In the Frig – Saigon Restaurant

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Dinner at Saigon Restaurant
3103 Lafayette Rd
Indianapolis, IN 46222-1303
(317) 927-7270

Saigon Restaurant

Several years ago in my pre-foodie “I only like food that I grew up with” phase, a friend of mine took me to a little Vietnamese restaurant. I was so intimidated that I immediately drew the conclusion that I wouldn’t like it.  And to be honest, I held firm in that belief for a long time. Of course, after a meal at Saigon Restaurant, I realized how much I have missed.

Now, I readily admit that I was a little fearful – some memories die hard - when we firmly decided that Saigon Restaurant was the dinner destination. In fact, I considered opting out of Saigon Restaurant in preference of something more familiar. But I told myself, “Okay  FoodieGal, watcher of Bizarre Foods, advocate for culinary adventure, take your own advice!”  As soon as we walked into the restaurant, encountering the fragrance of broth and vegetables,  I was so glad I listened to that voice in my head (as opposed to the other voices – shhh, don’t tell Sybil – she can be so judgemental). 

We were immediately seated and handed menus. Your first temptation is to open the massive menu, but I encourage you to stop and observe your fellow diners and environment. What I noticed is that Saigon Restaurant was not a well-kept secret. The diversity of diners was amazing: the young and the more mature (that means me and the hubby), Asian, Caucasian, families, college students (hey you can be a college student and not be as young), men and women. The restaurant was bustling, the staff running in-and-out of doors, scurrying to tables serving steaming soupy concoctions. It was not loud, but buzzing with low pleasant conversation, laughter, slurps and the clinks of chopsticks against bowls. It was warm, well-lit (like your home when you have friends over for beer and chili) and comforting – like your favorite neighborhood restaurant.

Ok, To the Menu
Alright, the romance came out in me for a moment. The menu was large. I wish I had good photos to share with you. But as I said, it was like home (see comment above) and I have an iPhone with no Flash (yoo-hoo, Apple, Flash please), so all of my photos of the menu are a little distorted. That said, I suggest that if you have some place to be, like a movie, build in extra time so you can give some love to the menu.

Rocket Shrimp - Saigon Restaurant

Being newbies, we were not sure what to order, and I was unwilling to give up that I was a rookie. So we  just started perusing the menu. We settled on items that just looked tasty.  In the absence of knowledge of Vietnamese, we didn’t want to order something a gringo would order. My hubby and I decided upon Rocket Shrimp (ok, so a little gringo-ish, but come on, ROCKET shrimp, sound cool).  For a beverage, I ordered a Soda Chanh, described on the menu as Lime and Soda Water – sounded refreshing. The hubs ordered a beer the waiter swore was Vietnamese, “33 Export.” It’s a lager, much better than Budweiser but not quite as hoppy as Stella Artois. The beer was good, the Soda Chanh was lip-puckeringly sweet. Well, for me anyway. I don’t really enjoy sweet drinks – and it was apparent that there was much more going on here than just lime and soda water. SUGAR baby, the real deal.

The Rocket Shrimps (known as Tom Hoa Tien) were very good. You will not go “wow, what an amazingly different exotic taste” – but they are quite good. They are large shrimp wrapped in a spring roll coating. They are served on sticks – the skin is perfectly crispy – not greasy at all. The shrimp tasted like shrimp – not an overcooked seafood-like substance. And HOT! Very temperature hot. They were served with savory spicy dipping sauce – basically fish sauce and a little sriracha (peppery sauce). It’s not too spicy, really, trust me. My hubby doesn’t care for a lot of heat and he enjoyed the sauce.  The rocket shrimp were quite good – the sauce is a must.

ALERT FOR VEGETARIANS AND VEGANS. This is a great spot if you are vegetarian or vegan. A section of their menu is designated for vegans and vegetarians. You will find lovely things to eat here. Not just dishes sans the meat, but real culinary creations meant to be enjoyed without meat and dairy.

