Saigon Cafe of Myrtle Beach: Vietnamese Pho, Banh Mi, and Vermicelli Bowls

What Saigon Cafe serves and where to find it

Saigon Cafe is a Vietnamese restaurant in Myrtle Beach that specializes in pho, banh mi sandwiches, vermicelli bowls, and curries. The menu centers on the soups and noodle dishes that form the backbone of Vietnamese home cooking—the kind of food that takes hours to prepare but arrives at your table steaming and ready to eat. The restaurant is located on North Kings Highway, the main commercial strip that runs through Myrtle Beach, making it accessible whether you're staying downtown or in one of the beach communities nearby.

The dining room is casual and straightforward, designed for people who want to eat well without ceremony. Tables fill quickly during lunch and dinner, especially on weekends, so arriving before the peak hours (11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. for lunch, 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. for dinner) usually means shorter waits. The restaurant also takes orders for pickup and delivery through common platforms, which works well if you're eating at your hotel or vacation rental.

Key Takeaways

• Saigon Cafe's pho comes in beef, chicken, and vegetarian versions, each simmered with a broth that takes most of a day to build.
• Banh mi sandwiches—crispy baguettes filled with meat, pickled vegetables, and cilantro—are made fresh to order and cost less than $8.
• Vermicelli bowls let you choose your protein and come with rice noodles, fresh herbs, and a dipping sauce you mix yourself.
• The restaurant is cash-friendly but also takes cards and mobile payments, and parking is available in the shopping center lot.

Pho: the signature soup

Pho is the dish most people order at Saigon Cafe, and it's the one that justifies a visit. The broth—whether beef, chicken, or vegetable—simmers for hours with star anise, cinnamon, coriander, and other spices that give it depth and warmth. You get a large bowl filled with broth, rice noodles, and your choice of protein: beef brisket and tendon for the traditional version, shredded chicken for a lighter option, or tofu and vegetables for a vegetarian bowl.

The restaurant provides a plate of fresh herbs and vegetables on the side—Thai basil, cilantro, lime wedges, jalapeños, and bean sprouts—which you add to the bowl as you eat. This is not optional; it's how pho is meant to be eaten. The herbs brighten the broth and give you control over the heat level. A bowl of pho at Saigon Cafe costs between $10 and $12 depending on the protein, and it's large enough to be a full meal. Many people order a small pho as a starter and then move to something else, but most finish the whole bowl.

Banh mi sandwiches and vermicelli bowls

Banh mi—Vietnamese sandwiches on crispy baguettes—are faster to eat than pho but just as satisfying. Saigon Cafe makes them with your choice of grilled pork, chicken, or tofu, plus pickled carrots and daikon, cilantro, jalapeños, and a thin spread of pâté or mayo. The baguette is the key: it has to be crispy on the outside and soft inside, and Saigon Cafe gets this right. A banh mi costs $6 to $8 and comes with a small side of pickled vegetables.

Vermicelli bowls work the same way as pho in terms of customization but arrive cold or at room temperature. You choose your protein—grilled pork, chicken, shrimp, or tofu—and it sits on a bed of rice vermicelli noodles with lettuce, cucumber, and fresh herbs. You pour a fish sauce-based dipping sauce over the top and mix it in as you eat. These bowls are lighter than pho and popular at lunch. They cost $9 to $12 depending on the protein.

Curries and other mains

Beyond pho and banh mi, Saigon Cafe serves curries made with coconut milk, turmeric, and your choice of chicken, beef, shrimp, or vegetables. The curries come with jasmine rice and are medium-spiced by default, though you can ask for them hotter or milder. Chicken curry is the most popular version, and it's a good introduction to Vietnamese curry if you've only had Thai versions before—the flavor is rounder and less aggressive.

The menu also includes egg rolls (fried spring rolls filled with pork and vegetables), summer rolls (fresh rolls wrapped in rice paper with shrimp or tofu), and a few rice dishes. None of these are complicated, but they're made fresh and taste like someone's home cooking rather than a chain restaurant's formula. Prices for mains range from $10 to $15.

Drinks and dessert

Vietnamese iced coffee—strong coffee brewed through a metal filter and poured over sweetened condensed milk—is the traditional drink here, and Saigon Cafe makes it well. It's sweet and rich, and it cuts through the heat of a spicy pho or curry. The restaurant also serves Thai iced tea, fresh lemonade, and standard soft drinks. Beer is available if you want it.

Dessert is minimal: usually just ice cream or flan. Many people skip dessert and order a second coffee instead, which is the Vietnamese way. If you want something sweet after your meal, the nearby shops on North Kings Highway have options, but the restaurant itself keeps the focus on the savory food.

Hours, parking, and payment

Saigon Cafe is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week. Lunch typically runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and dinner from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., though these hours can shift seasonally or for holidays. The restaurant is located in a shopping center with ample parking, so you won't struggle to find a spot even on busy days. The lot is well-lit and safe.

The restaurant takes cash, credit cards, and mobile payments like Venmo and PayPal. There's no table service charge, and tipping is optional but appreciated—most people leave 15 to 20 percent for dine-in service. Takeout and delivery orders are also available through apps like DoorDash and Uber Eats, though ordering directly by phone sometimes gets you faster service and avoids the app fees.

When to visit and what to expect

Saigon Cafe is busiest during the summer tourist season (June through August) and on weekends year-round. If you want a quieter meal, go on a weekday afternoon or early evening. The restaurant doesn't take reservations, so you may wait 10 to 20 minutes during peak times, but the line moves steadily.

The dining room is small and can get loud when it's full, which is part of the charm—it feels like a neighborhood spot rather than a tourist trap. Families with children are welcome, and the menu has mild options if you're eating with kids. The staff is friendly and patient with questions about what's in each dish or how spicy something is.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the pho broth made with meat or vegetable stock?

The beef pho broth is made with beef bones and beef stock, simmered with spices for many hours. The chicken pho uses chicken stock. The vegetable pho uses vegetable stock. All three are made fresh in-house, not from a mix or concentrate.

Can I get pho without certain ingredients?

Yes. You can ask for pho without tendon, without certain vegetables, or with extra noodles or broth. The fresh herbs and vegetables come on the side, so you control what goes into your bowl. Tell your server what you want to avoid when you order.

Are there gluten-free options?

Pho and vermicelli bowls are naturally gluten-free if made without soy sauce or fish sauce, though cross-contamination is possible in a small kitchen. Banh mi sandwiches contain gluten in the baguette. Ask your server about the ingredients in any sauce or broth if you have a severe allergy.

How much should I expect to spend?

A single meal—pho, banh mi, or a vermicelli bowl—costs $9 to $15. A drink adds $2 to $4. Two people can eat lunch for $25 to $35 before tax and tip. There's no minimum order or cover charge.

Can I order ahead for pickup?

Yes. Call the restaurant directly to place a pickup order, or use delivery apps. Pickup orders are usually ready in 15 to 20 minutes. Delivery through apps takes longer because of the app's processing time, so calling ahead is faster if you're nearby.