John S.
Yelp
How is it that some of the best vegetarian restaurants in Orange County are located in unassuming-looking (or worse) strip malls? I don't know the answer to that question, but I do know not to judge a vegetarian restaurant anywhere by anything other than its delicious food--if it has delicious food--but don't worry; Thuyen Vien has bowls and plates and boats and dishes and ramekins of delicious vegetarian food.
I came here with my parents on kind of a sad, rainy weekday. My apartment had burned down a few weeks before, and I had spent the day at the DMV renewing my license (with my parents' address because my address didn't exist anymore) and getting other important stuff done. Insurance, changes of address, discussing at length with my roommate the relative ease of getting public information like fire reports, death certificates, etc. You know, depressing stuff.
So we drove all the way out, and at first, I was excited because Katella always reminds me of childhood for various and very important reasons. Well, we pulled into the wrong place, and it was a bear to get out, because someone had decided to back his RV out right after we passed, and he was blocking the only lane of traffic. I went through the parking lot only to find out that it was adjacent to but not connected to the Thuyen Vien parking lot. And when we finally got to the correct parking lot, our path was blocked by people double-parked in the middle of the driving lane. They were packing their car there rather than in the space they had just pulled out of. Why were all these campers about?
We finally found the place, and when we entered, we were the only ones here. We sat, and I could tell by the reaction of the people working that the show was about to begin, and did it ever begin. The lady approached with a smile and a greeting and handed us our menus, while the man rushed to get us water plus a water pitcher for our table. (I drink a lot of water and often get the pitcher treatment after a while, but somehow, they knew I would be hydrating liberally.)
My parents love going to vegetarian places with me but are always skittish about what to order, especially at East and Southeast Asian places that aren't Thai (they ALWAYS order pad see ew at Thai places). I suggested a couple of things, and they both enjoyed what they had. I really enjoyed the faux lamb.
The service throughout our meal was very good. They checked on us, but they weren't hovering. By the time we left, it was raining again, but there were two or three other parties enjoying their dinners.
The ambiance is the stereotypical Asian-vegetarian-restaurant-in-a-strip-mall-storefront ambiance. If you've been to one, you'll recognize this one. They have (little-kid) cute tile, and it does feel cozy on a cold night, despite the mainly white walls and even whiter ceiling and horrendous wannabe chandelier that's turned on way too bright. Like I already said, though, I don't hold a vegetarian place's would-be shabbiness of space against it, ever. I was a huge raving fan of Veggie Bistro (RIP) in Uptown Whittier, wasn't I?
Bring your parents here, even if they're not vegetarian. I want to return to try more of the menu.