Generous Pho
Pho portions are often described as unusually generous, with rich broth and plenty of ingredients, including in the small vegan bowl.
Saigon - Taste of Vietnam JLT
Jumeirah Lake Towers
Saigon - Taste of Vietnam JLT is a casual Vietnamese restaurant in Jumeirah Lake Towers serving typical snacks, soups and mains. Reviewers return for rich pho, including a generous vegan version, and Vietnamese coffee; the upstairs terrace adds outdoor seating over the lake when the weather suits it.
Reputation Score
4.8
★★★★★
1,046 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Dietary Flexibility
Staff can explain allergens and adjust dishes from mild to spicy, making the menu easier to navigate for dietary restrictions.
Authentic Flavours
Several diners say the food tastes close to what they ate in Vietnam, with Vietnamese staff and traditional techniques behind the cooking.
Lake Terrace
Outdoor seating overlooks the water and Alma Tower, giving the restaurant a more atmospheric setting than its modest interior.
Delivery Packing
Takeaway pho can arrive with broth, cooked ingredients, herbs, sprouts and sauces separated to help preserve the dish.
Quick Service
Reviews mention food arriving quickly, including on a busy Sunday afternoon, which suits a shorter lunch stop.
What to Eat at Saigon - Taste of Vietnam JLT How we choose these items We use AI to find praise and criticism of specific foods and drinks in a selection of Google reviews. For Saigon - Taste of Vietnam JLT, this list is based on 50 reviews, not every review of the restaurant. The score is positive reviews minus negative reviews. For example, two positive reviews and one negative review give +1. Each review counts once per item; neutral comments do not change the score. A zero score is not a positive recommendation. “Only neutral feedback” means there are no positive or negative votes. “Mixed feedback” means equal numbers of positive and negative votes. The quotes are examples of what people said, not every comment we counted. We use different reviews where we can. We normally show up to 10 foods and 5 drinks with non-negative scores. Items with the same score stay together. If a tied group would go past the limit, that group and the lower non-negative scores go into Honorable mentions. If an overflowing positive top tie would leave the list empty, we show up to 10 items from that tie and keep the rest in Honorable mentions. Foods and drinks with a negative score are under What to Avoid. Use this as a guide to what reviewers liked, not a guarantee that you will like it too.
Foods and drinks mentioned in reviews of Saigon - Taste of Vietnam JLT, ranked by positive reviews minus negative reviews. Zero-score items have no net positive feedback; their labels distinguish neutral-only from mixed feedback.
Food 5
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Pho Net +6
“The food is fresh and made to order. The wait staff are very friendly and polite. The pho is delicately delicious and the salad was fresh with home made fish sauce that was refreshing and not over powering.”
Positive 6Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The food is fresh and made to order. The wait staff are very friendly and polite. The pho is delicately delicious and the salad was fresh with home made fish sauce that was refreshing and not over powering.”December 2022
“My Pho was amazing, soup and beef was just right and taste authentic.”May 2021
-
Vegan pho Net +3
“I enjoyed the vegan Pho, it was like a big hug in a bowl.”
Positive 3Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I enjoyed the vegan Pho, it was like a big hug in a bowl.”April 2026
“I'm not a pro at taking pics, so my pic of a bowl of soup may not look attractive, but I promise the Pho from Saigon is really awesome. The portion is very generous and tastes amazing. I had the vegan Pho, which comes as a vegetable browth, and with tofu, bok choi, carrots, mushrooms, brocoli, sprout beans, coriander, mind and squizable lemon and with different sauces. I really appreciate that when sent as takeout, the broth, the cooked ingredients, and the herbs+ sprout, then the sauces were packed separately too.”July 2024
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Beef pho Net +2
“The chicken pho was not as tasty as their beef pho as we had to ask for fish sauce but everything else that we ordered were delicious.”
