Review: Saigon Cafe

I am continually amazed, in reference to Asian cuisine, how so much can come from so little. Take the Vietnamese iconic meal, Pho Bò (Beef Noodle Soup), a richly spiced, aromatic broth that is the cornerstone of the dish, a broth wrought out of the meticulous care of the chef, and often a highly guarded recipe handed down through the generations, to which is added customer-preferred cuts of meat: rare steak, flank steak, brisket, or meatballs, rice noodles, sliced serrano chiles, cilantro leaves, sprigs of mint, fresh bean sprouts and wedges of lime. At , you may also have this soup served with chicken or shrimp.

If you’ve been lucky enough to enjoy this classic Vietnamese dish either in cities with a dense Vietnamese population or from the country, then you’ve been hooked and more than likely will have an occasional craving for Pho. If this cuisine is new to you, then you are in for a real treat. In one of the few places where you can actually get a healthy lunch, come here, but order the medium bowl ($6.95). It is quite filling.

Don’t be tempted to order the large bowl ($7.95) and take the leftover home for dinner. The rice noodles don’t keep and will turn to a mushy soup resembling nothing you had earlier in the day. I have tried every Pho dish at Saigon Cafe, Pho Dac Biet (combination of every meat selection), Pho Tai (rare steak), Pho Bo Vien (beef meat balls), Pho Tom (shrimp), and Pho Ga (chicken breast) and the only one that I do not care for is the Pho Bo Vien. The meatballs seemed a bit too “mealy”.

For the combination, I usually ask that the meatballs not be added. Otherwise, I have enjoyed this dish every single visit. At my last visit, I enjoyed the Pho Tom ($3.95); it was predictably perfect, aromatic, spicy and filling.        

Eschewing fried foods, I selected the Goi Cuon, fresh spring rolls with shrimp ($3.95). Spring rolls are rice paper wraps filled with lettuce, noodles, spices and shrimp, and/or pork. It comes with a Hoi Sin sauce, which is a dark, thick, sweet sauce made from soybeans, spices and garlic.

You will find these in the appetizer section of the menu along with eight delectable choices like Chicken Satay, Cheese Puffs, Banh Tom Co Ngu (Fried tempura sweet potatoes with shrimp) and more. The prices range from $3.95-$6.25. Come with a group of friends and order from the appetizer section and share around for a fun tasting.

Got Bubble Tea?

Bubble tea is the name used here for the traditional tapioca drinks of Southeast Asia. Think smoothies. You can choose your favorite flavor from the many offered: Almond, Banana, Blueberry, Chocolate, Coffee, Grape, Green Apple, Honey, Honeydew, Lychee, Mango, Papaya, Passion Fruit, Peach, Pineapple, Strawberry, Taro, Watermelon, or Green Tea.

I selected the Mango, Green Tea, “icy style,” ($2.95). These are made to order and brought to you in a matter of minutes. This drink travels well and it may be a good item to take back to work after lunch to finish at a leisurely pace.

The rest of the menu features such dazzling dishes as the Com Dia (rice plates) with charbroiled or shredded pork, Bun (rice vermicelli noodles) plates with shrimp, charbroiled chicken, and pork, Stir-Fried Noodle plates to which chicken, shrimp, beef and/or vegetables can be added. Under “Favorite Asian Dishes,” you can find Bourbon Chicken, Mongolian Chicken, Thai Kung Pao Chicken, Yellow and Green Curry Chicken all under $10! My favorite is the Thai-style Chicken Basil Eggplant with Tofu.

Finally, for a real treat, try the Avocado Shake ($2.95) for another fun way to get more vegetables in your diet. We do what we must.

The service is prompt, friendly and the servers are happy to answer any question you may have about the menu or the preparation. They will be happy to make substitutions for you and make your selection extra spicy, if you like.

The restaurant is clean, air-conditioned and spacious.

When you can’t easily get to Buford Highway, come to Highway 92 right here in Woodstock for affordable, delicious Viet and Thai dishes. You won’t be sorry.