UCLA vs. SDSU and Bistro Na's

Bistro Na's

plus UCLA vs. SDSU

Where is everyone? /me hears crickets

Part of the drink meny at Bistro Na's.

The crispy shrimp is one of the features.

Old Beijing Noodles got some love on social media too.

First seating, just after 5:30pm.

Thin sliced pork and cold cucumber. Almost delicate but not quite in overall execution.

Pork intestine and green garlic. Too vinegary-- might be a nice counterpoint to the shrimp, but not by itself. A miss.

Cheese fish (cheese-jello)? is more of an Instagam-gimmick.

Past 6:15pm, they're now pretty full-- first seating in full swing.

Just beat the crowd at Meet Fresh.

Fresh milk tea. Not as good as Half and Half, but solid.

t'was almost empty when I walked in, filled up as I was leaving.

First, watching the hapless Bruins get slaughted by a much better SDSU team at the Rose Bowl. No offense, no defense, no special teams, no game plan... ugh. It's going to be a long season. Again.

Thanks to the 1:00pm kickoff, ended up at prime time for first seating at the recently-awarded 1* Bistro Na's. On the account of limited stomach space and wishing to try more than just one dish, skipped the dishes they are best known for, such as the Crispy Shrimp and the Old Beijing Noodles, in favor of the cold thin sliced pork and the pork intestines with green garlic. The former was almost but not quite delicate, while the latter relied far too much on vinegar for flavor. In particular for the latter, I see how its flavor could be a nice counterpoint to the cripsy shrimp... but by themselves, neither dish stood out. And the cheese fish is just an Instagram hook, it's pretty ordinary aside from the shape.

Interior is fancy and designed for show as opposed to comfort. Based on this meal, would not come back. But due to the high praise on the other dishes, a return visit with a group to try their more well-known dishes.

Meet Fresh next door does a pretty solid milk tea at least. And juuust managed to beat the rush.