I miss Saigon

Saigon Noodle House
1136 S Diamond Bar Blvd
Diamond Bar, CA 91765
(909) 861-5020

Picture one of those cozy Mom-n-Pop diners you would find in a small town in Kansas, where all the waiters have warm smiles and you would order the "usual".

Now picture that diner serves Vietnamese food.

Saigon is a local favorite for the natives of Diamond Bar, known for its delicious and filling meals that all cost under $10. The atmosphere is very casual, almost lackadaisical; perhaps this is due to the heavy coma induced by their food, or the fact that most of the clientele consists of regulars that frequent the place on a weekly (or even daily) basis. I myself am one of those regulars; my friends and I would eat there ritually every Saturday afternoon, followed by a wonderful nap. My sister even has a tab there!

The atmosphere is not the only comforting thing there. The food, although foreign to many non-Vietnamese, is wonderfully filling with a hint of nostalgia. My personal favorite, and their most popular dish, is the pho (pronounced "fuh", not "foe"). Pho is a beef broth based soup made with vermicelli (thin rice noodles) and slices of raw beef that's cooked by the heat of the soup. There are variations of the dish that include chicken, meatballs, tendon, or tripe. Don't be fooled by the "regular" and "large" options; the regular size is big enough to feed two! The dish is customizable too; you add the basil leaves, lime, bean sprouts, hoisin, and sriracha (spicy chili sauce) yourself, so you can make it as outrageously spicy (like how I do) or mild or tangy or sweet as you like.

Other recommended dishes are vermicelli (which is just rice noodles with your choice of meat on top), Vietnamese sandwiches (served on a French roll, one of the remaining influences from the French occupation of Vietnam - a little history lesson for you!), spring rolls, and eggrolls. And all of these, including the pho, range from $3-8 in price. The beverages are great compliments to the meal. They have bittersweet Vietnamese coffee, creamy Thai iced tea, and my absolute favorite, fresh squeezed lemonade (the sweet tartness compliments my spicy pho perfectly).

So if you're ever rolling through Diamond Bar, which is highly unlikely since most people have never even heard of DB...ok, if you're ever on the 60 where it meets the 57, hop off on Grand and make a stop by Saigon Noodle House. You can put it on my sister's tab.