I am one who rarely develop strong desires for food very often. However, when such cravings do manifest itself, it is simply next to impossible not to follow the heart. I did put up a rather commendable fight this time around, but the little devil perched on my left shoulder was way too persuasive – seducing me with trickles of temptation for every counter effort I had put in. The struggle was a futile one, and as the clock indicated that it was the end of the work day – I made my way dutifully to the establishment which would eventually satisfy my yearning for Vietnamese cuisine.
Saigon Vietnamese Delicacy appears nondescript, situated along a lengthy row of eateries and coffee shops that lines the streets in Geylang – the infamous red light district of Singapore. The facade and interior decor of the shop may come across as visually unappealing to some, but we are not here for the contemporary furnishings and lightings, to be fair. The food does speak for itself, in overwhelming volumes, and I don’t mean in terms of quantity here but the quality.
This is my favourite Vietnamese joint in Singapore simply for a few reasons. It’s location is pretty much centralised and accessible with the MRT just around the corner, which takes about 5 minutes to get there on foot. Also, there is a bus stop right across the street, so transport options are plenty. Next would be the very affordable pricing of the food, given its swelling reputation and growing popularity of the dishes, they did not hike up their prices. And lastly, the food is as authentic as it can get. Most cuisines that are not ethnic to the host country would often be bastardised to suit the tastes of the locals, but not for Saigon Vietnamese Delicacy, every dish here stays true to their origins – just like how they would taste back in Vietnam.
I took my seat at the table and was quickly attended to by the staff. Already with an idea of what I had to order, I quickly made my request and eagerly anticipated the arrival of my dishes.
The first to be served was the Vietnamese Iced Coffee with Milk. I am not much of a coffee drinker, I have to say that it was rather pleasant. Smooth, mild sweetness with a slightly bitter aftertaste.
This is one of the reasons why I adore Vietnamese cuisine, there will always be a healthy portion of greens and herbs on the side as an accompaniment to the main dishes. This plate consists of a generous pile of lettuce and basil with a bowl of tangy spicy condiment on the side.
This is Bún Thịt Nướng (Grilled Pork with Vermicelli). The vermicelli you see here is very different from the typical types used in Chinese cooking which tends to be starchy and clumps up easily. The vermicelli remained distinct to every strand the entire meal and was incredibly silky and smooth which glided down the throat like satin on butter, effortless. The pork pieces were chunky packed with bite and flavourful. To properly savour this dish, pour in the condiment on the side, add a couple of basil leaves and toss it thoroughly like a salad. The taste was positively off the charts.
Next, was Bún riêu (Vietnamese Crab & Tomato Vermicelli Soup). The moment I caught a whiff of that seafood broth, almost instinctively, I started salivating. The fragrance of a tangy stock that was in brew for hours on end smells unmistakably delicious. As I took the first spoonful of warm broth, it made me heaved in a long breath of pure satisfaction. By adding in the lime, prawn paste and dried chilli paste, the soup miraculously transformed into a muskier version of Thai Tom Yum Kung. What a nice surprise!
And my last dish was Bánh xèo (Vietnamese Sizzling Pancake). This as you can see, was a rather large portion. By then, I was already very much sated, but being the glutton that I am, I had to soldier on. The pancake itself is made up of thinly fried eggs, pan-fried to crispy perfection. It was slathered generously with bean sprouts, pork slices and prawns. To properly consume this dish, you have to tear it in bite size portions, wrap it with the lettuce and basil and dip it into the condiment. Simply delectable. Despite being very full, I polished off the entire plate. Not a single trace of pancake remains.
Well, what can I say? When you have an itch, scratch it. Scratch it real good.
For more information on how to get there and operating hours, click on the link below.
www.facebook.com/SaigonVietnamDelicacy