xsaltire's site

My Dear and I had a Vietnamese food trip yesterday, eating at Pho Hoa in SM Manila for lunch and Zao/Dzao Vietnemese Cafe in Eastwood City for dinner. Click on the pictures for the review. Here are their scores:

PHO HOA
Quality = 7.0
Size = 6.0
Taste = 8.0
Ambience = 5.0
Service = 6.0
Value = P466.63
Price = P250.00
Sulit Rating = 1.87 > 1

ZAO/DZAO VIETNAMESE CAFE
Quality = 7.0
Size = 6.5
Taste = 8.0
Ambience = 7.0
Service = 7.0
Value = P682.65
Price = P400.00
Sulit Rating = 1.71 > 1

Eating at those restaurants reminded me of Vietnam Food House, which used to be at the 4th floor of SM Megamall. I still rank it as my favourite Vietnamese restaurant in this country, at par with La Petite Camille in Millbrae, CA. Owned by a friendly Vietnamese family, Vietnam Food House was frequented by my family from grade school all the way to my undergrad days. Our favourite was this sweet caramelised pork stew which we called Vietnamese adobo for the colour even if it tasted nothing like our adobo. Other favourites were fresh spring rolls, sticky rice cooked with meat and vegetables in a clay pot, salads, and a pandan-flavoured sticky rice dessert. Once I had a sour sinigang-like fish dish that had pineapples to add a little sweetness, which was unique to say the least. Too bad it closed down.