We're nearly halfway through our list of 100 great dishes to eat in Orange County and its environs. See the previous choices at the end of the post.
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First of all, you have to be able to pronounce this cute little bistro on the northeast corner of Bolsa and Magnolia: it's approximately “win tee”. While they're famous for their family-style dinners involving grilled chicken and red coconut rice cooked inside hollow bamboo tubing, the real time to go is in the morning. You'll be there with a bunch of gossiping old men sitting outside and arguing over the day's Nguoi Viet or Viet Bao; if you sit inside, it's like a partly dismantled movie set of a café in Paris. Order a cup of ca phe sua nong (that's coffee with condensed milk, served hot) and a plate of mixed charcuterie with two eggs sunny-side up. This last part is very important, because you'll be served a crackly, just-baked French roll, enriched with a measure of rice flour to lighten the dough, which will scream to be dipped into the molten yolks of the eggs. Add some excellent house-made white ham, a dollop of garlicky pâté and perhaps a little bit of pork roll, and you'll be energized enough to work through lunch… maybe.
Uyen Thy Bistro, 9039 Bolsa Av., Westminster; (714) 898-9889; no website.
Previous entries:
#100. Jerk Carnitas Torta at The Crosby
#99. Nem Nuong Cuon at Brodard
#98. Pork Chop Anything at Nice Time Deli
#97. Flying Saucer at Alberto's
#96. Frozen Custard at Marc Burger's in Macy's Signature Kitchen
#95. Collard Greens at Johnny Reb's
#94. Strawberry Shortcake from Job's Daughters
#93. Cuban Sandwich at DeSimone's Deli
#92. Lamb with Preserved Cabbage at Mas Islamic Chinese
#91. Baked Rice at Luc Dinh Ky
#90. Beans on Toast at The Olde Ship
#89. Midnight Al Pastor Burrito or Taco at Taqueria Tapatia
#88. Budino di Cioccolato, Pizzeria Ortica
#87. Beef Teriyaki Bowl, Teriyami
#86. Salmon Onigiri at Cream Pan
#85. Beef Fat Fries at SideDoor
#84. Silken Tofu & Thousand Year Old Egg at Asian Tapas
#83. Cambodian Beef Jerky at Sophy's
#82. Com Tam at Com Tam Tran Quy Cap
#81. Chipotle-Piloncillo Goat Cheese at SOL Cocina
#80. Nem Nuong Cuon at Au Lac Restaurant
#79. Blackened Mushroom & Tofu Burger at Taco Loco
#78. Fried Veggie Fish Fillet at Dong Phuong Tofu
#77. Tofu Vegetable Salad at BCD Tofu House
#76. Che Ba Mau at Thach Che Hien Khanh
#75. Barracuda Sushi at Ohshima
#74. Whole Lamb with Kabsa at Olive Tree
#73. 5 a.m. Chitterlings at Tri-Village
#72. Spinach Empanadas at El Gaucho #2
#71. Croissants at Molinos Bakery
#70. Beso de Monja at El Rincón del Sabor
#69. Fatteh at Kareem's
#68. Korean Beef Rib Sandwich at Kaffa
#67. Rice Flour Pupusas at Pupusería San Sivar
#66. The Hash Browns at Pop's Cafe
#65. Seven Courses of Beef at Thien An
#64. Baby Back Ribs at Blake's Place
#63. Fish and Chips at The Chippy
#62. Roasted Beef Marrow Bones at Brasserie Pascal
#61. The Lunch Buffet at Tandoor Cuisine of India