Trieu Chau (Santa Ana)

[ps99472]

Been eating here since '83, haven't been back last couple of years due to my daughter (do not bring infants or kids with weak immune systems here).  Same grumpy waiters, same people cutting in line in front of you because they know the staff, same mystery total amount they scribble on their notepad when you ask for the check, still delicious. 

First things first....

Seafood skinny rice noodle

Seafood skinny egg noodle dry

My last meal on earth, seafood stir fry soft noodle dry

The stir fry noodles is best eaten there.  The cascade of taste goes like this:  fiery roastiness of the wok, chewy al dente soft egg noodles, followed by the savory/sweetness of the sauce.  If I ever meet bourdain, I would bring him here.

 

[homer_simpson]

'83?  wow wow!!

Love going to this place!

 

[irvinehomeshopper]

This place is gross. Food residues all over window frames. Condiments with other patrons left over food debris inside the jar when customers dipped the spoon into their soup. At any given time dried food is trapped at table seams and chair joints. A small roach crawled into a wall crevice was the last straw that I stopped going to this place. Do you want to hear about the restroom?

 

[irvinehomeowner]

This place is gross. Food residues all over window frames. Condiments with other patrons left over food debris inside the jar when customers dipped the spoon into their soup. At any given time dried food is trapped at table seams and chair joints. A small roach crawled into a wall crevice was the last straw that I stopped going to this place. Do you want to hear about the restroom?

So it's authentic?

 

[irvinehomeshopper]

Very authentic. I dare you go into Santa Ana.

This place is gross. Food residues all over window frames. Condiments with other patrons left over food debris inside the jar when customers dipped the spoon into their soup. At any given time dried food is trapped at table seams and chair joints. A small roach crawled into a wall crevice was the last straw that I stopped going to this place. Do you want to hear about the restroom?

So it's authentic?

 

[irvinehomeowner]

I go there all the time... I just don't want to live there. 

 

[ps99472]

I can confirm what IHS has said about Trieu Chau, though I haven't seen a cockroach, the only condiments I use are the red and brown sauce.  And yes I've seen people dip their chopsticks directly into the chili pepper jar, people picking/rubbing their feet while eating, the busboys using a nasty hepatitis carrying rag to clean the tables all day.  But the food is so good and there is no where else that comes close to their broth.  Rumor has it they use some sort of Chinese medicinal herb ingredient that only the owner knows, probably opium.  And yes I usually get a stomache afterwards.

Clientele here is a little rough, and seems the same since '83, old and crusty and with a toothpick in their mouth walking out the door (man and woman)

 

[homer_simpson]

Is it me or are there a ton of Cambodian people eating there on Saturdays?

There's another trieu chau on Westminster and brookhurst, but this one is still the better tasting place.

 

[irvinehomeshopper]

This place trained a group of Mexicans to cook in the kitchen while all the shareholders are the waiters. The big crock of soup out front is in violation of health code being outside of the kitchen. There is no air curtain by the doors to deter flies.

The secret at this place that is different from New Trieu Chau is dried squid used as soup base. For some who are allergic to seafood or filthy conditions must avoid this place. Diarhea is not so fun.