Golden Deli never misses. Golden Deli is what I always crave, even when thousands of miles away on the other coast. Golden Deli is where I want to go again and again, every time I am back in LA. Golden Deli is the platonic ideal of a Vietnamese restaurant in America. No frills. Family friendly. Large portions. Fast service. Lengthy menu with numbered dishes and excellent regional specialties. It’s not really an IYKYK kind of place because, well, we know. Anyone who is familiar with the San Gabriel Valley knows that even in a sea of great Asian food options, Golden Deli is a reliable choice.

There’s two locations, one in San Gabriel, one in Temple City. Both suburban strip mall footprints. At any given time the restaurant is full of families, and usually some waiting for a table outside. You can’t go wrong with the classics: a generous bowl of pho dac biet, or an equally large bowl of bun thit nuong on a hot day. The fresh spring rolls always hit the spot, but the fried cha gio is a must order for the table. But they have both quality and quantity when it comes to options: all kinds of rice and egg noodles, soup and dry, broken rice, a range of meats and add ins to your hearts desire. If you can’t decide, go for a little of everything: get some banh hoi with shrimp paste, grilled meat and egg rolls (think of it as a sampler plate that you can wrap up in rice vermicelli, lettuce and herbs) or cơm bì chả nem nướng (charbroiled meatballs, shredded pork skin and baked egg over broken rice). And then come back. Again and again as you make your way through the menu of classics, regional specialties and authentic snacks until you find your “usual.”