My kids were on a mission to find a great-tasting bowl of pho, so we came across Old Saigon. And…read morewith a name like that, it has to taste homemade, right?
The restaurant was easy to find, right off Main Street, and parking was a breeze. When we walked in, the restaurant had a modern look with a beautiful mural celebrating the homeland. We were greeted and told to sit wherever we'd like, so we picked a table and settled in.
Our server came by with the menus, napkins, utensils, and plates, all neatly stacked, and then gave us some time before coming back to take our order. We ordered several different bowls of pho so everyone could try something -- salmon, steak and meatballs, and the combo (đặc biệt). Of course, we also had to try their dry pho. We also noticed they had a mango salad with a choice of protein, and since that sounded intriguing, we decided to give that a try too.
The mango salad came out first, and I'm honestly still not quite sure how I feel about it. The mango was tart, and there was a creamy element that gave the salad an interesting texture and flavor. I did really like the grilled shrimp, though. Out of the protein options, I'd recommend the shrimp with this salad, although I could also see chicken pairing well with the flavors.
Then came the pho. We tried several different broths, and they were all flavorful on their own. I didn't feel like they needed anything added unless you prefer extra spice or seasoning. I also really appreciated how generous they were with the basil. There was plenty to go around, which is always a win when you're eating pho!
As we finished up, our server came back to the table with our check and small spoons filled with what looked like crème brûlée. We asked her what it was, and she said she didn't know. We mentioned that it looked like crème brûlée, and she agreed before walking away. I'm not sure if this was something complimentary, a leftover from another dish, or something we were supposed to know about, but it was definitely an unexpected ending to the meal. If you know what this was, I'd love to know!
Overall, we'd definitely come back. The food was great, the pho was flavorful, and there were plenty of options for everyone. The service could use a little improvement. Our server seemed to have some difficulty communicating in English, and we could have used a few water refills during the meal. Nothing major -- we probably just needed to speak up more.
Good food, easy parking, a nice atmosphere, and a family-friendly menu. We'd come back to try more of what Old Saigon has to offer.