I Tested the "3.5 Star Rule" for Restaurants!

[@Cool-eo1oe]

I LOVE THE DETECTIVE SERIES! This is so fun. I have been reading yelp reviews of restaurants/cafes in my local area, and I feel like they are either 1 or 5 stars for people write yelp/Google reviews...making it sort of useless. It’s such a bummer for local businesses, because it can totally scare people away.

[@JessieUpward95]

I think another cultural difference that really stands out for me is that a lot of these reviews complain of each persons meal taking a long time, implying they are all have their own individual meals, when in Asian culture it’s normal to share. I am white but grew up in Asia so in my family when we go out to an Asian restaurant we always share everything thus there is no issue with waiting for certain dishes. Asian restaurants are designed in a way that meals are intended to be shared so the food just comes out as ready. In western restaurants (which I’ve worked in) meals won’t be sent out till everyone’s main is ready typically. So there is a massive cultural divide there. I much prefer sharing though makes for a much better dining experience, in my opinion. I would be interested to hear other people’s views though. ❤️

[@PinkRose0910]

I think it depends on what restaurant you go to. I’ve been to Asian restaurants where they have appetizers to share first while you wait for your individual or family style entrées. If there is a language barrier that can complicate things. Usually they seem to leave you alone once you get your food. I’m only speaking from USA restaurants though. I think American born people usually try to be more friendly, ask more questions and come to the table more because they want to earn a good tip. It’s hard to strike a good balance between not bothering people while eating, but appearing attentive.

[@emmaswartz4549]

Thanks for stating that. It's a great point. I just notice, however, if you go to a Pho Restaurant and order a chicken salad (something they don't make often), it's going to come out last and taste worst out of all the dishes depending on the restaurant. Pho will come out first since it's been cooked and doesn't take much time to plate (or put in a bowl). People have to be smart in what you order too. There are exceptions to this, at my favorite Korean restaurant everything takes forever but the chef is meticulous and every dish that comes out tastes wonderful.

[@campfire87]

Thanks for pointing that out! I didn't even notice that because it's so automatic for me to differentiate whether a meal is a shared meal or a individual meal depending on where I'm eating and who I'm eating with. I think there are cues at restuarants where they "let you know" it's supposed to be a shared meal like like giving you an extra plate and bowl to serve yourself food from the dishes they bring out. If it's an Americanized restaurant though, they might not put out the dishes even though typically those dishes are served family style. Want to add a bit more to the Asian culture observation in case anyone is reading. The type of food being served has a huge impact on whether it's supposed to be a family meal. Soup noodles for example aren't typically family-style meals. And different Asian cultures have less affinity towards family style meals like how a standard Japanese meal is typically served individually.

[@alokanandamandal6026]

I was about to say exactly this! I'm South Asian and its very common for multiple orders to come in art different times - that is coz its expected that people will share their food! :D

[@fordhouse8b]

One thing that would be helpful would be if Yelp ranked restaurants, based on their reviews, and required you to give separate ratings for service and food quality.

[@campfire87]

I typically go by reviews too since I'm don't have so much extra money and if I'm going to eat out, it better taste good. One day though I suggested my friend and I go to a Chinese restaurant I've been to before (never having read the reviews) and she checked the reviews saw a 3.-something and questioned the suggestion. I told her to trust me because the food there was amazing. Anyway, it really shocked me that the rating was so low, but the service was indeed subpar. Who cares though when the food is that good and that affordable? I've been to places with better customer service with more smiles and checking in and cleaner bathrooms but where the food tasted blander, costed more, and sometimes had things I explicitly told them I'm allergic to.

[@Reymdusk]

Asian restaurants (in general it seems like) do tend to have the employees a bit more reserved due to culture. The idea is to have the people enjoy the setting and their family / friends more. It's a bit different from American restaurants where they regularly check up on you. I really enjoy this series. I think you should do more "average" or "poor" reviewed restaurants.

