Saigon Legend

It's always been my deepest desire to travel to Southeast Asia - to visit the temples in Angkor Wat, to basque in Singapore's pristine cleanliness, to ride in a rickshaw through Japan, which I first read about in my mom's childhood poetry, to walk part of the Great Wall of China, but most of all, to soak my teeth into Asian spices and delicacies.

My obsession with noodles and rice is a thing of the past. In my aunt's house in Washington, D.C., she has an authentic Asian noodle cart. When my family and I would visit, I would imagine I was a street vendor selling all types of noodles to all types of people, piquing my interest to actually try the various varieties at whatever Asian restaurant we visited.

In addition to my constant cravings for pad thai, my taste buds yearn for soupy Pho, summer rolls made from rice paper and crispy Singapore noodles made with vermicelli noodles. Saigon Legend is as close as it comes to authentic Asian in Gainesville.

The small space on University is simple. The tables aren't dressed, people seat themselves and the cash register at the front is where to pay. But Saigon Legend is about the food, not the atmosphere.

Food comes out as it is made, with essentially each person receiving a meal five minutes after someone else. While the descriptions on the menu are minimal, making it hard to know exactly what you are selecting, every dish is mouth-wateringly scrumptious. The Mongolian beef served over crunchy noodles has a faint kick. The Singapore noodles are light, served with heaps of veggies and chicken and virtually no sauce. The pho is a sink-sized portion of broth and vegetables with a side of sauces and bean sprouts. The rice-paper shrimp summer rolls and their peanut sauce are my favorite, and I order them as a appetizer before whichever meal I select.

Though many of my friends are averse to dining at Saigon Legend, stating that it's just a bit too authentic for them, some of them frequent it at least once a week. They all agree, however, that the prices can't be beat. For $5 to $10, feasting like a king (or queen) is easy. Just beware: it will make you crave a trip to Southeast Asia pronto to experience the Saigon legend firsthand.

Saigon Legend

1228 West University Ave.

Gainesville, FL

352.374.0934