Shanghai Transplant Saigon Mama Brings Fast-Casual Vietnamese to Sanlitun

New Saigon Mama Brings Fast-Casual Vietnamese Cuisine to Sanlitun

Robynne Tindall, Contributing Editor | Nov 12, 2016 1:00 pm | Add a comment | 3519 reads

Taking over a spot on the third floor of Taikoo Li South formerly occupied by a forgettable hot pot place (I think ... that's how memorable it clearly was), Saigon Mama serves authentic Vietnamese cuisine in a fast-casual setting. With two branches already established in Shanghai (the original location on Nanjing Xilu and a new branch in the Riyueguang Center near Dapu Qiao), both the food and the space feel polished and confident.

We decided to stop by for lunch after hearing good things from other food-loving friends. The menu is the same at lunch and dinner, and diners order via a dim sum-style checklist (there is a picture menu available for those less familiar with Vietnamese cuisine, or you can ask the pleasant, helpful staff). All the classics are here: pho (chicken and beef), bun cha, banh mi, fresh spring rolls, and spicy bun bo hue (a specialty of the central Vietnamese city of Hue). Prices for most dishes run around RMB 40-50 – good value, although significantly cheaper (and equally as tasty) banh mi can be had from fellow newcomer Rollbox.

Deciding to stick with the classics, I ordered the Saigon Special Salad Roll (a fresh spring roll by any other name, RMB 40) and the classic beef pho (RMB 58). Note that portions are huge – the roll arrived cut in half, thick as a baguette, and the pho was practically deep enough to swim in. The pho was the winning dish for me, packed with three types of beef – just cooked slices, braised beef shank, and crunchy beef balls – and al dente rice noodles in a flavorful beef broth with just the right amount of salt. If I had to pick holes, the herbs accompanying the pho could have been fresher, but I'm sure they'll iron out creases like this. Finish off your meal with a super-strong Vietnamese drip coffee, which may or may not be a good idea depending on what time of the day you visit.