[@agnesmeszaros-matwiejuk8783]

I would get really annoyed if someone would interrupt me every 2-5 minutes during lunch or dinner. Super weird for someone coming from Europe, probably would not visit again, and the tip they could also forget. So in case I would be ever visiting US, I would need to keep to non-american restaurants :)

[@NYC.2019]

I’ve been to VOX before and they’ve forgotten to bring our dish out before and we brought it to their attention and they were very nice and waived the dish off our bill but still brought the dish to us and gave us discount. For the first time in my Asian dining experience, this was the first restaurant that has ever considered professional and considered their customer first. So, I would go back to VOX! I loved all their foods as well.

[@TheBugidi]

I don't know if apply to others restaurants, but when I read reviews I discard the ones that complain about the service😅 and give them a try, bc maybe the server didn't have a good day, maybe that day were under staff so I give the benefit of the doubt and try it anyway and taste by myself 😜

[@TheBambi507]

you deserve way more views! love your energy and this food series.

[@honeysuckle]

Thanks so much!! Excited to keep making these videos & get out there! 🤗

[@cathyisashorty]

Hi Dzung! Loving your series a WHOLE lot especially since you’re featuring a lot of the restaurants in my hometown. I’d like to recommend Oc & Lau Restaurant off Brookhurst and Garden Grove Blvd. (don’t go to #2) if you haven’t tried their food yet. There’s always a line but it’s super good and very authentic too!

[@emmaswartz4549]

I also judge the star rating based on who gave the review too. For a Vietnamese restaurant, I try to see if the positive reviews were given by a Vietnamese person. That means it's more authentic.

[@juelclyne7392]

I enjoyed this so much Dzong. Vietnamese cuisine is one of my favorite cuisines 🤤

[@eyebeebak]

No vietnamese would visit orange county and not visit Brodard restaurant. No vietnamese would say they'd never heard of Brodard before. When people ask a vietnamese where to eat in OC, the very first restaurant that pops out on their mind is Brodard. It is the GOLD standard of all vietnamese restaurants.

[@vkpillay6276]

LOVE this series. I am furiously taking notes for when i visit SoCal/Disneyland with my family. Thank you ❤

[@MzMineFind]

Love this series and this one was fun to watch

[@piercechan]

OMG! I have been watching your videos forever and its so cool you are in my town now. I own a boba shop at Diamond Jamboree and a skewer hot pot at Culver Plaza and I would be honored to have you and the family by as my guests! A local boba shop comparison would be a great video!

[@ktpham06]

Love this!! Try other restaurants under KIN you had Vox, still other restaurants like Gem, Nep, INI, ROL. Enjoy your Sunday.

[@midoriya-shonen]

woah, I've GOT to try some Peruvian Vietnamese fusion food now. My mind is blown. Anyone have any dishes of that kind they like?

[@sidar2071]

Just from her orders i think its more peruvian/modern California fusion. The salad and salmon seemed more California and the saltado is definitely peruvian. Lomo saltado is a national dish in peru and can be really tasty. It is inspired by local ingredients and asian stir fry.

[@ihsaraeniar]

this is so fun! I live in OC and I keep hoping to catch you out in the wild!

[@annieyu72]

Hmm just a question, what’s the point of the sneaky spy glasses when you also bring around and use a huge professional camera?

[@caling98]

Do you think having a camera (not the glasses) may have played a part in how they treated you as a customer? You are also recognizable so that may also skew their treatment of you. Just my opinion.

[@ciegacita]

Can you review some Vietnamese establishments in garden grove/Westminster/Anaheim?

[@Sweetwaterdream]

This is so interesting. In Australia, Vietnamese spring rolls are the fried ones (Cha gio) by default wheras the "Spring Rolls" as you call them in America are called Rice Paper rolls here (weird i know since they are both rice paper). A lot of Vietnamese places also tend to sell the fried chinese style spring rolls instead of the fried rice paper ones simply because i think its more popular. What an interesting difference between Vietnamese diaspora. Pho is Pho though - although fancy cuts of beef are not often used here...I top mine with intestines, beef balls, sliced rare beef and plenty of herbs and spicy chillis.

