Cebu Secret Chows: Little Saigon Big Bangkok

       Thai cuisine is one of my most favorite Asian cuisines. I love the distinct aroma and flavor from the medley of lemongrass, fresh coriander, Thai basil, coconut milk, hint of fish sauce and a bit of spice from dried chili. It's just so interestingly flavorful and aromatic. It never fails to seduce me. I consider it a pretty healthy cuisine as well. I love how they incorporate a lot of fresh vegetables into their dishes and the mildness of their curry compared to Indian curry. 

       

      I've gotten a recommendation from a reader to try this new Thai-Vietnamese home resto in Guadalupe, right behind the barangay hall. Since I've heard of it, I've been dying to visit the place to have my fill. I just had this feeling it had to be really good, from the name itself -- Little Saigon Big Bangkok.

So finally, I headed there for lunch with Luis. My, was I in for a treat...

        There was a garden setting with comfy outdoor funiture and where the cooking is done in an open hut like an actual street food setting except you sit and wait for your food to be served fresh. I can imagine it to be more romantic during dinner. They also had indoor dining inside the house.

       The menu was easy to choose from and had everything you'd want -- fish, pork, beef and chicken. They use parrot fish for their fish dishes. That's a plus! Cream dory, be gone! :))

         We ordered the Banh Xeo, Hanoi grilled pork and Pad Thai. I just had to try the Pad Thai.

        Service was swift and none of the dishes were a disappointment. It was evident that even the little details that mattered in the composition of the dish were well attended to. In short, everything was made with LOVE.

         The Pad Thai came first and it was an explosion of flavors in the mouth. Every Asian country has a noodle representative and for Thailand, this is it. I consider this the pancit canton of Thailand. The rice noodles were cooked to perfection with an excellent sauce and mixed with well seasoned shrimps.

Pad Thai - P250

         The Banh Xeo was the most interesting one because we didn't exactly know what to expect and the play of textures was amazing.

Banh Xeo - P200

          It's a crepe made with turmeric and coconut milk, filled with shrimps, fresh beansprouts, and vegetables. Lettuce and fresh coriander came along as sidings and a sweet vinegar sauce with cucumber. The crepe wrapper was amazingly crisp yet light and had a faint sweetness from the coconut milk. It didn't easily become soggy even with the filling and sauce; an indication that it had the perfect thickness.

      Then, the Hanoi grilled pork. I was expecting thick, grilled pieces of pork but what came was sukiyaki style sliced pieces that were marinated and tender. The grilled vegetables (eggplant, green beans and tomato) alongside were a perfect match and were a savory delight. They were grilled to perfection and melted in the mouth. The sauce was a mild spicy, salty and tangy sauce. Again, another winner. 

Hanoi Grilled Pork - P250

               So all the dishes that we had were amazing and the owners, a young couple, were very welcoming to the guests. The wife and head chef, who studied in Le Cordon Bleu Bangkok even served one of the dishes, and the husband chatted up a bit about the food. 

                The prices may be a bit intimidating but the servings here are good for 2-3 persons and the flavors and quality do not disappoint at all. I wish I could go back more often. That Pad Thai and coconut crepe killed me right there. I'm lovestruck by this resto. 

Little Saigon Big Bangkok

Andres Abellana Ext. Guadalupe

Cebu City 6000

Contact: (032) 415 0228
              (032) 354 8013

Operating Hours:      Mon - Sun   12 pm-10pm

Price Range: P150-250

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