Who Knew My Favorite Restaurant in Rarotanga Would Be Vietnamese?
Saigon Shack definitely offers some of the freshest high-quality food on the island, and it's the perfect way to get your greens in.
At Saigon Shack, a crisp, herb-filled bánh xèo was exactly what we were craving.
After living on Rarotonga for a couple of months, we were craving fresh vegetables and greens. The offering on the island is limited, to say the least.
That's how Saigon Shack became one of my favorite places to eat in Raro.
It's a simple, casual, inexpensive little Vietnamese restaurant in Muri, at the Maii Store, with an outdoor terrace that is lovely when the weather cooperates.
My favorite thing on the menu is the Saigon pancake, bánh xèo.
It's a big, crisp, golden Vietnamese pancake, but what really makes it special is the mountain-high pile of fresh herbs and greens that comes alongside it.
It's crunchy, savory, fresh and wonderfully delicious.
And I know a good Vietnamese pancake when I eat one. I was raised around Vietnamese chefs, so Vietnamese food has been part of my food vocabulary for as long as I can remember.
The bánh mì is great, too
The bánh mì is another reason to go.
Saigon Shack's menu includes several versions, including Vietnamese ham, grilled pork chop, lemongrass chicken, fried fish, spicy brisket and vegetarian options. They're built with the familiar Vietnamese combination of cucumber, cilantro, carrots and daikon.
The bread, the fresh vegetables, herbs and savory filling make it exactly the kind of lunch I want when I'm craving something fresh but substantial.
We always get the rolls
We also always get both kinds of rolls.
The chả giò, the hot fried rolls, are crisp rice-paper parcels filled with wood-ear mushrooms, vermicelli and mixed vegetables. They're crunchy and savory, especially good dipped into one of the homemade sauces.
Then there are the gỏi cuốn, the fresh cold rice-paper rolls. These are almost the opposite: soft rice paper wrapped around vermicelli, pickled vegetables, cucumber, fried shallots and a generous amount of fresh herbs. You can get them with pork and prawn, lemongrass chicken or braised tofu.
Don't miss the sauces
Inside, you'll find a tray of homemade sauces, and I love that they're there for the taking.
There are several to try, including some seriously hot sauces.
I inevitably start conservatively and then end up adding more.
There are plenty of other things on the menu worth exploring: pho, vermicelli and rice bowls, spring rolls, dumplings and lemongrass chicken are all part of the restaurant's Vietnamese street-food-style offering.
The food is only part of the fun at Saigon Shack. They also make really good iced teas, including a fragrant lychee iced tea that is fruity without being overly sweet.
It's cold, refreshing and exactly what you want alongside a crispy bánh xèo, especially when you're sitting outside in the Rarotongan heat.
Saigon Shack definitely offers some of the freshest high-quality food on the island, and it's the perfect way to get your greens in. And the owners and staff are really lovely, so you’ll be in good hands.
Saigon Shack
