Brian Kennett
Amateur Chef and Boozy Traveling Foodie Extraordinaire
La Saigon Cafe Review: As Authentic a Vietnamese Dining Experience as you’re going to get, and it’s in Siglap about a 2-minute walk from my condo. Lucky me!!! The annoying thing though… they’ve been here two years and I have never been.
Maybe that’s because they used to be called La Saigon Specialty Vietnamese Coffee, so perhaps I didn’t appreciate the delicious goodies that lie within until the word Cafe was added to the end. I walked past and saw it buzzing with people, my inquisitiveness got the better of me, luckily, and so came this La Saigon Cafe Review.
Walking the streets of Ho Chi Minh City...
For once I can write this La Saigon Cafe Review, I can actually say #Vietnamesefoodnearme, and mean it, because these guys are my neighbour, but sit here for five minutes and I guarantee your senses will feel like they’re in the bustling streets of Saigon and Hanoi.
Here’s the owner and her lovely friend. We had a great chat until they had to disappear home, leaving me to get some Pho Bo and a few beers inside of me: I hope you enjoy this La Saigon Cafe Review.
If you’re seeking a taste of Vietnam right here on the East Coast of Singapore, I seriously would look no further than La Saigon Cafe. This unassuming eatery in Siglap offers an authentic and delectable Vietnamese menu, and likely one of the best Pho I have had: yes, up there with Long Phung, and Pho24.
So you go al fresco, to indoors room one, then to this room: an uber-cool wine bar, cum spirit tasting, live music showing den. I believe there was some rum-tasting taking the night I visited. Hmmm, I feel pop-ups / events discussions to be had for the next La Saigon Cafe Review.
From the moment you step through the doors, you’ll be greeted by the most exquisite aromas of freshly prepared Vietnamese cuisine, including that Pho bubbling away for ~8 hours in the kitchen: you can’t beat it. The La Saigon Cafe menu is a diverse array of traditional dishes that showcase the vibrant flavors and rich cultural heritage of Vietnam: #BeProud guys, exceptional food.
To the right of Chef, as you look at the picture, is the huge pot of bubbling beef broth: the main component of the Pho Bo. I have made this myself and it is truly a labour of love. Eight hours minimum with constant skimming of any impurities from the beef bones within.
Yes, you can also buy from their in-restaurant store. Items like the very best coffee from Vietnam, and multi-flavoured dark Vietnamese chocolate. I might have to pop in for a more detailed look at those shelves again: goodies galore.
This little bowl is probably one of, if not THE very best Pho Bo I have ever consumed. And I can tell you I have eaten A LOT in my time: well it is my favourite Vietnamese dish. Chef has nailed it. What an absolutely heavenly version of this iconic Vietnamese dish.
Rumoured to take its name from the French occupation and food influence: Pot au Feu (pot of fire) specifically, where all the vegetables are charred to give a smokey taste to the stew. The same practice is used on Pho Bo, and then the eight hours of love and attention as the beef bones exude their flavours.
Here at La Saigon Cafe this Pho Bo has the freshest ingredients, adding herby, savoury tones to the deep floral, beefy broth. It really is just up with anything I have tried before, including all across Vietnam. Chef has knocked it out of the park…
But, wait. Then you scoop out some beef tendons that I really dislike (normally): it’s a textural thing. But, holy moly, the beef tendons here melt in your mouth, propping with beefy flavour. You’ll have to watch our TikTok HERE, to see me indulging in those beauties.
And (yes there’s an and), it gets served with a big lump of bone marrow in the middle of the broth, and slices of their homemade Ban Mi bread that is buttered and toasted.
This was epic. I tell you, no, I challenge you: find a better version. La Saigon Cafe is now my new go-to-place in Singapore for Pho Bo. Outstanding!!!
Pho Bo is a classic Vietnamese noodle soup dish featuring beef. The key components of Pho Bo are:
- Broth: The broth is made by simmering beef bones, spices like star anise, cinnamon, fennel seeds, and other aromatics for ~ eight hours, sometimes overnight, to extract a rich, flavorful soup base.
- Noodles: Flat, long rice noodles called banh pho are added to the hot broth.
- Beef: Thinly sliced cuts of beef like rare steak (tai), brisket (gau), flank (nam), meatballs (bo vien), and beef tendons are commonly used in Pho Bo.
- Herbs/Vegetables: Plates of fresh herbs like Thai basil, cilantro, lime wedges, bean sprouts, chopped chilli and so on are served alongside for adding to the soup: your palate decides the final soup recipe.
- Garnishes: Typical garnishes include sliced green and white onions, black pepper, and sauce like hoisin or sriracha to season to taste.
The noodles and raw beef slices are added to the steaming hot broth which gently cooks them. The aromatic broth combined with the fresh herbs and accompaniments creates such wonderfully aromatic flavors: this is, without a doubt, my favourite Vietnamese soup dish.
Here’s the Chef and his lovely Wife (sorry, I am an old man with short-term memory loss and I forgot the names). Here’s the Chef and his lovely Wife (sorry, I am an old man with short-term memory loss…
I had the most incredible food and service from these two lovelies this evening. La Saigon Cafe you should be very proud of them and all your staff, I could have stayed for hours more.
“Our coffee beans are Q-grade, handpicked with care and passion by farmers in Vietnam and made with respect to the environment.
Sourdough is not a new concept to traditional Vietnamese bread making. However, we have revisited age-old recipes & techniques and incorporated a modern twist through the infusion of new ingredients and concepts to produce the signature taste of LaSaigon’s bread.”
Whether you’re having cramps for a steaming bowl of Pho, the perfect Banh Mi (all bread is freshly baked on-premises), or a fragrant curry, the Chef at La Saigon Cafe Chef will knock your socks off. Each dish is prepared with the utmost care and attention to detail, I know because I watched the Chef at work, using only the freshest, high-quality ingredients.
The cozy, inviting, buzzing atmosphere, including al fresco seating and super-friendly, attentive service creates a perfect dining experience. The decor, with its vibrant colors and traditional Vietnamese accents, adds to the authenticity of the ambiance. And it’s massive, like Dr Who’s Tardis: you have to enter to see with your own eyes.
Do you class yourself as a Vietnamese food enthusiast or are you a virgin to the cuisine, La Saigon Cafe is a must-visit destination, especially if you’re on the East Coast and even more so if residing in Siglap.#SupportLocal #VietnameseFoodNearMe
I‘ll be back again and again, that’s for certain. Maybe today as I have to introduce Wifey and Jude Jude to that Pho. It is simply exceptional. See you soon La Saigon Cafe crew…
- La Saigon Cafe Opening Times: Monday- Friday 10:00am – 10:00pm / Saturday – Sunday: 9:00am – 10:00pm
- Mobile: 97983355 / 85095950
- eMail: ly@lasaigon.com
