Saigon Ivy

Saigon Ivy is located on bustling 6th Street in New Westminster. Named after the largest city in Vietnam (now officially known as Ho Chi Minh City), this Vietnamese eatery has tall ceilings which helps to make the interior seem more spacious. The interior is clean and relatively nice. Like many Vietnamese restaurants, a supply of condiments and utensils are available at every table.

Excellent Vietnamese food here especially considering there isn't many good Vietnamese places in the Burnaby/New West area! The portions are very decent for the price, and the restaurant is very clean and even air conditioned! I would highly recommend you try out their barbecue meats. Very well marinated and usually perfectly cooked! I love the classics #34 #37 and #38, Grilled Pork, Chicken, and Beef on Vermicelli respectively. Some of them comes with a spring roll that is packed with vegetables and pork, it's not very salty so you will need the fish sauce for that. The #40 Grilled Pork Chop on Rice is also to die for. Their soups are very well flavoured. "Bland" is never a word that comes to mind when eating here! Their regular soups, I usually get the #14, while not super clear, is very meaty tasting and flavourful. All the meat that they use in the soups are well sliced and perfectly tender. Out of the many pho places I have patronized, they are in the top three for their pho meat!! Personally though, I much prefer the alternate soups such as #20 Hot and Sour Seafood Soup, and our all-time favourite #31 Bun Bo Hue. I have to say, without trying Cafe Xue Hue yet, that this is one of three places I know that has the best Bun Bo Hue soup!! The others being Lotus in Richmond, and Pho Tam at Surrey Central. In summary, if you love tasty grilled meat and strong flavourful broth, this is definitely the place for you!! Happy eating :)

Saigon Ivy was our (as a threesome) go to place for lunch after a medical appointment earlier this week - we arrived just as it opened at 11am.  This was a first time visit to this small, and relatively-new Vietnamese restaurant located on the 'main drag' in uptown New Westminster.  We had been wanting to try it, finally got the opportunity, and must say, we were delighted with our dining experience.

The restaurant is small, with four, fixed, 'booth-like' (4-place) tables on the one side, and two rows of four (2-4 place) tables per each, occupying the rest of the interior space (these tables are not fixed in place, thus, can be moved about somewhat to accommodate 'groups' larger than four, and etc.).  The restaurant (including washroom) was very clean and tidy.  Service of menus, tea, utensils, condiments, and etc., was done from a counter and cabinets at the back, just in front of the kitchen.  The kitchen area itself had a curtain hanging over the door, so was mostly out of view to diners.   

Service to our table was prompt and friendly, and our server very helpful-to-the-cause when it came to ordering.  It's a quite extensive menu, and with us still being novices when it comes to ordering Vietnamese fare, the help was sure appreciated!!

What we ordered, and shared:

-  tea (as provided).

-  appetizers:  #12 - deep fried squid, and #13 - deep fried chicken wings.

-  vermicelli:  #35 - spring rolls, bbq minced pork, and grilled chicken, on vermicelli, w/green salad -- #36 - grilled slice pork, prawns, and spring roll on vermicelli, w/green salad.  A fish-based sauce was provided on the side - a nice touch, as one could then govern how much to use, when/if desired. 

The servings were rather large, preparations good, and presentations nice, and especially so for the vermicelli dishes, with the fare so colourfully-arranged in large bowls.  For daughter and I, the squid was a big hit - it was so well-prepared, tender, flavourful, and tasty, with just enough spice 'heat' to bring the taste buds into play!!  For Mom, the wings were a personal delight!  We all really enjoyed the vermicelli dishes - the meats were prepared very nicely, so tender, and tasty, the vermicelli noodles 'yum' with flavours from the meats and other 'fixings', and the salads so bright, fresh, and crisp!!  

There was very little left on the plates or in the bowls when we finished dining (just a small touch of vermicelli and a couple of wings to bring home) - a "good sign" that we did indeed enjoy our lunch!!

Our first time dining experience at Saigon Ivy was fun and much-enjoyed - food and presentations were a delight to the senses, and the service very friendly and helpful.  More please!! I'm sure we will be back soon.

Finally, good Vietnamese in New West!. Went with my girlfriend and shared everything. We ordered the fried tofu, shrimp salad roll, lemongrass beef over noodles, and beef and meatball pho. The lemongrass beef was incredible, the meat was tender and flavorful. The meatballs in the pho were a little tough, so I think next time I'll order it without. The salad roll was fresh and crisp, and the peanut dipping sauce was presented beautifully, with shredded vegetables and peanuts on top. The tofu was well seasoned, and didn't require any sauce. The restaurant itself was impeccably clean, even the washroom and (what I could see of) the kitchen looked spotless. I'll definitely return with friends.

The flavour, color, and freshness in this BBQ Chicken & spring roll on vermicelli is so appetizing! The spring roll is nice and crispy. BBQ chicken is very well grilled with the right amount of char. Veggies are well prepped and fresh. They’re always consistent and delicious. I cannot recommend them enough - definitely my go to neighborhood viet restaurant in new west!

Wow what a great BBQ pork banh mi. Lots of meat and really flavourful. Homemade chili oil is rock in’ too - great place for Vietnamese food in new west

One of the best banh mi sandwiches I’ve ever tried… the BBQ pork banh mi sub is a must try! Super flavourful and is a good quick lunch for on the go at a really good price!

Best Vietnamese food we've had! Staff is very friendly. Flavors are very delicate and natural. Tried the chicken wings, fried squid, house special pho and #36 on the menu, and everything was so fresh and beautifully plated. We recommend this place 100%.