A new restaurant is bringing authentic southern Vietnamese cuisine to Jersey City. Saigon Bistro aims to bring the local community one more option for their already diverse restaurant selection. Aside from Vietnamese items, you’ll also find Asian fusion dishes rounding out the menu.
The 600-square foot Saigon Bistro is the brainchild of Co-owners Kevin Nguyen and Ryan Speier. “Most of the diverse food offerings were highly condensed in the downtown Jersey City area,” the duo says. “We knew that we had something new to offer and wanted to build a relationship with the local community; especially when local residents are looking for new places for takeout, delivery, and dine in,” they add. Both Kevin and Ryan heard about the impressive diversity of the Jersey City community, and wanted to contribute. In fact, Nguyen has grown to love the city so much, he now plans to move there.
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The restaurant – which they describe as “industrial but with a hint of Vietnamese design” – seats about 18 guests indoors. However, they plan to offer seasonal outdoor dining in the future.
Authentic Vietnamese Food
Kevin and Ryan describe the food Saigon Bistro serves as “homestyle southern Vietnamese food,” with something for every preference. For instance, they offer classic Vietnamese plates. “Spring rolls, sugarcane shrimp, and pho noodle soup are family-kept recipes for many years,” they say. Meanwhile, vegetarian options include tofu and mushroom banh mi, plus stir-fry vegetable dishes with ginger, garlic, and lemongrass.
Picking their favorite dish on the Saigon Bistro menu is easy for both owners. “When the weather cools down, we highly recommend our Pho (house specialty soup),” they say. “It’s cooked for hours and is consistently everyone’s favorite.”
About the Team
The chef at Saigon Bistro is actually from Saigon (presently known as Ho Chi Minh City). Since coming to the US in the late 1980s, he’s been cooking Vietnamese food in Philadelphia and Central NJ. “He is passionate about sharing Vietnamese food and culture before returning to Vietnam for retirement,” the co-owners explain.
Kevin and Ryan went to college together studying finance. But both had strong passions for the hospitality and food industry. Ryan then went to culinary school and now heads most of the food concepts with their chef.
Visit Saigon Bistro at 514 Central Ave in Jersey City. Look for them online to learn more.
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All Photos: © Saigon Bistro