Taste of Saigon
394 S Lake Ave, Duluth, MN, 55802
Taste of Saigon Menu
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.
Visit below restaurant in Duluth for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Duluth for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Duluth for healthy meals suggestion.
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
-
Address :
394 S Lake Ave
Duluth, MN, 55802 - Phone (218) 727-1598
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
Chinese Cuisine
The popularity of Chinese food in America can be adjudicated by the appearance of China Town in many major cities in the United State of America. The popular trend of ordering or opting for Chinese take away food isn't unknown in America. Chinese take away food comes to rescue when you're too tired from work or too exhausted to cook. No one can resist the temptation of eating spicy noodles, shrimp, chicken, beef or pork cooked in the sweet and spicy sauce. The cooking method of authentic Chinese food is a lot different compared to what is served in America.
Generally, Chinese use dark meat small bones and organs to cook dishes but this changes when you are eating American-Chinese fusion food prepared using white boneless meat cooked with broccoli, carrots and onions. Back in China, the food is less spicy and oily as they favor steaming and braising method for cooking the most popular dishes. So, if you have a taste for authentic Chinese food, then try finding a real Chinese restaurant in the city. You can also try the most popular fusion Chinese food like Pecking Duck, Chicken Feet, Hot Pot, Shrimp Dumpling Soup, Mapo Tofu, Wontons, Chop Suey, Egg Rolls and not to forget Fortune Cookies.
There are not many restaurants in America serving authentic Chinese food. A little research on Restaurant Listings directory can help you locate the best Chinese restaurants in the city. Chinese cuisine is continuously evolving, and you can find a variety of dishes categorized as the food for lactose intolerant, gluten intolerant, vegan, vegetarian, and diabetic friendly. So, if you have a group of friends with different taste patterns, save the hassle and visit the nearest Chinese restaurant in your city.
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online
Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.
Nathan N.
Every single time I think about this place, I get tummy trouble. Listen up: you cannot call a restaurant Taste of SAIGON and not serve a lick of Vietnamese food. There is nothing on the menu but watered down, midwestern american Chinese. No delicious spring rolls with lettuce and mint, no thinly sliced, crispy pork chops, no pho...phogettabout that, honey. This place is for the locals who have no idea or interest in what good Vietnamese cuisine tastes like, or so goes the theory of the sweet owner, who said she cooked Vietnamese when she first opened, but nobody wanted it. Well, if this is true, I think times are a changin' and it's about time to reopen your family cookbook of hopefully delicious recipes. Duluth deserves a good authentic Saigon experience. Or at the very least change your name to Happy Fun Chinese Food or something and take out the Saigon part entirely. I'm a New Yorker, maybe a little jaded, and your restaurant would last a week here. Please fix this. I won't be eating here again, but next time I'm up at the cabin I might swing in just to laugh at your menu. If I hadn't actually ordered something, it would have made my day.
(2)Tyler S.
Food is great, prices are awesome. Fast service. Will eat here anytime! One of the best in Duluth.
(5)Liz W.
Best non-sushi asian cuisine in the the area. Fried rice is top notch!
(5)Ez M.
I think the eggrolls must come from the Buddha himself. Everything on the menu is excellent, and if you stop in more than a few times, they treat you like family. And, uhh, to the haters: pho is more of a northern dish. Complaining that a place called Taste of SAIGON doesn't have pho is just ignorant. If it was called Taste of HÃ Noi and didn't have pho, then maybe you'd have a point. But otherwise, that would be like going to a place called "Taste of Texas" and telling them that they shouldn't call themselves "American" because though they hit the grilled beef pretty well, they don't serve clam chowder. Pshaw.
(5)Nick C.
This is one of the few things about Duluth I really miss. Because this was one of the only really tasty asian places in Duluth, its entirely possible that it tastes better based off nostalgia factor and fond memories than it actually would to a complete newbie, but whatever. Because of its location, you can play a quick game of "spot the dorky tourist". Usually its easy because they are feeding the flying rats (aka seagulls) and/or voluntarily eating at Little Angies. While its considered Vietnamese, as pointed out by other reviewers it lacks pho and really almost anything vietnamese. I think the family that owns it is Vietnamese, so they can call it whatever they want. Either way, shut up cuz its good. Last time I was there, the waitress asked if she could just split our bill into equal thirds because it would be "easier". That was a bit weird, because I had to explain to her that it was not an easier solution than just splitting the bill amongst who ordered what. I guess that was really the only "bad" thing about the experience. The food is good, and quite filling. Large portions, and the prices are pretty reasonable. If you're in Duluth, I'd recommend it.
