Chow Down Atlanta

It’s quite a trek for most but if you want good Dominican food, you have to make the trip to Lilburn/Norcross which has been the gateway for such restaurants. I have been here a few times, eating off of the cafeteria-style specials the first time then from the menu after. I suggest you do the same since ordering from the menu, at lunch and especially during busy dinner hours, can take over an hour to get your food. We timed it the last time we came at an off-hour, slow day and it took a good 20 minutes. I also had mistakenly come here on one of my Meatless Fridays and sure enough, the entire Dominican population in Atlanta was there observing the same practice with me. Dinner became a two-hour ordeal but the wait was so worth it.

If you want a quick meal, then opt for the ready-cooked entrees from the cafeteria section. Every single one is good. I love the beef stew and the oxtail. Both are very tender and stewed in tomato-based sauces. They are so fantastic you’ll be sorry not to try them. The spices, bold flavors, and fork-tender meat make this stews so comforting. And oh so yummy.

There are a couple of things you need to get from the menu. One is the deep-fried whole chillo. The red snapper is huge, about 2 pounds, seasoned lightly with salt then fried golden. The skin is crispy while the meat is juicy and tender. Served with a side salad, rice, and beans, it’s an awesome deal and a huge meal for $9.95 for lunch and $14.95 for dinner. A real steal since it’s big enough to feed two — that’s two people with normal appetites. I can down one easily, as with my lunch buddies, good friends Stan and GJ who ordered one each. Stan, a connoisseur of island food, being raised in Puerto Rico, and whose family owns a restaurant serving Dominican food among others, was very happy with their fried fish topped with a tomato-based sauce.

excuse the blue hue… they had the disco lights on

The plain fried fish is good as well. The clean flavor of the fish really stands out. I’ve had this fried fish three times and it goes without saying that you must try it.

The other thing you need to get from the menu, the deep fried pork, is one of my favorites. Strips of tender, marinated pork are deep fried and served with rice and a very simple salad. I like this better than the fried pork belly because it doesn’t have that hard, chewy pork skin that, while delicious, can be a pain to eat sometimes. Every meal also comes with a side cup of beans. The beans here made a fan of me. It’s really good. Lots of flavor and good consistency.

A friend got the sauteed, grilled steak strips that came topped with onions and green peppers. This dish is really good as the meat was just so flavorful.

The spicy shrimp (similar to scampi) has that pleasant, slight kick, with just the right amount of spiciness in them. Tender, sweetish.

Spaghetti? Yes. With meatballs. Unlike Italian spaghetti, the island version is more savory with only a little hint of tartness from the tomatoes. Worth a try.

Mofongo. This mashed plantain is a popular Caribbean dish which originated in Puerto Rico. It is made from fried green plantains or fried yuca, seasoned with garlic, olive oil, and pork cracklings, then mashed with a little broth. The big serving here laced with huge pieces of pork skin is just that: tasty. And what’s a meal with Stan without mofongo!

Tostones and fried sweet plantains are equally good and make best sides or appetizers. You can’t go wrong with either one.

One last thing. Beware of Friday and Saturday nights when this place doubles as a disco complete with a live band and dancing. While the place becomes fun, the food takes longer to come out.

Cafe Dominican
4650 Jimmy Carter Blvd.
Norcross, GA 30093
(770) 723-3784

Technorati Tags: Dominican, Norcross

There are two reasons I love farmer’s markets — fresh fruits and artisan bread. But farmer’s markets are so elusive to me because I can never make it to the morning ones on time. Come to find out, there are afternoon ones, too! So I went to one, The Whistle Stop Farmer’s Market. They’re stationed in downtown Norcross near the railroad tracks every Tuesday from 4-8PM. It’s not a huge one, maybe 20 stalls at most, but you still get a great selection of produce and goods.

