Chinatown: Via Cafe

Located conveniently in the festive Chinatown Central Plaza, Via Cafe has recently been expanded and renovated while retaining good selections of Vietnamese staples and International drinks in the menu.




Like Good Girl Dinette in Highland Park, Via stepped out of the hole-in-wall mindset and offers a finer Vietnamese dining experience in a casual urban setting that is both pleasing and comforting.



Shrimp & Pork Spring Rolls (4.25) are a bite of the protein, vermicelli, lettuce and mint, dipped in the light peanut sauce. The rolls look appetizing and taste good and fresh.



Bun Rieu, the crab meat rice noodle soup (8), with real crab meat in a tomato based soup stock tastes healthy, filling, and flavorful.



Via's rare beef & brisket Pho (7.5) is MSG-free, yet nothing shy of umami. The protein tastes fresh and tender. Portions are generous. Don’t be surprised to see some emptying the soup before touching the noodles.



As the table’s favorite, House Special Chow Fun (8.5), the wide rice noodles with chicken, shrimp, & filet mignon is stir fried and seasoned skillfully. We often ask it to be cooked with less grease and it tastes healthy and better than most other SGV counterparts that offer the same dish.




Hainan Chicken (7.5), easily one of the best versions in town, is served with boneless breast cuts. The soy and ginger condiments add good aromatic flavors. The pickled carrot and radish slices wake your palate with light acidity.



At Via Cafe, the food proves to be consistently fresh and reasonably priced. The place is casual, clean and hip. For those in the neighborhood, Via might just be the place to go whenever (they open everyday!) you don’t feel like cooking.


Via Cafe
viacafechinatown.com | 451 Gin Lin Way Los Angeles, CA 90012 | map | menu | (213) 617-1481

Highland Park: Good Girl Dinette

When it comes to Vietnamese food, many might expect the hole-in-the-wall experience. Good Girl Dinette not only creates a place that proclaims itself to be “American diner meets vietnamese comfort food”, in it, Americans will likely find pure comfort with odorless, vibrant ambience and more.



With the place half full, service was prompt. The Rice Cakes with Crispy Scallion Tofu ($4.74) tasted like Taiwanese stinky tofu without the strong odor leaving only the good heartiness in every bite. On the thoughts of sticky tofu, the popular spicy fries between tables quite the contrary smelled like paradise.



Grandpa-n-ma’s Porridge and Pho (pint-size $5 ea) tasted very much home-made. The white miso and chicken broths were both light and heart friendly. The smaller portion was perfect for a healthy night out.




The staff’s recommendation, their Seared Beef Rice Noodle Salad ($11) proved to be the strongest dish of the evening.  The steak slices were seared and grilled to a perfect medium rare soaked in a not too sweet spicy soy sauce dressing. Pouring over this aeromatic goodness over a bowl of fresh greens, vegetables, fried scallions, crushed peanuts, and rice noodles you got yourself a bowl you won't be sharing.




At $5 a treat, GGD's nutty Coconut Bread Pudding and the supreme creamy melty Almond Jelly were definitely worth the extra calories.



Call it Fancy Vietnamese if you want, Good Girl Dinette provides good eats in an American comfort zone. And if that's not enough, bring your own drinks and they won't even charge you.


good girl DINETTE
www.goodgirlfoods.com | 110 north avenue 56, los angeles, ca 90042 - map | (323) 257-8980