(4)Kristen A.
Disappointed after hearing so many recommendations. Our food came out within 5 mins of ordering. So it's safe to assume it wasn't freshly prepared. It tasted as such too.
(1)Kayla D.
The friendly OG running the place was extremely helpful to my friends and I on figuring out what to our and how much to pay for take out. We were kinda on a schedule and us mpls folk were pretty much confused and lost. She's did the math for us told us what dishes would be good for the 6 of us divided the total out to see what each person should pay. We go the beef lo mein, sesame chiken, sweet and sour chicken and some white and fried rice. The egg rolls and wontons were a bit dry but we weren't complaining. She gave us all free ice tea! She was extremely nice and the old man working in the kitchen was funny. All of this ALMOST made me get over the fact that a bowl of pho is pretty much 10 dollars.
(4)Caitlin P.
Family style is definitely the way to go when you eat here. The lemongrass is out of this world and they will make it as spicy as you want. I also love the egg rolls, miso soup, and the wontons. Bare in mind I have never eaten here as a vegan but I am sure they would have great options. Great portions, prices, and location! Even when it is packed the service is quick and helpful. They have a wide selection and it is not only Vietnamese food. This is probably the only place I would go for Asian fare in Duluth (unless we are talking about sushi).
(5)Robin Z.
Location is good. Service is awesome! But I have to say food is not yami at all. I ordered the beef pho and vegetable curry. I never see beef that thick and never see curry that dark.
(1)John K.
The best I've found in Duluth so far in my humble opinion. The service was lightning fast. The staff was very helpful and friendly. The fried rice was very good. The sweet and sour chicken was above average, with my only complaint being the sauce was thinner than I like. The wontons and egg roll were ok. We ordered lo mien to go for our son. It was drowned in sauce which is different than we're used to. We all prefer a drier lo mien with lots of veggies. The flavor was good but wouldn't order again. As many have alluded to already, the portions were very generous. We will be back with renewed excitement for good Asian food in the Twin Ports, which is more than I can say for many.
(4)Kelsey O.
Yum yum yum. Came here for something different in Duluth. Found it inside of the DeWitt-Seitz Building. Not many Vietnamese dining options around. Loved our food and had a great time!
(3)Vixay S.
Food was ok but more of a Chinese restaurant with Vietnamese owners. Don't expect any fresh spring rolls or pho soup here.
(2)Katherine B.
Are you in Canal Park looking for something that's not a chain and/or has a 45 minute wait? Taste of Saigon is as good as it gets! The food is very good, nothing life changing, but the type of food you can eat several times a week without getting bored or fat (depending on what you order). We had mostly had Americanized-Asian items that were tasty, and a good price for the portion. The owner brought a free cup of tea while we waited for take out. This is definitely a family run place as you can see by all of the pictures by the cash register. The menu is pretty big, so I would think everyone could find something to their liking. I also wonder if they would make something more authentic if you become a regular and know what to ask for.
(5)Raffi M.
Good option for Asian cuisine in the DeWitt-Seitz Building. The family-run service is really friendly and like some others have mentioned, the egg rolls are outstanding! Menu is pretty extensive and they offer entrees and combinations of the same items. The entrees come with steamed rice and a larger portion of the main ingredient. The combinations are a little smaller on the amount of the main ingredient but come with fried rice and an enormous egg roll. The menu has many Vietnamese dishes, Chinese options, soups, Pho, and appetizers. Service was extremely quick and the food came out nice and hot. Try some of the hot sauce on the side; it's amazing. The chicken in my lemon grass combination was a little tough, and it really wasn't spicy like it was advertised, but the flavors were really good and the prices are really fair. This wouldn't be my top choice for Asian food in Duluth, but it is a good option for sure. They do offer take-out, and on my visit the food really wasn't greasy like some other reviews have mentioned.
