So Pho So Good

Druu and I have been going to this Pho Joint in Carson for a few years called Pho Bistro. I showed up a couple weeks ago and thought they had closed. I read the sign closely and it was closed for renovation. I showed up earlier this week and noticed the name had changed to So Pho So Good.

Not knowing what to expect I, I went in and noticed the menu was the same. It was the same awesomeness as before, with the food a little more dressed up. Marie, the owner introduced herself and made me feel comfortable and welcome. I told her that I'd be back the next day, since I forgot my camera. I lied, I showed up today with Druu and Sean for some down home Vietnamese cooking. I got some Lemon Grass Chicken, which was phenomenal. Druu and Sean got some Vermacelli with grilled chicken and egg rolls. I also got some Pho: I was, however in a place named after it.

The food was fantastic and the menu didn't have anything over $8.00! So for fast and healthy dining in Carson, Check out So Pho So Good located at 1818 E Carson St, Carson, CA 90745 (Corner of Carson and Wilmington), You won't be sorry(=

Noodle Soup and Buns of Goodness at Carson's Mami King

The sun came out this afternoon but at lunchtime the sky was overcast, which got Joel and I in the mood for some noodles and soup. It was a Mami King day.

Mami (pronounced sort of like "mommy") could be considered the Philippine version of America's chicken noodle soup. Start with thin noodles in a hot and light broth, then add scallions, some shredded napa cabbage and select the kind of meat you want in it.  There are three Mami King locations in Southern California that we know of, Carson (where we ate), West Covina and Buena Park. Mami is one of their specialties, and siopao is the other. Called bao or baozi in China, where they originated, manapua where I grew up in Hawaii and siopao in the Philippines, they are steamed buns filled with various meat or vegetable fillings. They're a small meal in a bun, and since the filling is completely enclosed in the bread-like dough they're not messy. Uh-huh, pretty close to the perfect finger food to go, right? Hell yeah.

Joel had a bowl of special mami, which basically has everything in the kitchen thrown in it, along with a pork siopao. He cut it open so we could get a pic of the meaty deliciousness. I went with a bowl of siomai mami, which has two Chinese dumplings buried under the noodles so you can't see them in the picture, along with a chicken siopao. Good grubbage, for sure.

Carson's Mami King is in a tiny strip mall at the corner of Main St. and 223rd. The place isn't much to look at from the outside, but the food is very satisfying while not being very heavy and won't break the bank. My bowl of mami, siopao and a coke cost about $9.

Cheers!
Druu

Vietnamese in Carson at Blue Lotus

In the past few years, Vietnamese food has gained a whole lot of popularity throughout Southern California.  Pho joints have popped up all over the place, and if you haven't tried pho yet (Vietnamese noodle soup) then get your butt outta the house and get some.

Carson is known more for Filipino food than any other type of cuisine, but there are at least three small Vietnamese restaurants in town.  The newest (about a year old or so) and the one with the most pleasing decor is Blue Lotus, at the corner of Carson Street and Main Street.  The building used to be a Del Taco fast food joint, but it's been reworked and upgraded into Blue Lotus.  Dark wood tables, richly colored walls and a custom-built waterfall near the entrance gives Blue Lotus a step up in ambience over the typical pho joint, making it acceptable for a casual date or a business lunch, and the food is pretty yummy.

Above is a dish of grilled chicken with vermicelli and an egg roll (bun ga nuong cha gio) along with a glass of iced coffee.  Their iced coffee is not the sweet Thai iced coffee you might be used to.  It looks similar, but is stronger and only a little sweet.  It definitely has more balls than the Thai stuff.  Below are Blue Lotus' house special rice (com dac biet 5 mon) and a more Chinese than Vietnamese combination crispy chow mein (mi xao don tham cam).

Blue Lotus can be found at 21705 Main Street in Carson.  They're open every day from 10am to 10pm, and there's nothing on the menu over $9.50.