I’ve had Ga Bistro bookmarked on Yelp, but I don’t recall how or why I had it bookmarked. When my friend asked to meet for lunch, I suggested we try this place. It was empty when I arrived a few minutes before noon on a weekday. I took the opportunity to peruse the menu before my friend arrived.
When she arrived, we deliberated for a few minutes and then went ahead and ordered a few things to share. I’m guessing from the restaurant’s name that it specializes in chicken (ga is chicken in Vietnamese). Since we didn’t order any chicken dishes, I will have to come back again to try those another time.
Cua Lot Chien Bo ($7) or deep fried soft shell crab with tamarind sauce is prepared nicely, with evenly coated crab that’s deep fried to perfection. I was a little confused about the tamarind sauce as the accompanying sauce was green and tasted like it comprised various fresh herbs. Regardless, it was quite delicious and went well with the crab.
Oc Huong Bo Rang Toi ($12) or escargot in garlic butter arrives topped with sauteed onions, garlic and red bell peppers. I pull the escargot out of its shell and ran it through the sauce on the plate before popping it in my mouth. It is chewy — in a good way — but bland on its own. Make sure you get a little of the sauteed vegetables with the escargot for added flavor.
Goi Ngo Sen Tom Thit ($12) or lotus root salad with shrimp and pork is a refreshing dish with young lotus root, carrots, cilantro and celery leaves. Fried shallots add texture and another level of flavor to the mix. I have had this dish before at other restaurants, and the one here is comparable to those at other eateries in lil Saigon. The shrimp crackers give added crunch to the salad.
Mien Xao Tom Cua ($10) or stirred fried vermicelli with shrimp and crab is served with a chile soy sauce on the side. The noodles themselves are subtle, and definitely need a little of the condiment to ramp it up a bit. I also added the fried garlic served with the soft shell crab, which brought the noodles up a notch.
All in all, we really enjoyed the food here. At the end of the meal, complimentary che (Vietnamese dessert) arrives, and it is so tasty! I like how it isn’t overly sweet at all, and is a perfect end to a very satisfying meal.
Ga Bistro
13123 Brookhurst St
Garden Grove, CA 92843
Tel: 714-590-9654
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