SIN: Saigon Bistro {CLOSED}

Trying deep-fried sticky rice for the first time!

UPDATE (21/11/2021): The restaurant has closed down.

Housed inside The Elizabeth Hotel that's located at Mount Elizabeth, a stone's throw away from Orchard Road, is a Vietnamese restaurant that prides itself in using ingredients sourced from Saigon, the former name of Ho Chi Minh City. I didn't dine there when I had my staycation back in 2015.

My hunchbacked bear appeared quite glittery in the photo above, no?

Grilled Pork Chop S$18.00

Taste: 7.5/10

Instead of ordering an appetiser dish, I ordered grilled pork chop marinated with Vietnamese fish sauce and some five spices. Overall, it was flavourful, but the red meat could be juicier. The sticky rice pockets were lightly seasoned with salt and deep-fried till golden brown and crunchy outside.

Pho Bo S$19.00

Taste: 7/10

The quintessential Vietnamese dish of rice noodle soup with beef was good, but not special. I felt that the soup could be richer; I've certainly had one that was sweeter and thus more appetising. A mix of beef tenderloin and brisket was used, but the quantity wasn't that much.

Crab Meat Fried Rice in Fresh Young Coconut S$24.00

Taste: 8/10

Served in a young coconut husk was turmeric fried rice that was fluffy and fragrant enough for my liking. It was cooked with eggs, garlic, spring onions and quite an acceptable amount of crab meat. It was a delight to scoop the young coconut flesh that was sweet, complementing the savoury rice well.

Che Chuoi Chung S$12.00

Taste: 6/10

Appearance wise, the dessert might appear to simply be sago balls in coconut milk topped with crushed peanuts. Hidden underneath were actually banana slices, which unfortunately were still approaching ripeness. While the sago balls could be bouncier, the pandan-infused coconut milk was quite aromatic and not too heavy.

Melon's Rating

Taste: 7/10

Ambience: 7.5/10

Service: 8/10

Overall: 7.5/10

It was a peaceful dinner with only one other table occupied. Pika's advice: According to one of the servers, a recommended dish that may be of interest to you is Glass Vermicelli with Fresh Crab Meat in Claypot, which comes in two different sizes.

Saigon Bistro

24 Mount Elizabeth

#01-05 The Elizabeth Hotel

Singapore

(Daily: 12 noon - 3.00pm, 6.00pm - 11.00pm)

*Prices quoted are subject to 10% service charge and 7% GST.

Have a nice meal,

Cliff(y)