Vietnam Town in San Jose

[tongodeon]

I get my hair cut at Nancy's Barber Shop in San Rafael. Nancy is a late middle aged Vietnamese woman and runs her barbershop as a one-woman operation. Over the last several months I've gotten her to open up a little about her childhood in Vietnam, experience during the war, and fleeing to America with her children after the war. (Things have been pretty extreme in Nancy's house.) Last time I was there I asked her what she thought about the local Vietnamese restaurant and even though I enjoy it she turned up her nose at it. "It's too American. They expect something like Chinese food, like things they're used to. Also too expensive. Good Vietnamese food is easy to make and cheap." I asked her where she goes for good Vietnamese food and she told me without hesitation: San Jose. There's a Vietnamese community down there where they serve what she says is authentic stuff at authentic prices.

Here are the places that my crazy Vietnamese hairdresser recommends. Tomorrow (Saturday) morning matrushkaka and I are driving down to American Abalone in Davenport. I'm hoping to have lunch at one of those Vietnamese places on the way back, and possibly pick up a Cookie Puss at the Los Altos Carvel on the way home. If any south bay folks would like to get together with us for lunch please let me know.

Vung Tau on Santa Clara between 12th and 13th
"Mac Lap Lin #1 Noodle" on Capitol Expressway. (I can't find this one in Google - I probably have the spelling wrong)
Dalat Restaurant on Williams between 5th and 6th

(Time/location for lunch currently unset.)