Le Croissant Dore – (714) 895-3070 – Westminster

Le Croissant Dore – (714) 895-3070 – Westminster – 9122 Bolsa Ave, 92683

This French Vietnamese bakery is known for its fruit topped flan cakes Ban Trai Cay (Bun Try Kay) which are often ordered for parties. Many tasty french style pastries but this place is also know for its Bo Kho with Banh Mi or Hu Tieu (Baw Hall with Bun Me or Who Tew) Beef stew with French Bread or Noodles. Bo Kho is a spicy & hearty beef stew with carrots, beef chunks, onion, tendon, and a bit of curry spice.

Song Long – (714) 775-3724 – Westminster

Song Long – (714) 775-3724 – Westminster – 9361 Bolsa Ave # 108, 92683
Hours as of 10/2010 were open 7 days a week 9am to 9:30pm

French/Vietnamese style dishes but the Cha Ca Thanh Long (Ja Ka Ton Long) which is the sizzling curry fish served with fresh fragrant dill herbs where you also mix yourself with vermicilli noodle, greens. Has other Vietnamese staples like bun thit nuong. I tried the banh khot (Bun Caulk) here and it was not good. That is the round little half rice cakes served with mint and lettuce. For good banh khot I recommend going to Khanh Hoa instead.

This place is also known for baked goods so if you order a french steak type dish you get the warmed up french roll which is not too bad.

Huong Huong Food to Go – (714) 895-6551 – Westminster

Huong Huong Food to Go – (714) 895-6551 – Westminster, 9262 Bolsa Ave #C, 92683

A big buffet of food that you can point to and choose to take home. Lots of different Vietnamese food classics and staples. Sort of the a Vietnamese style Boston Market restaurant.

Another location is at 9892 Westminster Ave #315, Garden Grove, CA 92643, (714) 534-4820 – located in the 99 cent store complex near Brodard Restaurant.

Cay Dua – (714) 839-7799 – Santa Ana

Cay Dua – (714) 839-7799 – Santa Ana – 3522 W First St, 92703 next to Favori Restaurant across from the Ace Hardware store. Corner of First and Jackson Streets. Hours as of Oct 2010 were: Mon – Wed 10am to 9pm, Fri – Sun 10am – 10pm.

A small restaurant known for the Cha ca thanh long (jaa ka tan long) which is sizzling fish with dill served with vermicilli noodles. Bun Mam Bac Lieu is also popular here. The specials are Ban si va le nem chua ba diem, lau mam, banh canh tom cua.

Banh Xeo (Bun sale) is good here as well. That is the savory crepe like pancake that you eat with mint and herbs.

Tay Thuong – Garden Grove – 714-530-7077

Tay Thuong – Garden Grove – 714-530-7077  –  9904 Westminster Ave, CA 92844

Tues to Sun 9am to 9pm, closed on Mondays. The beef noodle soup Bun Bo Hue (Boon Baw Way) and yellow noodle salad soup Mi Quang (Me Kwan) is good here.

Favori – (714) 531-6838 – Santa Ana

Favori – (714) 531-6838 – Santa Ana – 3502 W. First St, 92703 – www.favorirestaurant.com

One of the oldest Vietnamese restaurants specializing in French/Vietnamese courses but also Ca Nuong (Ka Noong)  and Lau (Loud) – a hot pot fondue like soup where you boil the raw meat/seafood at your table and eat with salad and rice noodles.

Hanoi Restaurant – Westminster – (714) 901-8101

Hanoi Restaurant – Westminster – (714) 901-8101, 9082-9086 Bolsa Ave, 92683
Hanoi is the Northern capital city in Vietnam with a name like that you know they specialize in Northern cusine like Bun Cha Ha Noi (Boon Ja Ha Noy) which is cold vermicilli noodle, Vietnamese greens, and beef and pork where you mix it up yourself. There is also Cha Ca Thanh Long (Ja Ka Ton Long) which is the sizzling curry fish served with fresh fragrant dill herbs where you also mix yourself with vermicilli noodle, greens. Bun Oc (Boon Oak) here is also good which is snail vermicilli soup.

Sing Sing Bakery – Westminster (714) 775-8307

Sing Sing Bakery – Westminster (714) 775-8307 – 9600 Bolsa Suite A, 92683

Many Vietnamese bakeries in Orange County that make French influenced pastries such as ban pate chaud (bun patty soul) which is like an empanada, flaky crust with meat patty inside. There’s also ban bao (bun bow) which is a fluffy white flour ball with meat/egg patty inside which is a popular breakfast food. For parties, many people like to buy the ban trai cai (bun try kay) which is a fruit pie, a flaky crust topped with cream and then on top of that fresh fruit like strawberries, kiwi, oranges in a clear gelatin sauce. It is not too sweet so many older folks enjoy it.

I bought my wedding cake from Sing Sing Bakery and they did a very nice job, tasty and looked great but half the price of that other overpriced Vietnamese cake specialist, Final Touch.

Pho Vie II – Garden Grove (714) 539-5224

Pho Vie II – Garden Grove (714) 539-5224 – 10120 Westminster Ave, 92843

Another Pho shop that seems to be related to Pho Thanh. It is notable because it was one of the first to have the 50% Pho Ga special. A good deal for a bowl of Vietnamese style chicken noodle soup. Still, my favorite hands down is Pho 86 since the broth doesn’t seem to be as oily there.

Binh Minh – Garden Grove (714) 636-7103

Binh Minh – Garden Grove (714) 636-7103 – 9908 Westminster Ave, 92844, closed Wednesdays. Sun to Thurs 9am to 9pm, Fri-Sat: 9am to 9:30pm

Specializing in Northern Vietnamese dishes like Bun Cha Ha Noi (Boon Jaa Ha Noy) and Bung (Boong). Located in the 99 cent store complex.