(4)Saugar M.
We ate here while visiting Duluth. We were hoping for good Vietnamese food. What we ended up with was mediocre Chinese food. Over 90% of the menu is typical Americanized Chinese food, often greasy and flat on taste. We ordered fried shrimp. They came out less than 2 minutes after we ordered. They were clearly frozen and not made to order. The batter was thick and unappealing. The shrimp was overcooked to the point that it had the texture of chicken. We bought two chicken entrees. Both were more Chinese than Vietnamese. Both were forgettable...bland, monotone, and boring. Will not go back.
(2)Laurie V.
Oh the egg rolls. Oh the egg rolls. I like their food but those egg rolls haunt my dreams. Quick carry out, great prices and nice portion sizes. Love the tofu mock dock, the lemon grass shrimp and really, we have never had bad food there. Kind of surprised at the reviews who said the food was greasy or bland. I have been eating there for 20 years and that has never, ever been my experience. Yes, it is more Asian than strictly just Vietnamese but get over it and enjoy some tasty food.
(5)Christine E.
Whenever I go home to visit Duluth, I always have to have a meal here, I've been going for years, and even though I was out-of-state for a while, they somehow always remember my order and ask how my mom is doing. It's Vietnamese food (not Chinese like I think I saw mentioned here) run by an immigrant family, and they work very hard. Canal Park can be a pain to get through during tourist season, so I often try to call ahead in case I can't find parking. I really enjoy their egg rolls and usually get the Chicken with Pea Pods, Friendly service, and they are an award winning restaurant.
(5)Joe H.
Exceptionally fast service, appetizer was literally out within a minute or two of ordering. A little over five minutes after that for the entree (we ordered the main course when the appetizer came). Good food and will definitely come back again and order something different!
(5)Kelly R.
Nothing exceptional, but consistently very good. I've never had a bad meal here. The service is beyond friendly. Always very pleasant experience.
(4)Z A.
consistent taste, really fresh and high quality food with cheap price. nice people love to go again, try the lemon grass shrimp
(5)Tricia N.
If you're looking for Vietnamese noodles (pho), this is probably not the place to go. They're more of a Vietnamese-Chinese restaurant. With that aside, I must compliment on their food. We ordered fried rice, egg rolls, white rice, and shrimp cashew for take out. At first, I was very insistent in sight seeing and just taking the food along with me on my adventures, but after a while, gave in and took a few bite of the fried rice in the restaurant. I couldn't stop eating after that... The staff is extremely friendly. Craving Asian food in Minnesota? This is the place to go!
(5)john m.
I've been coming to Duluth for work for the past year. Whenever we come here, my co-worker and I try different places for dinner because we like to try different things out. I was so excited to have some great asian cuisine, but in a nutshell... I couldn't stand the food here. First, I got the cheese wontons... holy grease... I picked one up and broke it in half and all this grease fell to the plate. I know these things are fried, but what the heck?!?!?! on top of that, it was all wrapper and hardly any cheese. For my meal, I got sweet and sour chicken... because really, how can you mess this up? There was so much breading and so much grease covering the chicken, I couldn't even eat half of the food. The fried rice was bland... a little salt an pepper goes a long way!!! I didn't even try the eggroll because I was so turned off by the meal. The best part of the meal was the fortune cookie... it had a slight vanilla flavor to it... surprisingly good. I think it's bad when you go to a restaurant and the best thing about the meal is the forture cookie. I really wanted to like the food here and I almost feel bad writing this, but the food was so horrible. On the plus side, the service was fine and the people were friendly. bottom line... PASS PASS PASS
(1)Nick H.
Better-than-average vietnamese, but considering you're in homogeneous Duluth, and that Grandma's or mediocre mexican are your dominant alternatives in this area, it's easily very high on the priority list for that part of town. Terrific service and good prices certainly helps.
(3)Sandy S.
Leftovers good too.
(4)Steven C.
This family run business in the DeWitt-Seitz Building has been a favorite of our family and friends for decades! It is locally known among vegetarians as a top pick. Large portions of healthy food is served in a jiffy and sold at very fair prices. Don't miss the egg rolls. You'll almost always be waited on by the owners or their son ensuring a great meal!
