Thien Tam Vegetarian Restaurant
Vegetarian restaurant · El Monte ·
Vegetarian Vietnamese eatery with killer mock nuoc cham & broken rice
Vegetarian Vietnamese eatery with killer mock nuoc cham & broken rice
"A vegetarian Vietnamese restaurant cited as part of the San Gabriel Valley "GarViet" cluster, where offerings include banh mi and pho as well as less-common Central and Northern Vietnamese specialties." - Rebecca Roland
"When a Vietnamese restaurant can make nước chấm without traditional fish sauce, it’s safe to say that the remaining menu will impress. At Thien Tam, regulars know to go for orders of broken rice and its classic noodle soups, including bún bò huế with spicy vegetable broth and bún riêu, a bright tomato-based soup. The formica tabletops are plentiful, so sit back and watch the brimming dishes arrive at everyone’s tables." - Mona Holmes
"The key to excellent Vietnamese vegetarian fare is a killer mock nước chấm (fish sauce vinaigrette), and nobody makes it better than the folks at Thien Tam. Dig into platters of broken rice prettied with seasoned wheat gluten molded into various forms, as well as classic noodle soups that manage to satisfy without any animal proteins. The dining room is small but well-appointed, with monochrome black-and-white tile floors." - Cathy Chaplin
"Nearby on Garvey Avenue I enjoyed vegetarian delights at Thien Tam." - Eater Staff
"To experience the satisfying, flavorful meatless side of Vietnamese cuisine, visit Thien Tam Vegetarian Restaurant in El Monte, opened by Bonnie Quach in 2009 and focused on preparing many of the cuisine's greatest hits without any animal protein. The Hainan chicken is made with flavorful wheat gluten and accompanied by a sauce loaded with fresh ginger, and the bun rieu is a bright noodle soup featuring rice noodles, juicy tomatoes, and herbs for garnishing." - Eater Staff