Jando S.
Yelp
Where there is a Viet enclave, there's usually a banh cuon spot. Where there are many banh cuon spots, there's usually a Banh Cuon Tay Ho. (#1)
I appreciate that it's not a chain and is big enough to house all sorts of parties. The interior is clean and the decor is minimal, save for a few odd color schemes. There is a good amount of parking and I love the fact they have their front windows shaded from the intense sunny days.
Like any specialty banh cuon spot, it boils down to variety, execution, and quality. Banh cuon being as delicate as it is, means the likelihood of ruining it is a little too high. I'm happy to report the ones here are good and tasty enough to make me a frequent visitor if I lived in the OC. I like their house special: banh cuon tay ho dac biet, which contains a little bit of everything such as chunks of cha lua, crispy shallots, fried garlic, and fresh chiles.
Big ups to their funky, semi-potent fish sauce. Nuoc mam is an essential component to the banh cuon experience and this did not disappoint. For non-banh cuon items, I think their banh xeo is crunchy and tasty as is their banh tom khoai chay. The latter is a potato and shrimp fried cluster of textural fun and gives a slightly salty addition to the sensory experience.
Service has been good for the most part and speaking Vietnamese is always a plus. The prices are creeping up though, which is just the way things are now. They're open everyday, except for Thursdays.
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(#1) Tay Ho, one of vibrant areas of Hanoi where shopping and eats reign supreme.