(4)Joey J.
Finding good Asian food in Minnesota sometimes feels like its akin to pulling off the Triple Lindy dive from the movie Back to School. I wouldn't say it's any less authentic than any other part of the country, because most "Vietnamese" food served in this country only vaguely resembles what would be served in a restaurant in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. But for some reason, the Minnesota-fied version of most Americanized Asian dishes seems to be a bit watered down. I was excited about Taste of Saigon because I do like the Americanized version of Vietnamese food that's quickly becoming en vogue. And there were certain things I could forgive about the place. That trendy Vietnamese dishes like pho or bahn mi weren't on the menu wasn't that big of a deal. That the egg rolls were more of a traditional Chinese take (served with fish sauce as a dipping agent) instead of the normal Vietnamese style with mint, hot pepper and shredded carrot wasn't the end of the world. I could even forgive that the Lemongrass Chicken was more of a curry gravy-based dish than I'm used to, but in the end the thing I couldn't handle was there was no spice whatsoever to it. The service was great here, and I'd love to be invited over to the owners house for dinner to see what they cook for themselves someday. But the place came across as a Vietnamese family cooking Chinese food for the Upper Midwest taste palate. It's a bit too all over the map for my tastes.
(2)Marty G.
Best Asian food I have had in Duluth AND the service is top notch. Had the cashew spicy chicken. Very tasty and very fresh. They use fresh veggies not frozen like many other Asian joints. Highly recommended. We met with the owner, a sweet old lady from Vietnam. She loves her customers and it will show! I never saw her smile leave her face.
(5)J P.
Fresh, light ingredients, we found it very good. Egg Rolls, Chicken LoMein, Beef Chow Mein, and Chicken Egg Foo Young.
(4)Amper P.
Had wonton soup and cream cheese wontons. Soup was flavorful, but seemed to be a bit small of a portion. Cream cheese wontons were just ok, but I'm a sucker for those things so I ate quite a few anyways. A decent asian-food option.
(3)Ruthie Y.
This place does Asian-on-the-go some serious justice. I have never had a better vegetable tofu curry (order it with coconut milk!), and the fried rice is pretty solid. Saigon can get busy during typical peak times, but if you have to wait, it's never for long. The staff is always very friendly and very hardworking. Large portions, low prices, cheery decor, speedy service. This place is great for take-out, and the leftovers make a pretty phemonemal breakfast.
(5)Alex G.
No pho, no anything Vietnamese. PLEASE change your misleading name.
(1)Jessica O.
Boy, do I miss this place! A cute, casual family restaurant in Canal Park (right by the lake), offering some of the best Vietnamese food I've ever had--in Duluth or anywhere else. The owners still work here (in the kitchen AND up front), and everyone is very friendly. Fairly small, but a good amount of tables are available--even a couple big ones for large groups. The food is also available for fast take-out (ready in less than 15 minutes, even though it's made fresh). A huge plus is that this isn't your typical greasy take-out; in fact, it is so fresh & light-tasting that even if you polish off your plate, you're likely not to feel grossly full. Satisfied, yes; bloated, no. Very quick service, even when they're busy (and they often are at lunch & dinner). HUGE portions on most dishes, too. For instance, with my favorite dish (Mongolian Tofu), I can easily get 2 (sometimes even 2.5) meals out of it--for under $10. It is packed with fresh veggies & lightly crisp tofu, smothered in a sweet & spicy sauce, and topped with crunchy cellophane noodles. And like all good Asian cuisine, it just gets better the next day! I always make sure to stop by Taste of Saigon when I go back to Duluth, and it never disappoints!
(5)Jacob N.
This place announces that they have "Vietnamese Cuisine" on their window. Yet they didn't even have pho, and the waiter told me they were more of an "Asian" restaurant than a Vietnamese place.
(2)William M.
Absolutely the BEST egg rolls I have ever had anywhere. The lunch combos are exactly perfect in terms of portion, flavour, and price! Not to mention the couple who owns/runs the restaurant are the nicest people around. Tourist season or not, Taste wins every time!
(5)Master A.
