Pho Hue Oi

The South Bay offshoot of a popular Fountain Valley eatery, Pho Hue Oi has brought even more high-quality Vietnamese cuisine closer to Los Angeles. A solid bowl of pho, serviceable garlic noodles and banh mi slathered with housemade pâté might cater to the less adventurous, but this Redondo Beach strip mall gem distinguishes itself with its regional offerings from central Vietnam: banh beo and bun bo hue. Saucers of delicate rice cakes sprinkled with ground shrimp, pork rinds, scallions and fish sauce vinaigrette this far from the San Gabriel Valley (or Orange County, for the matter) are not to be overlooked. Those who love funky, lemongrass-heavy bun bo hue would do good to visit as well—while by no means our all-around favorite, Pho Hue Oi's version is a cut above the usual version offered alongside pho on restaurant menus.