08/18/03

Loads of inexpensive Vietnamese dishes, plus the usual pho and noodle soups at this Mountain View mainstay.

by Contributor

The Scene
This inexpensive Vietnamese restaurant is distinguished by some crazy psychedelic lamps and chandeliers. Service at Kim's is personable and nervous.

The Food
Begin with a pair of rice paper-wrapped spring rolls, dabbing the simple rice-stick rolls in sweet peanut sauce. Well-done flank brisket pho brings a huge swirl of soft, white noodles with a peppering of scallion, cilantro and slivers of white onion along with translucent flaps of fatty meat. The bland broth is easily doctored with trusty Sriracha sauce, a squeeze of lemon and a handful of jalapeno rounds. Egg noodle soup with barbecued pork fills a bowl with vermicelli and broth tinged pink by squares of sweet barbecued pork. Vegetarians take note: Kim's Restaurant offers a sizable number of meatless dishes, including a vegetarian appetizer menu.

08/23/02

Delicious soapy water

by aug2302

OK food. Friendly, if somewhat distracted service.

Water glasses always have just a hint of detergent left behind them, as though they'd been washed but not rinsed - really puts you off the rest of the meal. However, the detergent is consistently ther, so you just know not to ask for a glass. Perhaps this is a crafty technique to force people to order more expensive beverages.

My advice: go to one of many other lovely restaurants on Castro St. If you must have Vietnamese, try Vung Tao in downtown SJ, or Nha Trang at Lundy & Hostetter or at King & Story in San Jose.

• Pros: inexpensive
• Cons: service, soapy water