Sorry...but these reviews posted on here must not be by Asian people. We ordered some combination pho, egg rolls, chicken wings, and fried rice. The pho was the blandest I've tasted. It tastes like they just added salt to some water and served it. My kids can make better pho. Not worth the $12 price tag. The fried rice was saturated with fried onions and garlic. The chicken wings were baked so they came out dry and the sauce was on the side. By them selves, they had no taste. I guess the only thing decent were the egg rolls. They had a funny sour taste to them but they were crispy and tightly wrapped. Everything on the menu seemed over priced because the quality just wasn't there. Good rule of thumb when eating at an Asian restaurant.... If there aren't any Asians dining there.....get out.
(1)Chia M.
We were excited to see a restaurant serving pho in Duluth, but we weren't sure what to expect. Unfortunately we were not pleasantly surprised. Most of the food was bland. I would probably never get the chicken wings again or recommend it even. They lacked flavor and were far from crunchy, as you would expect friend chicken wings to be. We ordered the beef lo mein and beef and potatoes, but the sauce they were both smothered in tasted the same. The pho was over salted and the cream cheese wontons were just flaky with barely any cream cheese. On the bright side, I will say that the service was fast, friendly, and hard working. Would probably not recommend this place, unless you're fixated on a bowl of pho while your up north of the twin cities.
(3)Susan A.
I hadn't been to "A Taste of Saigon" for about 20 years -- and there's a reason why. My husband had received a gift certificate for the restaurant, so we decided to use the thing. The appetizers offered no meat-free options. (Really? No egg roll without animal flesh?) My daughter ordered cream cheese wontons as an appetizer. The wontons were dripping with grease and SOGGY. Soggy wontons? (Really?) The number of animal-free entrees was impressive, yet I always think it's better to focus on doing a few dishes very, very well rather than throwing everything and the kitchen sink at your guests. My husband's entree of seitan with a creamy coconut curry sauce was very, very tasty. My tofu lemongrass entree was very generous with the lemongrass (which I love) although the tofu seemed a bit greasy. My dish was a 'spicy' dish as indicated on the menu, and the amount of heat was perfect. The spice was prominent without being painful. The sauces on our dishes tasted good, but the sauces were congealing on our plates which was unappetizing. My daughter's chicken entree was nothing special, but she said it tasted okay. I think the restaurant proprietors are going for quantity over quality; we ate about half of our entrees and took the rest home. The atmosphere in the restaurant wasn't very intimate or charming. I can see where the space would be a challenge to decorate and still maintain maximum seating capacity. Maybe they should hire an interior designer to help them create a better dining experience. Years ago, people went to "A Taste of Saigon" because it was unique for this area. Although this might be our only Vietnamese restaurant in town, and perhaps it is somewhat authentic (I wouldn't know), there are much better places in town to enjoy Asian cuisine. I can wait another 20 years before visiting this restaurant again.
(1)Jocelyn V.
This was not good. The fried rice was tasteless as was the pho, wontons had almost nothing in it, and the sesame chicken taste like orange chicken. Never again.
(1)Kari H.
Pho was good after a long walk on a cold windy day. The spicy lemongrass chicken dish was a gloppy mess. $40 for three for lunch isn't exactly a deal. Two pho and the gloppy ckn. Server was quirky--kind of funny... maybe? Trying to be funny? My 15 yr old daughter thought he was funny and loved her Pho, she thought the place was cute. Wouldn't go back.
(2)Veronica C.
This used to be my favorite Chinese spot in Duluth. But they must've hired a new cook because the last 2 times I've eaten there.... The food is completely different. Disappointed!
(3)Amy E.
I hadn't been to Duluth for years, so I was hankering for some Taste of Saigon chow. I loved their veggies w/hot and sour peppers and their egg rolls, along with most everything else I had tried there. So, when I got to Duluth, it was with great anticipation that I headed down to Canal Park for my fix. I placed an order to go with the veggies w/hot and sour peppers ordered HOT, veggie fried rice and egg rolls. Everything was nicely packed upon pickup. I got my meal home and commenced chowing down. Yes, the egg rolls were as good as I had rememered. The fried rice was good, as well, but light on veggies other than water chestnuts. The veggies w/hot and sour peppers was a complete let down. It was bland, and had no kick to it! I could not find any peppers in the carton! When I order hot at the hottest number on the scale, I expect to suffer a bit. Not this day. It was like eating Gerber apple sauce for babies. Come on, ToS, I know you can do it! Give me what I remember you giving! I shall give you one more chance. But that's all. I'll be sure to stress HOT (as if the dish name shouldn't tell it all). If you fail next chance, that's it; I'll be moving on. Pity.
