Blossom Vietnamese Restaurant

While the photo above may indicate otherwise, fall/ winter has finally arrived in LA!  This means nothing more than a few drizzly mornings and nights with temperatures hovering around 50s, but there's still a certain chill in the air that makes your body crave comfort food.

In Vietnamese cuisine, such comfort foods translate to bun (rice vermicelli) and pho (beef noodle soup).

Bun Tom Bo Nuong -- Vermicelli w/ shrimp, egg roll, and grilled lemongrass steak -- $8.75

Feast your eyes on some grilled lemongrass steak, shrimp, fresh veggies (cucumber, bean sprouts, carrots, green onions) and a chicken & shrimp egg roll sitting atop a large bowl of rice vermicelli noodles.  Looks yummy?  Well, it is!  Mix all the ingredients in this bowl with the accompanying sweet & sour sauce, and you'll enjoy a dish that is both light and comforting.

Pho Tai -- rare steak rice noodle soup -- $8.00

There is nothing fancy about pho.  In fact, all it is is a piping hot bowl of beef broth with sliced meat, rice noodles, and various garnishes such as cilantro, sliced onions, bean sprouts, Thai basil, lime, and green peppers.  Hoisin sauce and chili sauces are typical accompaniments that help enhance the flavor and depth of the soup.  Overall, the dish is simple, but it does a fine job of warming me up from the inside out.

I don't think there's any right or wrong way to eat pho.  Some people eat it as it's served -- we can call them purists.  I, on the other hand, like to dress it up with the garnishes, and with a few healthy squeezes of lime juice and dipping sauces right into the broth.  And I generally eat the noodle and broth together, rather than separately.  Yummy, pho sure!

Com Chien -- wok-tossed fried rice egg, shrimp, chicken, and vegetables -- $9.75

The heaping plate of fried rice is also flavorful and not overly greasy, which can be a common problem among other fried rice plates.

Take a peek at some other delicious dishes on the menu:

If you're looking for an unassuming Vietnamese restaurant in downtown LA that is hipster, but still serves authentic food, Blossom is your place.  Give it a try!



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cuisine: Vietnamese
location: DTLA
hours: M-F 11am - 3:30pm; 5:30 - 10pm; Sat 11am - 4pm; 5:30pm - 10pm; closed Sundays
websites: { Blossom | yelp | facebook | twitter }
attire: Casual
parking: metered street and paid parking lots nearby
notes: No reservations; new 2nd location in Silverlake.