Hale Vietnam Restaurant
In the Honolulu Advertiser's annual poll of Hawaii's top restaurants, Hale Vietnam has often been mentioned in the Southeast Asian category. I have often wondered about this, and a couple of months ago, I had a bowl of pho here and left unimpressed. Here are the details of that visit, and of one that was more recent.
Hale Vietnam is located on the outer fringes of what I like to call Kaimuki's "restaurant row". Being on a side street doesn't help with visibility, but word of mouth surely must as the restaurant is always packed full of people. As you approach the restaurant, you'll notice the distinctive round windows that glow with an otherworldly blue at night (caused by the neon signs).
As expected, I stepped inside the restaurant at 8:45 pm to find most of the tables occupied.
After looking over the menu, I decided to start with a Vietnamese iced coffee (ca phe sua da, US$3.25).
Shortly after the coffee was delivered, the imperial rolls (cha gio, 6 pieces, US$7.95) arrived.
A filling of ground pork, carrots and taro, among other things, is wrapped in translucent rice paper before being deep fried to a golden brown. The cha gio is served garnished with some shredded carrots, a few thin slices of cucumber, a mound of rice noodles (bun), some crisp romaine lettuce leaves and a dish of fish sauce (nuoc mam cham). Perfectly fried, I thoroughly enjoy the roll's combination of textures and flavors.
To go along with the cha gio, I ordered the pho #1 (rare steak, cooked flank, tendon and tripe; medium bowl, US$6.75; large bowl, US$7.75).
First to arrive at the table was the plate of garnishes -- basil, beansprouts, a wedge of lime and some cut green chillies (no ngo gai). A minute later, the bowl of pho was placed on the table in front of me. I could tell right away that the broth wasn't hot enough to cook the herbs (it wasn't steaming), so I sent the plate of beansprouts back to the kitchen to be blanched. After taking a sip of the broth, I realized that there wasn't much of the usual beefy flavor. Also missing were the underlying, and subtle flavors, of anise, cinnamon and cloves. And since the soup really wasn't all that hot, the noodles remained clumped together in the bottom of the bowl. The worst thing, though, was the meat. There were only four pieces of "rare" beef here, a couple "ribbons" of tripe, five chunks of tendon and couple pieces of really fatty flank steak -- in fact, the flank steak was so fatty that I didn't eat any of it.
On another occasion, I decided to order a dish with rice -- the sautéed lemongrass beef (US$9.50).
The lemongrass beef was served on a bed of steamed rice and garnished with sliced tomatoes, cucumbers, and onions. A small bowl of consommé was also served alongside the dish. Taking a bite, I found the beef to be tough and dry with none of the flavor, or aroma, of lemongrass. The consommé was quite salty and I left it untouched.
On many of my visits to Hale Vietnam, I have walked out of the restaurant feeling disappointed with the food. Aside from the cha gio (which are great), the food here is generally bland and it lacks the strong, vibrant flavors that are normally associated with Vietnamese cuisine. The portion sizes are good, but the prices are high. So now I'm left wondering if there's any real reason to keep coming back.
Hale Vietnam Restaurant
1140 12th Avenue
Telephone: 808.735.7581
Hi Reid - The prices seem to be on the high side. Hope the Pho' was outstanding since it's a "regular bowl", for almost 7 bucks - the meat better be filet mignon. And the Imperial Rolls look just like regular old Cha Gio to me.
Posted by: Kirk | January 20, 2006 at 05:40 AM
Hi Reid,
My mom works by here so I pass it a lot of my way to the Covenant Cafe (their soups are excellent!)I never understood why it's always busy. I enjoy dining there when our family doesn't want to drive to Chinatown. But for simply average food, the prices are too high in comparison to other Vietnamese restaurants. Super Pho (despite the tacky name :)) by 7-11 on Waialae may be a better neighborhood bet.
Posted by: Kathy | January 20, 2006 at 01:28 PM
I've been waiting for this post forever! :P I saw it on the sidebar!
Posted by: cindy | January 20, 2006 at 01:29 PM
I only went there once...a loooongg time (years) ago and the prices were *high* for (imo)mediocre food.
Posted by: MBS | January 20, 2006 at 02:04 PM
The Pho is definitely pretty good though. And they give you an ample serving of rice noodles, which is usually lacking in most Pho houses.
Is it phonetically prounounced (phuh) or (pha)?
