Saigon’s Restaurant

Had the BBQ pork and egg roll vermicelli bowl. Meat was sparse and there was little flavor. Maybe this is good in Honolulu, but I’ve had much better elsewhere.

Clean, delicious, the right price! We had two pros and a bahn mi, but we will be back to try everything else in the menu!!!

This is one of our go to places for vegetarian Vietnamese food. We usually order the lemon grass tofu bahn mi sandwich and the fried spring rolls. Occasionally we get the vermicelli combo lemon grass tofu and spring roll.
Check the menu pictures out by customers.
Thanks,
Paul

It was a cold (and rainy) evening…
Okay, let’s be honest. It was probably only 70 degrees. but people… that’s considered cold in Hawaii. Is that how spoiled we are?!
Anyway…I was really craving phở this particular evening. Something about hot soup and noodles on a cold and rainy night just sounds comforting. My boyfriend and I went to our normal phở spot, but theh were packed with a line out the door, and a high chance that they would run out of phở by the time they got to us. But. I just really wanted phở… so we went to Saigon’s!
First, their sauces are in the nicest sauce containers I’ve seen at a phở restaurant. We ordered the Autumn Rolls with fried tofu to share and I ordered a phở with rare steak and well-​done flank. Can I just say, that I think its amazing that they serve the peanut sauce for the autumn rolls individually? I’m a bit of a germaphobe and don’t usually share food (at least off the same plate where there’s a high probability of double dipping) with people so this was a big plus for me! I do share food with my boyfriend, however! But my friends know if we order an appetizer to share, they can only grab food off the plate with a communal utensil, or let me grab off the plate first! This is definitely a place I can take others and expect my own sauce! The phở was pretty good, although not the best I’ve had. Definitely has good flavor, just not at the depth I wanted it to be. However, any place that lets me be my germaphobic self is a huge plus for me!

I have discovered banh mi from pig and the lady. The thing is, after my orgasmic phở French dip banh mi experience, I have high expectations and standards lol. I pulled up the Unilocal app, and found Saigon’s restaurant. I was already in the kaimuki area, and I figured now is a good time to get one.
I entered, and noticed the restaurant held a moderate amount of tables and chairs. I walked up to the front and grabbed a menu. I was informed that the prices were never updated. They never invested in new menus lol. Apparently, it’s either 50 – 75 cents higher that is added to the old advertised price.
I ordered the shredded chicken banh mi. It consisted of lettuce, cucumber, tomato, pickle carrot-​daikon, parsley, and mayonnaise. It was ready within 5 minutes, and I was excited! The roll used was soft, and had a nice crusty exterior. I thought the sandwich was colorful with the orange shredded carrots and red tomatoes. The cucumbers gave it a nice overall crunch.
However, the mayonnaise was non-​existent which made it dry, and the chicken lacked flavor. The pickle carrot-​daikon was overly tart. But, the joining of veggies helped the sandwich. It can be a hit and miss when it comes to banh mi!
I would revisit to try their phở! The employees are also very sweet.

Phở places pop up often, but Saigon’s has been around for at least a decade. They may have shut down for a period of time a few years back and reopened, but the food has remained just as good as I remember as a kid. Parking is fairly easy, on street, or parking lot across street where Jose’s Mexican restaurant is, it’s cheap, I think $.75 an hour or something like that.
They are definitely better than Hale Vietnam (mediocre service & some dishes overpriced) and Super Phở (not super clean) down the street, and I’ll tell you why. Firstly, I’m very picky about my phở, nothing ruins a good beef broth worse than too much flavor and salty seasonings (both Hale Vietnam & Super Phở over do their broth) and don’t even get me started on the noodles. I’m pretty sure they use msg here but I don’t get that full stomach feeling followed by tummy aches that I get at other phở places who use a ton of msg. Saigons does it just right, light but good flavor in the broth, and noodles are always cooked perfect and doesn’t have that pungent woody smell that some places have. I like that they cut their tendon and tripe small too, because I can’t do huge tough chunks of either, just the right portion every time. It’s always clean and sauces are always filled, and I especially appreciate the family ambience within the restaurant. On most days you’ll see the owners: mom, dad, and kids in there, I’m guessing family members in the kitchen too, and they all really seem like good people, really friendly and hard working. Some other favorites: Summer rolls w/​peanut sauce, spring rolls (so delish! Small but filling, 4pcs. is good for 2 people), grilled shrimp/​spring roll vermicelli, papaya salad, and all their phở! Hands down this is my regular phở spot.

We went to Asuka last night about 7 p.m., one of our regular hangouts, but there was a waiting list so we decided to try Saigon. We were the only customers in the dining room at the time but they were almost full by the time we left at 8:15 p.m.
This place has no real atmosphere and feels a little bit like eating in a fishbowl but it is clean, comfortable, and owner Tam was so friendly and helpful. And although there was no atmosphere, Saigon has it’s own kind of unpretentious ambiance. We had our own bottle of wine and the food was just great. My wife had Phở for the first time and loved it. I had the bbq chicken, bbq garlic chicken, and fried rice — very tasty. Oh, and we had their green salad which was also 10+
We are going to make this a regular hangout. Service is friendly, fast, helpful. The food is great and the prices are unbelievably reasonable. There are so many other things to try on their menu and we look forward to trying them all.
Love this place!

