The interior of this Vietnamese restaurant appears to be designed as a faux Vietnam.  We’ve heard good things about this place from a friend with “Foo-dar”.  We order the following items: a small oven baked catfish, steamed fish spring rolls, pork wonton soup, seafood chow fun noodle, salt & pepper fried squid, chilled homemade Vietnamese custard flan and Thai iced tea.

CA’ Nuong Nhu Y’: Interior

The oven baked catfish is dark brown, very crispy and packs a ton of flavor in the skin alone.  It rests in a bed of coarsely chopped cabbage, chopped carrots, chopped peanuts and chopped green onion.  Maraschino cherries replace the fish’s eye balls (yes, it is staring at me).  Protocol dictates that we dip ultra-thin round pieces of rice paper into a bowl of warm water to soften them and then begin stuffing them with fresh greens (sprouts, shiso herb, mint, lettuce, zucchini and jicama) before finishing our “wrap jobs”.

Catfish Spring Roll: Pre-wrap

Catfish Spring Roll: Wrapped

The fish spring rolls (goi cuon) include three dipping sauces: peanut, fish sauce with plum, ginger garlic (with shrimp paste and tons of garlic).  Bella drinks a tasty Thai iced tea with her meal.

The pork wonton soup has a flavorful salty broth with yummy pork wontons.  The wok-fried seafood chow fun noodles are lightly flavored (natural tasting) flat rice noodles with clams, shrimp, snow peas, Asian mushrooms, crimini mushrooms, broccoli, sliced carrots and chopped red onion.

Pork Wonton Soup

The salt and pepper fried squid has chopped green onion, chopped red onion, jalapeno peppers, fresh basil and cilantro.  A small dipping bowl of sliced lemons and pepper accompanies it.  The pieces are very tender (not chewy in the slightest) with a moderate coating of batter.

Salt & Pepper Fried Squid

I close my half of this smorgasbord with a chilled homemade Vietnamese custard flan.  It is very sweet, egg-rich with a super smooth texture.  A light golden colored mango sauce is poured over the top of it.  Bella isn’t thrilled with the mango sauce but I’m okay with this tropical variation.

Vietnamese Custard Flan

Date of Visit: 5/22/2010.  Restaurant:  CA’ Nuong Nhu Y’. A: 10830 Warner Ave., Fountain Valley, CA  92708.  P: 714-963-1700.  W: nhuyrestaurant.com.

Key: (5 star maximum per category).  Ambiance: *** ½; Service: *** ½; Food/Drink: **** ½; Grade: A.