Positive 3Negative 1
Review excerpts
“The chicken pho was not as tasty as their beef pho as we had to ask for fish sauce but everything else that we ordered were delicious.”August 2021
“I ordered the Beef Pho and Tamarind mocktail this time. The mocktail taste okay, it's a simple drink we have in Vietnam so this is the highest compliment I can give. The Pho is very tasty, the portion is big even I only ordered the small Pho. Their broth taste very light but savoury.”November 2024
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Beef luc lac Net +2
“The beef Luc Lac was really delicious, with a tender well seasoned and cooked meat.”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The beef Luc Lac was really delicious, with a tender well seasoned and cooked meat.”March 2025
“We really liked this restaurant, it is very authentic and atmospheric and the workers are very friendly, the Bo Xao Luc Lac was especially delicious, me and my kids loved this place.”June 2024
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Fried wonton Net +2
“My friend and I ordered fried wanton, summer roll, beef pho, and Vietnamese coffee. For me the highlight of our visit were the coffee and the beef pho. According to my friend who’s been to Vietnam and had authentic Vietnamese food there, what we had was very good and I couldn’t agree more. Taste was great, servings and ingredients were not stingy.”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“My friend and I ordered fried wanton, summer roll, beef pho, and Vietnamese coffee. For me the highlight of our visit were the coffee and the beef pho. According to my friend who’s been to Vietnam and had authentic Vietnamese food there, what we had was very good and I couldn’t agree more. Taste was great, servings and ingredients were not stingy.”October 2020
“We ordered the veg spring rolls and the fried wonton as starters that were great and delicious.”March 2022
Honorable mentions (20)
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Vietnamese fried rice Net +1
“On my first visit, I tried their Vietnamese fried rice with iced jasmine tea and that was really good too.”
Positive 2Negative 1
Review excerpts
“On my first visit, I tried their Vietnamese fried rice with iced jasmine tea and that was really good too.”July 2025
“My favorite food here is Banh Cuon, Com rang (Fried Rice) and Pho.”August 2023
-
Aubergine and tofu clay pot Net +1
“We had the starter platters (amazing), vegan pho (even the small is huge), the aubergine and tofu clay pot (super nice flavour), and bubble tea. All was fabulous.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We had the starter platters (amazing), vegan pho (even the small is huge), the aubergine and tofu clay pot (super nice flavour), and bubble tea. All was fabulous.”August 2021
-
Banh xeo Net +1
“I tried Bun Ca and Banh Xeo today, the portion is very fulfilling. The Banh Xeo is crispy and has a lot of filling inside, the veggies to eat with are very fresh. The Bun Ca is very tasty but it needs some improvement in the noodles and the fried fish. The noodle sometimes tastes like uncooked and the fried fish is soaked so it tastes bad, I think they should remove the fried fish from this dish, the fish cake is good enough (give me more fish cakeeee).”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I tried Bun Ca and Banh Xeo today, the portion is very fulfilling. The Banh Xeo is crispy and has a lot of filling inside, the veggies to eat with are very fresh. The Bun Ca is very tasty but it needs some improvement in the noodles and the fried fish. The noodle sometimes tastes like uncooked and the fried fish is soaked so it tastes bad, I think they should remove the fried fish from this dish, the fish cake is good enough (give me more fish cakeeee).”November 2024
-
Bbq chicken on skewers Net +1
“I love to come here for their fresh Pho and tamarind mocktail, they have yummy fresh spring rolls and bbq chicken on skewers too.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I love to come here for their fresh Pho and tamarind mocktail, they have yummy fresh spring rolls and bbq chicken on skewers too.”February 2023
-
Beef sauté Net +1
“The beef sauté (AED 62) was flavorful and well-seasoned, whereas the chicken sauté (AED 55) lacked taste.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The beef sauté (AED 62) was flavorful and well-seasoned, whereas the chicken sauté (AED 55) lacked taste.”October 2025
-
Beef sauté with vegetables Net +1
“The food was delicious, highly recommend the Beef Sauté with Vegetables and the lil green drink in the attached pic, it’s not too sweet or too sour (a perfect mix in my opinion).”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The food was delicious, highly recommend the Beef Sauté with Vegetables and the lil green drink in the attached pic, it’s not too sweet or too sour (a perfect mix in my opinion).”June 2024
-
Beef wok sauce Net +1