First stop: bread. I just wanted fresh-baked bread. The ones you can slather butter onto and eat plain. And I found it!!! Baguettes, freshly baked by Thomas Sergio of Olde World Artisan Bread Co is simply the best. They are so dense, chewy, and buttery. Seriously, these are the best baguettes I’ve had and I’ve been (eaten) everywhere! Read Thomas’ claim to fame and include his baguettes in your list of 100 things to eat before you die. Seriously.

The second reason I came here was because my mom is into peaches lately. So I got her those famous Pearson Farm peaches. These Georgia peaches are so unbelievably juicy. I don’t really remember how much they were going for. All I know is that I paid $30 for an entire box and I scored a free bag of 10 just because. If you’ve never had these peaches before, you need to make it a point to try them. And hurry as the season for them is almost over.

The Whistle Stop Farmer’s Market in Historic Norcross
7 Jones Street
Norcross, GA 30071
Tuesdays, 4-8PM

Technorati Tags: Farmers Market, Norcross

I was 10 years old when I had my first bánh mi. My mom has a very good lady friend who is Vietnamese and always had us for dinner. Growing up, Sunday afternoons were spent visiting them all the way in Jonesboro, having dinner, and staying til past our bedtime. She made the best pho and bo kho (beef stew) from scratch, and of course, bánh mìs.

Bánh mìs are the Vietnamese version of subs. But a thousand times better. A heavy influence from the French, chewy, crusty French baguettes are used then filled with an assortment of tantalizing meats. Roast or grilled pork are the most popular here in the US but pork roll (meat balls), liver paté, and cold cuts are the norm in Vietnam: turkey, ham, chicken, and head cheese. Butter is normally spread on the bread but most places nowadays use mayo or a variation of butter-mayo or mayo dressing. Pickled carrots and daikon lend a hint of sweet-tangy taste plus strips of cucumbers and sprigs of cilantro all add crunch. These inexpensive sandwiches are delicious and I urge you to try one.

When Dinho grocery first opened in the late 80s, they had a sandwich shop next to it (it’s been replaced by what is now Dinho Bakery). It was the first place in Atlanta to sell bánh mi and early childhood memories always include them. All they sold were bánh mìs (slathered in butter instead of mayo) at $1.00 apiece, and these phenomenal Vietnamese cakes with the most amazing buttercream icing. The cakes were made by hand by the Vietnamese proprietress who would only make them when she felt like it, or if you happen to be good friends with her. We got a cake every month and my mom would always get bánh mìs regularly for us. They didn’t have grilled/roast pork bánh mis then so our favorite was relegated to the homemade cold cuts-luncheon meat combo. Nowadays, the bánh mì is as staple as the Big Mac. Buford Highway (and a little bit beyond) is literally peppered with bánh mì places so I thought it would be nice to showcase some of them. Call it your Atlanta Bánh Mì Guide. Here goes.

1. Quoc Huong

5150 Buford Hwy NE
Doraville, GA 30340
(770) 936-0605
Cash only
Closed Thursdays

Coming in at number one and the undisputed bánh mì king of Atlanta is none other than Quoc Huong. Did you know? The grilled/roast pork (Bánh Mì Thit Nuong) here is stellar, unrivaled, and tastes exactly the same since they’ve been open (early 90s). Seriously, don’t get anything else. The super flavorful, salty-sweet, smoky red pork is well-marinated, roasted, then grilled. Both texture and taste are phenomenal. They are the only place that uses a sweetish mayo dressing (think milder thousand island) and the perfectly-balanced sweet-tart pickled daikon/carrots are delicious additions. Sliced cucumbers and cilantro all add flavor and crunch. I love that they use a good ratio of meat to veggies that keeps the flavor of the grilled meat to stand out.

The baguettes they use have a crisp, flaky crust and a chewy inside, thanks to a super secret French bakery they employ because as Mr. Quoc Hong (as I’ve always known him) would always tell my mom: “Bánh mìs are only as good as the baguettes. No other bakers can make the best other than the French. Vietnamese-baked baguettes can never compare.” By the way, their bánh mìs heat up really well so take some home and pop them in the oven or toaster oven for a couple of minutes. P.S. Get your bánh mìs with jalapeños for punch.

