LE GARÇON SAIGON

There is something terribly chic about Le Garcon Saigon, most likely down to its Parisian bistro elegance blended with the vibrant, bustling energy of Ho Chi Minh City by way of charming, youthful staff. Seats are tight, no doubt, but the intimacy adds to the rough-and-tumble nature of this convivial Vietnamese eatery. The paper placemats showcase dishes that sometimes throw in a few culinary curveballs, such as the furikake and smoked queso fresco sprinkled over the grilled corn, or nashi pear and crispy yuba sheets in the otherwise classic shredded cabbage salad. Expect to get your hands dirty, as we did with the Mayura wagyu beef tri-tip skewers, designed to be extracted and wrapped in rice paper with lettuce, fresh herbs, vermicelli noodles and pickles. Clever twists such as the condensed milk flan with drip coffee caramel give the obligatory hat-tips to Vietnamese traditions while offering the well-travelled diner a bit of a thrill. To drink, flip through the volume of fruit-forward libations or simply opt for a chilled bottle of Bia Saigon lager.