Danny Dines: Viet Rice

Word around town was that Viet Rice is one of the best restaurants in Rio Rancho. So, I visited Viet Rice at 1340 Rio Rancho Blvd. SE (NM 528) recently, and I have never been more full in my life.

“Our customers are very nice; they tell other people that our food is very good and then we have new customers,” said owner Jenny Luu. “ My favorite food here is the number 14 (Hue Noodle Soup).”

Viet Rice is a restaurant that specializes in serving authentic Vietnamese food, and Pho soup just happens to be one of my favorite dishes.

Pho is a Vietnamese soup dish consisting of broth, rice noodles, herbs and meat and is the perfect hangover cure. The warm broth rehydrates the body, the noodles and proteins help replenish nutrients and energy levels, and the herbs and spices help stimulate the senses.

Yes, I am no stranger to Vietnamese food. One of my best friend’s family is from Vietnam, and I spent many years eating their delicious food with kids’ chopsticks… I couldn’t figure out how to use the regular chopsticks.

When I arrived, I ordered deep-fried egg rolls, signature fried football rolls, egg wonton noodle soup, and Pho.

The food came out, and it was magnificent!

I started with the deep-fried egg rolls which were crispy, golden brown and delicious.

Next, I headed for their signature fried football rolls, which were ground pork stuffed inside a chewy and crispy rice shell. These were amazing. When you bit into it, it was like biting into a sweet pastry, then you get the amazing savory taste of the pork in the middle. I would order a hundred of these any day of the week.

It was the moment of truth; it was time for the soups. No more kid chopsticks for this guy. I used the regular ones. Oh, my best friend Joey and his family would be so proud.

The Pho was top tier. The warm beef broth had an earthy, aromatic taste and combined with the flat rice noodle, it was paradise. The steak was medium rare, tender and seasoned to perfection. And when you order soup or Pho here, you’re getting a humongous bowl.

At this point, I was beginning to feel full but I had a job to do, and nothing was going to stop me.

I tried the egg wonton noodle soup, and it was warm, and comforting. The egg added a chicken noodle familiarity to the broth, and made me feel right at home. The delicate wonton pouches had a tasty filling of shrimp and pork. Oh, and the dish came with shrimp, and more shrimp is never a bad thing.

My night did not end.

For dessert, I ordered an avocado smoothie, fried banana ice cream and a Vietnamese iced coffee (I had to drive to Santa Fe after).

The avocado smoothie was a home run. It tasted like a milkshake, had tapioca boba balls and, because of the avocado, it was extremely creamy.

OK, I was beyond stuffed, but then the fried banana ice cream came out, and my brain turned off. The Holy Grail of desserts. It was a huge cup, and at the bottom were fried bananas buried in multiple scoops of ice cream and topped with whipped cream, chocolate drizzle and nuts.

I guess I wasn’t really full because I devoured the whole thing in minutes.

I’d travel across the country to eat this dessert again, but luckily I don’t have to drive very far to get to Viet Rice.

I had the time of my life at Viet Rice. They treated me like a king here, and the cuisine was unforgettable.

If you would like to contact Viet Rice, call 505-892-7423 or visit their website ordervietrice.com

Viet Rice is open Thursday through Tuesday from 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m.

Where should I go next? Email me at zunigasauce@gmail.com