Famous, But…?
It was a rainy weekend, and suddenly we had a serious craving for pho. Luckily, Saigon Shack, a spot that’s pretty famous in NYC, was nearby. I’d seen it pop up so many times on social media, so our expectations were high.
Thankfully, we didn’t have to wait and got seated right away, but the place was already packed with people. It was definitely buzzing. It is open kitchen, so you can see them cooking from the dining table.
There are many sriracha and hoisin sauce on the table, so you can just take those to your table. No need to ask employees for it.
Here are the menu.
What we ordered
- Fresh Summer Rolls (Shrimp)
Honestly, these were just your standard summer rolls. I personally think the key to a good summer roll is the peanut sauce, but this one wasn’t really my style. We both agreed that it didn’t really stand out — definitely not one of the better ones we’ve had.
- Saigon Shack Pho
Since this is their signature dish, we had to try it. The broth was rich, which was nice, but the noodles were a letdown. They broke apart too easily, and it wasn’t just ours — we noticed the same thing at other tables too. That kind of texture really takes away from the pho experience. We like to eat the rare beef so we are fine with this, but if you are not the person who enjoys the rare beef, make sure to let the employee know about that because it serves almost as rare.
- Grilled Pork Chops
You get to choose between rice or noodles — I went with rice. The pork with the fish sauce combo was tasty, but again, it wasn’t anything particularly memorable. Just a solid, average dish.
Their tea is $5 per order, but don’t expect to see the tea pot. It is just simple tea bag with hot water.
How was it
Overall, we felt the food didn’t quite live up to the hype. It wasn’t bad, but given how popular this place is, we definitely expected more. Honestly, it made me think there must be better pho spots around the city that are less talked about but way more satisfying.
They have a cash-only policy, though it seems like you might be able to use a card if you order online. Just something to keep in mind.
Final Thoughts : Should you go?
In the end, it was an okay experience, but not one we’d rush to repeat.