Saigon Deli Rocks - Tampa

[rebecca.kukla]

I've only found one very brief, passing chowhound comment about this place so I thought I would give it props.

Awesome, authentic Vietnamese restaurant connected to an awesome Vietnamese/Asian supermarket on Waters just east of Dale Mabry. Even though it's in a store, sort of, it's bright and cheerful and clean and reasonably spacious.

I thought the Pho was at least as good as at Pho Quyen and a bit cheaper ... and I was happier with this place because it had the proper array stuff to dump in the soup, missing everywhere else in Tampa as far as I know. The most authentic (and in my view yummiest) Pho should come with long, narrow, tough, slightly lemony greens (I've never known what they are called) along with the basil, sprouts, peppers, and lime. Pho Quyen and many other places skip the more exotic leaves and just have the other stuff, and I always miss the leaves.

Anyhow this Pho was exemplary and as far as I can tell completely authentic, and I am excited to try their other menu items.

There was a thread a while back started by someone looking for Moon Cakes - they have them in this store, along with a great array of fresh exotic fruits and vegetables, a good meat section, and lots more.

Dare we hope that in a few years, Tampa will get to claim West Waters as a proper Asian district? We already have Saigon Deli, Yummy House, China Yuan, and several Asian supermarkets and tea shops along or just off Waters...

[digyourself]

Checked this place out for the first time this weekend. Woah. The Bahn Mi was amazing. Serious flavors. I also bought a couple of the packaged mystery items to check out. Awesome. We are lucky to have places like this here in Tampa. Take advantage of them.

[andy huse]

I've been twice this weekend. excellent soup, bahn mi, rolls, and entrees. Thanks for sharing, Rebecca--- this one is a real find. during the week there's lots fo good hot dishes in the steam line as well.

[rhnault]

I have been in the market but never eaten there. Is there a proper place to eat there? I gave it a quick glance when I was in the market but was a little intimidated because I saw NO english anywhere. But this was probably close to 2 years ago and I have gotten braver in foreign establishments lol.

[travelnfood]

yes, there are tables...you just sit down like a regular restaurant and they have table service (you might have to get someone's attention). the menu is in vietnamese and english, so you won't have any problems.

[rhnault]

Thanks for the update! I have only had bahn mi once in St Pete and I love them and Pho Quyen doesn't serve them. The lemon grass in the soup sounds wonderful as well.

[rebecca.kukla]

Not lemongrass! See above. :-) But yes yummy.

[tommyvee]

Yep. Culantro is it's common name and is used widely in Latin American cooking. It tastes like cilantro IMO.

http://www.chow.com/ingredients/153

We're in Tampa for a seminar and will check this place out. Thanks for the suggestion.

[rhnault]

We went there earlier and I had the pho and I recognized the lemony cilantro. You can by it at the Latin market on Hanley in front of Wal Mart.

[rebecca.kukla]

Almost everyone there was Vietnamese but it was not intimidating to manage in English. The menu was transliterated and the waitresses appeared to be Vietnamese-American high school girls with perfectly fluent English.

[rhnault]

I think we cold be taking a trip to Waters and Dale Mabry this afternoon. I also really want to know what this lemongrass type herb is. I have seen lemon basil but it still looks like basil. Here is a good google link I just read. http://www.epicurean.com/articles/exo...

[rebecca.kukla]

AHA! And the answer is ...

It's "thorny cilantro", or ngo gai in vietnamese. gotta love the internet. :-)

[rhnault]

google is our friend lol

[Mild Bill]

The guy who's usually at the restaurant register orchestrating the goings-on is super friendly...
Everybody there is, it seems... Engrish is almost never a problem...

They make a stir fry noodle thing there that looks like 'lo mein' that is really generous and delicious...

The grocery's meat section is a scene... Mostly fish and porky parts...

I usually wrap up a visit with an Avocado Boba Shake with no Bobas...

Stupid chewey nothing balls... :-)

[rhnault]

We had a boy who understood no engrish and as a result my husband had a very negative banh mi experience. My pho was pretty good. Broth was tasty but I think we'll be sticking to Pho Quyen. Also I am making some pretty tasty Bun at home this summer ; - )

[TampaAurora]

It sounds like the herb is lemongrass.

[rebecca.kukla]

It's not lemongrass - not as lemony or as skinny and I know what lemongrass looks like. It's also tougher than lemongrass. It's a staple in every truly authentic vietnamese restaurant I have ever been to and I have never seen it anywhere else. I've asked the waiters in a couple of places and only gotten a Vietnamese name I can't reconstruct, though this doesn't mean there is not a more common English name too.

[andy huse]

sounds wonderful. I will make a visit and report back.

[travelnfood]

I second Saigon Deli....it's far superior to Pho Quyen imho. bahn mi and bun are sure bets, and don't forget some vietnamese iced coffee next time you go.