Visited: 2 March 2013
Price: THB350 per person without alcohol (what I paid for)
Food: 7/10
Atmosphere: 6/10
Value for money: 8/10
Services: 4/10
This is the second time we came across this restaurant in a month. Admittedly, it is a good place to dine and enjoy if you like Vietnamese food. We had spotted this restaurant one evening in February and decided to give it a try. Saigon Recipe is located within Piman 49 in Soi Sukhumvit 49, pretty easy to find. The building is just one block apartment but comprises of 3 floors. The decoration resembles the mood Vietnamese style well with wooden furnitures all around in soft tone. On the ground floor, there also colourful lanterns hanging down from the high ceiling: love the bright colour of them. The plus point is the atmosphere of this place is kind of relax and chill which makes me feel that I am able to give this place a visit often.
We had some refreshment to wash away our thirst before the meal start. Ca Phe Sua Da (Vietnamese Iced Coffee with Milk) - กาแฟนมเวียดนามเย็น (THB60), and Nuocla Dua-Mia Lau (Pandan Leaf and Sugar Cane Drink) - น้ำใบเตยและอ้อย and Nuocsa (Lemongrass Drink) - น้ำตะไคร้ (THB50) were the selection for tonight. The coffee was just like typical Thai iced coffee, so nothing spectacular. Rather light in fact. The way it works is just like usual drip brew coffee. The coffee powder is contained in the metal lid and poured with hot water allowing coffee to drip into a glass below (with condensed milk). Then pour into a glass with ice (3/10). For herbal drinks, I suspect them to be too light for my taste. Not so sweet is a plus but sweet tooth people may not like them though (5/10).
The menu of Saigon Recipe is just typical Vietnamese dishes that you can find in any other Vietnamese restaurant. Nevertheless, I feel that dishes here are well prepared and they are quite generous with given vegetable, which is the whole point of Vietnamese food.
Nem Nuong - แหนมเนือง or BBQ Pork Meatballs served with Rice Papers & Herbs (8/10) did impress me a lot. The pork was tender and did show the stink smell of pork that could present usually. Coming to Heo Cuon La Lot - หมูย่างใบชะพลู or Charcoal Grilled Pork Wrapped in Wild Betal Leaves (8/10), this is sure another must try dish. Love the herbal aroma of betal leaves that go nicely with grilled meat. For both dishes, they are really delicious with loads of vegetable. Tip is do dip the rice papers in water minimally before wrapping up, do NOT soak the rice papers too long, else they turn mushy.
Next was Cha Gio Chien - จ๋าหย่อ ปอเปี๊ยะทอด or Fried Spring Rolls Served with Fresh Herbs (6/10). Ok dish was enjoyable but not as remarkable as those two aforementioned. However, the character of this spring roll is it is so crisp that carnivore-behaved-like people can enjoy this dish without wrapping with any herbs.
Banh Xeo Tom Thit - บั๋นแซว ขนมเบื้องเวียดนาม or Crispy Rice Pancake with Shrimp, Minced Pork and Bean Sprout (7/10) is another famous dish that you may wanna try. The pancake was crisp and flavourful with soft aroma of savoury coconut and the filling was too tasty. For Cuon Diep - ปอเปี๊ยะสดผักกาด or Mustard Lettuce Roll with Shrimp, Pork and Rice Noodles Served with Peanuts Sauce (3/10), I swear this dish is indeed the one for vegetarian. I could really not detect the taste of meats T___T". It was so green. Good god, this is sure not my style but healthy though.
In brief, this is one lovely and comfort with good Vietnamese food that is suitable for many occasions. In fact, the pricing is not excessive as well. I, personally, will visit this place from time to time (if it does not become too crowded, of course).
We had some refreshment to wash away our thirst before the meal start. Ca Phe Sua Da (Vietnamese Iced Coffee with Milk) - กาแฟนมเวียดนามเย็น (THB60), and Nuocla Dua-Mia Lau (Pandan Leaf and Sugar Cane Drink) - น้ำใบเตยและอ้อย and Nuocsa (Lemongrass Drink) - น้ำตะไคร้ (THB50) were the selection for tonight. The coffee was just like typical Thai iced coffee, so nothing spectacular. Rather light in fact. The way it works is just like usual drip brew coffee. The coffee powder is contained in the metal lid and poured with hot water allowing coffee to drip into a glass below (with condensed milk). Then pour into a glass with ice (3/10). For herbal drinks, I suspect them to be too light for my taste. Not so sweet is a plus but sweet tooth people may not like them though (5/10).
The menu of Saigon Recipe is just typical Vietnamese dishes that you can find in any other Vietnamese restaurant. Nevertheless, I feel that dishes here are well prepared and they are quite generous with given vegetable, which is the whole point of Vietnamese food.
