Saigon Vietnamese Noodle & Hibachi was a place where I was waiting to get my hands on their cuisine. Just a 10 minute drive from Elon University’s campus, I was excited to get takeout from this Asian restaurant. They offered classic Vietnamese dishes, from Shrimp Pho Noodles to Filet Mignon Hibachi. Little did Saigon know that they would be my first experience trying Vietnamese food.
I ordered Hibachi shrimp and chicken, which was more of a meal than I thought would be because it included sides and white rice. The food was fresh off the grill and the chefs cooked the shrimp and chicken to the right temperature. The meal came with a bed of white rice placed under the meat and a side of noodles and veggies. Though the rice could’ve been less oily and the noodles could’ve had more flavor, the meat was cooked perfectly and made every bite tasty.
Sadly, the egg rolls were a let down. The egg rolls contained steak and veggies, but I could barely taste any of the steak, and the flavor reminded me of flowers.
The Combination Fried Rice was the restaurant’s standout dish. It had shrimp, Chinese pork sausage, eggs and vegetables. I’ve never been a fan of cut-up veggies in fried rice, but they truly pulled the dish together and I made sure there were no bites left. The rice wasn’t filled with oil compared to the white rice, and it left me feeling full and not overstuffed. The rice wasn't oily or rushed and left you feeling full but not over stuffed. The meat used in the dish was unique, but made the fried rice stand out compared to other rice dishes I’ve ever had.
I would rate Saigon’s Vietnamese Noodle and Hibachi a 7/10. While the Hibachi Chicken and Shrimp and Combination Fried Rice got a raving review from me, the flavorless egg rolls and sides could've been filled with more flavor. The restaurant’s welcome ambiance and fantastic service also added to the great takeout experience I had.
If you have any questions or a review idea, please reach out to me at ekeefe5@elon.edu.