Blossom
Category: Vietnamese [Edit]
Neighborhood: Downtown426 S Main St
Los Angeles, CA 90013 (213) 623-1973
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 11:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. - Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Good for: Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol: Beer & Wine Only
89 Reviews for Blossom
The place is pretty clean and has an A rating (rare for asian restaurants, haha) We had pho and egg rolls. The broth was tasty, but the noodles and beef were nothing spectacular. I prefer eating pho in the san gabriel valley, as its cheaper, tastes the same or better, and bigger portions. The novelty of having a vietnamese pho restaurant in downtown is what attracted me to the place more than then food. I probably won't be coming back here unless I was really craving pho and didn't wanna drive
Blossom is an important downtown restaurant. I went here last night with my boyfriend and we both agreed that of many of the restaurants down here if you were to take away Blossom, you'd take away the very heart of us. Nearly. They play completely non-offensive music, have really great vegetarian curry and pho. Everything is fresh and healthy. The wine prices might seem like a bit of a racket but the small selection seems to be handpicked, not a Redwood Creek or Bella Sera in sight.
If you're a doggie owner, they don't mind if your dog sits with you on the patio. Their two dining rooms can handle couples or big groups easily. There are always people here but it's never outrageously crowded unless it's Friday night or art walk.
And you get the downtown atmosphere free of charge. One of LA's closest brushes with a real urban experience. I once saw the landlord of their building come out on the sidewalk red-faced mad to scream at the shopowner next door about her GD Cat, without even noticing that the 10 people on the patio were staring at him and then just stormed off down the street toward skid row. Had this been elsewhere in the city (ahem) lawyers would have been called.
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I came here for the first time to have brunch. I like like like it.
I had the crepe... never ever had Vietnamese crepe before and it was surprisingly yummo. Totally worth it. The atmosphere was great - neat and clean, the crowd seemed to really enjoy the food.
Definitely coming back! :p
I went here just for the vegetarian pho. It was so delicious! The spring rolls were great too. Definitely a place to take a vegan/vegetarian friend who wants to try out that staple Vietnamese dish. It wasn't too busy when I went on a Friday but I think it's a great place to start before going to a bar around downtown (La Cita, Bar 107, etc)
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cheap, good, and since i rarely order any fried stuff - also healthy!!!!!
the vegetarian spring rolls with peanut sauce are awesome. I want them every day. The pho is good. Shrimp fritter was a little unusual, but fine. The ginger limeade is nice - lots of ginger snappiness. Good number of people always there too.
so what more can you ask for??
parking - ok, tough luck, just look around
decor - i'll diplomatically call it "not distracting". its quite spartan but i'm mainly looking at my plate or the person with me so its better that its not laden down with kitschy stuff. Just walls, which every place needs. Tables and chairs - also essential - also provided.
Yum, blossom.
Lunch today at Blossom--life does not get much better.
My first visit to this restaurant and I was tempted to order the Pho combination, but something about the pork chop was calling to me. I'm so glad I answered.
Two large, albeit thin chops, in a garlic-lemongrass marinade, pan seared to perfection and served atop a bed of rice with an ample bowl of dipping sauce. I drizzled about 1/3 of it over the dish. The thin chops are ideal as they are better able to retain the marinade flavors, resulting in a punch of subtle, yet yummy flavors in each bite. The side salad was fresh and tasty, but almost seemed to be missing the vinaigrette.
Now I realize this is comparing apples to oranges, but while eating this delightful dish, I began thinking of the yellowtail lunch dish at LA Farm. If any of you have ever had this divine creation, then you know what I am feeling. Accept this as a high complement to Blossom.
On the negative side, my bill was placed on the table after I finished my last bite without asking if I wanted anything else. A pet peeve of mine...
In closing, I ordered an espresso which turned out to be as wonderful as the food. Now I need to find an excuse to go back again this week and try the Pho.
Delicious. I go there after work all the time for a beer and spring rolls. Lets not forget the soundtrack. Radiohead, Bjork, Blond Redhead, The Zombies, The Beatles have all tickled my ear while enjoying a Chang beer.
So, came here during the art walk.
