I've been meaning to try Saigon Tiger for a while and I'm glad I did! This certainly won't be my last visit. It was a cozy, well-lit space for a pleasant weekday lunch.
The grilled okra ($7) was delicious. The okra was fresh and perfectly cooked with a slightly smoky flavor, complemented by an umami sesame oil soy sauce sauce. A simple but delicious dish.
The short rib steamed bun was yummy, with tender and well-seasoned short rib and fresh veggies. However, the green papaya salad lacked flavor, mostly tasting of acidity from the vinegar. I would've preferred more of an umami/savory flavor to complement the pickled vegetable flavor. Otherwise it was a light dish with a spicy kick.
The lemongrass chicken banh mi ($13) was very tasty, filled with tender chicken with a soy sauce curry flavoring and a hint of lemongrass. The portion size was good and I would definitely order it again.
Overall, I loved the flavors at Saigon Tiger and plan to return. I heard they are revamping the menu, potentially adding Vietnamese soups, which would be a great addition. I'll definitely be back for the banh mi and okra and look forward to trying their other offerings!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Lemongrass Chicken
I love Thai food and came in looking for a tasty, flavorful lunch. I have been to Saigon Tiger twice now and have twice been disappointed but the flavors: apart from the protein that are « ok » seasoned, the rest is quite plain, with no herbs or peanuts to make this cold bowl of rice noodles more interesting. The sauce served on the side is watery and mostly made of vinegar - not the quality I expected from such a well rated place! Again, the food is just OK and convenient, but not worth the hype in my opinion. Great vibes in the restaurant itself though, and there is potential. But FLAVOR, please! 😊
Saigon Tiger is hands down one of my favorite new restaurants to open in Davis Square! They are still ironing out their menu and hours but every time I’ve been there, the staff has been super kind and accommodating and the food has been incredible.
The banh mi sandwiches are the star of the show here in my opinion, with the chicken banh mi being my favorite. The chicken is so flavorful and the ingredients taste so fresh. I could eat it almost every day! The spam and egg banh mi offered for breakfast is amazing too. The beef and pork versions are delicious as well.
The spring rolls are really tasty and the lemongrass chicken wings are amazing, though a little pricey.
If you want to cut out the bread and go for a bowl, they have many options. The chicken rice bowl is delish.
This place is a sort of fast casual place and the ambiance is clean and bright. This is a perfect addition to the neighborhood! I’m happy to be a regular here.
Nice vibes, great food. I had the pork banh mi the bread was nice and fluffy, meat was flavorful, and pickled vegetables were on point. Only thing I wasn’t a huge fan of was the liver pate added in the sandwich gave it a little different taste. Will definitely be coming back it’s a great place
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Nice atmosphere, friendly staffs, ordered the lemongrass chicken banh mi and it’s delicious, will definitely come back!
Update!
It's been a few months now, and I love seeing that they are adding new items to the menu, including alcoholic drinks too! I will come more often with friends for late-night food and drinks. Love their plants too!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
While biking through Division Square, I saw the new place called Saigon Tiger. I thought I’ll give it a try. It’s Vietnamese fusion food. Overall, not bad. The inside is vey nice and clean. Definitely repeat.
Service
Take out
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$30–50
Recommended dishes
Lemongrass Chicken
Friendly and great service with an excellent vibe.
The food was absolutely superb, especially for being so reasonably priced.
I got the lemongrass chicken wings and bbq pork banh mi, and my girlfriend got the lemongrass chicken vermicelli bowl. The wings were massive, perfectly juicy and seasoned the right amount. The banh mi was awesome and had a good portion of meat. The vermicelli bowl was light, tasty and would be an excellent summer treat.
Will be back for the food, ambience and music choice
What an incredible experience! I’ve been missing Vietnamese food since moving from Seattle and this totally hit the spot. I had the Vietnamese ice coffee, spring rolls, egg rolls, and bbq pork bahn me. Every single dish was amazingly delicious. Staff was friendly and fast, restaurant is very clean. Please visit if you’re around Davis square!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$10–20
Recommended dishes
Pork Banh MI
I was so excited to see a Vietnamese restaurant open up in Davis! The interior is so cute and cozy. Super welcoming and warm place to have a meal or sit with a coffee. Their matcha coconut coffee is yummy and unique - it’s been a repeat purchase for me. The chicken wings were also great - a good size with lots of meat and crispy. We got the crispy chicken noodle bowl and the lemongrass chicken noodle bowl with a fried egg roll. The meat was well seasoned, super flavorful. Having grown up eating Vietnamese food all my life, I was missing the traditional herbs like mint and basil that usually come with vermicelli bowls, but the meat was so flavorful it really carried the dish. I also prefer fish sauce that is more pungent and rich, and the one they have is definitely less concentrated. It lended what I thought was a lighter and more fresh take on a traditional Vietnamese vermicelli bowl. Overall, I would recommend this restaurant! But if I was recommending to people who are familiar with Vietnamese food, I’d probably also tell them it’s slightly different from what they might expect.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 4
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
This place has by far the best bahn mi in town. Great new addition to Davis! Cocktails are amazing too.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Lemongrass Chicken
