Saigon Alley Kitchen & