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The Lunch Ladies enjoyed a grand visit to Saigon Café in Provo.

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Jennette loved the Orange Sauce With Chicken dish at Saigon Café in Provo.

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Gabby went with the Flat Noodles With Chicken during the Lunch Ladies' visit to Saigon Café in Provo.

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Janell ordered the Lunch Special Garlic Chicken during the Lunch Ladies' group visit to Saigon Café in Provo.

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There is always that one place in every city that everyone knows about and that has the best food. Well, I think we discovered it this week. It is Saigon Café in Provo.

Let me back up a bit and give you all a little back story. Our fearless leader asked me to find a restaurant to review for this week and then write our article. Wow, that is a lot of pressure for this girl! So I did what most anyone would do, I asked everyone I could see what their favorite lunch spot in Provo/Orem is and I was surprised when most of them answered Saigon Café in Provo. I had never heard of this delightful place and it is so close to where I live. I think I need to get out more!

I was so proud that I found a hidden gem and made the suggestion of this new restaurant to my fellow lunch ladies and discovered that Gabby had already discovered this place and been there quite a bit. Gabby hadn’t been there for a couple of years so we decided that we should see if it still lived up to the hype. So we headed over to 300 South and after a bit of difficulty on my part, we found the parking lot and entered the quaint little joint to see what they had to offer for lunch.

Here is what the Lunch Ladies sampled from the menu:

Gabby — Flat Noodles With Chicken $7.95

I had a tough time deciding what to order since there were numerous tempting options. I had been craving Chow Fun ever since my recent trip to San Francisco, so I decided to go with the Flat Noodles. This very plentiful plate comes with your choice of meat, rice noodles, bean sprouts, green onions, carrots and onions. I opted for the chicken which was great with the sauce, which was smoky and flavorful, and amply covered all of the noodles and vegetables. The noodles were firm and chewy, just like I like flat noodles to be. This meal was delicious, and provided so much food for a great price! I took home my leftovers and was able to enjoy round two the next day. I’ll definitely be headed back to this local eatery to try out some of the lunch specials and other dishes.

Jennette — Orange Sauce With Chicken $5.85 and Diet Coke $1.65

All of my recommendations from friends and coworkers told me to try the Orange Chicken and I couldn’t let them all down so I decided to give it a try. Wow, I’m glad that I did. The Orange Chicken comes in the lunch special that includes soup, rice and an egg roll. I chose hot and sour soup and asked to substitute steamed rice for the fried rice, which they were happy to do for me. The breaded chicken was nice and crispy, and came with a ton of sauce that I spooned onto my rice. Delicious! They serve Diet Coke and that added that little extra to make my lunch delicious.

Janell — Lunch Special Garlic Chicken $5.85

Just two small blocks from my home is a small café that creates delicious Chinese food. I was not aware that it was there. It is one of those places that only the “locals” know about. I thought I had lived here long enough to be a local, but being unaware of this food gem within my own neighborhood proves that I am not quite there yet. The café is small and quaint, as this family owned/run business shares its home-cooked meals with us all. Gathering there with friends is an excellent way to spend a lunch hour. Service is fast and the food is hot. The cafe has a simple lunch menu, but does offer many other options. The Garlic Chicken that I had was flavorful and had lots of veggies. The lunch special came with soup, I chose hot and sour (that is my favorite) and an egg roll. The soup was hot and the egg roll was crisp. I even asked nicely and was able to get steamed rice instead of ham fried rice. This is a great place for friends or coworkers to gather for a small break away from the office.

I would have to say that Saigon Café did live up to the hype. I am glad that I followed the suggestion from others and tried this little Provo gem. I guess this proves that recommendations are the way to go if you are looking for a nice, delicious little getaway for the lunch hour. Enjoy!

– Saigon Café: 440 W. 300 South, Provo. Hours: Monday to Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. (801) 812-1173