Excellent Chinese/Thai (Spicy)

 HI everyone,

 I just wanted to write a quick post about a truly excellent asian
 restaurant (especially for fans of spicy food!) where I ate this
 weekend.  It was my third Visit to My Ngoc and every time I have
 received great food and friendly service.

 The place is My Ngoc on Penn Ave in the Strip (East end of the strip -
 next to one of the big Asian groceries) and IMHO it serves some of the
 best Chinese/Thai/Vietnamese food in Pgh.

 My Ngoc is a relatively small place (seats ~60 people) with very low key
 decor and reasonable prices.  My wife and I went there on Saturday night
 ~8pm and it was not very busy.  We ordered soup -  one Tom Yum Gai (Hot
 and sour) and one Sup Mein Ga (chick with glass noddles and onions).
 Both were excellent.  The hot and sour was not at all like the usual
 thick, almost stew-like stuff that is served at most Chinese
 restaurants.  Instead, it was clear broth with lots of straw mushrooms,
 fresh tomatoes and plenty of spice.

 For Entrees we ordered Ga Gung (chicken with lots of tasyt ginger served
 on a bed of lettuce) and a beef dish served with peppers and basil.
 Both were very tasty, made from very fresh ingredients and the
 vegetables were not at all overcooked.  Neither of the dishes had a
 heavy sauce or glaze and so the tastes of the ingredients were the
 dominant flavors, plus a very pleasant, almost smokey flavor in the beef
 dish.  Portions were large, and served with endless bowls of rice.  The
 restaurant has a full bar, but we didn't order anything from the bar so
 I can't comment on the selection or prices.

 A word of warning.  I like very spicy food.  At most restaurants with a
 1-10 scale for spicyness I usually order my food an 8 and often wish it
 was spicier.  On two of my visits to My Ngoc I ordered dishes in the 3-5
 range and found them hotter then the 8-9 range of most Asian
 restaurants.  However, this was not so much the case this last time.  We
 ordered one dish as a 2 and one as a 4 and found both of them to be
 pleasantly spicy, but not at all overwhelming.  (I don't think my brow
 even became damp!)

 ****Highly Recommended