Saigon Palace
Pho with Shaved Beef
Before going to Vietnam, I didn’t like Vietnamese food. I found the flavor profile to be overpowering and most dishes too heavy on the cilantro. When I tried authentic Vietnamese Cuisine, it was totally different than what I had ever experienced; it was very delicate and complex. Every spice had intention, the food was well balanced, and it was all so fresh.
Vietnamese in Charlotte?
I’ve been craving Vietnamese food a lot lately. I love it, but only when it’s authentic; I hate Americanized Vietnamese food. Not surprisingly, when I think Charlotte, Vietnamese cuisine isn’t the first thing — or first 100 things — that come to mind. Nevertheless, on a cold day when my friend and I wanted Pho, we started researching Charlotte and found there’s some highly-rated Vietnamese food. We ended up at Saigon Palace.
Dreamy, authentic food and décor
As soon as we walked in to the restaurant, I knew Saigon Palace was highly authentic. I could tell by the smell and décor. It’s nothing fancy… the rural parts of Asia don’t invest much in ambiance, and all look the same. Saigon Palace is no different — the plain dining room features round tables, tablecloths, and black metal chairs with rounded backs. They let the food speak for itself.
My favorite dishes
We ordered some of the most basic dishes, yet my favorites were:
Gỏi Cuốn Gà Nướng: Fresh Spring rolls with grilled chicken, rice noodles, lettuce, cilantro, and bean sprouts wrapped rice paper. Served with peanut sauce. I LIVED on variations of these rolls when I was in Vietnam — chicken, pork, beef, shrimp, veggie, tofu. They’re flavorful, crisp, crunchy, and refreshing. They have a slight chew from the rice paper — I love them. The ones at Saigon Palace taste exactly how I remember the ones in Ho Chi Mihn.
Phở Tái: Soup with rice noodles and medium-rare steak. Phở comes with bean sprouts, lime, cilantro, sriracha, and hoisin on the side. The broth was on the mild side; it definitely benefited from adding bit of sriracha to it. With that said, it was light, flavorful, and warmed us to the bone. There was a delicate use of star of anise, which I usually find overpowering in Vietnamese food, and the perfect amount of cilantro. The shaved beef in it was tender and soaked up the broth nicely. If shaved beef isn’t your thing, they also offer meatballs, chicken, brisket, tofu, and seafood versions — there’s something for everyone.
And the verdict is…
The menu as a whole is quite expansive. They have over 100 different items you can order. Maybe one day I’ll venture out and start trying some of their other items, but I’m also a person who likes what I like. If I’m craving something, that’s what I want to eat. It makes it hard to branch out. I think I need someone to come with me and be that voice of encouragement and adventure to talk me out of my routine.
All in all, I give Saigon Palace a 9/10. It’s reasonably priced and highly authentic. A total dive, but that’s part of the charm.
