Surf City News

Huntington Beach Restaurant “Photastic” is Fantastic

By C. MacDonald

One of my greatest restaurant finds ever is PHOTASTIC Soup & Sandwiches, on Brookhurst, just south of Garfield, in Huntington Beach. It’s a delicious Vietnamese eatery that specializes in fresh, clean, quality food cooked from the recipes of the Tran Family’s grandmother and mother. Nearly everything–from their sauces and marinades to their bread and pastries–are made from scratch daily!

Managed by daughter Trinh, cooked mainly by her mom, Hai, and assisted by father Phu, the Tran’s food is beyond delicious! We love the Chicken Pho, a savory chicken broth, served with fresh pho noodles and chicken, topped with cilantro and onions. All of their Vietnamese soups are slowly simmered for a day to make a truly vibrant broth.

One of their most popular sandwiches is Grilled Pork (tender, juicy, marinated pork grilled over an open flame). Hai makes a special Chicken Salad and a French version of Beef Stew–tender pieces of beef, carrots, pearl onions and mushrooms, simmered in a red wine sauce and served on a fresh baked baguette. My mother makes the best beef stew on the planet, but honestly, I think Photastic’s stew is better!

If the entrees don’t get your mouth watering, try one of their fresh baked desserts, like a Snickerdoodle or Chocolate Chip Cookie, Pineapple Upside Down Cake or Kahlua Coffee Flan. Yum!

Every bit as good as their quality food is the friendliness and customer focus of the Trans and their team, like Cooper, Heather and McCanne. They’re an intelligent, caring group that prides itself on exceeding customer expectations. No wonder their motto is PHIT! (“It’s possible to have a meal that’s high in taste but low in fat”), PHAST! (“Provide high quality food quickly without sacraficing quality”) and PHRESH! (They make it that way every day).

You can eat inside, take food home or use the drive thru. It’s open from 10am to 9pm, seven days a week at 19201 Brookhurst St., HB, 714-964-8373.