Little Saigon Grill

LITTLE SAIGON GRILL HAS PERMANENTLY CLOSED.

Little Saigon Grill is a little slice of old Vietnam down a new Brisbane city lane with arguably the best and freshest Vietnamese street food in Brisbane's CBD.

From its original digs in Rowes Arcade, popular lunchtime haunt Little Saigon has reinvented itself in a mod minimalist laneway under the 6 star Rio Tinto building.

Keeping with the street food theme, all dining is al fresco, flanked by the stunning multi-coloured glass mosaic tile artwork by Dale Frank (2011) that adorns the length of the lane along one side.

In contrast to the slick modernity of the setting (and the virtual menu screen), the food served at Little Saigon is steeped in tradition. Owner Thanh takes diners back to the streets of old Vietnam with a delicious fresh menu that is all made and prepared  meticulously each day onsite, right down to the liver pate, pickles and aioli and house made drinks.

The digital screen menu is split into ‘stalls’ and ‘carts’ with food categories spanning Street Market Snacks, Noodle Soup Stall, Banh-Mi Cart, Pho Noodle Stall, Crispy Pancake, Bun (Vermicelli Salad) Stall, and Com Dia (Rice Dish) Stall, Vietnamese Style Pad Thai, House-Made Drinks and Vietnamese Desserts.

With so many fantastic choices, it’s impossible to go wrong at Little Saigon Grill but recommended are the Green Papaya and Duck Salads, served with sesame rice crackers.
Duck rice paper rolls are luscious and the Crispy pancake or grilled lemongrass pork chop, which comes with a side of salad to wrap San Choy Bau style are must tries.

And daily in the bain marie diners will find delicious hot stuff like melt-in-the-mouth Vietnamese chicken curry, stir fries or Pork Belly stew.

Otherwise there are banh-mi, phos, chicken skewers, Hanoi Chicken Rice, Shaking Pepper Beef and traditional desserts to finish off.

On the drinks front here’s the place to partake in a traditional Vietnamese or cold coffee, a fresh pressed juice, Vietnamese smoothie or coconut slushie.

Need to know: At lunchtimes meals are served in disposable dishes and bowls, but when the Little Saigon Grill’s plans to open in the evening (with beer licence) come to fruition, dinner will be served on proper crockery and the laneway atmosphere equate to a bustling little street market.

The menu may have changed since our visit.

See our full curated list of restaurants in Brisbane CBD HERE