What are your concerns when moving to another country?

Xin Chao,

In this column, I’ll write about my experience as a foreigner living in Texas – Food focus edition.

Chick-Fil-A waffle fries, photo by Chew Boom

So, what is the first thing that comes to mind when you move halfway around the world? Comment below.

For me, it’s the cultural differences and most importantly, will I be able to get hometown delicacies to satisfy my cravings?

It was 10+ years since my last visit to the US. Arriving here, the one thing that I craved was Chik-Fil-A waffle fries. There is no Chic-Fil-La anywhere else apart from the US so I was very excited to have it again after these years. I remember having waffle fries 2, 3 times a week during my first month here. So unhealthy right?

In term of food, I realized that the sodium level/ intake in the US is extremely high compared to anywhere else. It was a struggle for me to adjust to it until this day. American portion is also very large. In Vietnam, we usually have smaller portions that would meant to be finished for one meal. That’s another cultural difference that I have adapted to since.

Nutrition facts for Lays chips in the US
Photo by Cub

Nutrition facts for Lays chips in Vietnam
Photo by Shopee

As much as I enjoy Western food, I also in search for Vietnamese delicacies wherever I go. My favorite Vietnamese dish would be Banh Mi (Vietnamese Sandwich) and Bun Bo Hue (Hue style beef noodle). There are several places that serves Vietnamese food in Austin and here are my recommendations:

• Sun Flower: 8557 Research Blvd Suite 146, Austin, Texas, 78758
  family-style sharing dishes restaurant, sharing dishes. I personally think everything on the menu is good. My favorite is the fried butter prawn noodle and sour soup with catfish

• Bep Saigon: 12901 N Interstate Hwy 35 #1540, Austin, Texas, 78753
  I would recommend pan-fried Pho and Pho noodles

• Pho Phong Luu: 9200 N Lamar Blvd #104, Austin, Texas, 78754
  I like their Banh Mi. They are also famous for their non MGS (extra salt) Pho

• 1618 Asian Fusion: 1618 E Riverside Dr, Austin, Texas, 78741
  This is a Thai/ Viet fusion restaurant. I believe this is the only restaurant in Austin that offers Vietnamese street food. I would recommend trying the “rice paper pizza” and the “sauté corn with dried shrimp”

Photo by Sunflower

Photo by Bep Saigon

Photo by Infatuation

Photo by 1618 Asian Fusion

Below are the places that would recommend for Asian groceries:

• 99 Ranch Market: 6929 Airport Blvd #100, Austin, Texas, 78752
  This is a Chinese supermarket chain, and you can find a variety of Asian groceries here.  

• H Mart: 11301 Lakeline Blvd, Austin, Texas, 78717
  This is a Korean supermarket chain, and you find most Korean cooking supplies and groceries here. There is also a food court in the supermarket that offers a variety of Korean food.

• Asahi Imports: 6105 Burnet Rd, Austin, Texas, 78757
  This place is specialized in Japanese cooking groceries

• MT Supermarket: 10901 N Lamar Blvd G, Austin, Texas, 78753

Photo by 99 Ranch Market

Photo by H Mart

Photo by Foursquare

Photo by MT Supermarket

Although the food choices are limited and the quality isn’t the same as in my home country, I’m very grateful to be able to see diversity in the US as well as their willingness to try other cultures.

As I’m now living and obtaining my graduate degree in San Marcos, here are a few places that I would recommend as well.

• Pie Society: 700 N LBJ Dr #107, San Marcos, Texas, 78666
  This is my go-to pizzeria in San Marcos. This place serves New York style pizza and the pizza is cooked under a wood oven fire. There are plenty of pizza styles to choose from. They offer certain pizzas by the slices so you don’t have to get a whole pie which is very convenient.
  My recommendations are the balance of power (this has a rich creamy and sweet taste), good old pepperoni, and the enlightenment, and for the meat lovers, the 78-666 is highly recommended.  

• Taiwan Bowl: 804 Chestnut St #A, San Marcos, Texas, 78666
  This restaurant serves homemade Taiwanese food. The owner who is also the chef is very friendly. She would always greet the customers and listen to the customers’ feedback. The owner is very generous with the portion, and she doesn’t use MSG in her cooking.
  My recommendations are fried chicken wings, braised beef, pork chop with rice/noodles, and fried fish fillet with rice/noodles (the ginger garlic sauce that comes with the fish is amazing.)

• Shai Yo: 700 N LBJ Dr #109, San Marcos, Texas, 78666  
  This restaurant is very spacious, but they are very short on staff. So keep in mind if you come in a group, wait time can be long and service might be slow.
  My recommendations are the papaya salad, the fried chicken rice, tom yum soup, and deep-fried whole tilapia.

• Craft House: 242 N LBJ Dr #103, San Marcos, Texas, 78666
  This is an industrial-style chill bar with live music and craft beer. They offer both indoor and outdoor seating.
  My recommendations are the Mushroom Swiss burger and the Bobcat cheese fries.

Photo by Pie Society

Photo by Taiwan Bowl

Photo by Crafthouse

Photo by Doordash

Besides eating out, I have developed my cooking skills tremendously within the past few years. For authentic dishes that I crave but I couldn’t find it locally, or the taste has been altered to local tastes, I usually would make it from scratch by searching for recipes on Youtube.

Hotpot is one of my FAVORITE meal choices that I could possibly eat regularly. Sadly, I have not found a restaurant that has good hotpot in Austin. The closest good hotpot restaurant I would say is in Houston. So, to satisfy my craving, I would have to make everything at home form scratch. From broth to dipping sauce, and side dishes that complements the hotpot.

Hai Di Lao soup base packages
Photo by Shopee Singapore

I usually would make a trip to 99 Ranch Market and shop for these ingredients:

2lb of pork bones, preferably the type with bone marrows. I love bone marrow and making broth with pork bones would enhance the richness of the broth.

Thankfully, they have premade soup base packages so that’s very convenient. I usually go with tomato flavor or clear pork bone broth.

For the dipping/ side dish, I usually get thin slices of beef or lamb. I think these proteins go really well with hotpot. Additional sides I would recommend are fried bean curd (sheets and rolls) the roll bean curds are thinner and absorbs more flavors, fish balls, beef tendon balls, and balls with fish roes. In terms of veggies, I prefer to add enoki mushrooms, oyster mushrooms, and chanterelle mushrooms. I’m not big for adding greens to my hotpot but if you like, I recommend cabbage.

To make the broth, you would have to blanch the pork bones, then simmer for 3-5 hours for the sweetness of the bones to fully release. After that, you can add in the premade soup basepack and season to taste, or just leave the broth as is and season with salt to taste.

Next is the dipping sauce, without this, the meal wouldn’t be complete. The 2 types of dipping sauces that I prefer are:

Soy and vinegar sauce with fried garlic, cilantro, spring onion, lots of Thai chilies, and a touch of sesame oil. This will have light soy, sour and fragrance texture from the sesame oil.

Sesame pastes with crunched peanut butter, soy sauce, a dash of fish sauce, garlic, Thai chilies, cilantro, and spring onion. This will have a creamy texture.

Then you assemble the dipping/side dished on the side. You will dip the ingredients in the broth as you go so the ingredients won’t be overcooked.

To me, this is the best dish to have during the cold season, the steaming hot soup will warm up your body and it’s a great dish to share with friends and family. I would highly recommend trying this out.

That’s the end of this blog, I hope my recommendations helped you narrow down choices for Vietnamese, and Asian restaurants when you are searching for a place to dine out. Lastly, hope you will succeed in making hotpot.