[@Karras353]

I think there is a point where "cultural divide" becomes a poor excuse. Clearly the customer is not always right but within reason a business owner needs to cater to the needs and expectations of their customers if they want to be successful. Writing all complaints off as "you just don't understand our culture" is unhelpful. I am not a particularly demanding or chatty customer so a reasonably attentive staff who deal with issues effectively is usually going to be enough for me to keep going back. If a restaurant genuinely cannot even offer that then they are the problem. It is not totally untrue to suggest that the food being great can make up for some failings elsewhere though.

[@hoangthanhtungj]

Just found out your channel recently and didn't expect that you are Vietnamese. Ok, one more subscriber. Love your video grading though :)

[@honeysuckle]

Thank you so much!

[@janelle2680]

I was just curious if Nate's camera had anything to do with the super fast service and wonderful quality. I noticed he had his camera out in front of the waiter taking pictures. If I was that restaurant and saw that, I'd make sure you were taken care of as well.

[@honeysuckle]

Maybe but they get a lot of tourists and food bloggers so I think they’re pretty used to it and didn’t think much

[@themysterytraveler6536]

Have you tried Sup Noodle Bar? Main owner of the Kei Concepts group. Has some sort of tie to Gordon Ramsey back in the day. Upscale pho, but great although it's been a while since I've been there.

[@tn8336]

I saw this and tried The Vox today. I think I saw you and your family !!! 🥰🥰😜😜🤪

[@honeysuckle]

Yessss!! We took my mom there! That’s so awesome, hope you liked it 😊😊

[@wholisticwholesomehealing888]

I think you have to check out another three asian restaurants and make it an ongoing series :D

[@2011dlm]

Your video is GOOD 3 stars, but your children are ADORABLE...so 5 stars! LOL!

[@hrock8081]

Pro tip, it's not wrong at an Asian Restaurant to call ANY waiter, manager, or hostess for service. Most waiters at authentic asian restaurants work together and share the tips ( I hope they share the tips).

[@ManaDeplete]

That tiktok guy is Freddie Wong from RocketJump. Used to be huge in the 2010's on YT lol

[@doodahgurlie]

Vox Kitchen has great looking food, but it seems more European than Vietnamese or Peruvian. As far as garlic noodles, I'd say it's a Vietnamese take on an Italian dish and at this point legit enough to be called Viet for the Viet version since it was originally created by someone at a Viet restaurant called Thanh Long, I believe, back in the 80s. The green sauce, depending on how they made it might be Viet as well, but not sure what the ingredients are. I know there's a very popular green sauce that Viets love to dip seafood and such in.

[@eyebeebak]

noodles were invented by the chinese. italians are not the only one making noodles you know. Vietnamese been eating noodles long before Italy was a country.

[@doodahgurlie]

@@eyebeebak Not gonna disagree with you on who made noodles first. But the garlic noodles that are eaten now by Asians/Viets are an interpretation of the Italian version.

[@sidar2071]

Pretty sure the green sauce was an aji sauce from peru. Its given at every restaurant in peru

[@l0vexaile]

i feel like the yelp reviewers dont understand the cultural differences. viet culture is more private and no nonsense which comes off as rude and bad customer service to american standards but the staff isnt rude at all. im viet and i personally love the "bad customer" service at asian resturants lol

[@PinkRose0910]

I’m curious if you had a cooler with ice packs in your trunk. Also how much time between eating at these different places? If you are really hungry food usually tastes better.

[@MaryShedd]

will need to try Vox next time I'm back home in California. As for Broadard, been going to them forever and NO ONE can compete with their Nem Nuong - hands down best ever! :) It is my first stop from LAX- nem nuong, bun xeo and cafe sun da. I do have to say the quality has change a bit, but not going to stop me from coming. I have put the 3.5 star test out here in MA and it works! 😁

[@inculcatetobemaudlin2943]

Thanks for investigated and provided honest opinions about the average rated restaurants. Nice well make video.

