Saigon Tiger — Restaurant in Somerville

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.

Edit 4/30/24: Went back another time last weekend and it's really growing on me! This time I tried the grilled pork vermicelli bowl and as someone who loves pickled carrot and radish, the ratio of pickles to vermicelli was perfect. Flavor in the pork was great, but I wish there was more char on the meat. Chicken wings were a hit again, so good! We also got the fried chicken vermicelli bowl and that was also...

I was far from home and getting hungry during my recent visit to Davis Square. A fridge full of dinner ingredients meant I couldn't in good conscience have a meal out. Rather, a quick snack under $10 was in order. Saigon Tiger, just across from the Elm St. entrance to the Red Line, came to the rescue with a choice of pork or beef bun. I didn't think to ask for half and half but I had the impression it would have been no problem: the staff were sweet and I was in and out in now time—which was a pity since the early fall sun lights up this cozy cafe. The space offers takeout or dine-in—with free Wi-Fi, though they politely request that you limit your time to 90 minutes on busy days. If you need a boost for your phone, snag a table along the windows: there are ample outlets along that wall. The sidewalk features a few modest tables. It's a narrow space, so I would opt for indoor dining, all other things considered.

The steamed buns come as pictured. I was delighted by the tiger logo on each of them. Beef was not overcooked. The sauce has a mild 5-spice note and a light but much-appreciated kick. Fresh veg and herbs complement the sticky slightly sweet buns. No complaints here! The food reminded me of my old standby SaPa in Cleveland Circle (RIP) and it's good to have a new Vietnamese option in my pocket for this area. I am looking forward to a more...

Food was okay, but this was by far my worst takeout experience—on July 8, 2025. The order took 1.5 hours to be ready, and the sole server didn’t even acknowledge the four of separate parties waiting for pickups, nor the four parties hoping to dine in (who all left btw). He was clearly overwhelmed trying to handle a party of 20—why would management even allow that without proper staffing? He prioritized their food and elaborate alcoholic drink orders (likely chasing a big tip..).

When a few of us asked to cancel our takeout orders on Toasttab and get a refund, the server said it wasn’t possible. Meanwhile, I watched my food sit on the counter for at least 20 minutes before he finally packed it. After a long day at work, I stood there for nearly 50 minutes and this completely ruined my evening. I ordered take out because I'm tired and wanted something quick and comforting to ease my day, but this experience only made it fill with anxiety and stress. I can’t believe I even tipped 15% for this experience—I probably deserve a compensation for my wasted time instead.

Why does management think it’s acceptable to have only one person working a night shift while juggling dine-in, takeout, and large parties? Please hire additional staff—or at least a dedicated bartender. Or simply just turn off take out service or update with a more representative...