I wrote a review in my check-​in. Don’t think I’ll be back. Yes it’s brightly lit and clean but there’s no personality in the décor or the staff.
Phở with rare steak, tripe & tendon is my test dish when I go to a Vietnamese restaurant for the first time and that’s what I ordered. The stock was watery and had a very strong white pepper flavor. I couldn’t discern any beefy flavor. The noodles were cooked properly though.
The spring rolls were skinny and overcooked, the interior of the roll was dry.
I think I’ll skip going back.

Very impressed with the food here. A hidden gem and the value is incredible. I will be back over and over again.

I’ve been to many Vietnamese restaurants both here and in California. I must say that Saigon’s is the cleanest of them all. You can tell the owners take pride in cleanliness which usually translates into a clean kitchen too. I know I’m supposed to be talking about the food but even the bathroom is very clean. Kudos to them for working hard to maintain the hygiene, some people like my wife really are impressed with that.
Oh yeah, the food is very good too. I’ve had several different phos, I usually get the veggie with the veggie broth. You can get a veggie broth which is a very nice choice for you vegans out there. I’m a little sad that they use MSG but it’s so rare to find a noodle place that does not use it. The banh mi sandwiches are good and the prices are decent. I’m still having to get used to the price of phở here versus california but I must say that even the small phở bowl has a decent amount of food.
Of all the phở places we’ve been to, this is the one we like coming back to.

We were looking for a quick meal before our show at Diamond Head Theater… thanks to Unilocal we found Saigon’s restaurant. We’ve passed this stretch of road many times and even ate at the hot pot restaurant next door but for some reason we never noticed this establishment. Luckily the restaurant was half full when we arrived at 6:45 pm on a Saturday evening. By the time we left at 7;30 there was a line out the door! Parking tip — if you can’t find street parking near by, there is a public lot right around the corner on Center Street. It’s like $ 2 after a certain time and much better than circling the neighborhood looking for a spot if you’re short on time.
Food: Good, fresh, and fast. We tried several of their bun dishes as well as their beef salad. The beef salad was huge, enough to share with several people. The bun was prepared well, lots of fresh veggies and perfectly cooked noodles. I was a little worried about a few of the prior reviews stating that the food took awhile, definitely not what I saw this on this evening. The dishes were flying out of the kitchen and folks were being served very quickly.
Service: We were seated at 6:45 pm. there were several parties that had arrived just before us which worried me as every minute counted. We needed to leave at 7:30 so I asked our waitress at 6:53 if it were possible to get our food fast. She was very accommodating, taking our order quickly, the food hitting the table within 10 minutes. Thanks to their quick service we had a great meal and on our way at 7:29!
Atmosphere: Located on Waialae Avenue right off Koko Head Avenue. The restaurant itself feels very open, clean and airy.
Value: Great value, we had ordered 3 bun bowls, the beef salad and a banh mi sandwich and out total bill was under $ 45. It’s difficult these days to get a good sit down meal for 5 people for less than $ 50 so this was a nice surprise. It’s also BYOB which also keeps the check down.
Overall: Solid Vietnamese restaurant in an area with a lot of choices. Based on the line of people waiting for a seat at Saigon’s Restaurant this place is not a secret.

I eat here at least once a week. I love the BBQ CHICKEN in the Cold Vermicelli with the Spring Rolls. So flavorful. Garlicky. Yum. The spring rolls crispy AND tasty. Some other places are either not as tasty OR soggy. The BBQ TOFU is also very tasty. Like well seasoned meat.
The LiHingMui Lemonade is also addicting. I am so hungry now. I must add that I have come to like the owners vibe as well.

Just a little too salty for me.
I ordered the Phở here. The broth was overly salty and bland. This place does not deliver a secret sauce that can distinguish this restaurant from others.
The phở was not inexpensive either. I had so much better phở with less price.
I will say that the restaurant was very very clean and staff was friendly.

In the heart of Kaimuki Town, just Ewa mauka of the intersection of Koko Head Avenue and Waialae Avenue, this is a well-​lit, clean restaurant with an extensive menu and BYOB!
I tried the shrimp curry and it was delicious! Just drop whatever rice you order with your meal into the sauce and away you go! The shrimp was plump and not overcooked, with a coconut yellow curry sauce, black mushroom, onions and sweet potatoes and eggplant. Generous portions and a comfortable dining atmosphere!

I love this place! It’s always soooooo clean and the owners are always so kind!
You know how most restaurants never clean the table top caddies? Well this one always cleans theirs.

