I always end up getting my usual favorites when I got to Vin Loi Tofu, so on this visit I opted to try something new. I was very intrigued by the ‘Chao Bao Ngu’ which is a soupy porridge with soy abalone, faux shrimp, shitake mushroom and Chinese donut. Truth be told, it was the unknown thrill of what the Chinese donut might be all about which made up my mind to order this. Sounds like something naughty and forbidden, doesn’t it?
The huge bowl of soup arrived and you can imagine how exciting it was to delve in with a spoon to figure out what all was swimming around in there! The porridge/soup is thick and has an interesting texture similar to really watery oatmeal hot cereal. It’s filled with chopped bits of the fake abalone, shrimp and (real) mushrooms. For those who aren’t too hip to the taste of seafood, don’t worry. I don’t like things that taste fishy either and this soup isn’t that, the flavor is very mild. There’s also a healthy topping of fresh cilantro and crispy onions (they don’t have that gross raw onion flavor, instead they just give a nice crispy, chewy texture to the already very texturized soup). The flavor, consistency and just about everything else about this soup is unlike anything I’ve ever tasted before… which is generally a good thing. It was delicious and the owner (hi Kevin!) told me that it’s the best thing to eat when you’re feeling sick or under the weather… he claims it will take care of whatever ails you.
The soup came served with a large serving of bean sprouts, lime and the most delicious fried bits of dough which apparently are the Chinese donuts. I’m pretty sure that the sprouts and dough were meant to be put into the soup, but the donuts were too good for that and I just ate them straight off the plate with my fingers. The lime juice spritzed into the soup was the perfect finishing touch, consider that lime juice makes just about anything taste that much better. The verdict is: the porridge soup rocked and has now been officially added to my list of Vinh Loi favorites. If you go, definitely give it a try… take a friend and share it because there’s more than enough to feed you both. Since you’ll be sharing, it’ll free you up to order something else and not feel like such a piggy about it. If you’re there with me though, don’t even think about bogarting my donuts.
- I steered you wrong… avoid the fishy Miso soup :(
- Vegan Vietnamese salad with veggie-meats
- Miso soup with tofu
- Vegan Vietnamese Food at Good Girl Dinette
- Cream of Asparagus and Fennel soup
I wonder if Kevin would let me have the donuts on the side of something else…
Vegyogini: This one doesn’t appeal to you, huh? I was wondering the same thing about the donuts because I think that from now on, since I’ve had them, I’m going to need them everytime I go even if I don’t get the soup. He should just add the donuts to the menu as a side order, appetizer or dessert. They are so darn good!
Ooh, I want that. I am so jealous of you denizens of the Valley right now. That just looks like such a comfy winter dish.
I was never a seafood person before going veg, so the thought of faux seafood doesn’t appeal to me in the least. The porridge part w/out the seafood appeals to me, though.
Trina: I wonder if this is the first time in history anyone has ever been jealous of those of us living in the Valley? Hahaha… take that cityfolk!
I love those doughnuts. I used to get them in Malaysia all the time when I was a kid. We called them Yau Char Kwai–I think that might be the Catonese name for them. They made them in a huge vat at the market and the guy cooking them used his EXTREMELY long fingernails to turn them–and I ate them anyway.
Emilie: Sometimes that’s the best kind of street food… the kind that borders on disgusting and unhygienic!