I have this general rule of thumb that I try not to break: never order pho ga (chicken noodle soup) from anywhere that does not specialize in it. For example, if a restaurant has 18 kinds of beef pho and then has pho ga listed elsewhere: it’s very unlikely to be that good. It’s the kind of dish that, to pull it off in the way that you want — with a deep, savory, chicken-infused flavor — you really need the kitchen to make executing that dish a focus of loving attention and not just another menu item.
Today, out of convenience, I strayed from my policy because I wanted a nice noodle soup but as I’m recovering from what I suspect to be food poisoning (Rutt’s in Culver City being the likely culprit), I thought beef might be a tad too rich. After doing a quick web search for places near Cerritos as I had other business in the area, I ended up at Ngon Yunny. They're in a mini-mall on the southwest corner of South St. and Pioneer Blvd.
My friends, I am sad to report that I should’ve listened to my own advice and either just picked a different restaurant or gambled on a different dish but regardless, the pho ga here was very mid: under-seasoned, lacking depth, just all-around mediocre. It wasn’t awful or inedible but that’s about the biggest compliment I can pay. I was really disappointed by it but I also realized: I should have known better.
This simply convinces me that, in the future, stick to my rule: no pho ga unless the restaurant makes it a centerpiece.
by soulsides