One of the benefits of living in the Sunset is that Asian food is convenient, ubiquitous and inexpensive. Vietnamese food is no exception; I can think of half a dozen Vietnamese restaurants on Irving alone. But the place that I go back to time after time is Yummy Yummy. Whether you're in the mood for a steaming bowl of pho (beef noodle soup), a rice plate topped with delicious charbroiled meat, or beef hot pot (think fondue), you're sure to get your fix from one of the 127 items offered here.
At Yummy Yummy, pho is king. Though seemingly simple, there are several qualities that make theirs stand out. First off, their clear beef broth is flavorful without overpowering the other ingredients with too much salt or grease. It must also be hot enough to cook the rare sliced beef (if that's what you've ordered). Another important ingredient is the noodles. If the rice noodles are cooked too long, their mushy texture can ruin a good bowl. Add too much and it disrupts the balance of soup. As far as other ingredients, quality is key. The meat must be fresh, particularly to avoid getting sick when eating the rare sliced beef. Plus, I'm sure you'd be less likely to add the basil and bean sprouts if it looked nasty and wilted. For the pho veterans or the adventurous, choose the house special (No. 1- $6.50; $6.95 for the extra large No. 2) complete with rare steak, well done flank, tendon, tripe and beef balls. Those demanding something simpler can opt for varieties with seafood, vegetables and tofu, or beef stew ($5.95 to $6.75).
For those not into pho, one can choose one of the bun (rice noodles) or rice plates ($6.25 to $7.95). Both offer similar options — charbroiled pork, beef, shrimp, or five spice chicken. The charbroiled meats are deliciously smoky and flavorful. The five spice chicken (No. 25) is my wife Lucky's favorite option — a spicy yet slightly sweet light glaze yields a lightly crunchy skin over chicken seasoned with cinnamon, anise, cloves and ginger. When faced between the choice of bun or rice, I usually choose the bun, which is served with a mixture of fried peanut and onions, and douse it in nuoc cham, a fish sauce that is sweet, sour, spicy and salty all at the same time. Don't expect to find many vegetables in these dishes, though; the only ones you'll find are a slice of tomato and cucumber used more as a garnish than anything else.
For those who choose to visit the restaurant with a large group, go for the House Special Combo Grill (No. 76), which offers all of the charbroiled meats for $17.95. Another popular option is the Sliced Beef Hot Pot. Thinly sliced strips of raw beef are brought to you table. You determine how long you want to cook them by dipping them into a pot of boiling broth (No. 81- $11.50)
If you're looking for vegetables, they do offer salads consisting of cabbage, mint leaves, and peanuts topped with beef, chicken, shrimp or squid or a combination ($6.25 to $7.50). There are also a few vegetarian dishes, but to be honest, this really isn't the place for vegetarians. If, however, you are looking for seafood, they do have a rather extensive list. Fish, clams, shrimp and crab are available in a variety of preparations ($11.95 to $15.95). You can't go wrong with the Vietnamese style crab, though (No. 104-seasonal price). Just make sure you like your food spicy and garlicky before decide to order it. If you want seafood a little less ordinary, try their selection of frog and eel. I have to admit that I have not tried the Curry Frog (No. 116- $12.95) or any of the seasonally priced eel dishes.
Yummy Yummy's cuisine may not be ground-breaking or award-winning, but it is consistently good, well priced and the portions are satisfyingly sufficient — very important characteristics, particularly if you're on a student budget. If I were to name the restaurant according to the food, I would call it Pretty Yummy.
Yummy Yummy
1015 Irving St.
(415) 566-4722
Open Wed thru Mon, 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Originally published: http://www.ucsf.edu/synapse/content/2007/05/03/yummy.html
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