[@william2william]

Why so many jump cuts?

[@HuyLe-oo5rt]

are you filming with your glasses??? just curious lol

[@siouxbanshee]

I do find this theory interesting because I find this to be true not necessarily with Vietnamese food but Mexican food. My mother and her side of the family are Mexican and I find that some of my favorite Mexican food places are similarly rated in the 3.5 star range on yelp

[@hpph1744]

Brodard is amazing.

[@nickkouroupakis7269]

I love how he’s called “ Noodle boy”. 😂

[@EvanEdwards]

Well, dang. Nashville has our two go to places at 2.9 and 3.5. The 2.9 is one of the few places you can get a proper wok hei taste in simple noodles -- and they gave us gifts for being regulars. The 3.5 is a place that called me after my wife died because their delivery driver heard via the local board gaming community. They are also one of the few places that can really nail spicy dishes with heat and flavor.

[@michelleleuch]

I think the first or last place were higher up there! Yummy!!

[@jennlim2735]

In my experience, if an Asian restaurant's food sucks they will make it up with good service and fair price. If the food is damn good and the price is reasonable, then the service gonna be nearly nonexistent. If both the food and service are good, then it's going to be expensive.

[@stephaniealaia769]

My fav restaurant is Applebee’s & everyone thinks I’m gross but it’s my comfort restaurant & they upped there good too! Especially there Cheetos wings! 🤤😋

[@doodahgurlie]

I think Vietnamese restaurants just get bad reviews as they don't know or don't care to cater to Western-type service. Also, food doesn't come out in order (main meals before apps) or they cannot seem to time it so that all parties get their main meals at the same time. Also, everyone thinks they can be a business owner and open a restaurant even if they don't know how to run a restaurant or consistently cook great food.

[@eyebeebak]

because 99.999% of vietnamese restaurants are mom and pop owned not franchise.

[@doodahgurlie]

@@eyebeebak Which is fine, but if you're wanting to be successful, when in Rome...

[@eyebeebak]

@@doodahgurlie you cant expect great service when an avg price of a dish in a vietnamese restaurant is $10, while at american franchised restaurant $is 40. there are vietnamese restaurants that provide excellent service but the average price is $50 if you want.

[@doodahgurlie]

@@eyebeebak Viets can decide if they want to stick with the status quo or rise by providing quality food and service. Many Viet "mom and pop" restaurants have opted to just stick to the same ol' same ol' and it appears most are just skating by, if that. This is not Vietnam where everyone owns a shop out of their home. You've got to adapt to the environment you're in and look to improve and succeed. In a land full of people unfamiliar with your food, you should go above and beyond to try to hook 'em...they will then bring in their familes, friends, co-workers, etc., via word of mouth. That's how you grow your business and show pride in your culture/food.

[@doodahgurlie]

@@eyebeebak To your comment about getting quality service at restaurants for $10...I'd still get better quality at a non-Viet restaurant for around $10 (international and otherwise) than at Viet restaurants. What makes me roll my eyes is the local mom and pop's Vietnamese restaurants I've visited in the past weren't necessarily busy, so they should be working on perfecting service and such. For example, if they see non-Viets eating at the restaurant, ask them if you know how to eat the dish or would they like to be shown how Viets would eat it. I see so many youtubers eating Viet food wrong, which in turn may negatively affect the experience. Just show the damn foreigners how to eat your food so 1) it'll taste better and 2) it will show how friendly and approachable you are and willing to help them out so they don't see you as "other".

[@mariepham4116]

i didn't know you're Vietnamese 🤩

[@CanadianThings25]

Nice sharing 👍 Stay blessed stay connected always 🇮🇳

[@m1ndymayhem]

I think Vox is just okay. For me, I want more traditional Viet food, piled high with fresh herbs. The salad sounds great, but not from either culture? 😅 I LOVE Brodard. (this one and Brodard Chateau have similar vibes, but often some different dishes.) Unfortunately, it has gone from high cost to insane cost, and it has finally priced us out, completely. I used to literally get it once a week, but I can't justify it, anymore.

