Thien Huong Restaurant, 727 N Broadway #107, Los…

Thien Huong looks old school and it always seems fairly busy. It’s the sole Vietnamese restaurant at Far East Plaza. The menu includes pho, noodle soups (e.g., bun bo hue, bun rieu), rice dishes, banh mi, appetizers, etc. There are 9 kinds of banh mi to choose from ($5 – $7 each) – no vegan options. I was pleased to see that they include snails, blood, and tendon in some dishes.

Dac biet banh mi ($5): special ham, head cheese, pork loaf (cha lu), pate, pickled carrots and daikon, cilantro, jalapenos, and mayo tucked in a light, extra crunchy 12-inch baguette. The slightly sweet baguette might have had rice flour because it was so light and crispy. However, it was also the kind that breaks into tiny crumbs with every bite. The interior of the baguette was softer. The veggies were nicely pickled and the jalapenos pretty spicy. The meats were all delicious and so was the creamy pate. Might be the best banh mi in Chinatown (there’s one other place that I need to try).

The interior is no frills. They have a TV going and mirrors around the perimeter. $15 credit card minimum.

4 out of 5 stars.

By Lolia S.