Restaurant Review: Bàhn Mi! During Asian-American-Pacific Islander Heritage Month, enjoy Saigon Sisters in the West Loop!
Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month is a time to honor the role AAPI communities have played (and continue to play) in shaping U.S. culture, cuisine and experiences.
One great example is Saigon Sisters Restaurant, with two locations in the West Loop. Led by sisters Mary Nguyen Aregoni and Theresa Nguyen, they share their love of Vietnamese cuisine by blending traditional flavors with innovative dishes that reflect their heritage and passion for exceptional food. They specialize in Bành Mi sandwiches, Baos, Pho Soup, Bowls, and Spring Rolls.
Start your adventure with Shrimp & Pork Spring Rolls, colorfully made with lettuce, bean sprouts, carrots, mint, basil, shrimp, pork, and rice vermicelli noodles with peanut dipping sauce. Or, Spring Rolls Tofu in fresh rolled rice paper, with mixed lettuce, herbs, rice noodles, teriyaki tofu, and peanut sauce on the side. For something a bit different, try Nems (meat egg rolls) with pork, mushrooms, egg, carrots, bean thread noodles, and onions in fried rice paper with the side of nuoc cham (Vietnamese dipping sauce) dressing and lettuce wrap. Fried Egg Rolls are vegetarian, with sweet chili dipping sauce.
Bánh mì is a popular Vietnamese sandwich served on a light, crispy baguette, combining French and Vietnamese ingredients like pâté, meats (such as grilled pork or chicken), and pickled carrots. It’s also one of my favorite sandwiches! At Saigon Sisters, The Classic is made with mayo, Vietnamese pork, ham, chicken mousse pate, cucumbers, cilantro, jalapenos, pickled daikon, and carrots.Their Sweet Spicy Fried Chicken Bành Mi combines sweet & spicy panko fried chicken with spicy mayo, cucumbers, pickled red cabbage, daikon, carrots, cilantro, and jalapenos. Hot cha cha! The Hen House combines caramelized chicken (halal), mayo, peanuts, limes, cucumbers, cilantro, jalapenos, pickled daikon, and carrots. An interesting vegetarian option is BBQ Jackfruit Bàhn Mi, with vegan BBQ sauce, shredded young jackfruit, pickled red cabbage, cucumbers, cilantro, jalapenos, pickled daikon, and carrots.
But Saigon Sisters is more than their Bàhn Mi offerings. You can also try Laksa, a curry soup with chicken, shrimp, and eggs over vermicelli noodles. Vegetarian Pho is a vegetable broth with rice noodles, teriyaki tofu, carrots, scallions, and side of bean sprout packets (lime, jalapenos, basil, bean sprouts).
For a porkchop like you’ve never tasted before, try Grilled Lemongrass Porkchop, which are grilled pork chops with egg, rice, and side salads.
Holy Thai Basil is an unusual choice, combining oyster sauce, bell peppers, Thai basil, chilis, onions, garlic, a sunny side up egg, and a side of white rice. Tasty!
Their Signature Dishes are delicious. Bo Luc Lac hasbeef tenderloin cubes, oyster sauce, onions, and white rice, served with a side salad. Bun Cha Hanoi is a grilled pork lettuce wrap with crispy imperial rolls, vermicelli salad, herbs, and nuoc cham broth. Deluxe Vermicelli Salad is made with curry chicken, caramelized shrimp, crispy nem pork egg rolls, vermicelli noodles, pickled daikon, cabbage, onions, cilantro, Vietnamese mixed salads, and jalapenos.
As we say at Dean’s Team Chicago, where appropriate, save room for dessert! Banana Brown Butter Cake combines brown butter cake topped with brulee banana, Rhum maple syrup, and whipped cream. Mango Sticky Rice is a find, with sweet mango, coconut milk, and sticky rice. Fried Bao Dessert take a sweet turn with deep-fried baos in cinnamon sugar and coffee caramel sauce.
Celebrations 🎊🎉
Memorial Day Monday May 25th…Saigon Sisters says to come celebrate the long weekend! They’re open a full 12 hours…11am-11:59pm.
National Egg Day on Wednesday June 3rd. They’recooking up egg specialties from 11am-9pm.
Saigon Sisters has two locations in the West Loop: at 567 W. Lake Street, where they are open Tuesday to Thursday from 11am to 9pm, Friday: 11am to 10pm, and Saturday from 12pm to 10pm. They are closed Sunday and Monday.
Their second location is at the Chicago French Market, 131 N. Clinton Street. They are open Monday through Friday, 10am to 5pm, and Saturday from 10am to 4pm. For more information, click here.
Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago
