Crustacean

Let's step back into Saigon for a second... Crustacean, with its Euro-Vietnamese cuisine, let's us do just that. On the corner of little Santa Monica and Bedford is a very deceiving building that looks not-so-big from the outside but is oh-so-big once inside. Upon entering, it's impossible to miss the koi swimming along the waterway beneath the flooring. This underground stream runs right through the restaurant and gives a hint of watery blue amongst the dark wood decor that dominates the atmosphere. The building, to my surprise, has 2 stories leaving room for high ceilings along with ceiling fans. There is an aquarium near the hostess booth in the front which lends itself to many interesting, bright colored fish. 

Crustacean is a recent family favorite, only having discovered it when one of dad's colleagues invited us out to dinner. I think the garlic noodles is what got us hooked - simple noodles infused with so much garlic that only hours of mouth washing can rinse out. The restaurant is run three generations deep by the An family who successfully set up their restaurant group after immigrating to the United States. Supposedly there is a secret kitchen within the kitchen that is only for family/relatives. This is where the special recipes are kept and cooked upon orders from the restaurant patrons, never allowing the An flavor to be duplicated by anyone else. I think their roasted crab is the top-secret dish of them all. We each did our own appetizers and proceeded to Asian style sharing for the main course, as you'll see below...

Ahi Tuna

Crab Cake Salad

Shrimp Toast

Coconut Shrimp

Organic Mixed Green Salad

Roasted Crab

Shaken Beef

Ragout Eggplant

Bok Choy

Garlic Noodles