"I TOLD YOU ABOUT THAT PLACE!!"…read more
To be honest, I had no idea that my well intended text to tell one of my best friends about my favorite Vietnamese restaurant in SJ would trigger such a response from her. While she might think otherwise, I genuinely had no recollection of her apparently telling me about this place all of those years ago! Regardless, though, in the end, the joke is clearly on me because it took me so long to come here a couple of years ago. However, evidenced by the number of dishes I've ended up trying here, I'd like to think I've made up for some of that lost time!
Even though they aren't far off or hidden away, it feels like Thien Long is easy to overlook, especially given how congested their complex can get. Yet, despite how busy their parking lot can get, the restaurant itself is surprisingly large, as they have a bunch of tables for groups large or small (we've never had to wait). What's more, the menu here is AWESOME. Beyond just the normal slate of appetizers, pho, noodle soups, rice plates, and vermicelli bowls, it also has a terrific selection of specialties and entrees that aren't super common. In particular, their signature Bun Cha Ca La Vong is something I've only seen at a handful of places (and pricier ones, at that).
-- (#A2) CHA GIO - Fried Vietnamese Egg Rolls...$6
Probably the least impressive thing I've had here, but it was still perfectly fine. While the portion felt a little light, the filling tasted okay, the egg roll was crispy, and I liked that it wasn't all that oily.
-- (#17) PHO GA DAI - Rice Noodle Soup w/ Chicken Meat and Organs...$17.95 (large)
I don't know if me being sick had anything to do with it, but this really hit the spot. The soup felt so warm and homely and I love how there was a good balance and amount of chicken and noodles.
-- (#31) BUN CHA HANOI - BBQ Pork & Pork Patties with Thin Noodles...$17.95
I've been on the hunt for a version of this as good as my go-to spot's in SF that closed and this is easily the best I've found so far. The pork patties are really juicy and I liked the bit of char on the BBQ pork. Plus, they sure didn't skimp on the amount of leaves or meat.
-- (#36A & #36B) THIT BO XAO HANH HUONG CUON BANH TRANG (Thien Long Stir Fried Beef & Onions) & BUN CHA CA LA VONG (Grilled Fish) with Thin Noodles, Vegetables, and Rice Paper...$35.95
We saw another table get a half & half order and knew we had to do the same to try both. While the slices of beef were good, the "grilled" (fried) fish was the absolute star. Each piece was lightly breaded, well seasoned with turmeric, and very flakey.
-- (#3) PHO CHIN, NAM, GAU, GAN - Rice Noodle Soup with Well Done Brisket, Flank, Plate, and Tendon...$17.50 (large)
This may not have been the best I've had, but this isn't far behind. The broth is beefy and rich, yet not that fatty/greasy, and I love how the bowl came loaded with a balanced ratio of meats to noodles.
-- (#32) BUN CHA CA THIT NUONG - Grilled Fish, BBQ Pork, and Vegetables with Thin Noodles...$18.95
Essentially the combination of two of my favorite Vietnamese dishes anywhere, which is perfect for when I can't decide on what to get. The only things missing are the Pork Patties and the rice paper, but you can't have it all.
-- (#56B) COM TAM DAC BIET - Pork Chop, Shredded Pork, Fried Shrimp Cake, and Steamed Egg Loaf with Broken Rice...$18.95
This wasn't the best one I've had, but it's definitely up there. The Pork Chop was really flavorful, the Shrimp Cake was crispy, the Egg Loaf was super thick, and I love how they gave a side of soup, which a lot of places don't typically do.
Along with how delicious the food is, the other thing that I like about Thien Long is the service. Not only are all of the workers and servers really nice, but they're surprisingly attentive. Plus, the restaurant always looks and feels so clean!
The only thing about Thien Long that I hate, besides the parking and how far away they are from me (I'd come here far more than I should if they were closer), is how they've essentially set an impossible standard for most pho joints to match. Really, they all just seem so basic now that I know how much more I can get here, both in terms of taste and menu options. Over the years, I've been more than happy to make the drive down here and I'm more than happy to keep doing it to get my fix of my Vietnamese favorites. Which is really something these days considering how gas is currently $eleventy dollars a gallon (#pain).