2. Pho Viet

4300 Buford Hwy NE
Atlanta, GA 30341
(678) 999-9110

A good contender and the one that takes the number two spot in Atlanta is none other than Pho Viet. The bread, baked in-house, is crisp and flaky outside, and smooth and soft inside. They use the traditional butter-mayo spread that tastes buttery rather than oily. They make the best combination bánh mi in town (Bánh Mì Dac Biet) consisting of liver paté, ham, pork roll (they call it meatball), and head cheese. Each piece of deli meat is made in-house and sold in the store. They are fresh-tasting, not salty, and sliced thick. Head cheese is quite tricky because most places that don’t prepare it right cause the cold-cut to have an off-putting taste and smell. Such is not the case here. I highly suggest you try their version. It’s the best.

The grilled pork bánh mì is just as good, with the pork tasting wonderfully savory yet sweetish. The pickled daikon/carrots has the right amount of sweet-tart flavors. The good-sized baguettes plus the generous filling of meat make their bánh mis quite filling.

3. Pho Bac

4897 Buford Hwy
Chamblee, GA 30341
(770) 986-4273

Pho Bac’s grilled pork bánh mì is fantastic. The grilled pork has the perfect salty-sweet taste. They use mayo very sparingly and they don’t skimp on the meat which is nice. Go past the chewy, uncrusty baguette they use and they still take the number 3 position.

4. No. 1 Hong Kong Bakery

5494 Jimmy Carter Blvd
Norcross, GA 30093
(770) 837-0270

The combination bánh mì (Bánh Mì Dac Biet) here is quite amazing. Reminds me of the ones we got at Dinho when we were young. The meat slices are thick and plenty. Homemade cold cuts include pork, turkey, ham, and head cheese. The pickled daikon/carrots are sliced thick and chunky to provide great crunch and offset the soft meats. The grilled pork bánh mi is just as good. The pork is seasoned well and goes well with the other toppings. The baguettes that are baked in-house are so flaky. Add plenty of cilantro and these are one of the best bánh mìs $3 can buy.

5. Huy’s Sandwich

6100 Live Oak Pkwy,
Norcross, GA 30093
770-666-6762
Open Daily from 8:00AM – 8:00PM
Closed on Tuesdays

The biggest bánh mì shop and newest joint of the bunch. Did you know? They offer 16 kinds of bánh mì. Including varieties you won’t find in many places: sunny side up eggs, fish (anchovies), meat balls, and liver paté, to name a few. The French bread they use is huge: 10 inches! They use butter!!! The crust is crumbly rather than flaky and the inside is soft and chewy. The meat filling is abundant, with a perfect 4:1 ratio to veggies. The pickled daikon and carrots are balanced in sweet and tart flavors. The cilantro and cucumbers are fresh and crunchy. I ate three bánh mìs on my visit. The Grilled Pork (Number 9) is the best of the lot. The grilled pork has a tiny hint of sweet crust and undertones of lemongrass. It’s tender yet at the same time, crunchy. It’s delicious.

The Combination (Thit) bánh mì which includes paté, headcheese, and steamed pork is equally good. You get a lot of different flavors from the housemade deli meats. The paté is bold and tastes of concentrated liver. The headcheese is mild and does not have that off-putting smell and off-putting porky taste. The BBQ Pork isn’t the one you’re accustomed to see in other places. Here, it’s more a pork loin that has been roasted. I prefer the grilled pork.

6. Viet Tofu

4897 Buford Highway
Atlanta, GA 30341

Viet Tofu offers ready-made, cooked-on-premises dishes such as fried rice (Com Chien), rice cakes, pastries, noodles, snacks, sticky rice, wraps, rolls, tofu, and, of course, bánh mì. Don’t bother coming in to sit down, this is a take-out only place. They offer two types of bánh mì pork here: the red roasted-then-grilled pork and a regular grilled pork. Although, the grilled pork they use isn’t quite as good as the others, they are the next best thing. The regular grilled pork is very tender and juicy. Both are grilled on-premises and very flavorful. The bánh mìs here are humongous — about three inches longer and fatter than anywhere else. They use regular mayo but the chunky pickled daikon/carrots are more tart than their counterparts so they balance well. Other notable choices include the chicken and the meatloaf. In any case, all are equally good.

