Banh Mi, three fifty
Crisp filling crunch, tangy bite
Come again, I will.
Yes, Bida Saigon inspired me to poetry. This Vietnamese restaurant in West Knoxville may not be the most convenient location for students, but its prices and menu items are right up a college student’s alley (refer to my haiku above).
Expect an unusual experience if you dine in. The atmosphere and décor is disorganized and half-hearted, but this gives it a sort of quirky charm. The front door opens to a tiled room containing two pool tables and a take-out window, but to the left, a short dividing wall partitions off the dining room.
A team of mainly distant — but friendly when engaged — servers tag-team wait staff responsibilities in the small dining area. The décor consists of multiple fish tanks (one missing the fish) and hand written signs requesting that no children run around because of the hot soups being served.
My dining companion had warned me about the low prices, but it never fully hit me until I realized that $10 paid for my entire dinner plus tip. I ordered egg rolls and a shredded pork banh mi, a kind of Vietnamese sandwich, and my dinner partner ordered pork spring rolls and a Vietnamese ham and sausage banh mi. Each of our meals cost $6.50 total.
After only a few minutes our appetizers were served, followed closely by the entrees. Although the staff was not overly friendly, they were very attentive and checked in often.
Despite what you might have assumed, the food was pretty good for the price. And, as far as ethnic food in Knoxville goes, this was some of the best. The banh mi was a sizable portion of fresh toasted bread filled with pickled veggies, cilantro and cooked meats. While the sandwich could have been loaded with a little more substance, the filling that was included was crisp and flavorful.
Experimenting with the many sauces available at the end of the table is a must. I did not know what half of them were before they were in my mouth, but I know for next time what to put and what to definitely not put on my sandwich. My spice tolerance is fairly high, but the homemade red pepper sauce put my meal on hold for a few minutes.
Overall, Bida Saigon is definitely on my list of places to return. I might not make the trip out there purely for the restaurant, but when I find myself in West Knoxville looking for something cheap, filling and homemade, I know where I will be headed.
Pork Banh Mi and pork spring rolls from Bida Saigon
