"I'm noting South El Monte’s new Buddha Vegetarian Restaurant has been wowing early diners since opening in August with pitch-perfect noodle soups and meatless renditions of bún mắm, bún riêu, and Central Vietnamese dumplings, positioning itself as a challenge to neighboring stalwarts Veggie Life and Thien Tam (not to be confused with Happy Buddha Kitchen in Temple City)." - Cathy Chaplin