The unassuming exterior of Restaurant Saigon. The restaurant is among the top- ranked eateries in Kaiserslautern, according to TripAdvisor. (Slobodan Lekic/Stars and Stripes)
The unassuming exterior of Restaurant Saigon. The restaurant is among the top- ranked eateries in Kaiserslautern, according to TripAdvisor. (Slobodan Lekic/Stars and Stripes)
Tran Cong Nhan, owner of the Restaurant Saigon in Kaiserslautern sits behind a colorfully decorated bar. If you want to dine here, it's best to make reservations --- the restaurant has only about 10 tables. (Slobodan Lekic/Stars and Stripes)
Stephanie Vandine, left, a regular at Restaurant Saigon, introduces friend Miranda Lee to one of Kaiserslautern's top-ranked restaurants. Slobodan Lekic/Stars and Stripes (Slobodan Lekic/Stars and Stripes)
Cold Vietnamese spring rolls are among the favorite dishes at Kaiserslautern's Restaurant Saigon. Fillings can include shrimp, beef or chicken, but the main ingredients are crunchy raw vegetables and thread noodles stuffed snugly into a thin rice paper wrapper. (Slobodan Lekic/Stars and Stripes)
Braised duck with vegetables as the dish is served at Restaurant Saigon in Kaiserslautern, Germany. (Slobodan Lekic/Stars and Stripes)
Beef curry with carrots at Kaiserslautern's Restaurant Saigon. The restaurant is open every day except Wednesdays and German holidays. (Slobodan Lekic/Stars and Stripes)
Pho, a favorite Vietnamese street food made of beef, noodles and vegetables, is served with sprouts, coriander and fresh mint at Kaiserslautern's Restaurant Saigon. (Slobodan Lekic/Stars and Stripes)
One of the more exotic — and exciting — restaurants in Kaiserslautern is Restaurant Saigon, which in the past three years has built up a loyal clientele appreciative of the value-for-money dishes and the very quiet, but casual, atmosphere.
The family-owned restaurant also has built up a solid reputation for authentic Vietnamese fare, and the clientele includes not just Germans and Americans living in the region but also Vietnamese students from the nearby Technical University. This might be one of the reasons Saigon is ranked No. 2 among the 177 restaurants in Kaiserslautern, according to the travel website TripAdvisor.
Owner Tran Cong Nhan is usually the sole server in the restaurant, which has only about 10 tables. Although Tran is invariably friendly and helpful, don’t expect quick service because his wife and chef, Duong Thi Lan Huong, prepares each dish from scratch — no microwaving of prepared dishes before serving here.
The two have lived in Germany about 25 years but only opened Saigon in 2010. Although located on one of the main downtown thoroughfares in Kaiserslautern, the restaurant, with its discreet doorway and sign, is very easy to miss.
“The food is amazing; it’s always fresh, and the fried rice is to die for,” said Stephanie Vandine, who was introducing friend Miranda Lee to the restaurant. “And I’m taking orders to go for my husband and kids.”
During a recent visit, several other diners said they made it a point to eat at Saigon at least once a month.
Vietnam’s cuisine is highly regarded even in Southeast Asia, where it competes with culinary powerhouses such as Thailand and South China. Due to its dependence on water or broth rather than oil and its plentiful use of fresh herbs, vegetables spices and seafood, it is also considered one of the most healthful in the world.
Meats, which in traditional Vietnamese cuisine are treated more as condiments than as main courses, are usually sliced into thin strips, marinaded in fish sauce, then grilled and quickly brought very hot to the table. Chicken, duck, salmon and pork are often caramelized.
Restayrabt Saigon boasts an extensive menu, and popular dishes include beef with onions, glazed duck with ginger, as well as fish and curries. Most dishes come with dipping sauces, which help to give the food its distinctive flavor. By far the two most popular dishes are the fresh spring rolls — with shrimp, thread noodles, cilantro and mint wrapped in see-through rice paper — and the pho soup, a main dish.
Pho, pronounced “fuh,” is a popular street food in Vietnam that has somehow evolved into a delicacy in the West. While there are many regional variations, its base is an aromatic broth-based rice noodle soup, with added chicken or beef and an assortment of vegetables that usually includes sprouts, mint, lemongrass and Vietnamese coriander.
The restaurant serves Saigon Beer, a favorite Vietnamese lager with its lemony-malty flavor, which complements the food nicely on a hot summer day.
lekic.slobodoan@stripes.com
Restaurant SaigonLocation: Eisenbahnstrasse 68 A, Kaiserslautern.
Directions: The restaurant is located just beyond the corner of Barbarossa Strasse. Coming from east or west, it’s best to drive down Barbarossa Strasse, turn into Eisenbach Strasse and then turn again into one of the side streets to find a parking place.
Hours: Noon-2:30 p.m. and 5-10:30 p.m. weekdays except Wednesdays 12 a.m; noon to 10 p.m. Sundays. 12 a.m.; closed Wednesdays.
Prices: Starters from 4 euros, soups from 4 euros, entrees from about 10.50 euros, nonalcoholic drinks about 2 euros to 3 euros, wine and beer from 3 euros to 5 euros. Special lunchtime menu every day except Sundays and German holidays with dishes available from 6 euros to 8 euros.
Menu: English is available.
More information: Telephone (+49) (0)631-4126329. Seating is limited with fewer than a dozen tables, so definitely make reservations on weekends and holidays. Weekday lunches also can get crowded. For reservations, call 0631-4126329.
