Dong Khanh----affordable Vietnamese Food in Boston Chinatown

Last Tuesday, I met up with my buddy JLAM. I decided to bypass some of the usual suspects for out of towners for some comforting Vietnamese food outside of Fields Corner in Dorchester. My fave place outside of Fields Corner in Chinatown is Dong Khanh (83 Harrison AveBoston, MA 02111(617) 426-9410).

Known for their great shakes, you will always see a constant line for shakes and their boba drinks. Service can be slow but the food is worth the wait. Very simple and not fussy, Dong Khanh has been around for a long time pleasing customers with their extensive menu! I used to only come for their Pho, Bun and Pork chop rice plate! Small and family run and not accepting credit cards makes this place stay affordable. Ordering by using numbers for the dishes you want to eat is helpful is you do not speak Vietnamese and Cantonese.

We shared the banh xeo (vietnamese style crepe), ca bong lau kho to (carmelized fish in peppery sauce) and com suong bi cha (pork chop, rice, meatloaf, side salad, and shredded pork skin with two fried eggs) and were full afterwards. Before tip the total was slightly under $22!!!

My friend raved and never had the carmelized fish and banh xeo before! Tasty meal, cheap, and quick what more can you ask for? The fish tasted like a better version of Japanese unagi according to JLAM! The sauce was fantastic and I needed lots of rice to sop it up. The banh xeo was a nice mix of veggies and meat and of course you need the fish sauce. The pork chop rice is always a fave of mine. Their meatloaf has vermicelli is great, the flavorful pork chop is grilled to perfection and the shredded pork skin is easy to eat. I thoroughly enjoy the two fried eggs (runny enough to go all over my rice) and the simple side salad of iceberg leaves and some tomato slices finish off the plate. Only problem was trying to leave, we did have to wait a bit to get our bill. Service can be spotty and not as efficient but we did not mind at all.

9 forks out of 10 forks

Fried Clams at Kelly's in Revere Beach..

Last weekend, I took my friend JH and mom to get fried clams at Kelly's. Kelly's to locals is a fried seafood and roast beef place! They do take away business and have over three locations (the one we went to did only take away business).

We also were in the area to check out the sand sculpture festival too on the other end of the beach. It was a hot day not too humid with a light breeze here and there.

As we approached, we noticed a ton of people, the lines were longer for waiting for your food than to actually order. The wait was actually not bad at all. My mom loved the prices and thought them affordable. Our clam plate was under $20 with onion rings and fries too! The fisherman's platter with fried shrimp, fried scallop and fried clams along with onion rings and french fries was priced under $20 as well! Our clam chowder (more light broth) was only $3 for a cup.

The clam chowder broth was very thin (not much flour was put in to make it thicker). I usually like me chowders to be a bit thicker than the watery consistency we got. But the flavors were simple and good. The key was fresh clams in the broth with awesome little nuggets of potatoes and onions.

The fried clam platter we got to share-my mom and I. It was great! (Part of it might be because we were ravenous and really craving fried clams. The batter was good the clams were hitting the spot. Only one thing to complain, we wish the bellies were fatter! JH loved the fisherman's platter and I enjoyed the fried shrimp (different batter) and fried scallop (also another batter). I liked the variety. The tartar sauce was a great accompaniment.

Service is not overly friendly but does the job. They call out your name and you come and pick up your order. JH did not get a fork and we all had to ask for them (we were not keen on using our fingers to pick up our food).

There is a covered area to eat your food across the street from Kelly's that overlooks the beach. We found it helpful though there were benches no tables. My sister warned me about the overly aggressive birds who would eat your food is left unattended. (I had watched a Rachel Ray episode in Boston at Kelly's and the birds were hovering over her before she got to try her fried clams!).

It is off the Blue Line (Wonderland T-stop) with a 15 minute walk away to get there. There was a bus but it ran infrequently on that Saturday we went there.

8 forks out of 10 forks (for decent prices, good quality clams though even on the thin side)