The hostess/waitress(s) where super confused. Granted, its the art walk, and there are thousands of hipsters walking around in their vintage tight jeans (btw, for all of you hipsters, its really okay to wash vintage or $$ jeans. really.) but come on, at least remember what tables you are serving and what food goes where! (What type of beer do you have? "ummmm i think tiger, wait no...we have more. ummmm"
Anyways, we had pho (I had vege, Frank k the faux foodie had some animal in his) and mine was great! The broth actually had some taste, and the Tofu was NOT deep fried.
We also had the vege crepe, which was a disappointment. It looked like a omlette, and had the density of one as well. I would skip it.
Overall, a great addition to a transforming part of LA. Even a fusion place made for whites. :)
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There's two sections to this restaurant, one more cramped and the other more airy and bright (occupies the street corner...).
The shrimp and pork rolls were fresh (sometimes the rice paper is stiff if left out - Blossoms was cool and soft) and the peanut sauce perfectly spiced.
The Pho Dac Biet (miture of meat) was delicious too...
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I don't get where these good reviews are coming from. As far as Vietnamese goes, this stuff is pretty bad.
We ordered the bun with beef, shrimp and egg roll.
- The beef looked like it was probably baked or stewed in a pot. It did not have char grill marks anywhere and was pretty bland
- The shrimp looked like they were either boiled or were purchased cooked and frozen and then merely thawed
- The egg roll was passable
The Banh Xeo wasn't very crispy and would only be recommended if you've never had one before. The pho was fine. The service was very friendly and the prices were fair.
I can't imagine going back.
Surprise, surprise.
A fusion Vietnamese restaurant with authentic taste.
I had Bun Tom Nuong, Bo Nuong, cold Vermicelli with grilled shrimp and lemon grass beef. This is such a unique combination, at least to me since I've never had lemon grass beef on my Bun. I have to say, I've been missing out ALOT. The combination is AWESOME! So much better than your typical grilled pork and shrimp combo. Beef had the right amount of lemon grass, shrimp was plump and sweet. I love it.
I also like Blossom's interior. Cream and green wall treatment with Gold accent color. How simple and how chic can that get. It is quite refreshing to be in a Vietnamese restaurant that actually put an effort in making their restaurant look pretty.
I heart this place.
excellent food. good choice for lighter dishes. cool location
What can I say that hasn't already been said?
It ain't my daddy's pho, but it'll do when I get homesick....or if my co-workers want Vietnamese food. I've also had the sizzling beef, and that was pretty decent (just wish there was more of it.)
Prices are reasonable, the place is clean and staff are really nice.
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Located on Main St. and between 4th and 5th, Blossom stands firmly on its ground to dish up some hearty Vietnamese fair, complete with spring rolls, vietnamese-style crepes, 5-spiced chicken, pho, and... curry. Curry?! The latter items are very much in their respective places, but curry? At a vietnamese establishment?
But, yes, they have it. The curry is delicious down to the very last drop. Chicken and mixed veggies swim in the spicy, velvetty yellow broth, and are served with a bed of rice. The portion was also larger than I expected; I finished my rice before I finished the curry. So I ordered another side of rice; it was THAT much curry.
This was the third time that I've visited in two weeks. Perfect for a small group for lunch, which is when I usually make my appearence. I intend to try as many of the other items as possible, but pho and curry alone will leave me as content as a sultan after Harem Appreciation Night.
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I must say that I love this restaurant for their vegetarian crepe, which is FABULOUS. I once tried ordering something else--the curry (not my favorite version) and I felt buyers remorse the entire time as I was longingly wishing I was munching on the crepe instead. It is made from rice flour and has chunks of fried tofu and bean sprouts with sides of cucumber, carrot, mint, greens and a special spicy sweet sauce of which the ingredients I tried to get, but they would not reveal. Good for them.
I have always had great experiences with the service and can' t believe how cheap these delicious eats are. Just so I could access it on demand, I tried to make something similar at home, but it flopped.
And most recently I was there for lunch, and ordered another one "to go", you know, to bring home for my husband. Ya right, he never saw it. I hid it deep in the fridge and had another happy crepe lunch the next day. Sorry honey I am Blossom Crepe Crazy, what can I say.
