Based on the meal I had at the one in San Mateo, I can't say I would've predicted I'd be writing…read moreabout this Gao for my 1,900th review nor that I'd be giving it five stars. Not that my experience was bad or anything; I just didn't think the food was as impressive as others made it out to be. That being said, part of me always wondered if we just didn't try the best of what they have to offer. Now that I've enjoyed multiple meals here, I KNOW that was very much the case!
If you didn't know beforehand, you'd never guess that this place used to be a KFC/Taco Bell. However, as awesome of a job as they did to completely change the look of the space, the menu is even more impressive. Not only was it easier to read than the one in San Mateo (I remember it felt cluttered), but everything just sounded more appealing. From their Vietnamese street eats, starters, and cocktails to their seafood entrees, specialties, and noodle soups, nearly every dish sounded too good not to try!
-- BIG GAO PHO - Beef Rib, Filet Mignon, Bone Marrow, Onion, Green Onion, Cilantro, and Rice Noodles...$41
Honestly, I get why everyone says good things about Gao's pho. More than how obviously loaded the bowl was, the rib and filet mignon were terrific and the broth was rich and flavorful yet not heavy/greasy.
-- BO NE - Filet Mignon, Sweet Sausage, Pate, Fried Egg, Ham, Tomato, Onion, Green Onion, BBQ Sauce, and Bread (or Rice)...$45
Not only was the portion huge, but it tasted great! The beef was super tender, the eggs were cooked perfectly, the bread was soft yet crusty, and I really liked the sauce that everything sat in.
-- SAUSAGE SPRING ROLL (Nem Nuon Cuon) - Pork Sausage, Rice Paper, Vermicelli, Lettuce, Cucumber, Mint, Beansprout, Fried Egg Roll Wrapper, and Pickled Carrots and Daikon with Peanut Sauce...$15
While this wasn't the best I've had, it's not far behind. Along with how plump the rolls were, the pork was really juicy and the veggies were super fresh. Too bad they don't have a dipping sauce like Brodard's!
-- IMPERIAL ROLLS (Cha Gio) - Ground Pork, Wood Ear Mushroom, Vermicelli, Carrot, Taro, Onion, Rice Paper, Lettuce, Mint, Pickled Carrot, and Daikon...$16
Nothing amazing, but no less delicious. Each time we've had this, the rolls have been crispy and fairly sizable. Plus, I love how the egg rolls have never been all that oily either!
-- BEEF BOY PHO with Beef Rib Cubes, Filet Mignon, Bone Marrow, and a 24-hour Beef Broth...$36
As intrigued as I was by their other varieties, I couldn't resist trying the smaller version of the Big Gao Pho. Surprisingly, I actually thought this was better - no bones to deal with and still just as delicious and meaty.
-- BUN CHA - Fatty Pork Meatball, Pork Belly, Chili, Fish Sauce, Lettuce, Vermicelli, Cucumber, Mint, Green Onion, Pickled Carrot, and Daikon...$30
I was pretty excited to try this and, thankfully, it turned out great! The pork meatballs were juicy and the pork belly was so luscious. I also liked how they didn't skimp on the vegetables either! So good.
-- WHAT DA DUCK PHO (Pho Vit) - Duck Breast Marinated in a House Sauce, Roasted and Pan Seared, in a Pork & Beef Broth...$36
This didn't amaze like some of the other dishes here, but it was more than solid. The noodles had a nice bite to them and it came with a fair amount of duck, which was tender and quite flavorful.
-- FISH SAUCE CHICKEN WINGS with Vietnamese Coriander, Garlic, Chili, Jalapeno, Bell Pepper, Lettuce, and Onions...$17
So, so good! The wings were really crispy and moist, but the fish sauce glaze/sauce on this was what made this stand out - a bit salty, a bit spicy, and lets of umami.
-- TURMERIC FISH & DILL - Tumeric-Marinated Fish Pan-Seared with Dill and Onion, Served Sizzling with Vermicelli, Herbs, and Dipping Sauce...$37
Not as good as my favorite in San Jose, but still so tasty. The fish was crispy and flaky with the right mix of dill and turmeric to it. Plus, the portion was so big, I easily got two meals out of this.
-- UBE COFFEE - Vietnamese Iced Coffee Topped with Ube Sweet Cream...$8.50
This was a little sweeter than I prefer, but it was delicious! The coffee tastes so good and is well complemented by the ube. Yum!
Beyond how good the food is, the other thing that has stood out about Gao has been the service. In addition to just being able to take large party reservations (we've been here twice with 14+ people), the servers have always been so patient and friendly. Plus, one time, when our server realized that she gave us the wrong beers, she ended up taking them off our bill even though we told her we didn't mind - so nice!
Despite how it's pricier than your average Vietnamese restaurant (it's also a lot nicer), it's safe to say I'm now a big fan of Gao. So much so that I feel like I need to go back to their San Mateo spot just to update my review...and to have another excuse to try even more of the food.
FOUR AND A HALF STARS rounded up.