Nestled in Astoria, District Saigon reinvents classic Vietnamese cuisine in a stylishly modern setting, serving standout pho and inventive cocktails in a welcoming ambiance.
"You might argue that short rib fried rice is inevitably good. We’ll be the first to admit, it tends to have a pretty high floor. But after you taste the version at District Saigon, an effortlessly elegant neighborhood spot in Astoria, you’ll see it can also have a really high ceiling. The caramelized beef, juicy tomatoes, and chili-garlic sauce balance each other perfectly, much like the fatty brisket, bright cilantro, and combination of sriracha and hoisin that come with District's steak phở." - sonal shah, willa moore, will hartman, arden shore, carlo mantuano
"District Saigon should be your go-to for phở in Astoria. They’re one of your only Vietnamese options in the area, and they do not take this responsibility lightly, offering a few different styles of phở and really nailing them. Our favorites are the smoked brisket phở with a super smoky broth and the vegan phở with a slightly sweeter broth under a generous mound of green vegetables and tofu. The District Phở also deserves a nod for its beefy bone marrow meatballs." - will hartman, neha talreja, bryan kim, willa moore, carlo mantuano
"With a drink menu full of mezcal and cachaça, a massive sunset mural, and a TV over the bar playing ESPN, it might be tempting to assume District Saigon is doing too many things. They’re not. They’re simply serving some of the best Vietnamese food in NYC. The short rib fried rice has caramelized beef, juicy tomatoes, and chili-garlic sauce that all balance each other perfectly, much like the fatty brisket, bright cilantro, and sriracha-hoisin sauce in the steak phở. Order those, as well as the extremely tender lemongrass-chili dumplings with a mezcal, or a boozy matcha latte if that's more your speed. " - bryan kim, neha talreja, sonal shah
"The menu of this handsome, modernistic spot — something like a deep cave with an open kitchen — on Astoria’s rollicking Broadway plays fast and loose with conventional dishes as it reinvents them. District Saigon offers a version of pho with barbecue-style smoked brisket, to which one may add things like beef balls and tendon. The broth is pleasantly simple and transparent, the noodles delicate and firm. Chicken pho is great, too." - Robert Sietsema
"Located in Astoria, District Saigon is one of those modern places seeking to present the cuisine to younger audiences, the decor combining elements of a Quonset hut and a discotheque, with a striking sunset mountainscape on one wall. There are snacks and unusual dishes galore, including homemade pate presented on a baguette, crispy catfish served atop cold vermicelli noodles, and phos that focus on beef balls and smoked brisket. A full bar also attracts the customers." - Robert Sietsema, Bao Ong