7. Lee’s Bakery

4005 Buford Hwy NE
Atlanta, GA 30345
(404) 728-1008

Did you know? My favorite here at Lee’s is their chocolate croissants. I order them in batches of 25 every so often. But let’s talk about their bánh mìs. I’m sad to say that I’ve never been a fan of Lee’s bánh mìs. And I notice that most people ITP really love this place. Is it the proximity to town? I find Lee’s the most inferior in the company of other places. Nevertheless, it’s a popular joint so I had to include it. The grilled pork they use here border on the sweeter side and the texture is just off. It seems like they grill the pork early in the day and reheat as needed. The result is wet, grilled meat with a boiled meat texture. The flavor is not as good as the other places in town. And they really skimp on the meat in their sandwiches.

The deli meats in their combination bánh mi is so thinly sliced, you can hardly taste them. Most times, the amount of pickled daikon/carrots is just so much that it makes me feel like I’m eating a salad bánh mi with specks of meat. It’s also worth noting that their pickled daikon/carrots border on the salty side, thanks to the heavy use of nước chấm (fish sauce). The baguettes, made in-premises, however, are quite good. No matter, it’s a good place to get a very inexpensive bánh mì fix especially if you live ITP opt for their daily special: half bánh mi with a bowl of pho all for $6.50. Can’t beat that.

There you have it, folks. Although I’ve been eating bánh mis regularly since I was 10, I ate so many bánh mìs lately that I’m laying off them for a while. Hope this guide helps you out. I had so much fun doing it.

~Chloe
Follow me on Twitter” @chowdownATL
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Technorati Tags: bánh mi, Vietnamese, Atlanta, Buford Highway

So what do you do when 30 years of snow in Denver finally gets to you? You move to Atlanta!!! Owners Huy and Tina, husband and wife team, did just that, three months ago and opened the biggest bánh mì shop in Atlanta. In business a mere 7 days (thanks again to good friend G4 for the intel), Tina puts out the most delicious Vietnamese street food — buns, egg rolls, sticky rice, rice cakes, hot/cold desserts, dimsum items, and many more — while husband Huy tends to the bakery, making French bread for the sandwiches and other baked goodies. It’s a perfect partnership.

First, the logistics. The immaculately clean and gigantic space is take-out only. There are a couple of tables outside. No, they couldn’t put any tables inside because that means more capital needed and more astringent county code requirements to be met. The joint sits in a plaza a stone’s throw away from Hong Kong Supermarket, on the side street next to KoKai. All the food is made in-house and from-scratch by Tina. Every single baked good is baked by Huy from the bakery in the back. They’re open 7 days from 8 to 8 except Tuesdays. They have coffee and bubble teas. Credit and debit cards are accepted.

Biggest bánh mì shop. Did you know? They offer 16 kinds of bánh mì. Including varieties you won’t find in many places: sunny side up eggs, fish (anchovies), meat balls, and liver paté, to name a few. The French bread they use is huge: 10 inches! They use butter!!! The crust is crumbly rather than flaky and the inside is soft and chewy. The meat filling is abundant, with a perfect 4:1 ratio to veggies. The pickled daikon and carrots are balanced in sweet and tart flavors. The cilantro and cucumbers are fresh and crunchy. I ate three bánh mìs on my visit. The Grilled Pork (Number 9) is the best of the lot. The grilled pork has a tiny hint of sweet crust and undertones of lemongrass. It’s tender yet at the same time, crunchy. It’s delicious.

