Nem Nướng Khánh Hoà — Restaurant in Alhambra

Le Food: 2.5/5 stars

Banh Beo: 3/5 It came in small plates on a tray. It looks plain. The toppings were sparse with only small amount of shredded shrimp and a fried pork skin. Toppings tasted good but need more of it. No Myung bean. No green onion or chives. The rice cake texture was powdery, not my preference.

The Banh Beo near Valley/New is much better.

Pho Tai Nam: 2/5 Really plain broth that's almost devoid of flavor. I had to add Fish sauce, basil, pepper.... And still could not improve the flavor. The rare meat was good and had nice flavor. The brisket was not very good and lacking flavor. At least it was not unsavory or inedible. The noodle was cooked perfectly how ever. Too bad the broth was not up to par. Go else where for Pho. Really. The

Nem Nuong Cuon: I did not have it this time but from memory it was OK or a little above average. This is what many people are raving about. I did see the serving for the next table and it looked at least good. The premade rolls also looked good. Perhaps you should stick to the basic food here.

Atmosphere: 3/5 stars. Hole in the wall, mom and pop kind of place. Limited seating for perhaps 20 people max. Nothing fancy; average up-kept. At least it was not filthy.

Service: 3.5/5 stars. Fast, no nonsense service, Asian fast food place. Cash only. Pay at the counter.

Expense: 4/5 stars. Cheap eat. Better than American fast food.

Return: 3/5 stars. Not on the top of my list but if I want VN rolls, I'd come back. I'd not recommend the Banh Beo or Pho from here.

Overall 3.2 stars and rounded...

VIETNAM 🇻🇳 Eat the World LA review: This was the first Vietnamese restaurant I ever ate at in the Los Angeles area. It was on an October day in 2015 that was boiling close to 40 degrees celsius, and there was definitely no way a bowl of pho could be ordered. Luckily the special here is the grilled pork patties known as nem nuong, of which I ordered the appetizer portion (below) that comes with a plate load of vegetables to wrap and crunch with as well as multiple dipping sauces and rice paper wrappers. ° Khánh Hòa is a province in Vietnam not quite south, but towards the south end of the central region. Let's call it South Central. Famous for its beautiful Nha Trang region and beaches, tourists are a common sight, but maybe the most interesting regional specialty are these nem nuong. ° If you have ever been to the famous Brodard in Orange County, you immediately recognize that they do not give you this option to do the wrapping yourself. After four or five tries, when you start to get the textures combinations just right, you have second thoughts about...

Nem Nướng Khánh Hoà is one of my favorite spots for soup in the SGV. I've kept this gem to myself for too long, but I realize how important it is to support small restaurants so they can thrive for years to come.

I first discovered this place about five years ago and instantly fell in love. I would even travel from South LA just for a warm bowl of pho and their incredible Nem Nướng Cuon, which are pork and shrimp spring rolls. Their lemonade soda is a must-have—it's the perfect refresher after a hot bowl of pho. That’s my go-to order, and don't forget to add chili for an extra kick! Make sure to grab plenty of napkins; you’ll definitely be sweating after this meal.

The restaurant is located in a small strip mall at the corner of Valley Blvd. and Marengo. Parking can be tricky, even for compact cars, as it shares space with other businesses and the spots are quite small.

Just a heads up: it's CASH ONLY, and be patient since the restaurant is run by just three people—the owners and the cook. They’re incredibly welcoming and treat you like family....