Saigon Saigon

Priding itself on offering an authentic flavour of Vietnam, this Hammersmith favourite has wooed locals with its elegant, ornate dining room & moderate pricing. Forget the tatty cafés of Shoreditch’s ‘pho mile’, Saigon Saigon has a sophisticated, amiable vibe, created by dark wood, bamboo & traditional carvings. The kitchen replicates well the culinary fusion of modern Vietnamese cuisine. Chinese influences are apparent in the likes of stir-fried beef with fine beans & onion, while dishes such as battered frogs’ legs marinated in lime juice are a nod to the role of French colonialists. The extensive menu also encompasses clay-pot stews, various versions of noodle soup, & steamboat (where diners cook ingredients in a bubbling cauldron of stock at the table). An adequate wine list & attentive service provide the back-up.