Little Saigon has been rated year after year as one of the best Vietnamese restaurants in Mannheim and surroundings - an accolade that is well justified. With an extensive selection of starters and soups (3,50-9,50) or main courses with chicken, duck, beef or vegetarian (9,50-21), you can find something suitable for your palate. Pricey, yes. But well worth it.
For my birthday dinner I chose the 'summer rolls' appetizer (5,50), a non-fried version of spring rolls filled with crab meat, pork, mint leaves and served with a spicy/sweet peanut sauce. I washed them down with a Campari orange (3,50). My dining companion had the won-ton soup filled with shrimp, pork, flavored with coriander (4,20). For our main meal, he went with fried duck in a coconut sauce (12,50), I stayed with grilled chicken with peanuts, pineapple and bell pepper (12,90). A glass of wine each set us back a mere 3,50 per glass.
The service was great; the waitress brought out our wine a moment before our meals were served, letting us finish our appetizers in peace. From the outside, the restaurant is unassuming. The inside is well-lit and spacious, with white table runners and fresh orchids. And the staff speak perfect German. There are also English translations of each dish in the menus.
Located in the Schwetzingervorstadt near the Planetarium, Little Saigon is easily reachable with the streetcar 6/6a heading towards Neuostheim/SAP Arena. Starting in 2007, they are open M-F from 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. and M-Sat. from 6 - 11.30 p.m. They are closed on Sundays. In years prior, Little Saigon was only open during the week.
Seckenheimerstr. 81
68165 Mannheim
Tel: 0621-400.68690
Fax: 0621-400.68691
little Saigon
P.S. There are two 'Saigons' in Mannheim.
Submitted by: Elle Star