Saigon Shack

/ Saigon Shack/

Saigon Shack

Greenwich Village

114 Macdougal St

New York, NY 10012

(212) 228-0588

WHY COME HERE?

  • Most Vietnamese dishes under $10
  • Variety of authentic pho
  • Cheap, quality bahn mi

WHAT TO GET?

  • Sweet potato fries
  • Summer rolls
  • Vermicelli bowls
  • Can’t forget the pho

FACTOIDS

  • Cash only
  • Small, tight seating
  • Large crowds at peak hours

     Saigon Shack is my go-to place for pho whether there be rain, shine, or snow (Hah! Unintentional rhyming). Tucked in between a line of other restaurants and shops in Greenwich Village, Saigon Shack can be rather difficult to locate at first. If you happen to venture there at a peak time, however, you’re bound to come across clusters of people waiting outside to either get seated or pick up their takeaway. Despite its rather small seating area, which happens to be more or less one of Saigon’s very few negative aspects, the wait is usually fairly manageable. The service also happens to be very quick and efficient, which comes in handy during one’s limited lunch break.

Saigon Shack Pho & Pork Chop Sandwich

In terms of the food, the taste and quality are rather superb, not to mention how large the portions are. I usually order a steaming bowl of the Classic Beef Pho or Saigon Shack Pho, which come with a side plate of lime or lemon slices and bean sprouts (note: this applies to all pho bowls!). Not only do they contain minimal fat or oil as one would normally find in a broth, they also provide a warm, satisfying fuzziness in your stomach, especially on a chilly day. For an extra spicy kick, which I personally recommend, each table comes with a bottle of Sriracha and Hoisin sauce that you can put into your pho or on your bahn mi to your heart’s content. Speaking of bahn mi, Saigon Shack offers several kinds, one of which includes the Classic Bahn Mi. A surprisingly large sandwich, Saigon Shack’s bahn mi consist of fresh ingredients that remain sandwiched between flavorful, crunchy bread.

Overall, if you find yourself weary and starving after a busy day in the city, and are possibly even scouring for a place that won’t burn a hole in your wallet, then you can’t go wrong with a hearty Vietnamese meal that leaves both your wallet and stomach satisfied.