Saigon Bistro, Lakeland

Restaurant reviews by the food ninja for goginchow reporting on the Saigon  Bistro in Lakeland in Lakeside Village Mall. Great hospitality, good food,  nice decor, and good prices. Friendly servers seat you as soon as you enter the door. They are attentive and polite and the owner treats you like family when she does her rounds to make sure everyone is happy and satisfied, as she has a nice little conversation with you. Now the beef soup or pho is great. A lot of heart went into making it and a lot of good ingredients as well.  The bahn mi sandwiches could use a little work  but not bad. The herbs and vegetables that come with the soup come out fresh and crisp they have a great menu there that I am sure will have something that appeals to everyone. so you will be happy the prices are reasonable, I didn't complain. The inside decor is warm and welcoming. It also has an open floor plan so you don't feel packed in and the bathroom is clean. So if you are just shopping around that area or coming out from just watching a movie, this is a great place to hang out with friends or family to get some great chow within your budget. I would highly suggest going there. This is the food ninja, you wont be disappointed. Well as  I always say please enjoy.

Greeting folks.  This is Shadow.  Thank goodness for this place!  I am a happy man.  Recently opened in the middle of the mall right next to the movie theater, excellent location.  The decor is very hip and modern like a college cafe.  Everything is very clean and brand spanking new.   They have bright flat screen  TV's on the walls and stylized lights hanging from the ceiling.  Not your typical looking Vietnamese place, you would not expect to get authentic food here, but yet the food is pretty authentic.  The best thing on the menu by far is their Beef Pho.  The broth is flavorful and tastes freshly made, the clove and cinnamon are definitely there, just slightly too sweet, but I cannot complain, you will not find a better bowl of Pho anywhere else in Polk County.  Almost all the cuts of meat can be found here - Beef Eye of Round, Brisket, Meatballs, tendon, and tripe.  Portion size is generous.  The Pho is served with a side of basil and bean sprouts.  I did feel like the bean sprouts could be fresher especially since they are served raw.  I really did not enjoy anything else on the menu as much as the Beef Pho.  Pho Seafood was ok, but really nowhere near as satisfying as the beef.  Their Chief's Famous Soup was not bad, but the menu promised enoki mushrooms (my reason for ordering it) and they were nowhere to be found in my bowl.  Fried Spring rolls were pretty good, I liked how they served them with fresh mint.  Bahn Mi was disappointing, but was not far off.  Their rice plates with grilled meats look very appetizing as the plates are garnished well.  I really did appreciate that the owner always makes an effort to stop your table and say hi, thank you for coming, and even offer to show you how to eat the food if it is unfamiliar to you. Definitely make an effort to check this place out if you are in the area.  Happy Eating!

                                         Saigon Bistro, Lakeland
                                        1554 Town Ctr Dr W
                                        Lakeland, FL 33803
                                        (863) 686-6560

Crispy Spring Rolls

Grilled Beef Rice Plate

Chef's Famous Soup

Pho Dac Biet

Pho Seafood