, and tripe) which, as always, was great. I am not a fan of tripe so this was the only part of my meal that was left in the bowl. PK had a Bun Tom Thit ($5.75; vermicelli with grilled shrimp and pork) which was also delicious.
Verdict: Pho Pasteur is my favorite Vietnamese restaurant in the area. For some reason, I like their locations in Allston and Chinatown better than their other restaurants. Also, their Nuoc Cham sauce is the best in the area. Too many places make it too sweet for my liking. However, many people tell me that I need to try Pho 2000 in Dorchester, which I will do soon…
Allston, Vietnamese