Saigon Delice

Since the Americans left Saigon has become a much more relaxing place; but if you don’t want to sit in a plane for 12 hours to experience a little eastern exotica, you can always stroll along to Calle Gregorio Mayans and sample some authentic Vietnamese cuisine without the napalm (although some dishes do test the tongue a little).

Stylishly decorated, with a touch of cherry blossom, although of the paper variety, Saigon Delice focuses on a limited number of dishes, with an open kitchen so you can watch them being made.

You could start with Nems, spring rolls wrapped in rice paper, and/or Goi Cuôn, similar but different, each with a profusion of ingredients and accompanied by a series of sauces, some of which pack a punch.

Corriander is one of the pervasive flavours, but if you prefere something sweeter and safer there is always the mango salad, with its ground prawns for added flavour.

Dim Sum is an old favourite and comes in a set of four with two variations; pork or prawn and bamboo.

Among the main dishes is Pho Bo, a traditional Vietnamese soup, more of a stew really, with two kinds of meat, lots of soya shoots as well as the kind of dense vegetation designed to keep American invaders at bay. 

The desserts are quite interesting too, including a fruit salad involving lychees and all kinds of south east asian offerings.