Best-rated VN food in Rochester. I walked 1.5 miles for it. Was it worth it? Here's my story.
OK, so I've been eyeing this place since I arrived in Rochester for a conference. Being a Vietnamese guy, and liking the cuisine (and just eating in general), I had to check it out. (I admit I was also curious how Vietnamese people found there way up here. Wrong turn at Albuquerque? Also went to a conference but missed the plane home?!?)
So anyway, it's the second to last day of the conference, and it was already after 5 p.m., temp dropping, and I was too lazy to go back to my hotel room for my jacket. So, I briskly walked there (not fun in business shoes!), deciding to take the food to go since it was getting dark and cold. It was about 1.5 miles round trip. I let common sense blow away in the cool breeze and moved my feet.
Upon arriving, I took the mandatory Yelp exterior photo, then walked in. The interior was...quaint. And that's a good thing. One thing my mom's been right about is that the fancy, upscale VN places tend to forget about authentic food. This interior was far from upscale, which held great promise for the much-anticipated food.
I didn't even have to look at the menu. I ordered one of my favorite dishes, one which I use as a measuring stick for the food in a VN restaurant: com bo luc lac (rice with marinated cubed steak; see photo). I could tell the owners were happy to see another VN person, because I probably just upped the VN population in Rochester by, what, 10%? I keed, I keed!
I patiently waited for the food, and the air was damp with the odors that smelled a lot like the cooking I had when growing up: clay pot dishes, hot soups, etc. That was a good sign. Another good sign was a lot of local regulars, who the owner seemed to know by name. (I normally see how many VN folks are in a VN restaurant as another measure of authenticity, but had to cut some slack due to geography in this case.)
I didn't have to wait long at all, despite the restaurant being half full. My takeout plate took maybe 5 minutes tops to come out, and I then quickly hoofed it back in the now colder, darker evening. Two thoughts dominated the walk: don't let the food get too cold; and try not to be mistaken for an Asian food delivery guy. I succeeded on both counts.
OK, OK. So what about the food?
The plate was flavorful, and a familiarly welcome taste to my palate. (I mean, I really wasn't expecting Asian food up north, and down in Houston, you can throw a rock and hit at least three Asian restaurants if you ricochet it right.) The cubed steak was a bit tougher and chewier than I'm accustomed to from Houston VN restaurants, but I could definitely see myself coming back to order it again, and curious enough to branch out and see what else I'd like on their menu. Though I probably won't be back again till next year, I'd recommend trying the same plate (com bo luc lac), as well as their clay pot dishes and pho dac biet (the "house special"). I'll be back. read more