Nem Nuong - แหนมเนือง or BBQ Pork Meatballs served with Rice Papers & Herbs (8/10) did impress me a lot. The pork was tender and did show the stink smell of pork that could present usually. Coming to Heo Cuon La Lot - หมูย่างใบชะพลู or Charcoal Grilled Pork Wrapped in Wild Betal Leaves (8/10), this is sure another must try dish. Love the herbal aroma of betal leaves that go nicely with grilled meat. For both dishes, they are really delicious with loads of vegetable. Tip is do dip the rice papers in water minimally before wrapping up, do NOT soak the rice papers too long, else they turn mushy.
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| Nem Nuong - แหนมเนือง (THB200) |
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| Nem Nuong with green leaves....yummy |
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| Neo Cuon La Lot - หมูย่างใบชะพลู (THB140) |
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| again Heo Cuon La Lot goes pretty well with lots of vegetable |
Next was Cha Gio Chien - จ๋าหย่อ ปอเปี๊ยะทอด or Fried Spring Rolls Served with Fresh Herbs (6/10). Ok dish was enjoyable but not as remarkable as those two aforementioned. However, the character of this spring roll is it is so crisp that carnivore-behaved-like people can enjoy this dish without wrapping with any herbs.
 |
| Cha Gio Chien - จ๋าหย่อ ปอเปี๊ยะทอด (THB140) |
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| splendid as an individual or with vegetable |
Banh Xeo Tom Thit - บั๋นแซว ขนมเบื้องเวียดนาม or Crispy Rice Pancake with Shrimp, Minced Pork and Bean Sprout (7/10) is another famous dish that you may wanna try. The pancake was crisp and flavourful with soft aroma of savoury coconut and the filling was too tasty. For Cuon Diep - ปอเปี๊ยะสดผักกาด or Mustard Lettuce Roll with Shrimp, Pork and Rice Noodles Served with Peanuts Sauce (3/10), I swear this dish is indeed the one for vegetarian. I could really not detect the taste of meats T___T". It was so green. Good god, this is sure not my style but healthy though.
 |
| Banh Xeo Tom Thit - บั๋นแซว ขนมเบื้องเวียดนาม (THB180) |
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| Filling of bean sprout, pork, and prawn minces |
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| Cuon Diep - ปอเปี๊ยะสดผักกาด (THB60) |
In brief, this is one lovely and comfort with good Vietnamese food that is suitable for many occasions. In fact, the pricing is not excessive as well. I, personally, will visit this place from time to time (if it does not become too crowded, of course).
Saigon Recipe @ Piman 49, Bangkok
Piman 49, Soi Sukhumvit 49
Sukhumvit Road
Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana
Bangkok 10110
Thailand
Sukhumvit Road
Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana
Bangkok 10110
Thailand
Open Hours: Daily 11:00 - 22:00
Tel: +66 (0) 2662 6311-2
DO NOT GO IF YOU'RE NOT JAPANESE
ReplyDeleteI apologise if this may sound racist but that's not my intention.
Actually, I do like Japanese people more that a lot of others, I feel that they're polite and well mannered.
I don't know whether the owner of this restaurant is a Japanese or not but, it seems to me Today that a lot of Japanese patron receives better treatment and service than me and other Thai customers.
I went for lunch Today, seated on 3rd floor that has 8 tables which 4 were Japanese patrons.
We were seated and made order of 4 set-lunchs well in advance before the last 3 tables (all Japanese) on the floor arrived and made their order.
As it turned out after 20 minutes, everybody on the floor received their appetisers pretty much at the same time except my table!!!
And when I ask the staff that we've been seated before almost half of the tables here and why everybody has already received their foods except us.
Her 1st disappointed reply was that the others are ordering set-lunch so they're quicker to make, of course I told her that so do our orders.
Then the 2nd disappointed reply that they're servicing first come first serve according to when order was placed, which I told her that our order was placed even before the last table (Japanese BTW) was seated. At that moment, other staff is serving the last table with 2 dishes that not even set-lunchs, adding to her humiliation!!! NO apology what so ever, she just ran away.
Then it went better, our appetisers arrived 5 minutes later which I've to say the fried spring roll was tasty but the fresh spring roll was a disappointment, the skin is dried, the filling is small, and it wasn't properly rolled either.
10 minutes later 3 Phos arrived, and they were warm, not hot!!! Even my 3 year-old could eat it right away. Taste wise, I must say that there's nothing special here, my 6 year-old doesn't even touch the soup at all. Personally, I like Le Dalat the most for Vietnamese food in BKK. In comparison, I think T.House made better Pho.
Then our last order arrived, Hue noodle, this one I must admit that one of the tastiest noodle in BKK.
So you have it, we had decent lunch even though it took quite a bit longer than it should, the menu prices are OK.
Please also note that no Japanese staff has mistreated us at all at this restaurant, they were all Thai staffs that give preferential treatment to Japanese patrons.
So, If you're fine with these feelings of second-class, you'll enjoy it there but, for me, NO WITHOUT THANKS.