Little Saigon - big flavor

Little Saigon
1033 N. 6th St. (610) 821-5350

This unassuming location at the intersection of N. 6th St. and Sumner has a lot going for it - a varied menu of Vietnamese and Chinese dishes, quick service and affordable prices. My Spark partners and I enjoyed a delicious lunch there today, trying a variety of dishes.

We started with two orders of fresh rolls containing shrimp, vermicelli, pork and a leafy vegetable. True to their name, they tasted fresh; the shrimp were meaty and the pork nicely marinated. I thought they lacked a little flavor -- a couple of mint leaves or cilantro would have gone a long way to accent the shrimp and bring flavor to the vermicelli.

The three dishes we ordered arrived quickly after the rolls were done. Scott had Grilled Shrimp and Pork and Egg Roll on Vermicelli, which he proclaimed as very good. The pork was nicely browned, while the egg roll looked crispy and not overly greasy. Denis had Shrimp with Curry Sauce served with a side of white rice. It tasted more mild than Indian curry and seemed to use less (if any) coconut milk. Still, the dish had a nice texture and just enough curry bite. I enjoyed Egg Noodle Soup with Seafood (left). The broth had a rich, multi-layered taste of chicken, shellfish and either ginger or lemongrass. (I'm not that good.) Six succulent shrimp were in the broth, as were pieces of squid and dense fake crab leg meat. (That was the only downer.) Scallions and fresh bean sprouts completed the large bowl -- enough for a meal, though not too heavy for a summer day.

The bill for four -- including two pots of Jasmine tea -- was $39.00. Certainly, much cheaper than a ticket to Vietnam!