Pho So 1, Van Nuys

Pho So 1 is conveniently located next to 99 Ranch Market in Van Nuys. On the days I decide to go grocery shopping on an empty stomach I might pop in for a quick bite. I can always count on the same wait staff to be there, and sometimes even run into them at the market. The restaurant is a decent size with mainly four person tables and rarely a long wait. If there is a line, be sure to sign your name on the clip board inside. The restaurant is very basic and mostly clean. This isn't the kind of place I would go on a date, but more of a quick stop for some belly filling food. The service is super fast if you order pho or egg rolls. We skipped the egg rolls this visit, but they are quite good.

Food

Usual plate of fixings for pho

I always add bean sprouts, basil, jalapeno and a squeeze of lime juice to my pho.

Dac Biet Xe Lua (No.1)
6.00

A friend always told me, when in doubt (or indecisive) always go with the number 1 choice on the menu at a pho restaurant and I did. I ordered a regular sized bowl which came with rare slices of steak, well-done brisket, flank, tendon, and tripe. I find that the quality of meat at Pho So 1 is not as good as other pho restaurants I've visited and their tendon is my least favorite. The tripe didn't taste very fresh this time, but the beef was tender and flavorful. The broth is ordinary, but the noodles are a highlight for me because they have the right amount of spring and do not break into pieces when I mix everything together. When I'm really hungry, a bowl of this hits the spot.

Pho Tom (No.23)
6.25

Shrimp, shrimp and more shrimp. The bowl does come with quite a few large shrimps with the tail on. The shrimp was ok, and the broth and noodles are exactly the same as the other bowl of pho we ordered. This is the first time we ordered pho with shrimp and definitely the last time. Something about the combination just doesn't work for me.

The service is good in the sense that they take your order right away and all your food arrives quickly, however do not expect a smile or any kind of small talk. The pho is satisfying. I enjoy the egg rolls and regret not ordering them this time. If you're in the neighborhood and want a decent bowl of pho or delicious egg rolls, give Pho So 1 a try.

Pho So 1
6450 Sepulveda Blvd
Van Nuys, CA 91411

Parking
The parking lot is huge and shared with 99 Ranch Market. During busy grocery shopping hours, the lot is very full.

Jack n' Jill's, Santa Monica

My friend and I ended up at Jack n' Jills for a late breakfast/early lunch over the weekend after realizing the place we wanted to eat at was closed. The restaurant is fairly small, with a decent size dining area on the first floor and a smaller dining area upstairs. We put our name on the list and enjoyed a nice cup of complimentary unsweetened tea while we waited.


After they called our names, we placed our orders downstairs at the cash register and were seated upstairs. My friend ordered oatmeal with a side of egg whites, which she said was very good. I ordered the 1/2 sandwich and soup combo for $10.

JNJ Club & Tomato Basil Soup
10

The JNJ club came with smoked turkey breast, honey cured ham, havarti & Gouda cheese, bacon, lettuce and tomato. I took out the extra slice of bread in between each sandwich, which made it much more enjoyable. The bread was toasted perfectly with a nice crunch in every bite. Definitely an enjoyable sandwich, but no wow factor. The tomato basil soup was very flavorful and the fresh basil helped to highlight the great flavor.

Overall, I enjoyed the atmosphere of the restaurant and the wait staff was very nice and attentive. The two things I tried were good, but nothing special and a bit pricey. I won't be in a hurry to go back as there are many places to try in Santa Monica. 

Jack n' Jills
510 Santa Monica Blvd
Santa Monica, CA 90401

Parking
Plenty of metered parking, but they fill up quickly.

Ragu Enriched with Chicken Liver

While browsing Saveur.com, I came across a ragu recipe with chicken livers and knew I had to try it. Since the original recipe only makes 4 servings, I decided to double the recipe except the amount of olive oil and butter and quadrupled the amount of ground pork. The ragu came out wonderful and everyone loved the depth of flavor the chicken livers gave to the sauce. Below is a copy of the recipe from Saveur.com with my modifications and comments on the instructions.