One of my favorite phở places of all time! This place is located right next to the old Toys and Joys. I really enjoy going here because it’s clean, the atmosphere is bright, and of course the food is great and affordable! If you’re anywhere in the Kahala, Kaimuki, or Waialae area I definitely recommend this place. I’m actually a regular here and they always greet me with a smile and compliment me with their Jasmine tea every time I come to eat :)
My usual phở I get is the #9 Meat Ball Phở (Phở Bo Vien) and the broth is so good with the hoisin and siracha sauce with a tad of lemon and bean sprouts! This is why I love this place because the broth smells and tastes so delicious compared to all the other places. The other meal I get is the Pork Fried Rice and it’s also delicious! If I’m ever in the mood for fried rice this is the place to go! They add those vegetables I call orange/​white «sour carrots» and lettuces with a bowl of sauce. I had a bit of the curry and bread, amazing. I prefer this place than Hale Vietnam and Super Phở to be honest.
Parking is across the street with the lot next to Smiley Nails and Kumon. It could be crowded during the afternoon on a Sunday, but it’s not that bad on certain days. After a meal here I always go to Via Gelato or Stir (Tutti Frutti) for dessert! It’s nice having this phở place with plenty of desserts around :-) of course I’ll be coming back!

Small little phở place located on waialae. They have a variety of items on the list, typical Vietnamese food. The spring rolls are very good, freshly made, with lots of toppings. I got the phở with beef and tripe, very yummy. The broth had good flavor as well. They didnt put too much tripe into the bowl, but a fair amount of beef.
The service here was a little slow, but it was crowded and had only 1 – 2 people running the show. There can be a wait at times. Parking is on the street or in the paid lots nearby.

As my husband and I were waking around the Kaimuki area and we were getting hungry for lunch. We always pass this place but never once stopped in. What drew me was the oxtail phở. You know how you walk in to most phở places it’s a little dirty. Well this place was clean and it had friendly service. There is lots to choose from the menu, phở to plate lunch to Banh Mi and etc. My heart was set on oxtail phở with all the vegetables. My husband couldn’t decide between the Banh Mi or the crispy noodles. Well, he decided to get both. BBQ pork Banh Mi and chicken crispy noodles.
The service was quick. Got my oxtail phở and crispy noodles, then came out the Banh Mi. The oxtail meat fell right off the bone and the soup brooth was tasty. The Banh Mi was divine. Crispy noodles was ok, should have gotten regular noodles. Lots of fresh vegetables. Overall everything was tasty but best part byob.
I would have rated this place higher however at the end of the meal and when we left, we were very very thirsty. I understand why it taste soo good, I think they use a lot of msg.
Next time we go back, maybe just the Banh Mi.

I’ve been jonesing for some phở lately… but our favorite hole in da wall spot has been closed for over a month now, as the owners went to Vietnam for vacation.
After driving by our favorite hole in the wall restaurant (Phở Nina) in Moiliili several times, we gave up on going there, as the owners haven’t come back yet…
We still had to get our phở fix, so that’s when we came up with the idea of going to Saigon’s Restaurant in Kaimuki town. I’ve been here just one time… a very long time ago, when they 1^st opened up. Don’t know why I never came back, because the phở is pretty darn good over here!
My freind & I both ordered the Phở combination… which basically has everything and the kitchen sink too (see pic)!
The broth was all so flavorful, and not salty at all. They give a ton of vegetables (which I liked), and the service was fast & friendly.
For some reason, I think they probably renovated this restaurant, as I totally don’t remembered it looking like it did inside. It was very clean, and had nice tables with beautiful pictures on the wall.
There is no parking for this restaurant, so you will have to park in the pay municipal parking lot, or roll the dice & find street parking.
Check ‘em out gang! :)

Saigon’s is a great place to grab some quick lunch in the heart of Kaimuki. It has been quite awhile since I’ve eaten here but the food quality remained consistent. I like coming to this friendly eatery since their interior is so nice, modern and clean. Owners are very service-​friendly, accomodating and totally down-​to-​earth so it makes the place more inviting. It feels like they give you good TLC.
After being seated, the colorful menu showcased many wonderful-​looking choices. I settled on an order of summer rolls and the Vietnamese steamed pork banh mi. The fried egg rolls came out extremely crunchy, just the way I like it. They were fried to such an awesome golden, crispy crunch that I kept wanting more. Absolutely loved how they thinly rolled them to maximize their crispiness. Nuoc mam sauce was tasty and the accompaning fresh lettuce wraps and mint really hit the spot on that hot day. Too bad an order only contained 2 egg rolls, just kinda wish it came with 3 since they were on the smaller side. Oh well…
When they brought out the steamed pork banh mi, I was anticipating more crispy goodness from the baguette and it didn’t disappoint. Baguette was not overly toasted so the inside softness still remained. Steamed pork slices tasted nicely with the combination of fresh cilantro and the Vietnamese pickled daikon + carrot strips brightened up the entire banh mi. However, there was a noticeable sweetness in these pickled veggies that was different than the norm. Not sure if I like that or not. And what is a banh mi without some droplets of Southeast Asian soy sauce sprinkled throughout the sandwich? It’s a must to do so I helped myself to some from the condiment tray. There are other banh mi places served it already sprinkled though.
I could only finished half of the banh mi sandwich so a doggie bag was in order. Overall, it was a good quick lunch escapade and would not hesitate to return in the near future when I want crispy summer rolls.