Posted by: Will Lee | January 20, 2006 at 04:06 PM
i agree that they are expensive but it's a clean restaurant. i like cuu long, 2 locations one in chinatown the other in the pearlkai shopping center
Posted by: sherry | January 21, 2006 at 04:02 PM
Reid: I've been reading your comments over the last year and really enjoy your reviews. I agree with your comments about Hale Vietnam. I feel that they're overated. There's a small Vietnamese place across Waialae called Saigon. Not much to look at, but better tasting dishes. Cuu Long in Pearl Kai is good, but very crowded. I haven't tried the one in town.
Posted by: Kurt | January 22, 2006 at 11:20 AM
I've always associated Hale Vietnam with Chiang Mai--more of a nieghborhood place that is frequented by non-Asians/non-Locals. And the quality of the food is about the same--bland and overpriced.
Posted by: MBS | January 22, 2006 at 12:40 PM
I guess it was a good thing that I didn't get an opportunity to go to this restaurant on my trip back. Auwe, how disappointing!
Posted by: cindy | January 22, 2006 at 04:00 PM
I very much agree w/your comments re Hale Vietnam. We only go there out of desperation, not having tried other pho placed in that area (my beau lives in Kaimuki). I absolutely adore one of your suggestions--Bac Nam (which is in my neighborhood). As usual, your comments are spot on!
Posted by: nai | January 23, 2006 at 05:30 PM
Hi Kirk,
The prices here are definitely on the high side which is probably why I don't visit this place too often. Judging by the food I had on my latest visit, I probably won't eat here again.
Hi Kathy,
I haven't been to Covenant Cafe in years, but I think I need to go again. Thanks for the reminder. As for Super Pho, after a visit there a while back, I don't think I'd visit that place again. I really didn't enjoy the food there. I heard that the place next door to Okata Bento was pretty good.
Hi Cindy,
Do you like the food here?
Hi MBS,
You're exactly right. That's the same thing I thought.
Hi Will,
I think you can have better pho for less money at either Bac Nam or at Pho 97. They do give a lot of noodles, but the beef is substandard. I would much rather have good quality beef and herbs than more noodles.
I think pho is pronounced more like phuh.
Hi Sherry,
Thanks for stopping by.
Yes, Hale Vietnam is clean, but I don't think that's a reason for charging a much high price than some other places. Bac Nam is clean and sparsely decorate, but I think the pho is much better there.
I haven't been to Cuu Long in a while, but have to agree that it is pretty good.
Hi Kirk,
Welcome and thanks for leaving me a comment. I'm glad that you agree, but I can't figure out why this place is always packed AND why they've been around so long.
I guess people in the area don't mind paying a higher price for mediocre tasting food.
Oh well...
Hi MBS,
Oooh, don't talk about Chiang Mai, please. But yes, these two places have much in common.
Hi Cindy,
I think you might want to experience this place at least once, just so that you know. I mean, I might have different tastebuds than you do! =)
Hi Nai,
Long time no hear!
Bac Nam is in my neighborhood too, so we must be neighbors. I think the prices at Bac Nam are a little high too (not as high as Hale Vietnam), but the quality is much better.
Posted by: Reid | January 25, 2006 at 12:45 AM
I am totally craving sticky spring rolls.
A pity the Pho was no good.
I find Pho a little bit like pizza. Even when it's bad, it's still good, if you know what I mean.
Posted by: Veruca salt | January 26, 2006 at 01:47 PM
Hi Veruca Salt,
Long time no hear!
The spring rolls were excellent, I guess to balance out the quality of the pho. Everything can't be good right?
I think I know what you mean by that second comment, but since there are so many great places to get pho here, I normally just go to the places that I enjoy. =)
Posted by: Reid | January 29, 2006 at 11:04 PM
Have you guys ever been to Pho Mai on the corner of S. King and Keeaumoku? It is a small but clean and cozy looking restaurant. The foods are pretty good and tasty.
Posted by: TL | March 21, 2006 at 01:26 PM
I love hale vietnam. I come there two to three times a week. Even though it cost more than the others, the service and the friendliness of its people is well the worth. Hale Vietnam is one of the oldest vietnamese restaurant in town. I mean 20 years of service to the community says a lot. I grew up eating here. In my opinion it's still the best in town.
Posted by: Brian | May 10, 2006 at 04:36 PM
Hi TL,
Welcome to the blog. Sorry for the late response to the comment. Is it the one next to La Pizza Rina? If so, I haven't been there in a long, long time!
Hi Brian,
Welcome to the blog.
I'm glad you like the service at Hale Vietnam and I'm glad you enjoy the food there.
Thanks for sharing your experiences with us!
Posted by: Reid | May 12, 2006 at 12:43 AM