Stephen K.
Yelp
What a treat, finally getting to check this place out. I occasionally have business over on Federal, so I stopped in at a place I've been before in the Far East shopping center (all SE Asian businesses) for lunch buffet, and eagerly made the cross-lot trek to Vinh Xuong - *finally*. :)
The important stuff: 1) They do not have a credit/debit card reader and they do not take checks. Bring cash. 2) The cashier is a kindly elderly woman who fortunately DOES speak understandable English and understands your questions if you are a first timer. 3) $10-15 and you will walk out with enough quality delectable baked goods that you'll feel like shrieking that you just won the bakery lottery. The store is fairly small but has people coming in and going out periodically, both casual customers and people who've placed quantity orders.
So, here's my "for Dummies" guide to some things you can try here and what to expect:
"Yellow pound cake slices with custard swirls" - That's what it looked like, and that's what it tasted like. Cake not overly moist or dry, custard chilled and delicious. You may see a variant that looks like a St. Patrick's Day version of it; I was told it's not mint. $1.75/slice, I think.
Chè - see Wikipedia. Seriously, that'll describe it very well. I had the Chè chuoi - made from banana slices, small tapioca balls, tapioca pudding and a few other things I think. If you like boba drinks, you'll probably love this stuff. They have about a dozen different flavors. $1.75/cup. A steal.
"Banana bread" - I kid you not, this is a meal for $1.75. I measured: about 5" by 3" x 1.5" - it's a *mammoth* slice. You are hoping it's the moistest, perfectly spiced and sweetened piece of banana bread you've ever had. It's not that :/ - but it's still wonderful. It's...very dense, VERY moist, and it kinda gives you the feeling you are eating a slice of banana bread *dough*. Totally worth getting -- if they have any left when you get there. If you were getting a slice like this in Cherry Creek, you'd expect to pay $7 for it. If they even had something this massive.
"Small" (BIG! 4" diameter, 1" thick) or "large" (bump that by 25%) cookie that has a big indent in the middle that looks like it's filled with lemony goodness: You are hoping it's a big, soft, chewy lemon-centered cookie. It's not. It's crunchy and crumbly and no idea what the yellow part is in the middle. This was my sole disappointment going there; but they can't all be winners I guess. It's not bad, but it doesn't kick ass to the level everything else did. 75c for the "small", 1.25 I think for the large.
Fresh French-style bread rolls about 8" long: 65c. Kind of a no brainer. I sliced off 2" and ate it -- fragrant, slightly soft, definitely not dried out...bread heaven. I brought the rest to my Mom the next day, because I knew she'd appreciate it.
"Some kind of meat-filled taquito" - 75c. Get this. It's OMG good. Fried but only very lightly greasy if at all. I'm getting a whole bag of these next time -- they were sitting in a container on the countertop near the register.
"BBQ pork in a dumpling" - I *think* $1.25, but I don't quite remember. It looks exactly like someone cut off 1/3 of a softball -- in dough form. Haven't had it yet but looking to tomorrow for lunch.
And finally, the big surprise for me: "sesame bread roll". If there were an evolutionary step between French bread and oil-fried doughnut (not cake but yeast based), it'd be this. It tastes like bread...fried very lightly in what I cannot describe as anything other than doughnut oil. I just had the last bite from a tightly wrapped package in the fridge 3 days after I got it: still good -- but you've *gotta* try it warm. Eyes fluttering in the back of their sockets good. Getting more of these next time, too...65c for a piece of heaven.
All told I escaped my first visit with a bagful of delectable baked goods and dairy sweets for a little over $8. Cannot wait to get back in this area and get more awesomeness -- and try their banh mi or char siu - and maybe spring rolls to boot.