489 Beaufort St, Highgate
Ph: (08) 9227 5586
Good things come in little packages
Don’t be fooled by the name of this restaurant. Little Saigon is anything but, when it comes to the quality and generous servings plated up at this Vietnamese delight.
Situated on the busy road of Beaufort Street in Mt Lawley/Highgate, you may have wandered past this restaurant a hundred times. Tucked in between two florists, Little Saigon has bloomed into quite a beautiful and quaint restaurant.
Little Saigon is very much a family owned and run business and the passion and warmth of owner Dianne Nguyen and her family is reflected in the superb quality of the food as well as the attention to fine detail to create an inviting atmosphere. From the moment you walk inside, you get a glimpse of Dianne’s personal touches from her very own hand-painted artwork, the Asian inspired décor and the pretty table settings. This cute little restaurant radiates charm and a pleasing and welcoming ambience. Little Saigon is much more than your typical casual dine-in and take away restaurant, it offers you a little piece of Vietnam, right here in Perth.
You simply can’t go to a Vietnamese restaurant and not take full advantage of the starters, and the entrees at Little Saigon are great to share and unique in every way. A fantastic example of the individuality and personality of Dianne and her family is showcased in the ‘Sweet potato prawns’, spirals of sweet potato wrapped around a plump prawn and deep-fried in a crispy batter. This entrée looks much too good to eat and tastes a treat. The ‘Soft shell crab’ is another winning entrée with its crispy coating and juicy crab meat inside.
If you’re after something a little lighter but just as fresh and filling, you can opt to share the ‘Duck salad’ as an entrée (also available as a main). This jazzy salad has your duck fillet, a bunch of fresh salad leaves and sweet pineapple drizzled with a refreshing fish and ginger dressing. The nuts in this salad top it all off with their nutty aroma and rich flavours.
Vietnamese food is great to share and Little Saigon has such a vast menu of dishes you will want to try them all. For main meals, the house specialty is the ‘Salt and pepper squid’ and it is the most popular item on the menu. Tender pieces of squid, flash fried in a crunchy batter, it’s not hard to wonder why it’s ordered by all. 
Another great meal to share is the ‘Tamarind prawns’ which is wonderfully generous in size and flavour. The plump prawns are coated in a light batter and smothered in a sweet, tangy, tamarind sauce. You may find yourselves fighting for the last prawn.
For a truly authentic Vietnamese experience, the ‘Goat curry’ (non mild version) is recommended and it is a dish that Dianne often enjoys at home. The curry is a mix of fragrant spices, eggplant, coriander and just a bit more than a hint of chilli. The goat falls off the bone and the aromatic spices and robust flavours of the goat and spices will grant you an authentic Vietnamese dining experience.
When you’re unable to choose from the vast menu that includes entrees, salads, soups, duck, chicken, beef, goat, pork, omelette, venison, squid, prawns, fish, vegetarian dishes and of course your noodles and rice, you can opt to experience the banquet. Much like the traditional feasts in Vietnam, the banquet is available for tables of four or more people and all the choices have been made for you. The prices are very reasonable especially for the plentiful portions of food you will enjoy here at Little Saigon. It is BYO only and with $2 per person corkage it is very worthwhile to bring your favourite bottle of white wine. If you’re a little forgetful, do not worry as you can pop across the street to some conveniently located (and top quality) bottle shops.
Little Saigon may be small in size but it’s big on authentic Vietnamese food for great value. If you haven’t been here before, make it your next meal out as it will open your mind to the fantastic culture of Vietnam. Dianne and her family have had an interesting and inspirational life and her story can be told through the authenticity, creativity and individuality of Little Saigon. The dining experience at Little Saigon is extremely pleasant and all the food has a certain wow factor. This is definitely a special place and you are welcome to experience Little Saigon Tuesdays to Sundays for dinner. Please be sure to book in advance to secure your place for the busy weekends.