“I love their Beef Wok Sauce. The portion is so huge plus I can get to used my Places App for Cash-back. Great value for money.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I love their Beef Wok Sauce. The portion is so huge plus I can get to used my Places App for Cash-back. Great value for money.”June 2026
-
Bun cha Net +1
“Loved every dish! Bun Cha was FANTASTIC!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Loved every dish! Bun Cha was FANTASTIC!”September 2023
-
Chicken patties Net +1
“Loved the chicken patties and fried spring rolls, oh man.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Loved the chicken patties and fried spring rolls, oh man.”September 2023
-
Fried biegnet with sweetened condensed milk Net +1
“We closed our meal with a delicious Iced Vietnamese Coffee and Fried Biegnet with sweetened condensed milk. Both were delicious.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We closed our meal with a delicious Iced Vietnamese Coffee and Fried Biegnet with sweetened condensed milk. Both were delicious.”September 2023
-
Fried spring rolls Net +1
“Loved the chicken patties and fried spring rolls, oh man.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Loved the chicken patties and fried spring rolls, oh man.”September 2023
-
Lemongrass chicken skewers Net +1
“also recommend the lemongrass chicken skewers.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“also recommend the lemongrass chicken skewers.”March 2025
-
Saigon discovery platter Net +1
“It was my first time trying Vietnamese food. I must say it was such a good experience from the welcoming staff to the delicious food! We ordered the Saigon discovery platter which had a mix of everything (this is good if it’s your first time as you get to taste a bit of the most popular dishes: duck in vine leaf, summer and spring rolls, lobster fried wanton and papaya salad), duck sauté sweet basil, papaya salad with shrimps and the Jasmin lemonade.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“It was my first time trying Vietnamese food. I must say it was such a good experience from the welcoming staff to the delicious food! We ordered the Saigon discovery platter which had a mix of everything (this is good if it’s your first time as you get to taste a bit of the most popular dishes: duck in vine leaf, summer and spring rolls, lobster fried wanton and papaya salad), duck sauté sweet basil, papaya salad with shrimps and the Jasmin lemonade.”January 2023
-
Sautéed beef Net +1
“So was their chicken and shrimp Viet Crepe and Sautéed Beef served on a hot plate — the beef was super tender, and the marinade was extra flavourful.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“So was their chicken and shrimp Viet Crepe and Sautéed Beef served on a hot plate — the beef was super tender, and the marinade was extra flavourful.”September 2023
-
Shrimp/seafood Net +1
“The shrimp/seafood here is delicious, as is the jasmine tea!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The shrimp/seafood here is delicious, as is the jasmine tea!”January 2025
-
Summer rolls Net +1
“My friend and I ordered fried wanton, summer roll, beef pho, and Vietnamese coffee. For me the highlight of our visit were the coffee and the beef pho. According to my friend who’s been to Vietnam and had authentic Vietnamese food there, what we had was very good and I couldn’t agree more. Taste was great, servings and ingredients were not stingy.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“My friend and I ordered fried wanton, summer roll, beef pho, and Vietnamese coffee. For me the highlight of our visit were the coffee and the beef pho. According to my friend who’s been to Vietnam and had authentic Vietnamese food there, what we had was very good and I couldn’t agree more. Taste was great, servings and ingredients were not stingy.”October 2020
-
Taro sweet balls Net +1
“The chicken pho was absolutely delicious, with a rich, comforting broth and perfectly tender chicken, followed by the taro sweet balls which were the perfect sweet finish to the meal.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The chicken pho was absolutely delicious, with a rich, comforting broth and perfectly tender chicken, followed by the taro sweet balls which were the perfect sweet finish to the meal.”February 2026
-
Tiger prawns Net +1
“I’m dreaming about their Tiger Prawns every day.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I’m dreaming about their Tiger Prawns every day.”September 2021
-
Veg spring rolls Net +1
“We ordered the veg spring rolls and the fried wonton as starters that were great and delicious.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We ordered the veg spring rolls and the fried wonton as starters that were great and delicious.”March 2022
-
Chicken pho Net 0
Mixed feedback
“The chicken pho was absolutely delicious, with a rich, comforting broth and perfectly tender chicken, followed by the taro sweet balls which were the perfect sweet finish to the meal.”
