Baja California

Best of Baja 2015 | Pequeño Saigón has the Best Casual Dining

Without being presumptuous but full of flavor and good times.

By SanDiegoRed Staff2015-12-31T19:53:20+00:00

The once derelict Plaza del Zapato in Tijuana, resuscitated as part of the city's overall improvement in the last couple of years, is now called Plaza Fiesta thanks to the boom of craft beer tasting rooms, and the area is quickly becoming the city's top destination for a new age of partygoers in the city, as well as attracting residents and tourist who prefer the quieter pubs and craft beer scene to the rowdy bars of La Sexta or Avenida Revolución.

The delicious shrimp spring rolls as a perfect Pho complement. Photo: Alain González.

But still, we should recognize the ones who have been in "La Plaza" since before this whole hype started. Specifically, Pequeño Saigón, winner of our 2015 Best Casual Dining category.

Even though Pequeño Saigon has been at it for a while, we decided to recognize them for having a pretty high-quality standard since their conception. Now they have a new demographic, the craft beer tasters, managing to keep up with their picky taste buds.

The restaurant is known for its simple and classic Asian food menu, especially known for their delicious Pho. Although they aren't reinventing the classic Vietnamese dish, they were one of the first to bring it south of the border and they're now the gold standard to follow if you want to make good quality Vietnamese noodle soup in TJ.

They're distinctive Pho, a simple beef noodle soup and with all the additions you need, makes this place the best option for you to start your night out in the town or perfect to catch up with friends while sipping on a warm, delicious soup. Dishes that go from the hyper-traditional, like the Asian-style noodle soup to more conventional dishes like shrimp spring rolls. You'll find everything you need and more at Pequeño Saigón, they even have vegetarian options.

The fried rice that doesn't leave any space for dessert. Photo: Alain González.

Located in a corner of Plaza Fiesta at Avenida Independencia and Paseo de los Héroes, with a view to "Las Tijeras" monument, it's pretty easy to find. With a subtle decoration but with distinctly Asian accents, make the diner feel right at home. Their open kitchen adds to this feeling too, giving it a cozy atmosphere that makes striking up a conversation with the cook an easy thing to do. Exactly this mixture of coziness and exotic feeling is what makes Pequeño Saigón a pleasant place for a casual dinner.

Vegetarian tacos. Photo: Alain González.

With super affordable pricing, great service and a relaxing atmosphere, it isn't hard to see why Pequeño Saigón was chosen by our readers as this year's Best Casual Dining restaurant in Baja.

Don't forget to check out our Best Tasting Room, our 2015 Top 10 Baja Culinary Favorites and our other Best of Baja 2015 nominees.