The Verdict
Saigon Kitchen has cooked Vietnamese food on West Bell Road in Surprise since 2011, and the Tran family has turned it into the most-talked-about restaurant in the West Valley suburb — ranked #1 of 204 Surprise restaurants on Tripadvisor. Owner Dennis Tran and his siblings run a tighter, more polished room than the strip-mall setting suggests.
This is a polished, comfortable Vietnamese restaurant, not a special-occasion fine-dining room, and it is a touch pricier than the valley average for a reason: better cuts, a 12-hour broth and consistent execution. It earns its place here as the standout Vietnamese table in the northwest suburbs of Phoenix.
The Kitchen
The kitchen is run by the Tran family, with owner Dennis Tran front of house and his siblings cooking. The signature is Filet Mignon Shaken Beef — an eight-ounce filet seared and served on a bed of sizzling onions with rice, soup and salad — a dish regulars order on repeat for around the low-$20s. The other anchor is pho, built on a broth simmered for twelve hours, with bowls from about $13 and a Filet Mignon pho near $22. The menu runs deep through Vietnamese classics and a few Asian-fusion plates; most mains land between $13 and $22, a little above the valley norm.
The Room
The room is cleaner and more comfortable than its West Bell Road strip-mall address implies, with full table service and a wall of recognition the family is proud of. Service is warm — Dennis is known for working the floor — and the pace suits both a quick weekday pho and a longer dinner. Dress is casual, and a daily 11am-to-6pm happy hour keeps the value strong.
Best for a Family Dinner
Saigon Kitchen suits a family dinner, a casual date over shaken beef and pho, a solo bowl at lunch, or a group working through the long menu. It is for anyone in the northwest valley who wants Vietnamese cooking a cut above the average in a comfortable room with friendly service — order the Filet Mignon Shaken Beef for the table.
Not For
Not for a black-tie anniversary, a marriage proposal, or a formal client dinner that needs a hushed dining room and a deep wine list. Saigon Kitchen is a polished but casual suburban restaurant in a strip-mall setting, and it can get busy and loud. For a special-occasion Phoenix-area dinner, look downtown or in Scottsdale instead.
Reservations
Saigon Kitchen takes walk-ins and gets busy at peak lunch and dinner, so larger groups should call ahead. It is at 14071 W Bell Road in Surprise, with a daily 11am-to-6pm happy hour that is the value sweet spot. Come for the Filet Mignon Shaken Beef and a 12-hour pho, and expect a wait at the weekend dinner rush.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns Saigon Kitchen in Surprise?
Saigon Kitchen is a family-run Vietnamese restaurant owned by Dennis Tran, who works the floor while his siblings cook. The family opened it on West Bell Road in Surprise, Arizona in 2011 and has built it into the suburb's most popular restaurant, currently ranked #1 of 204 Surprise restaurants on Tripadvisor.
What is Saigon Kitchen known for?
Saigon Kitchen is known for Filet Mignon Shaken Beef — an eight-ounce filet on sizzling onions served with rice, soup and salad — and for pho built on a broth simmered for twelve hours. The menu also runs through Vietnamese classics and a few Asian-fusion dishes, with a popular daily happy hour from 11am to 6pm.
How much does Saigon Kitchen cost?
Most mains run between $13 and $22, a little above the West Valley average. The Filet Mignon Shaken Beef and Filet Mignon pho sit near the top of that range at around $22, while a standard bowl of pho starts around $13. A daily 11am-to-6pm happy hour brings the prices down further on selected dishes and drinks.
Do you need a reservation at Saigon Kitchen?
Saigon Kitchen mainly takes walk-ins, and it gets busy at peak lunch and dinner, so larger groups should call ahead. It is at 14071 W Bell Road in Surprise, and the daily happy hour from 11am to 6pm is the quietest, best-value time to visit. Expect a wait at the weekend dinner rush.
Also in Surprise
Surprise dining runs from Italian to contemporary American. For other tables compare Vogue Bistro, Babbo Italian and Bonfire Craft Kitchen.