It is well know how Asian is my favorite food choice, and lucky for me and many other Jacksonville has it’s share of some very good to excellent restaurants.  When a friend called and ask if I wanted to try A Bit of Saigon it was a no brainer.  Let’s go!  The restaurant  has been at this location for a while but I have never visited.  Situated in a small shopping strip it was a little difficult to spot, but we found it the second time around.

Nice interior, clean lines, minimal decorations, but some very nice black and white pics of old Vietnam.

Interior

Bamboo art

We seated ourselves, and our waiter greeted us almost immediately and presented the menu and water.  No alcohol at this spot but they do offer a  two homemade  sodas, Gingerale and Pineapple plus organic Hibiscus tea and Coke products.

Menu cover

The menu is quite abbreviated compared to some I have seen in town, but they had  many variations of  the PHO  we came for  so everything  was copacetic.   One  starter item I have never seen the  Vietnamese Crepe, a paper thin pancake very flavorful,  filled with shrimp and bean sprouts and served with a lemony dipping sauce.  It was a most delightful dish and large enough to share.  Highly recommended.

Vietnamese Crepe

Another item well suited for sharing the Green papaya salad with soju vinegarette.  Loaded with shrimp and chopped nuts we just dug in.

Green papaya salad with soju vinegarette

By the time we finished off our starters, the Tai Chin Bo Vien with Rare Beef and a side of ultra fresh bean sprouts, jalapenos and basil.

Ultra Fresh goodies

Aromatic and steamy

PHO extra Jalapenos

PHO Jalapeno, Sriracha

Condiments

I normally load my broth up with all types of condiments, but this particular broth  needed nothing else.  The photo with Sriracha was for effect only.   The flavor of Star Anise  made this an outstanding broth, one of the best I have tasted.

So weather will be cool soon and that means soup weather, gather your besties, make it lunch or dinner, but don’t miss this spot.  It will now be my go to place when I need a fix.  And a shout out to my friend who introduced me to this spot.