(1)Ed L.
A taste of Saigon indeed... I thought this was more of a Vietnamese restaurant, to be honest. I didn't really think that this was a Chinese restaurant that served only one kind of Pho. As it turned out, yep, it did and it was a little bit disappointing. I had thought that this was a bonafide authentic Vietnamese restaurant, as mentioned in the name of the restaurant, but it was just that - a taste of Saigon, with Chinese dishes, which rounded out the rest of the menu. While I didn't mind that, it was a chance to have Pho while in Minnesota. For what it was worth, I would have had better Pho elsewhere, which I actually did during my short stay in Duluth, MN. I spotted this place for dinner after having drinks with friends at the Grandma's Restaurant Grill. A Taste of Saigon was a block away, so my friend and I decided to leave the rental car at the Grandma's restaurant parking lot and walk on over. It was fantastic, to say, but the experience was just simply could've been better, but it is what it is. I thought it was just okay, but the Pho had seen better days. A Taste of Saigon is located on the bustling area of Lake Avenue in downtown Duluth. I was imagining that this restaurant was a standalone restaurant, but a it turns out, A Taste of Saigon is housed in those commercial buildings, which has multiple commercial tenants, one of which is A Taste of Saigon. With that said, A Taste of Saigon does not have much parking at all. Be prepared to find street parking wherever you can find it. For me, I just parked at the Grandma's Restaurant and Grill nearby and walked over (as mentioned earlier). They accept credit cards, so that's always amazing. I got here around 6:30pm on the Friday afternoon before the 2014 Grandma's Marathon. It was pretty cool that this place was particularly empty. I guess everyone else is packing the Italian restaurants feasting on pasta, but I prefer Pho for any meal, since it's that good and it has carbs (the rice noodles) anyway. To each, their own, I guess. The restaurant itself was not particularly big, but it had a few tables and it was clean. My friend and I were greeted enthusiastically and found a table near the back of the room. The service here was good, but average. The menu was loaded with Chinese cuisine, but the lone item of Pho was just in the soups section, not like in an authentic Vietnamese place where an entire page is dedicated to the variations of Pho. Sadly disappointing, but nonetheless, Pho had to be eaten in Minnesota for my 50 States Pho challenge. I ordered the combination Pho, along with deep fried egg rolls. Something I usually don't do before a marathon, but I was like, whatever, as I was on vacation anyhow. The egg rolls were pretty good, fresh, and delicious. The Pho, however, was served in a small Chinese type of bowl, not like the deep large Vietnamese bowls we all have come to love. I believe that they serve one size of Pho and they charge like $11 for it. Granted that's like a bit pricey for just one size of Pho, it's best to just eat and go without having to come back. I would rather have paid more for better presentation of Pho. Taste wise, you can tell that it was watered down. They were skimpy on the noodles and the server asked us whether or not we wanted more bean sprouts. I guess they knew when we had a lot more broth to deal with and no noodles. The overall experience here was decidedly mixed. While the prices here are decent, it depends what you want to eat here. While my choices for Pho were severely limited to just one item on the menu, it would be best to seek out actual Vietnamese restaurants in the area or drive down to Minneapolis-Saint Paul to find something obviously authentic, rather than in an Asian fusion place. That would be my suggestion really. I actually found a better one after running the Grandma's marathon, which was in Two Harbors, MN. Still, this place is pretty good for what they do. Let me know how the Chinese food tastes, okay? Support local! B-
(3)Peter T.
