Aside from hotpot and dimsum places, Puchong is best known for its Vietnamese restaurants. The Moo is a big fan of Vietnamese cuisine, and we usually go to this cafe called Banh Mi for our fix, but decided to try a new place over the weekend called Saigon Memoir, in Bandar Puteri Puchong.

The restaurant boasts a bright and cheerful look, with Vietnamese hats gracing the facade and a small herb garden at the front. The inside is a nice blend of modern and traditional , with lanterns dangling from the ceiling and black and white framed photos of everyday Vietnamese life. The cool blue walls and dim lights make for a cosy setup.

One qualm I did have about the place was the seating arrangement. The tables were squashed so tightly together, the waitresses actually had problems maneuvering and getting the dish to the tables in the middle lol.

In the mood for meat, so I had the Sizzling Beef Sandwich (RM18.90). The dish was served with baguette, fried egg, ham slices, veggies and herbs. You can stuff the baguette with meat – sort of like a DIY Banh Mi. The baguette’s crispy texture went well with the tender, flavourful slices of beef, and the bread was perfect for dipping into the peppery meat sauce.

Heaven in a roll! It was filling but didn’t feel too heavy afterwards.

Pops and the Bro both had the Grilled Lemongrass Chicken with Rice (RM15.90), which came with a humongous chicken thigh. Loved the smoky, slightly charred exterior and the juicy chicken which was cooked to perfection – albeit, the lemongrass flavour was not very pronounced.

Moo’s Mien Ga (chicken glass noodle soup) was chock full of herbs and veggies. Did not try this because I abhor the taste of beansprouts :’D

We did have to wait awhile for the lemongrass chicken because they cook it to order, but service was otherwise fast, efficient and friendly. Food felt authentic and tasted good, and while prices are above average, the huge portions more than make up for it.

• Food: 4/5
• Service: 4/5
• Ambience: 3.5/5
• Price: Average RM13+ onwards for mains

SAIGON MEMOIR 

29, Jalan Puteri 4/6, Bandar Puteri, 47100 Puchong, Selangor

Business hours: 10AM – 10PM (Daily)

Phone: 018-287 6065