Where do you get your Ph??

[quote author="Keanu" date=1217682351]Momopi, You are good..... Are you sure you are not Vietnamese? ;)



I like Tay Ho a lot. I often request my SIL to bring an order back for me when I can't join them for lunch. So, what about Vietnamese pork chop? Let us in on your favorite pork chop place. (I guess this should be a separate thread then?) Thanks!</blockquote>


He is not because his parents put him to work at a young age at an Asian market chain that no longer exists. That market existed before the era of Vietnamese immigration. His knowledge of food parallels to main stream Chinese. Ordinary foods no longer satisfy his palette and he seeks the exotic spice and flavoring usually associated with South East Asian and possibly Northern Asian cuisine.
 
Would that market chain be Din Hao? They had one of the first Chinese market in Irvine.



I could never remember the name, but the pho restaurant we always go to is on Newport Blvd just south of the 5fwy. They also own the Pho restaurant in Kohl plaza on Jeffrey by Woodbury.



I am hungry now seeing all those photos. Going out to lunch now!
 
[quote author="noshellsnail" date=1217994031]Would that market chain be Din Hao? They had one of the first Chinese market in Irvine.



I could never remember the name, but the pho restaurant we always go to is on Newport Blvd just south of the 5fwy. They also own the Pho restaurant in Kohl plaza on Jeffrey by Woodbury.



I am hungry now seeing all those photos. Going out to lunch now!</blockquote>


Diho market indeed was the first Asian market in Irvine. The owner was a pioneer in the Asian Grocery business with locations in the suburbs. Migration of Asians to Cerritos (artesia), Hacienda Heights, Phillip Ranch and Diamond Bar, Monterey Park, Silicon Valley and Irvine were made possible. Restaurants soon followed the success of DiHo market. Other competitions eliminated this chain in SoCal but it is still active in Houston.
 
[quote author="bkshopr" date=1217995064][quote author="noshellsnail" date=1217994031]Would that market chain be Din Hao? They had one of the first Chinese market in Irvine.



I could never remember the name, but the pho restaurant we always go to is on Newport Blvd just south of the 5fwy. They also own the Pho restaurant in Kohl plaza on Jeffrey by Woodbury.



I am hungry now seeing all those photos. Going out to lunch now!</blockquote>


Diho market indeed was the first Asian market in Irvine. The owner was a pioneer in the Asian Grocery business with locations in the suburbs. Migration of Asians to Cerritos (artesia), Hacienda Heights, Phillip Ranch and Diamond Bar, Monterey Park, Silicon Valley and Irvine were made possible. Restaurants soon followed the success of DiHo market. Other competitions eliminated this chain in SoCal but it is still active in Houston.</blockquote>


I used to be a big customer of Diho Market in Westmont, IL when I used to live outside Chicago. I think they are still in business there too.
 
@_@ My first job was collecting shopping carts at Diho supermarket in Cerritos (corner of Pionner & 183rd) at age 16, for $3.25/hr. It was the last of Mr. Wu's Diho chain in CA. After he sold the place, he moved back to Texas. I heard he opened another Diho there, and more recently, in Las Vegas.



Diho supermarket in Irvine was opened by an ex-employee of Diho Cerritos. It was located where Irvine Super Mart is today by Culver & FWY (by Sumo). After Ranch 99 on Culver opened, they closed shop. But the Diho bakery is still there.



The Diho (??) market chain in the US is not related to the one in Taiwan. The one in Taiwan is run by the "Wellcome" chain, with some very interesting parent-subsidiary relationships. The owner of Diho market chain in the US sold various supermarkets to buyers who retained the name. Thus at one time the Diho markets in the US actually had different owners.



In late 1970s, Diho was the first full-sized Chinese supermarket to open in Houston ("Diho Plaza"). I read that the market later moved to Metropole center down the street, and the old location was taken by ""Welcome Foodmart". But if you check today Diho Supermarket is still the anchor store at Diho Plaza, so I'm not sure what the history is. But if you look at the newer "Diho Square" in Houston, it's got a giant "Welcome" sign on top.



