Get served: Saigon

Food

Saigon gives diners a chance to sample some regional favorites with a long list of appetizers. The thịt nướng cuốn ($5) are fabulous: rice paper rolls stuffed with spicy, charbroiled pork, rice vermicelli, and crisp lettuce served with a fish sauce for dunking that complements the charred pork with a sweet touch of honey and red pepper.

A number of beef, chicken, and vegetable-based soups are offered as entrées. If you’re in a veggie mood, fill your belly with bún xào chay: vermicelli, tofu and vegetables sautéed in a moderately spicy yellow curry ($12). The vegetables are cooked perfectly and the tofu is brown and crispy on the outside, soaking up the spicy and the sweet in the middle.

Seafood lovers will rejoice in the presence of squid, shrimp, scallops and more. The shrimp lotus rootlet salad, with fresh cilantro, scallions and crushed peanuts, is a perfect summer starter, served cold and crisp.