Saigon Deli

Pho(Vietnamese Noodle Soup)is one of the great cheap meals anywhere, and the Bay Area has many dozens of these noodle shops all making the same dishes. Finding the standouts is the trick, and its a time consuming affair. Kudos to Mike above for group ... more

Pho(Vietnamese Noodle Soup)is one of the great cheap meals anywhere, and the Bay Area has many dozens of these noodle shops all making the same dishes. Finding the standouts is the trick, and its a time consuming affair. Kudos to Mike above for grouping Saigon Deli with Vi's, as I rate these two as clearly in their own league when it comes to Pho in the East Bay. In fact, to beat it I think you have to go to Fresno (where the competition is fierce and the customers saavy). While Vi's Lacai Noodle Soup is stellar, the Pho nod goes to Saigon Deli by a hair. The key to Pho is the broth, and SD's is wonderful, richly flavored, supurbly balanced, and with a clean feel that nobody matches. You don't learn that overnight...somebody was driven. I should mention, do you think a fried wonton couldn't surprise you? Theirs are sublime..perfect mastery. less