Chow Down Atlanta

I’m not really a big fan of this chain but one of my best buddies is. Besides, not all chains are created equal and out of all the locations (I’ve tried them all), this one in Duluth puts out the best tasting food. So it’s been a regular lunch and late night option for us lately.

My favorites here are the fried spring rolls, the rice plates, and, of course, pho. The only thing about the spring rolls is that you’ll never know when you’ll get freshly fried ones. Most times, they’ve been sitting out under a heating lamp. Why? Because it takes a while to fry them and you’ll get them when you’re half-way done with your main entrees. Also, the place is always packed so they just fry them in batches. When freshly fried, they are crispy with the wrapper becoming flaky and crunchy. So good.

Rice plates are a common Asian meal. You get meat, rice, and a small salad. Get the combo with two grilled pork chops. They are tender, juicy, and so flavorful. Add a side of fried eggs and you’ve just become an Asian yourself!

Pho is so good especially in this cool weather. The broth is bold with a lot of layers of flavors. There are tons of meat with a good amount of noodles, too. Don’t make a mistake of ordering this late at night as they tend to water it down to last through their opening hours (they are open til midnight). During lunch time, however, you’ll taste this good-for-the-body soup that’s guaranteed to comfort.

Open til midnight. Fully packed with a wait during lunch time. Check website for other locations.

Saigon Cafe
3675 Satellite Blvd.
Duluth, GA 30096
(770) 232-5070

Technorati Tags: Vietnamese, Duluth, Gwinnett, pho, com

This is not the place if you’re looking for authentic pho. Rather, the pho and much of the other dishes served here are Korean-inspired. I guess it’s what’s to be expected from a Korean-owned and operated joint. But don’t let that disappoint you. It’s not all that bad.

The broth doesn’t come close to the original thing: it lacks the necessary depth of flavor and it’s quite thin and watered down. There are no undertones of cinnamon and star anise. However, the broth is clean and tastes more like plain beef stock. It’s a pretty good soup, but then again, it’s not pho. Each bowl comes with cold slices of onions and steamed bean sprouts, plus the usual limes, basil leaves, and jalapeno garnishes. A side of kimchi, available upon request, is fresh and spicy as it should be.

If there is one soup you must get here, it’s the Oxtail Pho. I don’t remember seeing it on the menu so just ask your server for it. The broth of this soup is quite fantastic: very flavorful and has the unique taste of oxtail. While you may be used to seeing oxtail with bones and meat, they’ve cleverly removed the bones and shredded the meat for you. Makes for easy eating. The order also comes in two bowls. The bigger bowl includes their regular pho broth and the smaller one has the flaked meat and oxtail broth. You need to mix them up together to get the full effect. Add the usual garnishes and what you get is a bold, hearty soup that is perfect for our current cooler weather.

Rice dishes also have a noticeable Korean flare. Instead of Jasmin, they use short grain Korean rice. You really can’t tell much difference but since I’m a rice expert, I can tell. They do cook it a little firmer so, really, the difference is negligible. Toppings include grilled meats and the grilled pork is a bestseller. Their nuoc cham dipping sauce version is amazingly spot on. It is not as sweet and with the perfect balance of flavors and lots of fresh minced garlic to boot.

Perhaps the word Pho in their name is actually a misnomer. No matter, they do have pretty decent pho-like noodle soups. The place is spotless and servers are attentive. For a better and more authentic alternative, head on over to What The Pho.

Side note: Do be sure to buy from the “Farmer’s Market On Wheels” when you’re in the area. Old Korean women touting freshly-picked vegetables from their home garden roam around peddling from the back of their vans and every single vegetable is so fresh. My last acquisition: Korean sweet potatoes (great when boiled and slathered with butter), small cucumbers, apples, tomatoes, and peppers. You’ll see them in the parking lot of Super H and other Korean strip malls.

Insider tip:
You can get the bean sprouts either steamed or raw. Remember the scare of salmonella on raw bean sprouts not too long ago? I prefer the steamed.

The scoop:
LA Pho
2645 N Berkeley Lake Rd, #129
Duluth, GA 30096
(678) 417-9220

Technorati Tags: pho, Korean, Vietnamese, Duluth