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Dat Thanh (Vietnamese cuisine)  $

 8.5
JaT Rating

1055 Tully Road, San Jose, 95122  (Directions)


408.995.6751


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Cheap prices for large authentic Vietnamese meals


Reviewer: Jason
Total Reviews: 1040
Reviewed: 5/7/2008
Rating: 8.5
My photo gallery 		My coworker Hy had been talking about some of his favorite Vietnamese restaurants in the area and I was interested to see where he would bring me. He's 100% Vietnamese and rarely goes out to eat since his family can make the real deal at home. On the days where he's too busy to make food, he'll go to 1-2 restaurants with one of them being Dat Thanh. It's a favorite of his for 2 reasons; it's authentic and more importantly, very cheap.

Dat Thanh is a long drive for a lunch break but was assured we can hit it back and forth in about one hour. With another coworker in tow, we headed down the 280 towards the 101 South. For the folks that don't know the area, Story Rd, Capitol Expressway, Tully Rd are gold mines for Vietnamese food. If you're looking for a particular dish, and you can't find it here, you probably won't find it anywhere in the bay area.

We arrived during the lunch rush and the parking lot is complete hell. There are not enough parking spots to cater to the busy strip mall. Don't bring the nice car here, we saw too many close calls and even a fender bender. We circled the lot and didn't find squat and ended up parking 3 blocks away. Parking sucks ass, I have to deduct 1 full point here, it's completely awful.

Lunch was busy yet the waiters made sure we were seated quickly. Dining accommodations aren't the cleanest and just keep telling yourself, the food is suppose to be good, the food is suppose to be good and I won't get sick. Doing a quick scan of the restaurant, there were no white people here and languages overheard were all foreign having me believe I was in a different country.

I was relieved that Hy made recommendations and placed our orders. He said I should get the combination plates as the portion sizes were gigantic and gives you an opportunity to try 6 different items. I think we ordered #1.

For $9.95, you get salad, steamed riced, and items below.

broiled meatball - Seasoned pork with sweet glaze and a peppery aftertaste. There were 4 balls to a stick and had a shiny casing to it. Moist on the inside and a bit of a chewiness to the outside. My favorite item of the plate.

meatball with sugarcane - they messed up on our order and substituted shrimps for meatballs. Tasted like the broiled meatball with the exception of sugarcane in the center. Just like the meatball, no complaints here.

fried shrimp cake - in picture 7, the fried thing on the right side. Loosely wrapped tofu with shrimp mixture inside, kinda resembles a frozen burrito cut horizontally, might be too oily for some but I would gladly accommodate it for a repeat visit.

shredded pork skin - you can barely see it in pictures 7/8, looks like square noodles. Served kinda cold and reminds me of the shredded tofu you can get at Chinese restaurants but these noodles are made of pork. Another combo winning item.

egg cake - tasted like a spongy egg with Asian seasonings, it's the triangle slice in the picture. Not sure what the orange topping is. Liked it.

bbq shrimp - a bit overcooked but still tasted good. I see a theme with all the bbq items, very sweet.

I think it's some of the best Vietnamese food I've had at a restaurant. Everything I ate was solid, portions were monstrous, and wouldn't hesitate on re-ordering the same combination plate. My only 2 complaints were the terrible parking and somewhat dirty eating areas.
 
9
Agent Rating


Reviewer: wchane
Total Reviews: 148
Reviewed: 6/8/2008
Rating: 9
My photo gallery		 One of my favorite no-frills Vietnamese restaurants. I attempt to swing by everytime I find myself in the general area.

I usually stick to the grilled pork and shrimp cake over broken rice. The tupperware bottled fish sauce, all you can eat leeks, and shrimp cake of course broken rice really set this place apart from all other Vietnamese broken rice places in my opinion.

http://www.jatbar.com/jatboard/thread.asp?thread=985

http://www.jatbar.com/jatboard/thread.asp?thread=650

so good I reviewed it twice! (by accident)

*notes* apart from the parking situation - even if you did find parking you risk door dings and other people backing into you, nevermind getting run over while walking to the door. they have also altered their operating hours rather then a long lunch and dinner service, i believe they only do lunch now and for some ridiculous 3 or 4 hour window and they are not open for dinner anymore.

someone correct me if i'm wrong, but restaurants usually EXPAND when business is that good. talk about alienating your patrons.
 
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