The Combination (Thit) which includes paté, headcheese, and steamed pork is equally good. You get a lot of different flavors from the housemade deli meats. The paté is bold and tastes of concentrated liver. The headcheese is mild and does not have that off-putting smell and off-putting porky taste. The BBQ Pork isn’t the one you’re accustomed to see in other places. Here, it’s more a pork loin that has been roasted. I prefer the grilled pork.

retarded-looking but delicious waffle (the waffle iron was acting up)

But wait, they have waffles (Bánh Kẹp Lá Dứa)!!! I absolutely love these. I remember these popular street food in Saigon. They’re ready in a flash and can be eaten while walking. The batter in these coconut waffles have shredded young coconut meat and infused with pandan. The fragrant aroma is unbelievable. It tastes coconutty, it’s chewy. Tina was having problems creating a perfect consistency for her waffle-maker to handle so excuse the retarded-looking product. I didn’t mind and ate it all. Priced at $1.50, what’s not to like.

You must, must try all of the hot desserts. They’re like coconut soup but sweet and thick. Not cloyingly sweet, just enough. My favorite is the Che Khoai Mi. It has chunks of chewy cassava, young coconut, tapioca, and boba. It’s comforting. Love it. I also had the one with bananas. Both are good.

There are so many things to eat here. I want to try their rice cakes and steamed buns next time. Tina and Huy are the most gracious, kind people you’ll ever find and will treat you like their own child the first second you meet them. (P.S. Tell them Chloe sent you.)

Huy’s Sandwich
6100 Live Oak Pkwy,
Norcross, GA 30093
770-666-6762
Open Daily from 8:00AM – 8:00PM
Closed on Tuesdays

Technorati Tags: bánh mì, Norcross, Vietnamese, boba, street food, take-out

I’ve been disappointed with Taiwanese places in Atlanta. One serves very inconsistent food and the other one is, well, totally forgettable. When Kan Pai opened, I went a couple of times and tried the meat bowls. I never liked any of them and I still don’t. These bowls are confused — they’re a cross between Japanese and Taiwanese/Chinese flavors and, for me, they just don’t work. Avoid them at all costs.

What is really, really good here, however, are the small plates. The street food items that are common in Taiwan. The Taiwanese sausage is my favorite here. It is slightly sweet and salty, with the texture of firmer kielbasa. It’s served warm, sliced, and with a side of fresh garlic. Skip the garlic and savor the flavor of the sausage. It’s best eaten with steamed rice. Oh, so yummy, I could eat three orders of this.

The Beef Wrap is fantasticness in chewy bites. They come in these thick, chewy, rice flour wrap that’s lightly fried and filled with loads of tasty stir-fried beef, cilantro, and lettuce. It’s like dim sum on steroids.

A Taiwanese street food staple, the Taiwanese Glutinous Meat Ball will make your taste buds so happy. It’s a meat ball — in the sense that the meat is encased in a ball. The ball, a dumpling of sorts, is an extremely sticky, extremely chewy, extremely gelatinous, translucent tapioca flour dough that’s filled with stewed beef. It is topped with sweet chili sauce and a drizzle of sesame oil. The stew is salty-sweet with tender chunks of beef. Aah, this is one tasty street food. And fun to eat, too.

The skewers are Taiwanese style. The meats are lightly flavored with five spice powder and basted with chili-soy sauce similar (but not the same) as teriyaki sauce.

The Braised Beef Noodle soup, the national food of Taiwan, is very good here. The deep broth is the result of many hours of boiling beef. Thick, flat noodles are used which have enough texture for the broth to cling to. Yummy.

Lastly, did you know? Taiwan claims they invented the popular boba aka bubble tea in the late 80s. But I disagree because similar drinks with tapioca balls have been around for ages all over Asia. In any case, I’m warning you. Under no circumstances should you make a mistake in getting a boba here. Don’t. Ever. You’ll regret it. There, I warned you.

Now go get some sausages and beef wraps.

Kan Pai Cafe
3466 Holcomb Bridge Road
Norcross, GA 30092
(770) 840-8999

Technorati Tags: Taiwanese, Holcomb Br, Norcross