Skip to main content

The Best Mi Quang in Los Angeles

Support Provided By
Mi quang at Hoa Binh | Photo by Clarissa Wei

A bowl of mi quang is always beautifully arranged. Cooked in a pork- and shrimp-based broth, it's a dish that's adamant about maintaining a variety of colors and textures. You have the chewy yellow of the turmeric noodles, the bright green ribbons of lettuce, the soft earthy pork, the tenderness of the shrimp, the pleasant crunch of the peanuts between your teeth, and the snap of the sesame-freckled rice crackers.Mi quang is a central Vietnamese specialty, named after Qu?ng Nam Province, where it comes from. The broth is minimal; it's mostly there for flavoring and only covers 1/4 to 1/2 of the dish. The main attractions are the noodles, which are made out of rice and colored with turmeric, and the wonderful array of ingredients surrounding it.

Here are four great places in Los Angeles to get your fix:

Nha Trang | Photo by Chris L.

Nha Trang
Nha Trang is renowned for their bun bo hue (a rich beef soup), but if you happen to make it into their Monterey Park location, do give the mi quang a whirl. It's only available on weekdays and is layered with generous heap of lettuce, bean sprouts, pork knuckles, and shrimp. 742 E Garvey Ave, Monterey Park, CA 91755.

Hoa Binh | Photo by Clarissa Wei

Hoa Binh Restaurant
"It means no more war," the owner Karen said, when I asked her what Hoa Binh meant. The pacifist restaurant, at two years old, has a menu of items from all the different regions of Vietnam. Karen and her husband were cooks back in Vietnam and their mi quang has always been a consistent bestseller. There are banana blossoms thrown in the mix along with fried shallots, sprouts, and a decent sized serving of whole, peeled shrimp. 9911 E Garvey Blvd, El Monte, CA 91733.

Kim Hoa Hue | Photo by Clarissa Wei

Kim Hoa Hue Restaurant
Kim Hoa Hue is one of the few eateries that specialize purely in central Vietnamese cuisine. We're glad that they do because their rendition of mi quang is one of the best in the area. It's bright, meaty, and comes with a couple of limes on the side which we highly recommend squeezing in to cut the fatty pork broth. It adds an extra kick. 9813 E Garvey Blvd, El Monte, CA 91733.

Regular mi quang at Xoia | Photo by Xoia

Xoia Vietnamese Eats
Xoia is worth mentioning because they have two versions of mi quang: a traditional rendition and a vegetarian one. The vegetarian dish is created with a shiitake broth base and supplemented with crushed peanuts, banana blossom, mint, enoki and beech mushrooms, lettuce, and bean sprouts. 1801 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026.

Support Provided By
Read More
A black and white photo of an adult dressed as the easter bunny with a giant costumed head, holding a little girl on their left who gives it a kiss on the cheek and, with his right arm, holding a little boy who brings his hands to his eyes as though wiping away tears.

Behold the Bunnies and Bonnets of L.A.'s Past Easter Celebrations

The onset of the spring season heralds the arrival of fragrant flowers in bloom — and all the critters that enjoy them, including the Easter bunny and families who anticipate his arrival with egg hunts, parades and questionable fashion choices.
A black and white image of an elephant holding a broom with its trunk. A man is seen near the elephant, walking towards the animal.

Lions and Tigers and Cameras! How the Movies Gave Los Angeles a Zoo

The early days of the movies in Los Angeles inadvertently allowed visitors to experience the largest collection of animals in the western United States. When animals weren't appearing in a movie, they were rented out to other film companies, performed for studio visitors, or in the case of filmmaker William Selig's collection — an opportunity to create one of Los Angeles' first zoos.
A vertical, black and white portrait of a blonde woman wearing a sparkly four-leaf clover costume as she holds her arms out and extends a leg as though in a curtsy.

Irish for a Day: L.A.'s History of 'Going Green' on St. Patrick's Day

Whether it was a parade, dance, tea party, home celebration or just enjoying a good ol' wee dram of whisky, here's a photo essay of how Los Angeles donned its green apparel to celebrate St. Patrick's Day and embrace the luck o' the Irish over the years.