Great service, reasonably priced, good spring rolls....but the pho was watered down and not authentic. I'd eat it again....if Pete's wasn't open.
Good spot for Ph.
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Main St. has come a loooong way baby. I never thought I'd eat on the sidewalk of a restaurant patio in the area, but there I was, slurping my pho ga. Kudos to them for contributing to the revitalization of Main St.
Did I still have to listen to a downtown resident play drums on a bike rack while I ate? Yes. Did I still have to wave off another downtown resident who complimented my appearance VERY loudly, drawing attention to the fact I was lunching solo? Um, yea. But hey, these things are still part of the essence of Downtown. Besides, I really wanted to give this place a shot and didn't want again till I could coordinate lunch with someone.
Anyways, the pho was ok. Didn't top some of my fave places in the SGV by any means, but if you work downtown (especially on the eastside), it's a decent option. Pho is about $7 - not too bad for lunch. The restaurant is very clean, the service is really fast, and the place seemed to have a high turn-around of customers, so you probably wouldn't have to wait too long for lunch.
Metered parking might be tough, but it's two blocks away from the Pershing Sq. Metro stop, or you can just jump on the Dash (D- Route).
Far from being "authentic" for _this_ Vietnamese person's taste...
However, if you don't care about authenticity... and want to pretend to be cultured and hip... this isn't that bad of a place...
2 things about this place that beats most "authentic" Vietnamese Restaurants....
1. Square Plates... how very...
2. Clean.
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I've been hearing a lot about this place from my friends and finally tried it out today. Who knew it was so close to my new place!
We started with the vegetarian spring rolls. I liked them..nice and light. The peanut sauce was good and I was glad they put a little of the red pepper stuff in it to give it a little kick. I ordered the veggie curry and Brian ordered the fried rice with shrimp and chicken. The veggie curry was good. It wasn't cream based (at least it didn't seem that way to me) more like a broth. I enjoyed the green beans in the curry. Brian enjoyed his fried rice.
Everything seemed really fresh and clean. I liked that. I will definitely be coming here again.
I really love this restaurant. My boyfriend once got this crepe and even though it had shrimp in it, which I don't like, it was phenomenal. Next time I'd really like to try the vegetarian crepe. My usual favorite is the fried roasted cornish hen that was cooked in garlic and shallots it comes with rice, soy sauce dip, and a delish pan fried egg. This tiny chicken and egg taste so perfect together. I've also tried some of the Pho but was not so gung ho on the broth, or was it the meat? Low prices, and shaded outside seating, the service is quick and friendly. My favorite thing about this place is they know a thing or two about portion size, it's perfect.
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I'm IMPRESSED! In this burgeoning yuppie district in downtown, Blossom offers a decent bowl of pho.
Parking can be a pain but my co-worker and I will circle the area for 10 minutes because it's worth it!
After reading Zo L's review, I have to try the curry!
One of my favorite lunch places in Downtown - especially when you want something that's filling, tasting, and not too heavy. I almost always get the Vermicelli Rice Noodles with Lemongrass Steak & Eggrolls (yes, the eggrolls come IN the bowl). Delicious! Reasonably priced, and sooo filling. The Veggie Spring Rolls are great too! The newer indoor addition looks really cool and modern, so I'll have to check that out.
My friend/coworker and 2 other co workers went to this place for lunch yesterday. She had discovered this place with another friend. I was surprised by the cleanliness of the place - well it seemed like it was clean. It has an "A" grading from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
I wouldn't say it is "authentic" vietnamese food, but if you're craving some pho, and are in the area you can swing by. They have some pho places in chinatown, but I try to stay away from eating there simply because of the overall appearance/smell of the places down there. Some of them aren't very clean either.
I had the shrimp and pork spring rolls, which were very tasty with the accompanying peanut sauce. I also had the shrimp pho, which satisfied me for lunch. However, I wish I had gotten the curry my friend got. She says the curry there is good but a bit on the spicy side. I plan to go back and try the curry.
They take credit cards and the lunch prices are reasonable. Most of it looked like it was under $10.
