Craig G.
Yelp
I've been waiting to try this place. We never went when it was a different restaurant. Primarily because parking here is a royal pain. Most folks coming to this section of San Pablo in El Cerrito, likely snag the limited parking spots for the movie theater a couple of doors down.
I came solo for early lunch... me and 3-4 other folks separately. Place is huge inside. 100 folks could easily fit.
The wait staff was friendly fast and efficient.
I ordered the special Chá Giò Tôm, a slightly different take on traditional Bon cha Hanoi. Aka this featured Grilled chicken, beef, shrimp some imperial rolls. The NƯỚC CHẤM was very watered down, not that pungent tang from vinegar and fish sauce. The proteins were not very spicy or charred either. Would up having to doctor it up with chilies. Could have used more acid as in lime, and a hella more veggies.
So this was a miss.
Fortunately , I also got Bún Väc Biêt to go for dinner.
So while the Chá Giò Tôm was a miss, I'd go just for this!
My Yelp pal Maxx and I have been in search of authentic NEM RAN/CHA GIO. These were a staple and favorite while number 1 son and I were hanging in northern Vietnam a few years back. Basically rolls loaded with pork, shrimp or some protein wrapped in rice paper and deep fried.
But everywhere here in the USA and the bay, restaurants use the more abundant wonton wrappers, like how traditional Chinese egg rolls are made! Trust me, there is a huge difference.
At Tigon, they use the proper rice paper with added shrimp and taro.
You then wrap a roll in supplied lettuce, add some other veg, like shredded carrots, radish, green onion, mint, basil etc then dip them in a variation of NƯỚC CHẤM. And eat it... like a Vietnamese taco.
Even tho they were cold several hours later when I decided to eat them, they were really really great!
Those puppies alone took the review from a 2-3 stars to a solid 4. Frankly, I don't care about the other great looking menu items. I'm going back just to eat the Bún Väc Biêt!
These took me back to Hanoi, sitting on those little red or blue plastic chairs at an undersized table, drinking copious Saigon beers, Under the pulsing electrical wires that provide light, power white noise and a modicum of shade from the very hot humid sunny days; or shelter from the evening rain. Funny how food that was so enjoyable can conjure up such vivid memories!
A true taste of northern Vietnam!