Vung Tau

Kitty
Vung Tau
535 East Santa Clara St
San Jose, CA 95112

(408)288-9055
Vung Tau @ Downtown San Jose

I have been going to Vung Tau Restaurant since I was pubescent.  I have been there back when it was still had its vintage funky decor.  Now it has been remodeled into a relatively modern and affordable fine dining venue.  But you know what? It is still hands down the best Vietnamese restaurant I have been to.  My mother who is extremely picky when it comes to Vietnamese restaurants (especially since she is well versed in cooking Vietnamese cuisine) and yet this place has won her absolute loyal patronage. Over the 10 years I have been coming here it is consistently awesome no matter what I order.

Goi Ngo Sen Tom Thit

(Mixed salad with lotus roots, shrimp, and pork with a fish sauce dressing served with fried chips)

[$12.95]

 This is a very refreshing salad that gets your palate running.  The lotus roots are slightly crunch and have a sour kick but when you eat it with the herbs, shrimp, and pork it becomes a divine experience.  It's optional whether you want to place some salad on the fried chips to eat or consume the salad as described above.  Either way this simple dish is something not to miss! -Kitty [5/5]

Com Bo Cuon Hanh

(Grilled onion wrapped with beef served with rice, greens, and pickled carrots and radish)

[$9.75]

For those who do not want to stray too far into the exotic side or are starting to dip their feet into Vietnamese cuisine I recommend this.  The beef is will marinated and both the meat and onion are well grilled. The onions a la pigs in a blanket are soft, sweet, and do not leave any spicy sensation on the tongue.-Kitty [4/5]

Canh Chua Ca Bong Lau

(Tamarind soup served with catfish, herbs, and vegetables)

[$15.70]

Warning: For the unfamiliar this soup is SOUR primarily due to the tamarind base.  If you love sour type foods this is a must!  Tomatoes and pineapples can be found to complement the sour theme of this soup.  It is also complemented by vegetables, mint, and delectable catfish. I am partial to soups like this because they offer so much flavor but still remains healthy and not reliant on creams or pureed starchy vegetables. By the way this can easily serve 2-3 people. -Kitty [5/5]

Honorable Mentions:

• Bi Cuon (Shredded pork spring roll) [$7.25] - This is an appetizer, a brother if you may to the more renowned shrimp spring roll (Goi Cuon). I personally enjoy this relative more.  Its pork filling is neither stewed, deep fried, or pulled. I can not describe it beyond than that it is Vietnamese style. Paired with lettuce and mint for filling, I really recommend giving this a try! [5/5]
• Hu Tieu Dai Nam Vang (Mung bean noodle soup featuring shrimp, crab, and pork) [$8.95] - If you're looking for a pho type dish, this one is a go to favorite. I am partial towards the sweet seafood taste and the lean pork that's served with chewy glass noodles and drinkable til there's nothing left at the bottom of the bowl broth [5/5]
• Bun Thit Cha Gio (Grilled pork and egg rolls with vegetables and rice noodle salad) [$9.25] - For those who are craving for some carbs but also prefer something light and more salad like I direct you do this dish. What you'll get is a hefty bed of lettuce and a desirable bed of noodles that are topped with Vietnamese style egg rolls, grilled pork, and mixed vegetables. Mix it all together and drizzle with the fish sauce that it's served with and let the party. start. in. your. mouth. [4/5]
• Bun Cha (Skewer grilled pork with rice noodles served with dipping sauce, greens, and pickled carrots and radishes) [$9.50] - This rice noodle salad is a little different than the others. You get a hefty plate of leafy vegetables and mint, a plate rice noodles, and a bowl filled with marinated skewered grilled pork and pickled carrots and radishes drowning in au jus.  The au jus can be a bit oily but this is also a MUST try if you can not decide what to get. [5/5]
• Com Bo Luc Lac (Cubed beef steak seared with onions, served on bed of vinaigrette dressing salad and accompanied by a plate of tomato rice) [$15.50] - Another good dish for people who prefer not to stray too far off the exotic path. Literally translated, this dish is called Shaking Beef. Why? Because they are wok searing these cubes like a game of Dungeons and Dragons worth of rolling dices. These morsels are strutting themselves with onion, garlic, and black pepper. They are walking the walk on a bed of lettuce that is dressed with an amazing vinaigrette sauce. These bad boys are also strolling down a red carpet.  And when I say red carpet I mean a plate full of tomato rice. - [4/5]
• Tom The Rang Me (Tiger prawns sauteed with tamarind sauce) [$29.50] - I admit this dish is pricey BUT you generously get ten prawns.  Not the wimpy things you find on a cocktail glass. These prawns are called tiger prawns for a reason.  They are at least as big as say...the tip of your thumb to the base of your abductus pollicis brevis muscle (that squishy part on your palm where your thumb is connected). These prawns are also seared with a tamarind sauce, giving it a tangy and savory taste. - [5/5]
• Che Dau Do (Coconut milk with shaved ice, sweet kidney beans, and jelly noodle tapioca) [$3.75] - This is a dessert (though I've grown up eating it waaay before the entrees or appetizers ever came) and it's not overly sweet. The softened kidney beans and coconut milk go hand in hand. What really wins me over with this dessert is the jelly noodle tapioca because of its lovable chewiness. [5/5]

I strongly recommend Vietnamese cuisine. I think it's a dining experience that is flavorful and also healthy. It is also very versatile and offers much more than simply pho. I may be biased since I have been coming here for so long but I really feel that Vung Tau uses fresh ingredients, doesn't go crazy with the salt, and keeps oiliness to a minimum.