Lucky Saigon Cafe – Vietnamese Restaurant Hidden Along Tanglin Road

Hidden behind the Salvation Army donation booth along Tanglin Road is a Vietnamese Restaurant — Lucky Saigon Cafe. As I walked on the bridge above the ponds into the cafe, I relished my “main character moment” as I was greeted by mist blowing onto the walkway. Soon enough, it felt like I was transported out of Singapore.

To kick off my meal, I sipped on a cup of Iced Milk Coffee ($4.90). This cup of coffee was less milky and a lot more concentrated with a bitter aftertaste. That said, it was rather aromatic and enjoyable.

For mains, I dug into a bowl of traditional Beef Combo Pho ($13.80) that came with a mountain of beef slices, some meatballs and beef brisket. While the clear broth was packed with herbaceous flavours from the presence of fresh basil and mint leaves, it still carried that refreshing clean taste we all know and love. A squeeze of lime helped cut through that bit of beefy taste infused in the soup.

The heap of beef slices were cooked well and while the meat wasn’t exactly “melt-in-your-mouth”, it tore apart easily. The meatballs had a nice bouncy bite. I had expected the brisket to be slightly tougher but to my surprise, it was tender.

The al dente rice noodles were not only silky smooth, but had a nice chew that contrasted the crunchy raw onions well.

Instead of going for a typical Banh Mi with filling stuffed in between a baguette, I opted for their signature Stewed Beef Banh Mi ($12.50). And this was something that I did not regret. Not one bit. Dipping the perfectly toasted baguette into the sauce yielded a heavenly result. The crisp exterior, and fluffy interior, soaked up the almost-curry tasting stew, and had me going back for more.

The only beef I have with this dish would be how the robust flavours of the stew had not fully permeated the beef chunks. As such, the beef still had a strong taste if eaten whole on its own. The carrots, on the other hand, had a natural sweetness that complemented the spice-heavy gravy.

Besides the food, this restaurant is rather unique in terms of its decor and setting. The other route leading to the restaurant brings you past some hens and roosters, which makes for some entertainment or even photo op. So, if you’re looking for a mini escape from reality, even if it’s just for an hour or so, pop by Lucky Saigon Cafe!

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MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.