Pho Vi Hoa... PVH in da house

Map: 4546 El Camino Real # 12, Los Altos, CA 94022

I've eaten so many times in this place that Hoa the owner confirms my order before I sit down. It's always "P1 large"... the pho tai in a bowl that's bigger than your head. Call me a creature of habit, but when I want the pure stuff, P1 is the order to get. The soup is darker and the noodles more dough-ey than what you'd find in the streets of Hanoi. But the flavor is rich and hearty to warm up the darkest days of winter. Couple that with a turnaround time of less than 5 minutes for the food to come out (yes, I've timed it many times), and PVH becomes a highway to gratification.

For other options I like the rice vermicelli dishes. There's a grilled shrimp, chicken and spring roll combo that's a favorite especially in the summer time when eating P1 large is unbearable. Like most Vietnamese food the bowls are light and fresh with a variety of veggies to complement the heavy meats. If you want something warmer, give the rice dishes a shot. Same combos as the vermicelli, but with rice. Go figure.

Why do I keep coming back? Besides feeling like Norm from Cheers when I walk in, the place is clean and spacious. And unlike many other pho joints, the bowls look like they've been washed.

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A&J Restaurant... Altar of the Noodle Soup Gods

Map: Cupertino Village, 10893 N Wolfe Rd, Cupertino CA

The wait staff scowls at you. The waft of stinky tofu makes your eyes water. Cash only. No English. Ah, that's A&J.

A&J Cafe offers a wide variety of authentic Taiwanese small plates (xiao chi) that, in aggregate, make up a hearty meal. There's an English menu that seems like a foil for all the yummy stuff. If you don't speak or read Chinese, go with someone who does. Service is faster because they hand you a self-serve menu like in sushi restaurants. Mark what you want, wave the sheet in front of a waitress's face and order her to take it away. The ruder the better.

On a fobby scale this place is an 11. I would wager this place makes the best beef noodle soup (hong shao niu ro mien) in the South Bay, although Milpitas purists would probably challenge me. The beef is tender, fatty and melts in your mouth. The noodles are made fresh by the Mexican kitchen staff in back, and you can choose between thin noodles (xi mien) or thick (chu mien). The broth brings back memories of my grandfather's secret recipe: dark from the soy sauce base and a sweet aftertaste from generous portions of star anise. When you burp 30 minutes later you'll realize just how much garlic is in the concoction. The bowls are big, but not pho huge... probably around 6" wide. Each bowl is topped with a couple leaves of Chinese spinach to ease your guilt. I usually pair my niu ro mien with an order of scallion pancakes (cong you bing), which in my opinion A&J makes the best in the South Bay. The pancakes are flaky, salty and not too greasy (but also not too dry). Try dipping a wedge into the niu ro mien broth. I know it sounds ghetto, but it's so good.

There are a ton of options to please your palate at A&J. Their entree-sized dishes are decent, but the good stuff is on that checklist. Just be careful. One mis-translated word, and you're getting intestines in your broth.

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