Nhu Y Ca 8 Mon (8 Courses of Fish) Restaurant - Fountain Valley (Little Saigon)

There are restaurants that I used to dine at when I lived and worked in Orange County that I just don't get to much any more. In part, it's because so many Vietnamese restaurants have opened in the San Gabriel Valley in the past decade that I don't need to go so far to get Vietnamese food any more, but I do miss some of the more novel restaurants such as Nhu Y Ca 8 Mon (8 Courses of Fish) Restaurant in Fountain Valley.


I've done Vietnamese 7 courses of beef a time or two, and even Vietnamese 7 courses of goat. So let's add another multi-course, single meat meal into the mix with 8 courses of fish, a decidedly healthier option.

While at Tiki-Ti - Los Angeles I got to chatting with Mattatouille about Vietnamese restaurants in Little Saigon and somehow Nhu Y came up. Nhu Y, which means "as you desire" in Vietnamese, was what I thought of when he asked for a family meal type of restaurant where we shared plates, grilled at the table, and can drink beer. Joining us were Christine of Folie a Choisauce, Gourmet Pigs and friend, Ila of I Nom Things and her sister, and Danny of Kung Food Panda.

So keep in mind everything below fed eight people. Of course, I had to order the restaurant's specialty, eight course of fish. When I first dined here, the price was $15.99, it then jumped to $21.99. One order is usually more than enough for two people, so I asked for two orders and got some other dishes too.

First came out the standard herb plate with lettuce, mint, Vietnamese coriander, and purple perilla.


Dipping sauces.


Goi ca (Vietnamese fish salad). Refreshing and light to start off.


Goi cuon ca (Vietnamese fish salad rolls).


Forgot what was the fish in the back left, then fried and battered fish, cha gio ca (Vietnamese fish egg rolls), and ca la lot (Vietnamese fish in wild betel leaf). The first two dishes were unremarkable, the egg rolls were good, and while the fish in wild betel leaf was good, I preferred Bo Nuong La Lot (Vietnamese Beef in Wild Betel Leaf). I've tried it with other meats, and beef seems to play off the wild betel leaves best.


The Cha Ca Thang Long (Vietnamese Hanoi-Style Turmeric Fish with Dill) was good.


And the eighth course was Chao Ca (Vietnamese Fish Porridge).


Beer and fruit shakes.


The eight courses of fish is one of the few set prices on the menu. As Nhu Y is mainly a seafood restaurant, most dishes will be based on the market price so make sure you ask before you order. I remember from a previous dining experience that I had really, really excellent lightly battered conch fried in butter. Alas, there was no fresh conch this evening. So I took the waitress's recommendation and ordered clams with Mo Hanh (Vietnamese Scallion Oil) and chopped peanuts.


I forgot the name of these clams, but they reminded me of blood cockles. Sooo yummy. But then, I love bivalves.


The rice paper and noodles were for the plate of meat in the back.


I ordered marinated shrimp and squid for the grill.


Love all kinds of meat on the grill.


Even though Nhu Y is mainly a seafood restaurant, it also offers other meats as well.


Venison for the grill.


I also got a small Ca Bong Lau Nuong (Vietnamese Roasted Catfish), which runs about $30.


Nhu Y isn't a restaurant I go to often, but for family dinners, it's a good place to introduce non-Vietnamese to some dishes they wouldn't normally see. Heck, even if you are Vietnamese, or half-Vietnamese, you just might enjoy it too. I had to do a bit of explaining about which dips go with which dishes (Dip whichever one you like best!) and how to roll with rice paper, and Ila's sister kept referring to me as "that lady" (Oh, dear, am I that old?!), but everyone dug in and cleared the table.


Afterward, we all trooped off nearby for dessert at Xanh Bistro - Fountain Valley (Little Saigon), but that's another post.

Maybe next I can find another 7 courses of something, or up the ante to 9 courses of something?

Other multi-course Vietnamese restaurants:
Binh Dan Restaurant (De 7 Mon (7 Courses of Goat)) - Westminster (Little Saigon)
Pagolac Restaurant Bo 7 Mon (7 Courses of Beef) - Westminster (Little Saigon)
Vietnam Restaurant (Bo 7 Mon (7 Courses of Beef)) - San Gabriel

Nhu Y Ca 8 Mon (8 Courses of Fish) Restaurant
10830 Warner Ave.
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
714-963-1700
Monday to Thursday noon to 1 a.m.
Friday to Sunday 10:30 a.m. to 1 a.m.

*****
1 year ago today, Pickled/Preserved Turnips.
2 years ago today, Sriracha Buffalo Wings.
3 years ago today, Cinnamon Rolls.