A popular street food in Vietnam, Pho (which can be pronounced a number of ways, don't let anybody tell you different!) is a soup consisting of broth, linguine-shaped noodles, herbs, and a variety of meat choices, primarily beef, chicken, or shellfish. The geographical origin and timing of its origin is subject to debate. When i was growing up in Duluth, if you wanted "Asian" food, you had a choice of one or two places where the most exotic item on the menu was egg foo yung. No longer. For the past dozen years, Taste of Saigon has been dazzling locals and tourists alike from its location in the lakeside Canal Park area. Taste of Saigon serves a variety of Asian-influenced dishes, utilizing the freshest ingredients available, and is voted the best Asian restaurant in the area, year after year. The pho is great, and a good value
(4)Chi Y.
We were in the area and wanted some pho so we decided to try this place out. After getting our seats I went through the menu and realized i had made a huge mistake. There was maybe 3 vietnamese dishes on the menu and the rest typical americanized chinese food. If I wanted that I would of hit up a buffet. We all got pho . there were no size options and it was rather expensive. I was expecting a huge bowl. What came out was a small bowl with overcooked meat and even less noodles. We were all disappointed. While paying for our meal, the older lady (the owner?) kept reminding me that if I didn't leave a tip on the table i HAD to write it on my receipt. Don't eat here if you are looking for vietnamese food. Don't let the name fool you.
(1)Kara D.
Maybe when I went here the service was a total fluke, because I was extremely underwhelmed, unlike many reviewers. I will try to keep this short because I am not going to rant and rant about how much this sucked (even though it really sucked). There was no hostess/waitress to seat us when we arrived on a Saturday for dinner. Then a bus-boy, I think, showed us to our seats quickly. He handed us our menus by tossing them on the table and saying, "Here". Our waitress ended up arriving and did not offer much friendliness either. I feel like no one has ever smiled here? Maybe that gives it charm? We ordered the sweet & sour combo meal and Lemongrass Chicken curry combo meal. Yes, the food came out lightning-fast. Which is great when you're hungry, but kinda eh when you wonder if it's because most of it is already pre-cooked and sitting around. My curry was ok, pretty standard. I enjoyed the bamboo shoots in it. The fried rice was just meh, not very flavorful. The egg in it was overcooked and way too brown and dry. I am curious as to why the egg roll has gotten so much hype - ours were flavorless. Well, the only flavor present was that of grease/oil. I've never witnessed my boyfriend NOT finish sweet & sour chicken. I don't think he could force down the egg roll either. It took a while to get our check, and then I went across the hall to rectify my disappointment with chocolate-covered gummy bears.
(1)Phillip Y.
We were indecisive on a place to eat for dinner. I remembered that we passed by this place so we came here. The waitress was good to tell us that we over-ordered based on the family style serving size. We ordered the egg fu young, combination lo mein, and the lemon grass chicken. For appetizers, we ordered the chicken fried wontons. The waitress served our food fast and it was all hot and good. I would say that most of the style was Chinese. We didn't think there was really a Vietnamese style but then again we did not order the pho. Also, the egg rolls were not really to our liking since the vegetables were chopped too finely. Overall, the price was reasonable so we thought it was a safe choice.
(4)Jeff M.
If you enjoy Vietnamese food do not eat here! I had curry and egg rolls neither were close to the real thing! In fact it's just bad. When I ordered the Vietnamese term for egg roll they had no clue what I asked for. I should have left after that.
(1)Karen L.
Great location for tourist but everything else wasn't so great. A pho small/medium bowl was $12 and it was okay but very little options. Service was a wreak, we ordered my mom a bowl of pho too but they gave us a empty little bowl thinking we were going to share a bowl of pho so it never came out then we had to reorder it. Also, they didn't have all the side ingredients for the pho and the little old asian guy in the front was unresponsive to our requests. Its definitely was not a Vietnamese restaurant even with its name but for sure a Chinese American restaurant. Will never go there again when I'm in town.
(1)Breyan K.
I have never had a bad meal here, and it is one if the most economical places in Canal Park to lunch. Admittedly, this is one of the few places in the world where I order the same thing almost every time I go- the egg roll rice noodle salad and coffee! It's about $8.00, delicious, filling, and fresh. I love the Dewitt Seitz building so it's an enjoyable place to have lunch and they have good coffee too. Service has always been friendly and accommodating. Some say that it's not authentic, but what do I know? I'm Scandinavian. I just love their food. If food tastes good, I'm in.
(5)