blossom lacks the frills but packs in a crowd
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Blossom Restaurant, Old Bank’s hip Vietnamese mainstay, has built a faithful neighborhood following since it debuted in early 2006.
Umm… where have we been?
After nearly two years of brushing it off as a dining option, we have to admit we’re just now joining the circle of regulars. While we always knew the Viet eatery existed, our hungry nights out never steered us in the direction of pho or bun.
We’re now making up for lost time with lunch and dinner visits since Saturday. The first thing we noticed about the quaint little restaurant is the minimal decor. Aside from a rudimentary Buddha illustration on a wall next to the kitchen, the interior is clearly understated. The energy of the place, however, comes from the steady stream of young urbanites who seem all too familiar with the menu.
Blossom offers traditional, home-cooked Vietnamese cuisine at a reasonable price point. I’ve opted twice for the Pho Chay, a vegetarian dish with tofu, mushroom, green beans, carrots and scallions. The ingredients are fresh and the broth is savory-sweet, but the noodles come awkwardly clumped up at the bottom of the bowl. A side plate of bean sprouts, basil and jalapeņos allows you to garnish as you please.
From the appetizer selection, I highly recommend the fritters - tofu or shrimp, sweet potatoes and mushrooms fried into crunchy golden goodness. Also, their sweet peanut dipping sauce may warrant an order or two of the spring rolls.
To wash it all down, Blossom offers an assortment of popular teas. I haven’t sampled the tea collection, but stay clear of the ginger limeade beverage. A little too much ginger, and not enough anything else (cough). You might as well be chewing a raw ginger root.
The waitresses are friendly and efficient — we didn’t even have to ask for our check, although she almost poured a pitcher of lime water in my lap.
I can’t wait to go back and try their curry.
Blossom Restaurant
426 S. Main Street
Los Angeles, CA 90013
213-623-1973
blossomrestaurant.com
Open Mon. - Sat., 11am - 10pm daily
8 comments
The Militant Angelino’s Mess Hall review can be found here:
http://militantangelenomesshall.blogspot.com/2008/01/whoa-blossom-blossom-vietnamese.html
I’ve found the wait-staff at Blossom to be very friendly. I also liked their new add-on, the extra dining room on the corner. Though it was still in the early stages when I ate in it a month or so ago, the amount of windows letting in tons of natural light really made for a cheerful setting and also helped with the “we’re part of the local neighborhood” feel.
my boyfriend and i have been blossom regulars since they opened! we are pho-addicts, and we’ve tried a bunch of pho places but feel that blossom’s is the best due to their supreme broth. only once or twice the noodles can come clumped, but the point of the dish is too add sriracha and hoison sauce, lime, bean sprouts and thai basil and mix it all up with the chopsticks. their curry is also fantastic with a great amount of spice. it’s great with any of the asian beers that you can pick up across the street from ray’s old bank deli and bring in to drink, at least until blossom gets their liquor license. oh yeah, and blossom is always pumping out nice eclectic music on their speakers.
isn’t blossom closed on sundays?
Yes, they’re closed on Sundays.
am i right that blossom does not deliver? i wish they would. seems odd.
i love their pho. perfect when it’s cold and rainy.
their broth is pretty tasty, probably the best in downtown, but the best in la is pho 79 in alhambra IMHO.
I love their coconut juicee and pho.