Phở Saigon | Authentic Vietnamese Restaurant — Restaurant in West Hartford

After over 35 years of visiting Vietnamese establishments, I've come to enjoy Pho Saigon as one of my most favorite. In the mid 80s all you had was one tiny little hole in the wall up on New Britain avenue in the Elmwood district Now Vietnamese food is a staple of greater Hartford. When I walked into pho Saigon recently, I got the feeling that I'm halfway in America and halfway in Saigon somewhere. There is very little English being spoken and somehow all of the staff learn their way around the different crowd of diners who come and go.

The lead server comes gliding out to you to tell you where to go without speaking. He gets you a menu as he's doing two other things at the same time. You give him your order from a vast Vietnamese menu and within 10 to 12 minutes out comes exactly what you ordered, piping hot, and made specifically as the menu shows it.

The food is absolutely delectable, the cuisine is definitively Vietnamese, and the server leaves you alone to enjoy your entire meal.. The thing that is so nice about this restaurant is there's no pomp there is no pretense and there certainly is not any sale or selling of the dishes. It is order what you order, get what you get ,eat what you eat and enjoy it if you choose. If not you still will be back to try another item on the menu. Guaranteed.

I urge anyone who comes down New Britain Avenue to slow down and pull in to pho Saigon and try even an appetizer like Vietnamese ravioli or crispy veggie wrap, pork an shrimp roll , etc. All items on the menu are modestly priced, and whatever it is you do spend it goes a long way from your dish to your belly. Look for the big sign, can't miss it, open the inviting front door, and sit down to enjoy a truly authentic Vietnamese...

I've been to Pho Saigon twice with my boyfriend. The first time everything was exceptional except for the water they gave us that had a very weird taste (we decided to not drink it, I would suggest you don't either). We had the triangle shrimp egg rolls where were great, I have the oxtail pho and my bf had pho combination meat. Good stuff. The 2nd time we went was a complete nightmare. First off our table had an horrific odor so we decided to move ourselves. it was that bad. We ordered the triangle shrimp eggs rolls again but this time they had a rotten smell and sour taste so I told our waitress something wasn't right. She proceeds to tell me that they are fine, were made yesterday, and its the smell of pork. Keep in mind she tells me its the smell of the PORK when we ordered SHRIMP. Thankfully we don't have any food restrictions but you cant just go around serving people pork because you don't have what we actually ordered. Nevertheless we received our food, this time i got duck and my bf got the seafood pho. Im not sure if it was the stress of the whole ordeal or if the food just wasn't as good this time around but we are willing to give it another shot before completely...

Po Saigon is located in West Hartford very near two other well-known Vietnamese restaurants. Ive eaten at all of them, at least weekly for the past 12 years. Pho Saigon started in a tiny 10 seat business that was always great food, I particularly love their shrimp pancake or fried lemongrass with tofu on cabbage salad. In fact any of their cabbage salads dishes are outstanding! What make Po Saigon stand out is the food tastes individually homemade. The competitors are good and predictable - but not super creative. Po Saigon has a "different homemade" taste to their dishes. Today I was in the area and was stunned to find they moved next door to a much larger space. That’s exactly what they needed. I had a pancake and fresh spring roll and I have to say it was the best I’ve ever had and prompted me to write this review. I’m going there for dinner tonight! If you like Vietnamese food - be sure to check out Pho Saigon, I’m sure you won’t be disappointed. 5+ stars!...