Saigon Pho Wairau Valley — Restaurant in Kaipātiki

We’ve visited 3 times already since the Spring Festival. A decent Vietnamese restaurant to eat closer to home at last! We always feel Vietnamese cuisine here in NZ is underestimated, this is definitely a new restaurant to hold their heads high and be proud of. They produce very tasty dishes, their chicken is always cooked to perfection, juicy and tasty. They also have a range of salads to choose from. I love the crab salad, it is packed with flavours. (if the batter can be lighter I will give a 10/10) Pho is packed with layers as you would expect in a pho, it's a bit oily compared to other places and personally, I prefer smooth-type rice noodles (the kind they offer is the more sticky type). Summer roll comes in a generous size, again personally I would love a bit more herbs and please consider serving with the chilli dipping sauce (nuoc Cham) as an option. There’s always a drink on special for I think $6 which is very budget-friendly. I like the decor too, just enough to give you the Viet-vibe. It also seems they have private rooms available, as well as more spaces...

Right when we walked in, they quickly got us seated. The place is decked out with fake plants, lanterns, and fans, which gives it a cool, charming vibe. It’s got two floors, but the upper one only opens when it’s packed. We snagged a table by the window, which was a nice touch. The tables are spaced out well, so it never felt cramped, even with a bunch of kids running around.

You order food by ringing a bell, and someone shows up fast with a device to take your order—simple and kind of fun. One quirky thing: you have to grab your drinks from a self-serve counter. If they’re bringing food to the table, why not the drinks too?

We got the beef pho, lemongrass chicken with rice, lemongrass pork entrée, an iced peach tea, and a Vietnamese coffee. The chicken was outstanding—bursting with unique flavor and vibrant color. The pork was just as delicious, practically melting in your mouth, with pickled cabbage and carrots that paired perfectly. The pho was decent but not the best I’ve had (big props to Little Miss Saigon in Birkenhead).

If I’m nearby, I’d think before...

It was great dining. Ordered Spring Roll Vermicelli and Lemongrass Pork noodle soup. food was great, slightly less salty compared to other Pho restaurants which was perfect for my partner, the grilled lemongrass pork was awesome, didn't had the typical smell in the rice noodle. It would have been 5 stars but it lacked few such as- proprtion was small. Even my partner who doesn't eat much said it wasn't enough. Sauces... Unlike other Pho restaurants, you have to ask for the sauces such as Siriracha, fresh chilli and Hoisin sauce, and they do give you when you ask but very little portion at a time... For someone like me who enjoy Pho with a lot of sauces missed, lacked for a star. Lemongrass pork was great but it was cooked a little much that it passed caramelized point and could taste burnt in some areas. Currently new opening...