Last year, I was in the mood to eat somewhere nice, but I was honestly too lazy to make a trip to L.A. or Southern Orange County. I headed to the restaurant guide of my choice and found that Benley: A Vietnamese Kitchen was close by and highly rated! Check out a quick recap of my first meal here.
Then, why hadn’t I heard of Benley before? It is tucked into the very corner of the most inconspicuous strip mall, which I had actually passed many, many times before. Luckily, someone uncovered this hidden gem for me, so I can pass it along to you!
Let’s take a look at the food!
cánh gà chiên tởi
I love these garlic chicken wings. They were crunchy on the exterior with tender chicken on the inside, with the mostly incredible tangy, garlicky glaze on the outside. This is one of those dishes that makes you second guess having good manners just so you can lick your fingers at the table. 🙂
Phở is such a comforting dish and this is no exception! The broth was flavorful, the beef was tender, and the usual accompaniments of bean sprouts, lime, mint, basil, and sauces were fun to play around with as well.
đầu đưa chiên bột
These were cooked almost tempura-style but the breading was less crispy and slightly more chewy and bready. It might sound strange, but it was really good! The glaze on the outside had a lovely spicy and sweet balance as well.
I always adore fresh spring rolls, plus the delicious peanut sauce and lovely pickled salad on the side are winners as well!
Dressed with spring mint, marinated carrots, daikon, and julienned cucumbers
I’m a noodle fanatic and these ones are fantastic! One thing I appreciate about this dish is the ratio of meat, vegetables, and noodles is just right. So key to a good bún!
The filet was so tender and the potatoes were cooked perfectly. I’m not normally a meat and potatoes kind of girl, but when it’s this good, I make an exception and eat my share!
This was a special dessert on the board, and I am an absolute sucker for bread pudding. You know that I was sold, so when it arrived… it lasted about thirty seconds. Next time, I would love to try another one, because I always like ending my dinners on a sweet note.
Benley Vietnamese Kitchen
8191 East Wardlow Road
Long Beach, CA 90808
(562) 596-8130
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