Sup Noodle Bar - Cerritos

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A post shared by MonsterMunching (@monstermunching_oc) on Nov 18, 2018 at 5:18am PST

Did you know that Sup Noodle Bar, with locations in Buena Park and Cerritos, is an all-you-can-eat pho restaurant?

I didn't. When I first ate there at the invitation of friends, I thought the prices were a bit high. I figured it was because of toppings like the beef rib bone and deep fried pork belly, which are never cheap. What I failed to notice was the fine print: every bowl you order comes with unlimited refills of broth and noodles.

So after finishing my bowl, I was surprised to have been asked by our server if I wanted more. After I answered in the affirmative, what I got was essentially a fresh, new, hot bowl of pho.

I didn't need it, I didn't want it, but I ate it anyway. It’s not in my nature to refuse an offer like that go unaccepted, even as I felt the previous bowl sloshing around in my stomach. Besides, the noodles were al dente, the broth lip-smacking.

Of course it costs almost nothing for the restaurant to do this. Noodles and broth are cheap, but the gesture of good will and good hospitality went a long way, because I ended up liking Sup more than I probably would've if they didn't do this.

The other main dish I tried--a version of Peruvian saltado--was decent. It even came with a side of aji verde. But seeing this very capable Vietnamese restaurant doing it was like watching Michael Jordan play baseball. You know it's not what they're meant to be doing.

They do, in fact, do other Vietnamese things well. The fried banh baos are delectable: the savory, meaty filling of a classic steam bun was crossed with the crunchy outside of a cake donut. They were so good, I wanted more than what I ordered. So I waited for an offer of a refill. It never came.

Sup Noodle Bar
11314 South St.
Cerritos, CA 90703

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