we ventured further eastward on Powell Blvd...
where we would end up enjoying our late lunch at a Vietnamese eatery which opened after the owners, who originally retired from Ha & VL their first restaurant, got bored and decided to get back into the businesses. Lucky for us for their change of retirement plans. Like Ha & VL, Rose VL Deli serves only two soups a day.
Yes, their owner, Ms. Ha (Christina) Luu was nominated as "Best Chef in the NW" by the James Beard Foundation Award. Impressive (for the record, she did not win the award but it was still a prestigious honor to be nominated).
Their soups are quite the draw especially since they only do two kinds a day. The new place is brighter and bigger (it seems) than their previous eatery (now run by one of their children). There are family pictures scattered as well as one of the the family patriarch William Vuong (Ha's husband) seated with his grandchildren, all clad in their college graduation robes. When I commented on it to Ms. Luu, she proudly told me that "in a few years, we will have a doctor!". Both of them were so very nice and hospitable.
It was a Monday, so the offerings were Fish Noodle Soup (Bun Ca) and Beef noodle soup (Pho Bo) which we shared between the three of us along with an order of fresh spring rolls.
The fish noodle soup was so fragrant with chunks of fish and fish cake in a tomato based pork fish broth that contained pineapple, dill, red onions and vermicelli noodles. It came with a side of chili peppers and shredded lettuce as a topping.
The broth was so flavorful with the tomatoes, fruit and fresh herbs. It reminded me of Filipino sinigang in that it was sour, but with a different type of souring agent (pineapple). The fish pieces were meaty as well.
The other soup had vermicelli noodles, thinly sliced beef and meatballs with a rich broth, served with a side of beansprouts, a lemon wedge and Thai basil.
Delicious, both of the soups were. TC liked the beef more. I was partial to the fish soup.
TC's Thai tea with boba...
We thoroughly enjoyed our lunch here. The soups were both excellent and the owners were so nice and kind; they are the embodiment of the American Dream.
Articles:
Rose VL adds Cao Lau, a noodle dish rarely seen outside Vietnam" OregonLive, Jan 2018
plus an older one from when they first opened, "Ha VL spin-off Rose VL Deli adds Vietnamese plate lunch: Cheap eats" Oregon Live, May 2016
and this, "Rose VL Deli opens another door to Vietnamese soup heaven" PDXMonthly, July 2015
I really like this article which tells of the story of the older couple who owns this deli, "The epic journey of the family behind HA VL Portland's most famous broth masters" WillametteWeek, Dec. 2016
Here are my previous posts on their first restaurant, Ha & VL (which also links Wandering Chopsticks' posts) from our visit in 2012:
First visit + second visit. We actually broke our rule of never going to the same place twice while on vacation. It was that good.
Rose & VL Deli
6424 SE Powell Blvd.
Portland, OR 97206
(503) 206-4344
www.rosevl.com + reviews from you know where
While en route to our next destination, we passed by (but did not cross) the Broadway Bridge...
and passed this cool mural, also in the SE quadrant...
In keeping with our, so far, unique coffee experiences here in Portland, we were on our way to one of the most interesting yet...stay tuned.
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