Vietnamese cuisine is probably one of my best favorites in the whole world. It’s very easy to say that it’s always in my Top 5. Even when I went to Brussels, I went to one of the authentic Vietnamese restaurants to eat pho ga during a rainy day! Luckily, I don’t have to travel again just to taste a yummy and fresh Vietnamese food. I recently discovered Saigon Bistro, a new Viet restaurant located at Century City Mall in Makati. Coincidentally, the owner of this restaurant also owns Vinatrang Cuisine where my first ever blog article became live!
Most people would describe Vietnamese food as bland, sour or hot. I beg to disagree. I always describe Vietnamese food as refreshing, sweet, sour and salty. Fermented fish sauce, lime, tamarind and mint are often the ingredients on some of their sauces and viands.
Saigon Bistro is not your typical banh mi or spring rolls serving restaurant. It actually features authentic and unique Vietnamese cuisine that the Filipino palate hasn’t tried yet. I had the chance to explore the dishes I have tried for the first time. Check out my detailed review below:
I started with some summer coolers. I enjoyed their usual Pandan House Tea and Watermelon Shake. It’s perfect for this weather. Not too sweet, cool and refreshing at each sip! Both drinks are HITS for me.
I ordered some of their bestsellers in the menu. As an appetizer, I tried their Pomelo Salad. Pomelo is abundant in Southeast Asia especially in Philippines and Vietnam. It contains 89% water, 10% carbohydrates and the rest are proteins and important vitamins & minerals. In Vietnamese cuisine, it is often added to salads like this one. It’s nutritious yet yummy at each bite. Mixed with tomatoes, onions and other herbs, it was then topped with fresh shrimps. It will surely ready your palate for a gastronomic adventure. This one is a HIT for me.
Stuffed Bitter Melon Soup is probably the surprise for me when I dined in. It was a very unique dish that features bitter gourd / bitter melon which we commonly call as ampalaya. It was stuffed with meat and lightly spiced with black pepper and salt. The soup base is not too flavorful because the bitter melon itself is packed with spices that will surely captivate your taste. I’ll give this one an ACE for its creativity, balance and simplicity.
One of my favorite viands during my visit was the Lemongrass Chicken in Clay Pot. The fresh lemongrass infused in the chicken featured a bit of a tangy, slightly gingery and lemony flavor which give a refreshing feel at each bite. Rubbed with spice, the chicken was cooked right. It was not too soft nor too hard to chew. It was not too oily too. I enjoyed it with a cup of rice. Surely, a home run winner for me! It’s an ACE!
Saigon Bistro’s Fish Sour Soup features delicate salmon with fresh tomatoes and other herbs in a sour base soup. It was distinctly pungent in smell because of the fish sauce but once you take a sip of the sour soup, you’ll be hypnotized by its well balanced saltiness and sourness. The salmon was cooked perfectly. It works well if you add a little bit of chili and a dash of black pepper. If you’re into tangy food items, this is the best dish for you. Salmon is my favorite and I guess this is not the best way to serve it but still a HIT for me.
Here are some other best sellers from Saigon Bistro:
To know more about the restaurant, check out their official Facebook page or visit them at LG10 Basement1, Century City Mall, Makati City, Philippines.
All of that food looks so good! I love the flavors, and the presentation is absolutely gorgeous.
Love how you show the step towards making these great food.
My mouth is watering! Pomelo salad sounds like a very refreshing dish. These Vietnamese dishes look absolutely delicious.
Whew! That pork belly is something I must try soon!
Great blog! I love the writing.
Holy moly! That food looks amazing! If I’m ever in the area, this is the first place I’m going. Yummo!
Wow the melon soup sounds so intriguing! There’s so many different foods from other cultures I’ve never heard of but would absolutely love to eat!
The pork belly and the fish look so delicious! Looks like a nice restaurant to dine in and enjoy authentic Vietnamese food. When it is okay for me and my husband to go out, we’d visit this place for sure.