Downtown LA needs more cheap restaurants. Coming from San Francisco, my tummy has been spoiled by the diversity and massive quantities of restaurants around SF/Bay Area.
I was on my way to Lost Souls Cafe (nearby), but I was starving and being and college student, didn't have too much moolah. The food here is delicious, and I hope they don't use MSG because I've heard that most Vietnamese restaurants do. The service was a bit slow and unattentive but I didn't really care because I had nowhere else to go after dinner, haha.
I was sitting with my friends in front, we had finished eating and sat talking for about 15 minutes and I wondered when we would get our tab. I peeked inside and the 4 cooks and 2 waitresses were all scarfing down their dinners. Yea, not so much a good idea to have the staff eat at the same time, but I've been a waitress before (worst job ever), so I understand.
It's cheap, good food. And chill.
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I don't know much about Vietnamese food. Meaning I don;t know authentic from not.
What I know is yummy vs. not.
This place is yummy, the curries were loved all around, and my pho was nicely unctuous, and delicate at the same time. Chili and Lime made the dish per usual. Anyway...
Decor is simple, stripped down, the kitchen is the size of my armpit, and the service was a mix of terrible and very friendly. Well not terrible, just disorganized.
PRices are very low. 7 dollars fro pho, and most other dishes.
They have two slightly different seating areas. One Open and airy white with windows the other is their store-front which is darker but still nice.
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I had high hopes based on the reviews I read, I'm sorry the Beef Pho was not a knockout like I was expecting it to be, it wasn't bad but I'd probably will order something different from here if I'm at the place again.
It was just average in my opinion but that's not necessarily a bad thing. The soup was on the sweet side (not bad) but somewhat artificial in flavor without the beef stock goodness flavor (bad). My head started to throb towards end of the bowl (possibly too much msg).
The noodles were thin and on the soft side but with some chewy texture, they were not memorable.
The beef looked good and is photogenic (pics posted) but strangely lacked the beef flavor. The texture was that of marinated beef (comes apart easily vs. stringy) but no flavor, and I felt I was chewing on crumbly semi-soft thing, unfortunately this was memorable (And I don't want it again).
The interior is modern chic and clean. There's also another room next door with huge windows and..., and sake bottles on the shelves? Otokoyama sake? That's one great sake...
This..., this is a local high-priced Downtown condo owner's hangout isn't it? Gwa~d, I envy you, so close to so many restaurants and old buildings full of mood and character. I don't envy the high parking fees though. $7 flat rate!?
What's that? You could afford it so no issues? I see...., can I see you in the back parking lot so my friends and I can beat.., I mean talk to you? (Just kidding, in fact let me place a smile face here to prove it :-), there). No ill will intended, just dizzy from all the posts completed...
I love this place! The ingredients are super fresh and the menu is that perfect combination of just-enough-choices-without-being-overwhelming. This is a tasty, inexpensive gem.
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Fast, cheap, fresh, tasty, good service.
Vegetarian spring rolls and the #22 bun are great.
2 storefronts share a kitchen, and I'm always tempted to go into the spare, minimalist storefront with the cool, designey eames-ish chairs, but never do. Just don't feel hip enough. Instead, I eat in the other one with normal restaurant-ey chairs and big gold buddha painted on the wall.
i'm always pretty skeptical about vietnamse places that decide to get all bold and avant-garde and locate themselves far away from the people who know wut the food is supposed to taste like. so i didnt' have high expectations with this one. i was prepared to hate everything actually. but i had the veggie crepe and beef rice paper rolls and coffee and i was pleasantly surprised! yeah it aint that authentic but the flavors aren't that far off. the beef rolls were bland (it looks like the beef was sauteed and not grilled like it's supposed to be done) but i really liked the crepe! even *without* the meat! this place is so decent i won't even protest if someone suggests to go again.
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The Vegetarian Pho is so good I would be willing to stab a human to have another taste of this delicious deliciousness.