Positive 1Negative 1
Review excerpts
“The chicken pho was absolutely delicious, with a rich, comforting broth and perfectly tender chicken, followed by the taro sweet balls which were the perfect sweet finish to the meal.”February 2026
Drinks 1
-
Vietnamese coffee Net +3
“On the drinks side you should look out for Vietnamese coffee if you like a strong and sweet robusta coffee, and bubble tea which for a non-specialist with very limited variety is OK.”
Positive 3Negative 0
Review excerpts
“On the drinks side you should look out for Vietnamese coffee if you like a strong and sweet robusta coffee, and bubble tea which for a non-specialist with very limited variety is OK.”November 2021
“My friend and I ordered fried wanton, summer roll, beef pho, and Vietnamese coffee. For me the highlight of our visit were the coffee and the beef pho. According to my friend who’s been to Vietnam and had authentic Vietnamese food there, what we had was very good and I couldn’t agree more. Taste was great, servings and ingredients were not stingy.”October 2020
Honorable mentions (6)
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Black coffee Net +1
“Their black coffee is every coffee lover's dream, dark and rich.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Their black coffee is every coffee lover's dream, dark and rich.”April 2025
-
House mocktail special Net +1
“We had the vegetarian mix platter, lemongrass chicken grill with vegan fried noodles. We had the house mocktail special which was really nice and a cold jasmine tea.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We had the vegetarian mix platter, lemongrass chicken grill with vegan fried noodles. We had the house mocktail special which was really nice and a cold jasmine tea.”October 2023
-
Ice tea Net +1
“Their ice tea is amazing, will be coming back for that and to try other dishes.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Their ice tea is amazing, will be coming back for that and to try other dishes.”March 2022
-
Jasmine tea Net +1
“The shrimp/seafood here is delicious, as is the jasmine tea!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The shrimp/seafood here is delicious, as is the jasmine tea!”January 2025
-
Tamarind mocktail Net +1
“I love to come here for their fresh Pho and tamarind mocktail, they have yummy fresh spring rolls and bbq chicken on skewers too.”
Positive 1Negative 0Neutral 1
Review excerpts
“I love to come here for their fresh Pho and tamarind mocktail, they have yummy fresh spring rolls and bbq chicken on skewers too.”February 2023
-
Bubble tea Net 0
Mixed feedback
“We had the starter platters (amazing), vegan pho (even the small is huge), the aubergine and tofu clay pot (super nice flavour), and bubble tea. All was fabulous.”
Positive 1Negative 1Neutral 1
Review excerpts
“We had the starter platters (amazing), vegan pho (even the small is huge), the aubergine and tofu clay pot (super nice flavour), and bubble tea. All was fabulous.”August 2021
What to Avoid (4)
Food 4
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Banh cuon Net −1
“$470 AED It's pricey, the quality doesn't compare at all (not even close), portions are small, the subs pretty much just had plain meat (lacking veggies), the banh cuon was lacking meat, very bland fried rice, terrible spring rolls, the fish sauce and peanut sauce were weak, the bathroom was filthy, and there was a language barrier with the staff. The view was beautiful though”
Positive 1Negative 2
Critical review excerpts
“$470 AED It's pricey, the quality doesn't compare at all (not even close), portions are small, the subs pretty much just had plain meat (lacking veggies), the banh cuon was lacking meat, very bland fried rice, terrible spring rolls, the fish sauce and peanut sauce were weak, the bathroom was filthy, and there was a language barrier with the staff. The view was beautiful though”May 2025
“I tried Banh Cuon this time, the portion was huge, and the plating was pretty but not value-worthy. They put very little filling so it made the fermented rice batter bland and boring even after I dipped it in the sauce.”November 2024
-
Bun ca Net −1
“I tried Bun Ca and Banh Xeo today, the portion is very fulfilling. The Banh Xeo is crispy and has a lot of filling inside, the veggies to eat with are very fresh. The Bun Ca is very tasty but it needs some improvement in the noodles and the fried fish. The noodle sometimes tastes like uncooked and the fried fish is soaked so it tastes bad, I think they should remove the fried fish from this dish, the fish cake is good enough (give me more fish cakeeee).”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“I tried Bun Ca and Banh Xeo today, the portion is very fulfilling. The Banh Xeo is crispy and has a lot of filling inside, the veggies to eat with are very fresh. The Bun Ca is very tasty but it needs some improvement in the noodles and the fried fish. The noodle sometimes tastes like uncooked and the fried fish is soaked so it tastes bad, I think they should remove the fried fish from this dish, the fish cake is good enough (give me more fish cakeeee).”November 2024