I honestly haven’t tried Vietnamese food yet except for Bahn Mi. I was supposed to try a Vietnamese restaurant before but the service was bad so we had to leave. Anyway, it’s nice to know that this is just in Century City Mall. Easy to go to when it’s alright do eat out again.
It has been a while since I have eaten Vietnamese food — I have to be careful since I am allergic to seafood. But some of these dishes look really good!
That watermelon shake looks DEVINE! And your photos have me drooling. I love Vietnamese food. I think I’m going to have to order some Pho this week!
This looks like such an amazing place to be able to eat at! I can’t wait until everyone is fully vaccinated and we can all start to travel again.
I’m loving the watermelon shake! It looks so refreshing!
Oh, it is lunch time and that is making me drool. I only wish I could try some right now.
Very interesting – and unfortunately mouth-watering! Ever since I’ve been to Viet Nam, I love Vienamese food – especially the hearty soups.
Gosh! I miss Vietnamese cuisine! Reading this makes me crave to taste all of them! The pomelo salad is indeed appetizingly delicious!
A place not only that really offers food that makes me aquolina in my mouth, but the location is also exceptional! Very chill and cool!
The place is nice. The food looks yummy too. Hope you enjoyed.
I have my eyes on the Pomelo Salad that looks so fresh. I’d also want to try the sour fish soup. I hope this restaurant has Vietnamese herbs, I’d really want to try those as I get curious whenever I see them in videos and blog posts.
Wow! All of this food is so fresh looking. I haven’t had Vietnamese food in a hot minute. I hope you enjoyed all this wonderful food!
Ohhh This looks amazing! I love any type of Asian cuisine. The atmosphere and décor looks so amazing as well. So fresh and yummy!
We have some really good Vietnamese restaurants here in the Houston, TX area. Many are owned/operated by people from Vietnam, so you are getting the real deal!
This place looks deeeeeeelicious! The caramelized pork belly looks unbelievable, definitely want to try it!
I haven’t tried it here but I’ve tried a Vietnamese-inspired restaurant Cafe Voi La in Crosswinds and they serve the best Asian dishes!!
That drink looks so good and refreshing. I love the decor as well. The food looks and sounds like it’s delicious.
Sounds like a wonderful place to visit sometime and such great photos. All of those dishes look absolutely delicious!
This looks like a great place to visit! I can’t wait until I can come and see it for myself one day.
Can’t wait to revisit Saigon and have some food trip too! For now, I will drool over this foods.
Hoo! That looks delicious. I love Vietnamese food. I’d love to sit down for a ginormous meal at Saigon Bistro.
I would love a nice meal there with the family. You’re so lucky to be living so close to it! The food looks AH-mazing!
Everything looks delicious! You find the best places. I’ve yet to try Vietnamese food locally, but I’ve been looking!
nakakaguttttttttoooom!!!! at gantong oras ko pa talaga binisita site mo!! huhuhuhu
Gotta try this place once maka-byahe na jan! Prolly in Oct-Nov this year!! 😉
What a cool place to eat! Lots of neat dishes, and it has a wonderful atmosphere too.
The food looks so good! I would definitely love to visit if I was in the area.
Yum! Everything looks so delicious and healthy. I would love to eat at this restaurant.
I am literally drooling over the foods while reading your post. I hope I can be able to taste even some of this.
Wow the food looks so good! Absolutely love Vietnamese food.
I have not yet tried Vietnamese cuisine yet but now I think I will. Everything looks yummy.
Everything looks so fresh and yummy! I especially like the sound of the watermelon shake drink, I want to try that.
Such a lovely place to dine, and the food looks amazing! I’m not familiar with these dishes and it would be nice to try some of these.
Food images look so yummy.Thanks for sharing with us.
The food presentation is absolutely gorgeous. That alone makes me think the food is wonderful. My husband would be all about that watermelon and I would be all about that salad.