Gold Dig #51

Little Sister is one of the few south bay establishments to make Jonathan Gold’s 101 Best Restaurants list. It is on one of the main Manhattan Beach streets filled with beachy chic spots overlooking the ocean and catering to crowds of relaxed, sun-kissed folks who all look like they’ve just come from yoga class. The sign wraps artistically around the corner of the building, perhaps a bit too clever for its own good, as this means that unless you’re approaching from the right direction you can only see “Little” and might have a bit of time finding the place. Inside is a large bar, a row of smaller tables, and a large community table.

The Dish

Little Sister serves modern Vietnamese food – dishes which you’ll recognize like dumplings, spring rolls, and banh mi, only a touch more dressed up and a bit more expensive. But the flavors are still salty, and garlicky, and funky, not diluted despite catering to more broadly American tastes.

Pho Bahn Cuon

These beef and tendon reminded me of the rice noodle rolls you can get at dim sum, but with the vegetables and dipping sauce of the spring rolls you find on pretty much every Vietnamese menu. I prefer the chewier spring roll wrappers.

Salted Cod Fried Rice

When I make fried rice, I usually toss in some scrambled egg. But I love the idea of wrapping the fried rice in an omelette instead. Unique presentation and tasty rice. I think I’ll steal this idea for serving fried rice in the future.

Saigon Lemongrass Beef

The best way to eat this dish is to pour the chili-lime dressing over it and stir everything up really well. This allows the vermicelli noodles to soak up the dressing and blend with the herb flavors, while getting salty-sweet bits of beef in every bite.

Pork, Shrimp, and Crab Dumplings

Served in a nice vinegar-y sauce, these were a hit at the table and a second round was ordered. They were a lot like the dumplings my grandma taught me to make, which I love so I’m not complaining.