"**TL;DR:** Avoid the glass noodle vegetable soup with ribs (2 stars). The braised short rib (4 stars) was excellent.
This was my first visit, driven by all the glowing reviews. We usually dine at Joy of Eating, but it was closed due to the storm, so we decided to try this place, located about a mile away.
The restaurant is somewhat tucked away behind a Motel 6 on a side street, making it easy to overlook. The surrounding area feels a bit sketchy and is somewhat dirty, though it seemed relatively safe during the day. The parking lot is small but clean; parking on the street is a bit risky as the road is narrow.
Inside the restaurant, everything is nice and tidy. There were three tables occupied when we arrived, and we were seated promptly. I initially planned to order the fried chicken (Chicken Loco Moco), but the server recommended the day's special: a glass noodle soup with vegetables and ribs. Her description made it sound tempting, so I decided to take her advice.
Unfortunately, the broth tasted like hot water mixed with fish sauce—no spices, no depth, and certainly no flavor. The vegetables appeared to be frozen, contributing nothing to the taste of the dish or the broth. They were just lifeless bits that resembled vegetables. The ribs tasted old and dry; it seemed like they were trying to offload outdated meat by disguising it in a soup, hoping the rancid oil would go unnoticed. It's disappointing when a restaurant labels something as a 'special' when it’s clearly not fresh.
I truly don't understand why restaurants do this. If the food is old, don’t try to repackage it into another dish. Specials should be good and fresh.
On a positive note, my partner ordered the Da Loco Moco, and it was genuinely delicious!"