As I mentioned previously, all these "Diho" and "Welcome" stores have no relations to Taiwan's Diho market or the Wellcome group. I wonder if the Taiwanese investors in US borrowed the names for brand awareness?



Houston Diho Plaza:

<a href="http://www.chinatownconnection.com/diho-plaza.htm">http://www.chinatownconnection.com/diho-plaza.htm</a>

<img src="http://www.chinatownconnection.com/images/dihoplaza.jpg" alt="" />



Houston Diho Square:

<a href="http://www.dihosquare.com/">http://www.dihosquare.com/</a>

<img src="http://www.dihosquare.com/images/106.jpg" alt="" />



The Wellcome Chain in Taiwan is owned by Diary Farm International Holdings, here's a good article on them:

<a href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/DailyPundit/2007/May/pundit070525.htm">http://www.perishablepundit.com/DailyPundit/2007/May/pundit070525.htm</a>



"Diho" in Taiwan:

<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/07/Wellcome_in_Taiwan_Reifang.jpg/800px-Wellcome_in_Taiwan_Reifang.jpg" alt="" />



You can read about Wellcome's complicated parent holdings here, all the way to Bermuda. LoL:

<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wellcome">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wellcome</a>

<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dairy_Farm">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dairy_Farm</a>

<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jardine_Matheson">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jardine_Matheson</a>



====================



And if that wasn't enough complicated ownership, check out Capital Seafood, which is slated to open at the Diamond Jamboree center:

<a href="http://www.diamond-jamboree.com/directory.htm">http://www.diamond-jamboree.com/directory.htm</a>

<a href="http://www.capitalseafoodrestaurant.com/location.cfm">http://www.capitalseafoodrestaurant.com/location.cfm</a>



Huh? They own Kim Tar in Monterey Park, and Pho Vietnam in Las Vegas? Guess Kim Tar in Artesia has different owner!
 
Monopi,



That is not Com Ong Phu. Com Ong Phu is in clay pot, not on a dish. The reason it is in the clay pot, so the rice could burn a little. Yummy.



"Ong Phu" loosely mean Mr. Hell. If you ever visit VN in the central part (Hue and Danang area)...you can find this dish only late at night....because what is left during day got put in the clay pot to be mixed and cook again.



All those pictures you posted make me hungry....so I got to go eat.



I am going to China very soon, I will make sure to take some picture of the foods and post it up here for you.
 
[quote author="tulip" date=1218019753]Monopi,



That is not Com Ong Phu. Com Ong Phu is in clay pot, not on a dish. The reason it is in the clay pot, so the rice could burn a little. Yummy.



"Ong Phu" loosely mean Mr. Hell. If you ever visit VN in the central part (Hue and Danang area)...you can find this dish only late at night....because what is left during day got put in the clay pot to be mixed and cook again.



All those pictures you posted make me hungry....so I got to go eat.



I am going to China very soon, I will make sure to take some picture of the foods and post it up here for you.</blockquote>


Hi Tuplip,



I'll ask around to see if anyone knows a Vietnamese place that serves it. But if you can settle for Cantonese style, try No. 1 Hot Pot (The Hot Pots) in Rowland Heights/City of Industry, Plaza Walk food court inside Diamond Plaza. Quality is so-so but the price is right ($5 bucks).





The Hot Pots

1388 S. Fullerton Rd

#123

Rowland Heights, CA 91748

(626) 839-3297

<a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-hot-pots-rowland-heights">http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-hot-pots-rowland-heights</a>



<img src="http://static.px.yelp.com/bphoto/WNGIG3_zMbgdxECWlTcNLQ/l" alt="" />

<img src="http://static.px.yelp.com/bphoto/6xt_Vlx6PkTh3lj_U761CQ/l" alt="" />

<img src="http://static.px.yelp.com/bphoto/X6JdfBaeY_YSEevRDy3PQA/l" alt="" />





Where are you headed in China? I was in Beijing and Tianjin last year for vacation.
 
When I first heard of Chinese culture was evolved around foods I did not take it seriously. Chinese travel itinerary is dictated by food. Places of residence is dictated by food as well. That should explain why Chinese population is all clustered around places with good restaurants. Planners should take note.
 
