2770 East Bidwell Street, Suite 600, Folsom, 916-805-5417, saigonalley.com
saigonalley.sac  saigonalleysac

Saigon Alley Kitchen & Bar is the newest addition to Folsom’s Broadstone Marketplace, dishing up high-quality Vietnamese cuisine inspired by the vibrant street eats of Saigon. With a walk-up ordering setup and a bright, modern dining room that still feels warm and communal, the vibe is casual and as inviting as the food. When it comes time to dine, options include everything from steaming pho to garlic noodles, fried rice, vermicelli bowls, rice plates, banh mi sandwiches, and fresh, colorful salads. For lunch, I went with the crowd-pleasing Combo Vermicelli Bowl: a generous serving of vermicelli noodles piled high with crisp bean sprouts, cucumbers, pickled daikon, shallots, fresh herbs, and crushed peanuts. On top: a flavor-packed trio of char-grilled chicken, pork, and skewered shrimp, plus a crispy chicken egg roll. A side of fish sauce vinaigrette tied it all together and was perfect for drizzling over the bowl or dipping the egg roll. It was Vietnamese perfection in both texture and flavor: soft noodles, crunchy veggies, savory meats, and a bright, tangy finish. And yes—the portion was massive, ideal for sharing or hoarding leftovers (guilty). Beyond the classics, Saigon Alley offers fun twists like banh mi tacos, taro fries, and wings, plus dedicated menus for vegans and kids. Pho lovers can rejoice, too, thanks to rich oxtail and spicy bun bo hue options. Don’t miss their Vietnamese-inspired cocktails (hello, Jackfruit Colada) or slow-dripped Vietnamese coffee—the iced Ca Phe Sua Da with condensed milk is a must on hot days. Yes, there’s truly something for everyone!  

More Bodacious Bowls

Gone are the days of bowls being relegated to cereal and soup. Try a new bowl from this local list. 

Almighty Bistro 
4355 Town Center Boulevard, Suite 114, El Dorado Hills, 916-510-1204, almightybistro.com 

MUST-TRY: Avocado & Sweet Potato Bowl 

Farm Fresh Juice Company 
2351 Sunset Boulevard, Suite 160, Rocklin, 916-259-1443, farmfreshjuicecompany.com 

MUST-TRY: Tropic Majik Bowl

Garden of Eat’n 
Locations in Auburn, Roseville, and Sacramento, gardenofeatn.com 

MUST-TRY: Farmers Market Rice Bowl 

Mas Taco Bar 
450 Palladio Parkway, Folsom, 916-597-2929; 3535 Fair Oaks Boulevard, Suite A, Sacramento, 916-285-5754; 1800 15th Street, Suite D, Sacramento, 916-706-1330, mastacobar.com 

MUST-TRY:  Baja Fish Bowl  

Mexquite
25095 Blue Ravine Road, Folsom, 916-984-8607, mexquite.com 

MUST-TRY: Fajita Burrito Bowl 

Nadia’s Mac Shack  
3006 CA-49, Suite A, Cool, 530-906-0563, nadiasmacshack.com 

MUST-TRY: Build Your Own Mac Bowl with Tri-Tip 

Nourish at the Meadow 
7502 Green Valley Road, Placerville, 530-957-6406, nourishatthemeadow.com 

MUST-TRY: Rise & Shine Bowl 

TRŪ Bowl Superfood Bar
420 Palladio Parkway, Suite 1701, Folsom, 916-461-1018, trubowl.com 

MUST-TRY: Buttah Lovah Bowl 

Uncle Sharkii Poke Bowl 
900 Pleasant Grove Boulevard, Roseville, 916-235-1083, unclesharkii.com 

MUST-TRY: Shrimp & Salmon Poke Bowl 

Vibe Healthy Eats 
1004 Riley Street, Suite 1, Folsom, 916-990-5367, vibehealthbar.com 

MUST-TRY: Steak Shawarma Bowl

— by SHARON PENNY  |  photo by GABRIEL TEAGUE 
Almighty photo by Denise Marie Shaw. Other photos courtesy of their respective companies or organizations.

Have you been to Saigon Alley Kitchen & Bar? Tell us about your experience by messaging us on Instagram (@stylemags), Facebook (@stylemediagroup), or emailing [email protected].