[@ellielots3051]

I love sour pho too!

[@allanpeter7700]

I’m surprised you don’t know that tik too guy lol

[@DingaLingu]

Pho is interesting, it tastes like nothing else i tried,

[@JuliasHairJourney]

People are divas about service. If they make good food, then that is what matters

[@PassiveAgressive319]

Service always matters. If I’m paying for food, I do not want to engage with sultry rude staff and it being explained away being ‘cultural’ reason. Sorry just not good enough

[@JuliasHairJourney]

@@PassiveAgressive319 I am not saying people should put up with rude service, but there are times when the servers just bring the food and does not really check in, and it is better than servers constantly asking how everything is, when the food might not be that great at all.. I lean more heavily towards going to a place with good food over super attentive servers. I do not even like to eat out much to be honest.

[@depressed_firefly]

@@JuliasHairJourney unfortunately, this nonsense with checking on the customers seems spreading a little bit and in my country some places do it as well, and for me it's pretty annoying, tbh. I have mouthful of food and somebody comes to me to ask if everything is up to my taste? nah. A nightmare, especially for really introverted person like me. I like it when they just come to take the order, bring dishes and glasses and take away the empty ones and - in case it happens - to deal with any sort of mistakes. I don't need anything else.

[@sr-kt9ml]

kinda bull tbh, the tiktok theory i mean. The best most authentic Chinese place in my city of Worcester, MA, called Red Pepper, has over 4.5 stars. Btw, I love your style

[@raymondporter7748]

If you are going to use Yelp as a reference, you should also leave a review.

[@ropro9817]

No more cooking videos? 😢 Is this channel going in a different direction?

[@charlesseraiocco5285]

Wasn’t it supposed to be 3.5*? Why does the first one is 4.5*?

[@moiznahmad]

The 3.5 rule for Asian restaurants only really works in cities and communities with a low Asian population imo

[@cloudydays6374]

I just looked up my favorite Chinese place and it was, in fact, 3.5 stars 💀

[@TheBeanHome]

I mean a camera was pointing at her…

[@lmc333]

You are Viet ???! Never thought we are from the same culture...

[@joevespa3157]

She is cute with the glasses 👓

[@PassiveAgressive319]

Guys you walked in with a go pro camera……

[@SimplyVibesmusic]

Most of the complaints are from White American's who really don't understand what culture is so I'm not surprised to see all those negative reviews...that are sometimes backed up with racist comments in them. I'm Latina and Taiwanese but there are no Taiwanese restaurants even close to me in the Midwest. Also ew Lychee causes horrible acne, I also hate when servers are constantly annoying me every time they walk by to ask how my food is...if I had a problem I'd tell you so back off please and let me enjoy my food and the company of my wife.

[@minhja4924]

Yeh the first one is not Vietnamese . Hm garlic noodle ? Doesn’t not sound like Vietnamese at all. Maybe usa viet community is different from Australia. Then agian some Vietnamese restaurant here serve with chips hahaha making me 🤮🤮🤮😂😂😂😂 Pho definitely a bit different than here. The portion there is huge and they have a lot of extra stuff.

[@Black-Sesame-]

Great video, but I have to say I don’t like the color of this video. I assume it’s intentional, but you look so dark and so does the food

[@IrfanF3321]

maybe u should hide ur cameras

[@PassiveAgressive319]

Agree, I’m sure they suspected something

[@JesseLCH]

that 3.5 star theory is whack. sounds like something a 2nd gen immigrant would say imo 🤷‍♂

[@eyebeebak]

No vietnamese would visit orange county and not visit Brodard restaurant. No vietnamese would say they'd never heard of Brodard before. When people ask a vietnamese where to eat in OC, the very first restaurant that pops out on their mind is Brodard. It is the GOLD standard of all vietnamese restaurants.