-
Chicken sauté Net −1
“The beef sauté (AED 62) was flavorful and well-seasoned, whereas the chicken sauté (AED 55) lacked taste.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“The beef sauté (AED 62) was flavorful and well-seasoned, whereas the chicken sauté (AED 55) lacked taste.”October 2025
-
Prawns Net −1
“For the mains we had the prawns which to my surprise still had all the shell and not really cleaned before battering and deep frying. (Also the head was not removed) - I think if that’s the way they make it, they should be warning customers first.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“For the mains we had the prawns which to my surprise still had all the shell and not really cleaned before battering and deep frying. (Also the head was not removed) - I think if that’s the way they make it, they should be warning customers first.”March 2022
Tips for a Better Visit
Choose Winter. Use the terrace in cooler weather; one reviewer specifically recommends winter for enjoying the outdoor seating.
Book Groups. If your party exceeds four people, book ahead because indoor seating is limited.
Try Platter. For a first Vietnamese meal, the Saigon discovery platter provides a broad introduction, including duck in vine leaf, rolls and papaya salad.
Ask Allergens. Tell staff about allergies or dietary needs when ordering; reviewers say they provide allergen information and make adjustments.
Allow Parking. Give yourself extra time to park around JLT, as finding a space may take luck or patience.
Order Delivery. For takeaway pho, the separated broth, ingredients, herbs, sprouts and sauces help you assemble it closer to serving time.
Plan the visit
Practical details
Balcony Level, Lake Terrace Tower, JLT Cluster D
Al Thanyah Fifth - Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai
| Mon | 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM |
| Tue | 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM |
| Wed | 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM |
| Thu | 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM |
| Fri | 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM |
| Sat | 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM |
| Sun | 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM |
Common Concerns
Portion Variation
Portion sizes are inconsistent in reviews: one diner found the meat serving in beef pho small, despite other reports of large bowls.
Uneven Flavour
The beef sauté was praised, but one reviewer found the chicken sauté noticeably lacking in taste.
Attentiveness
Service is usually praised, but one visit involved repeatedly calling for servers without being noticed.
Parking Hassle
Finding parking around the restaurant can require patience or luck.
Lunch Uncertainty
One diner reported that no business lunch option was available, although another review mentions a weekday set lunch.
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
Saigon - Taste of Vietnam JLT is a casual Vietnamese restaurant in Jumeirah Lake Towers where the clearest draw is a bowl of pho: reviewers describe rich broth, tender chicken and unusually generous servings, including a small vegan pho loaded with tofu and vegetables. Vietnamese coffee is another recurring favourite, especially for people who like it dark and sweet. The menu gives first-timers room to explore beyond soup.
Bun Cha Ga, Bun Bo Hue, Beef Luc Lac, papaya salad and the Saigon discovery platter all get specific praise; the platter includes duck in vine leaf, summer and spring rolls, lobster fried wonton and papaya salad. Staff have also been praised for explaining dishes, checking allergens and adjusting spice levels. There is modest indoor seating plus an upstairs terrace overlooking the water and Alma Tower, a better bet in cooler weather.
Delivery travels well: one reviewer received broth, ingredients, herbs, sprouts and sauces packed separately. Weekday set lunch is reported as good office value, while another reviewer noted no business lunch option, so check what is currently available. Experiences are not perfectly consistent.
Some diners found portions small, chicken sauté bland or meat light in the pho, and service occasionally inattentive. Parking can be a hassle, seating is limited for larger groups, and the restaurant can be difficult to spot from lake level. Reserve early for parties over four and ask questions if portion size or preparation matters.