Saigon Bowl - Penang, Malaysia

Being in California for quite a while got us hooked to Vietnamese noodle soup pho. Where we lived in San Jose has a huge community of Vietnamese immigrants. Finding a bowl of pho noodle soup is pretty easy in San Jose. So we had our share of pho and has our own preference too.

Being in Penang for more than a week this time exposed us to different food other than typical char koay teow (fried rice noodle) or assam laksa (fish broth with noodle). At Viva Local Food Haven in the Tanjung Tokong area we found a stall that sells delicious pho noodle soup.

When we moved out of our airbnb there we missed our noodle soup. So I searched around and found this Saigon Bowl on Lebuh Pantai. It's located in one of those older building there. There was a door that looked like the entrance but the real entrance is inside the building.

We found the broth here wasn't as flavorful as the pho at Viva Local Food Haven. The cost was almost twice as much but the size of bowl wasn't twice as big. But of course, this is a restaurant so it's a restaurant price. A bowl of noodle set us back about RM20 (USD 4.50). Which is still cheap compares to a bowl of pho noodle soup in San Jose, California which could be three times the price.

The decor inside was simple but cozy. It gives a cafe like feel. Comfy and warm. The high ceiling makes it feel airy. A few bamboo shifter hung high up in the ceiling and the rattan lamp shade made me feel like in a place far from Penang waiting. A bowl of homemade noodle soup made with that bamboo shifter. 😎 *imagination runs wild*.

Saigon Bowl

20A&B, Whiteaways Arcade, Lebuh Pantai, 10300 Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia

Phone: +60 4-228 0682