Located at the Culver Steps and surrounded by the dim sum restaurant Fifty One, Jameson’s Irish Pub and a bunch of other quite awesome eating establishments, Nong Lá Vietnamese Cafe occupies some prime real estate. That’s a great spot when it comes to passing traffic; we went there on a sunday afternoon, and children were playing in the nearby fountain, people were walking in and out of the nearby Culver Hotel – people were generally hanging around.
“We first opened our doors in 2012, offering traditional dishes such as Ph?, Bún, and Bánh Mì, with flavors found in homes and on the streets of Vietnam,” they say on their website. “We are dedicated to using the freshest ingredients, including free-range chicken, cage-free eggs, and prime cuts of beef. Our ph? features a clean, light broth and we proudly use fresh rice noodles.”
Nong Lá has three locations, also including Sawtelle and La Brea, and it was originally opened by siblings Elaine and Victor Phuong.
“After experimenting with old family recipes and a lot of research, the siblings went all in along with other family members, to open Nong Lá – a restaurant that celebrates the food they grew up eating,” they say.
That passion is evident when entering the Culver City location, from the super-friendly staff to the stylish interior, plus the pleasant patio area. The whole experience is a joy, and that’s before even sampling the food.
Thankfully, there are no disappointments there either. We opted for the Thit Nuong noodle salad: “Cold vermicelli noodles served on a bed of lettuce, fresh herbs, cucumbers, bean sprouts, pickled carrots/daikon and peanuts. Served with fish sauce.” In this case, it’s also served with grilled pork.
Every element of the dish was spot-on. Even the noodles themselves, a relatively basic item, were tasty by themselves. The added flavor of the other ingredients, including copious amounts of the fish sauce, aided matters massively.
The lettuce was fresh and vibrant, the cucumbers and bean sprouts crunchy and yummy. The pickled carrots and daikon (a mild-flavored winter radish) were a highlight–bags of tart, sweet flavor that served to enhance everything around it.
The grilled pork was also superb. Thin cuts of the meat are marinated and then grilled to perfection. It’s the final piece in what is a very tasty puzzle.
We assume that the other two locations are equally as impressive as this one, and would recommend that you try one at your earliest convenience.
Nong Lá Vietnamese Cafe is located at 9552 Washington Blvd., Culver City 90232. Contact 310-876-1588 or visit nonglacafe.com.