At Quan Mii, you can have your bánh xèo with the usual sweet-and-sour nuoc cham, or dribbled with the Sriracha-like bottled sauce the restaurant has trademarked with its own name. No matter which you choose, (or heck, why not both?) the gossamer-thin crepe is ethereally light, crispy and nearly greaseless. Quan Mii is one of the best places in Little Saigon to eat this dish.
The fillings include not only the usual bean sprouts, shrimp and pork, but also jicama, which adds to the texture. As is customary, every order of bánh xèo comes with the obligatory Amazon of herbs, a stack of dried rice-paper discs and something filled with hot water in which to moisten them one-by-one.
Lay down a wetted rice paper on your plate, then add a few herbs, cucumber, lettuce and a torn swatch of the crepe, followed by fillings. Then roll. It takes a few tries, but refine your technique by watching how the other patrons do it. By the third one, you’re a master.
The List:
65. Chanko Nabe at Torizo
66. Hamshuka from Hummus Bowl
67. The Reuben at A Market
68. Everything Cake from Slice Deli And Cakery
69. Spicy Shrimp And Eggplant from Brio Tuscan Grille
70. Crawfish Mac & Cheese from The Wharf
71. Malasadas from Dough Doughs Hawaiian Cafe
72. Salsas from Salsa Bandolera
73. Chorizo Breakfast Bagel at Spigas Bakery and Cafe
74. Whole Chicken Combo at Falafelo
75. Toothpick Lamb at Sichuan Impression
76. Hainan Chicken Rice at Baos Hog
77. Fruit- and Ice Cream-Topped Waffles at Crave
78. Garlic Shrimp Poke at Costco
79. Chimichurri Fries at Piaggo on Wheels
80. Torta Cubana at Cancun Juice
81. Adobo Bowl at Irenia
82. Garlic Noodles at Krave Asian Fusion
83. Broccolini at SeaSalt WoodFire Grill
84. Spicy Tuna Roll at Yard House
85. Amber Roll at Orange Roll and Sushi
86. Frito Chili Cheeseburger at Burger Parlor
87. Maui Sunrise at The Original Banzai Bowls
88. Meals from The Performance Kitchen
89. Pizza-Sized Quesadilla at Los Sanchez
90. Filipino Brunch at EATS Kitchen And Bar
91. Mexican Chocolate at the Pie Hole
92. Biscuits at James Republic
93. Mushroom Flatbread with Kale and Kumquat Salad at Lemonade
94. Mexican-Style Gelatins from Santa Ana’s Gelatina Goddess
95. Hot Pastrami Caesar Salad at Bruxie
96. Jalapeño Pupusas at Las Cazuelas
97. Meatball Sliders at Fresh Brothers
98. Buffalo Cauliflower at Mead’s Green Door Cafe
99. Raindrop Cake at Sunmerry Bakery
100. Doughrito at Surfin’ Donuts
Before becoming an award-winning restaurant critic for OC Weekly in 2007, Edwin Goei went by the alias “elmomonster” on his blog Monster Munching, in which he once wrote a whole review in haiku.