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I LUV LUV THIS PLACE! My co-workers and I go here at least once a week. The food is good, service is fast, and everything is very clean. Did I mention inexpensive? :)
By far a great place to checkout if you are in the area. :)
Very nice, a great find Downtown. Tasty, well-prepared food in a nice atmosphere at low prices. I have no complaints really--but no five stars because I found the menu a bit boring and limited, and because the food, though good, didn't excite me in any way. It's not authentic Vietnamese but it's not flavorless American crap either.
This place just never disappoints. Solid lunch spot. I'm just about here every week. I always end up getting the Vegetarian Pho which is filled with long skinny tofu slabs, carrots, bok choy, fresh mushrooms (not canned, blah!) and rice noodles. The broth is nicely flavored and not oily. The basil, bean sprouts & jalapenos are always so fresh and plentiful. Also love the fried and fresh spring rolls. There are other things that look good on the menu as well but I'm hooked on the Veggy Pho! Only thing missing from the menu is dessert. Waaa!
Blossom is the reason to move downtown!...well, at least a damn good reason to travel to the East side. All their pho is delicious, but the Shrimp is my usual choice (with some Thai Basil, spouts, a couple jalapeno slices, and healthy squirt of lime). The Vegetarian Fritters are also a must-try, or go for one of the Spring Rolls if you are avoiding fried foods.
A very accommodating staff and relaxed atmosphere, I have never waited for a table, even during prime hours. Sit on the dimly-lit, corner-store side for a little more intimacy.
Perfect after any day (except Sunday; they're closed) at the Moca, or head over on the second Thursday of the month to (try and) enjoy the ever-growing Art Walk, and then grab yourself a nice bowl of pho.
I eat alot of Vietnamese, so I'm ALWAYS thrilled to find a place that's less than 30 miles from my home in Santa Monica.
Spotted Blossom a few months ago when I was checking out one of the Thursday Art Walks downtown, but didn't get to eat there until recently (since they are closed Sundays, which was typically my day for sniffing out new places for lunch).
Have had several of the dishes (my own and tasting from the other diners). They are definitely the real deal, with the Vietnamese woman cooking in the kitchen that divides the two sides of the restaurants.
Sitting outside works for me and my dog, but there's a bus stop at the corner, so it can be loud. But, barring the noise, they offer a few items you don't typically see on most Vietnamese restaurants -- specifically Banh Xeo (a shrimp/bean sprout-filled mung bean crepe) and Banh Tom Co Ngu (a concoction of deep-fried sweet potato fries and shrimp).
Just having a local place that offers those items is a treat. But they have good Pho (I had the Pho Bo Vien variety), not as heavy as some I've tasted. But my favorite dish so far is the great rice and grilled pork chops (Com Soun Noung).
They also offer a chicken curry, but watch out as it is NOT mild! In fact, it's got the most kick of any Vietnamese curry I've ever had. And that's different as Vietnamese food never comes spicy -- unless you add the ubiquitous chili pepper sauce that's on every table.
The wait staff are proficient and friendly, and so far -- everything has been solidly good.
I now have a new favorite Pho restaurant! Blossom is super clean, reasonably priced, great location (free street parking after 4pm!) and they have amazing veggie Pho and I could definitely live on those tofu spring rolls. I tried their ginger lemonade and it kicks you in the throat after the first sip. Let the ice dilute it and it's delicious. Their service is quick and friendly.
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Yummy vietnamese food. They have VEGETARIAN PHO & WINE!
I liked how they had two dining areas. One area was semi-formal and one dining area was formal.
Loved the friendly staff, clean kitchen, non greasy pho, and people watching.
this place gets 2 stars b/c it is downtown and it a place to eat with a nice ambiance. I find the food gross. I work nearby and have eaten there 3 times. I have never enjoyed my meal there. The Pho is ok, I would just stick to that.
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I live 10 minutes away from Little Saigon in Orange County (rumor is that the pho here is better than the pho in Viet Nam) so I might be a bit too critical of Blossom's pho. I had pho tai bo vien (pho with beef flank and meatballs), the meat was already cooked by the time it got to me (traditionally it is raw and then cooks in your broth) and the broth itself was bland. My boyfriend had the com bo luc lac (shaken beef rice) and it was good but a small portion for $9.
The restaurant is tiny but cute & trendy. Staff are friendly. Food is just okay.
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