Thach Che Hien Khanh - Garden Grove (Little Saigon)

I've been getting my che (Vietnamese pudding) at Thach Che Hien Khanh for a long time. Well before they expanded the restaurant. Well before they opened a second Thach Che Hien Khanh in Westminster on Bolsa Avenue. Well before they even had a rope to make people form some semblance of a line.

Two people were needed in order to get any che. Back then, I usually went with my friend DP, who introduced me to the restaurant and to a lot of other Little Saigon eats. One of us would wait in the car (because there were never any parking spaces), while the other fought through the crowd to score some dessert. Then we had to do a fast getaway because the cars still kept coming.

This was, and still is, the place to go in Little Saigon for che.

Almost every item is $1.75. Sure it's more expensive than the 3 for $3 che at Banh Mi & Che CALI Bakery, but the che here is less sickeningly sweet and of better quality.

The various kinds of sticky rice and puddings are on metal trays behind the glass counter. Yogurt and drinks are in the fridge by the door. Get what you want from the fridge first, then line up and make your way along the counter, pointing out what you'd like.

In February, on our way to Pagolac Restaurant (7 Courses of Beef) - Westminster, I suggested stopping off for some che. They have xoi sau rieng (Vietnamese durian sticky rice) I told Gourmet Pigs.

So we quickly ran in and got a few orders of sticky rice and che to-go. We didn't get to eating them until much later that evening.




Durian sticky rice on the left, xoi gac (Vietnamese cochinchin gourd sticky rice) on the right.




Ooheee! You could definitely smell the durian.




From left to right: che bot loc (Vietnamese green tapioca noodle pudding), che sam bo luong (Vietnamese mixed dried fruit and seaweed pudding), and che xoi bap (Vietnamese corn and sticky rice pudding).




The tapioca noodles are sort of like a dessert spaetzle.




Anyway, if you're unfamiliar with Vietnamese desserts, it's all laid out for you behind the counter. Just point to what you want and experiment a little.

Other Vietnamese che shops:
Banh Mi & Che CALI Bakery - Westminster (Little Saigon)
Banh Mi & Che Cali Restaurant - Alhambra
Thach Che Hien Khanh - Westminster (Little Saigon)

Thach Che Hien Khanh
9784 Westminster Ave.
Garden Grove, CA 92844
714-537-5105

*****
1 year ago today, Turkey Vegetable Soup.
2 years ago today, cinnamon and coriander chocolate?