Let Saigon Bowl be Our Little Secret

By Edan Goode: 

We’re ashamed of ourselves. We were eating at one of our favorite Vietnamese restaurants on South Federal last weekend and realized we had never reviewed the place, in all the years we have been going there. Perhaps, subconsciously, we want to keep it all to ourselves (and the tons of other people who already go there). But how can we do that when, gosh darn it, it’s so good and so reasonable and so fast. Let us keep the secret of Saigon Bowl from our readers no longer…

Just off of the very busy intersection of Alameda and Federal, sits the Far East Center, framed by a massive, decorative entryway. Inside is a U-shaped world of Asian restaurants, markets, shops, salons and other businesses. While you’re in the Center, be sure to stop at the market to your left and the gift shop straight in front of you. They are amazing, interesting, entertaining and a bargain. But immediately to your right, on the lower level is Saigon Bowl where you’ll discover your new, not-so-best-kept-secret.

Saigon Bowl is hustling and bustling almost all the time, not only with customers but with staff. I don’t even know how large their staff is but I’ve seen five servers descend upon a table to clear it, wipe, it and set it in a minute flat for the next group waiting to dine. Service is very friendly and fast.

Normally, I try to order different things when I frequent a restaurant, but you know how it can be – if they make something so well, and you don’t get to that place as often as you like, you can’t go to that place and NOT get your favorite thing, am I right? So time after time, we order the Vietnamese Egg Roll Appetizer ($6.99) to start with followed by the #56, Bun Tom Thit Cha Gio ($8.49). The appetizer is a two-plate wonder – one with a pile of white rice noodles and a sprinkle of peanuts with Vietnamese egg rolls around the edges. Crisper, denser and slightly chewier than Chinese egg rolls, they are a treat to eat. The accompanying plate has a plethora of fresh goodies including a lettuce leaf in which to lay your egg roll, some mung bean sprouts, pickled carrot and daikon, sprigs of mint and cilantro to create a hot and cold, veggie and meaty bundle of deliciousness. Be sure to dip it in the fish sauce. So. Good. You could easily make a meal off of this appetizer alone.

All Vietnamese noodle bowls are an adventure. Layers of different temperatures and textures from veggies to noodles to proteins (grilled pork, shrimp and egg roll in the case of #56) mean that after you pour more fish sauce on, you get to dig deep, stir up, pick and choose and basically just revel in this bowl full of yummy stuff! Ooo baby, I’m ready to go back right now just writing about it!

My date, who usually orders the #57 which combines shrimp, pork, chicken and egg roll, was willing to try something new and ordered the Duck Soup with a rich broth, big chunks of duck (watch for little bones), plump wontons and strings of egg noodles. Good just that way, the addition of jalapeno slices, lots of veggies and herbs from the accompanying platter made this merely $8.49 bowl of soup something really substantial.

Yes, we should try new things at Saigon Terrace. Lord knows there’s plenty to choose from over the many pages of menu with ridiculously reasonable prices. You try something new for us and let us know what you thought. How about that? Saigon Bowl will quickly become your favorite, secret place.

Saigon Bowl is located at 333 S. Federal Boulevard, #134.