It’s another beautiful day in the harbor, and there’s reason to celebrate, as Ms. Saigon Vietnamese Cuisine opened its doors last month to eager diners ready to take a seat at the table and discover the flavors of Vietnam.
Dza Thao Le, known to many as LeLe, is the woman behind the restaurant. And she certainly is not new to the industry. Through hard work, dedication and the support of those around her, she opened her first restaurant in Tacoma’s Hilltop Neighborhood in 2001. Over the last 17 years, LeLe opened three more restaurants, making Ms. Saigon her fifth.
At Ms. Saigon Vietnamese Cuisine, the comfortably modern and sophisticated atmosphere seats 20 to 25 patrons indoors, offering outdoor seating for as many as 16. A large black-and-white mural of Vietnam from days past adorns the wall, accompanied by other beautiful Vietnam photographs.
Ms. Saigon is a family affair, with three generations working in the restaurant: LeLe's two teenage daughters work the register, her brother assists in food plating and presentation, her sister is a waitress, and her mother helps prep.
When it comes to the menu, guests will find everything they could want when it comes to Vietnamese food, and it’s delicious and served fresh. LeLe and her staff strive to create an authentic, traditional taste of her homeland of Southern Asia to serve to each and every guest. All items are made to order with the freshest ingredients, and their love and passion for what they do is poured into every dish they prepare. They offer an extensive menu of small plates, Vietnamese sandwiches, salads and entrees, and guests have the option to have many of these dishes prepared vegetarian, vegan or gluten free.
Small plates include a variety of items, from the Garden Roll with pork, prawns, rice noodles, celery, bean sprouts and garden-fresh herbs rolled in rice paper and served with their house peanut sauces; Crab Rangoon, a crisp wonton dumpling filled with cream cheese and crab, served with their house-made sweet chili sauce; and Ms. Saigon Wrap of grilled marinated chicken or tofu, avocado, cucumber, lettuce, sliced carrot and sriracha aioli, wrapped in a flour tortilla.
All Bahn Mi, their Vietnamese sandwiches, include French baguette, pate, mayo, pickled carrots and daikon, cucumber, cilantro and jalapeno with your choice of grilled pork, beef, chicken, combo of cured pork, sliced jambon and head cheese, or vegetarian ham.
Entree selections include items like the Bo Ne, a Vietnamese sizzling marinated flank steak served on a skillet with white onions, pate and a fried egg, served with a side salad and french fries, bread or rice; and Sweet and Sour Salmon sautéed in their house sweet and sour sauce, pineapples, bell peppers and onions, served with a side of rice.
Additional menu items include Calamari, Honey Chicken, Tofu Cake, Honey Walnut Prawns, a variety of salads—like the Papaya Salad made with green papaya, Thai basil and peanuts mixed in lime vinaigrette and served with grilled pork.
Ms. Saigon is the only restaurant in the harbor that makes fresh pressed juices! The menu is complemented by a variety of fresh house-made drinks: fresh coconut drink, hot or iced tea, fruit smoothies, refresh tea, milk tea and a variety of fruit teas. Try the Uji Matcha, a blend of organic matcha with vanilla ice cream and Boba or coffee jelly.
LeLe is living the American dream. At the age of 21, she and her parents left everything behind to come to the United States as South Vietnamese refugees, leaving their home of Saigon—thus the name of the restaurant—and , and made a new life in Tacoma. It is there that LeLe met her husband, and together they have four children.
LeLe and her family relocated to Gig Harbor, calling it home for the past decade. LeLe truly appreciates this peaceful community, the kind, caring people within it and the support they have shown her over the years. LeLe invites you to dine at Ms. Saigon Vietnamese Cuisine and take in the flavors, atmosphere and authentic hospitality. They are open daily from 11am to 9pm.
Ms. Saigon Vietnamese Cuisine
5160 Pt. Fosdick Drive NW, Suite C101
Gig Harbor, WA 98335
253.649.0915