Where do you get your Ph??



Not from <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/IPmmgVjorqNPFM5VM8JHaA?select=8x0yUmacPr9NUBIxLFqfmA">My Dung...</a> (of Rosemead).
 
Momopi thanks for sharing the history of Diho. Quite interesting.



When we immigrated from Taiwan back in the early 80's, Diho was actually a single store in the basement of chong shao east road in Taipei, across the street from where Sogo is right now. So when we saw Diho in Monterey park, it brought back that sense of familiarity.



Since we lived in HB area, the market we frequented was called He Ping (Peace in Chinese) on Bolsa near Magnolia. Not sure if they are still there now, but they started out at around the same time as Ranch 99 across the street.
 
Most pho places taste the same to me. So I mainly care about proximity, price, operating hours, and cleanliness.



For proximity and price, I go to Pho Bac on Redhill by the 5 freeway.

For cleanliness and late hours, I go to Pho Thang Long on Bolsa and Bushard.



The key is try to order pho with filet migon. It makes all the difference. I try to avoid the regular beef.
 
[quote author="noshellsnail" date=1218241631]Momopi thanks for sharing the history of Diho. Quite interesting.



When we immigrated from Taiwan back in the early 80's, Diho was actually a single store in the basement of chong shao east road in Taipei, across the street from where Sogo is right now. So when we saw Diho in Monterey park, it brought back that sense of familiarity.



Since we lived in HB area, the market we frequented was called He Ping (Peace in Chinese) on Bolsa near Magnolia. Not sure if they are still there now, but they started out at around the same time as Ranch 99 across the street.</blockquote>


Hi Noshellsnail,



I think the Diho by Chung Hsiao East Rd is still there, in its basement location. I recall shopping at such a place last year but am not certain if it's the same store. My grandparents used to live by Chung Hsiao East Rd Sec 3. There used to be a Diho near Hoping East Rd Sec 2 where my mother shopped in late 70s but I think it's gone now. We used to live in Changhua (??) before moving to Taipei near NTU area, now my parents are residing in Shilin on Fu-Ling Rd next to the river park.



I checked the map and the supermarket by Bolsa and Magnolia is listed as "ABC Supermarket". I don't think He Ping is around there anymore though. I'll have a peak next time when I'm in Westminster.
 
For those interested in Chinese-Viet, Teochow style Hu Tieu Nam Vang, you can try Trieu Chau:



Trieu Chau

4401 W 1st St

Santa Ana, CA 92703

(714) 775-1536

<a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/trieu-chau-santa-ana">http://www.yelp.com/biz/trieu-chau-santa-ana</a>





<img src="http://static.px.yelp.com/bphoto/1AFfAI9XdxI8ArTKcYboqQ/l" alt="" />



<img src="http://static.px.yelp.com/bphoto/ZJEDvNRyxQuBQpd1mecQPA/l" alt="" />



<img src="http://static.px.yelp.com/bphoto/Qb32Q08QBhax7VFW4whxHg/l" alt="" />



<img src="http://static.px.yelp.com/bphoto/p12DHMA79AALaGYlX6fJyA/l" alt="" />



<img src="http://static.px.yelp.com/bphoto/0Y7oDuWx4caQOwEhGSZodw/l" alt="" />



<img src="http://static.px.yelp.com/bphoto/m5romZWJ1E1zHNOKOEQYLA/l" alt="" />



Note: not safe for dates.
 
I like Pho too and I thought Pho 79 is pretty good but my Vietnamese colleague told me last week that one is dirty and not the best.

Here's a list of good ones that he gave me. They are all in Westminster.



1) Kimmy ? it is on Bushard & Bolsa



2) Thanh Lich ? it is on Brookhurst & Hazard, cross the street from ?79?



3) Mo nami ? it on Euclid & Hazard. This is the best one in his opinion.
 
dirty and not the best are oxymorons when it comes to pho. when i go into a pho restaurant i expect to have to wipe my chopsticks clean before i eat. then you know it's gonna be good stuff ;)
 
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