Thien Long Restaurant is one of my favorite Vietnamese restaurants in San Jose. Anytime out of towners visit and want Vietnamese food, we always take them here. They have a huge menu full of delicious Vietnamese dishes, but the one dish I love eating and always order when I go there is the specialty, Cha … Continue reading Turmeric Dill Fish (Cha Ca La Vong)
Category: Vietnamese Food
For as long as I can remember, Korean beef short ribs have been a crowd pleaser and favorite party food at birthday parties and/or other special occasions! Whenever my parents threw us a party when I was a kid, they made sure our guests were fell fed and bought the best food to treat our … Continue reading Grilled Lemongrass Korean Short Ribs
One of my favorite things to do with leftover proteins is to make fried rice. It is super easy to make and one of the best ways to get rid of all the leftovers in the fridge. Not to mention, 99% of the time, it is kid-approved. That's super important in my house. With the … Continue reading Chinese BBQ Pork and Shrimp Fried Rice
Late last summer, my friends and I took a friend's trip to North Lake Tahoe for a weekend getaway. People were assigned cooking duties for each meal and on the last night, the friends hosted a seafood boil for our 30 friends and kids. They cooked a cooler full of fresh head-on shrimp, tons of … Continue reading Asian Cajun Seafood Boil
When I was a kid, one of my favorite chicken dishes my mom made was gà nước mắm, tiêu, đường. Literally translated to chicken with fish sauce, pepper, and sugar. Mom pan-fried the chicken leaving a beautiful fish sauce smell all over the house. The chicken skin crisped up and the meat was juicy and … Continue reading Fish Sauce and Pepper BBQ Chicken
When I use a whole chicken to make my Chao Ga, we usually end up with lots of leftover chicken. I started tossing the leftover chicken with fresh shredded cabbage and other crunchy veggies for Goi Ga so it wouldn't go to waste. This recipe is super easy and you can mix and match your … Continue reading Vietnamese Chicken Salad (Goi Ga)
Over the past few years, these aromatic and delicious BBQ pork skewers have been a smashing hit at all family birthday parties and holiday events. It is the perfect protein option for fresh vermicelli bowls, banh mi sandwiches, or eaten straight off the skewer. It is also, in my opinion, best topped with roasted … Continue reading Grilled Lemongrass Pork Skewers
I'm a traditionalist when it comes to cooking food. I enjoy taking my time and following precise techniques and steps to properly cook food to 1) allow the flavors to mingle and develop, no matter how long it takes, from start to finish and 2) achieve consistent outcome each time. However, my two young girls … Continue reading Instant Pot Beef Pho
When I was a kid, my mom braised lemongrass chicken pretty frequently. She used to buy whole chickens from the store, cut it up into bite-sized pieces, and braised in fish sauce and coconut juice until most of the juices evaporate and tons of flavors get absorbed inside each chicken piece. I remember enjoying the … Continue reading Vietnamese Braised Lemongrass Chicken
When I was a kid, Mom used to make Bò Kho Sả Ớt for me all the time. She braised the tender and flavorful beef over low heat for a long time and the mouth-watering smell of the fragrant lemongrass and fish sauce spread throughout our house. When it was time to eat, the succulent … Continue reading Vietnamese Braised Lemongrass Beef