Vietnamese Pancake (Banh Xeo) at Saigon Restaurant

The Mains
Yes as usual, the eyes are bigger than the stomach. We ordered the Vietnamese Pancake (Banh Xeo - no, I cannot do the pronunciation – look it up), Pho Dac Biet (I do know Pho – it is pronounced “fuh” – for the adult minds, subtract the “c” and the “k” and you got it), and the Ca Kho To (size small).

FoodieGal Educational Moment:

• Vietnamese pancake: a crispy rice pancake filled with pork, shrimp and bean sprouts. It’s huge – and not at all like a pancake but more like an omelet. It’s served with a cool dipping sauce which is fish sauce diluted with water. Quite tasty and healthful. Please note it’s huge, so don’t order as a side.
• Pho: a Vietnamese beef and noodle soup.
• Ca Kho To:  catfish in a clay pot. Yes, it sounds like some quirky Talking Heads cover band that also covers songs from the White Stripes. Slow roasted catfish in sauce.

Let’s Start with Pho

Pho Dac Biet (Vietnamese Noodle and Beef Soup)

The Pho Dac Biet has sliced beef, flank, fat brisket, and tripe. The broth was savory and beefy, layered in was the taste of the cilantro.  I’ll tell you culinary reader, I think the search is over for hangover cures! We didn’t have hangovers, but this gorgeous rice noodle soup that makes you feel warm and safe – like you were being cradled in the arms of a forgiving and loving God (or higher power, or fill in the blank ____).  Seriously, you want to eat this in your jams, with your old woobie blanket over your feet with Star Trek reruns on the tube (with Captain Kirk – none of that Next Generation stuff).

TRIPE! Did you say TRIPE FoodieGal?

A bite of Tripe in Pho

I did say tripe.!And yes, it is from the cow’s stomach. And yes, it’s bumpy and chewy in texture. BUT, don’t let that scare you…honestly. I grew up eating cubed steaks, chili with macaroni (come on midwesterns, you know what I am talking about), and fried green tomatoes. Textures are nothing new to us. The tripe actually picks up the flavor of the broth, veggies and meat, so try a bite. It is a bit of a textural experience, but take one bite. You will discover the flavor is not off-putting, only the texture. You might actually like it. Tell the tale, be adventurous!

Ca Kho To - Catfish in a Claypot

This dish is amazing. When I ordered, the waiter said “it’s fishy, is that okay?” One might ask why you would have to ask the question, because after all, it is fish. I am still perplexed because to me, it was fishy in the way you would expect…plus a little more.  The clay pot had big chunks of tender catfish in a rich brown sauce. It was slightly bubbling in the clay pot and had this lovely ”gravy” smell.  Now fish sauce is salty and it is fishy. But I did not find the sauce to be overpowering. It’s not for the faint of heart, but I found this dish to be as satisfying as my mom’s Sunday roast.

BUT WATCH OUT FOR THE BONES!  Growing up in the midwest, catfish was summertime fare. The bones are small. But I encountered some rather thick bones in my dish.  I don’t know what these catfish ate, but the bones I pulled out were good-sized. Just be careful if you order this dish. Use your chopsticks, if you can, and take care to identify the bones. Take your time and savor and you will be fine.

The Deep Fulfilled Sigh and the Bill
I was so pleasantly full. I went in with trepidation, I left as a convert. The key to me is to savor. Be hungry, but don’t shovel it in like you would mac-n-cheese during a football game. Take bites, sit back and make sure to take deep breaths so you actually taste the food. BREATHE.

We were at Saigon Restaurant for almost 1.5 hours. We had a sugary lime soda, beer, an appetizer and three mains – and with tip, it was about $45.  We will go back! We have a lot of food to enjoy, but seriously, this is a must return. Maybe on New Year’s Day!

Where’s this Place At?

Saigon Restaurant is in strip mall on the westside. It’s neighbors include GuateLinda Restaurant (Mexican/Guatemalan) and a Cairo Cafe.  As always, Google map, Garmin or Tom-Tom the destination. It’s south of 38th street on Lafayette Road. Be adventurous, whether you are hungry for something different or have a hangover, get off your couch, off your beaten path and try Saigon Restaurant! It’s worth the trip!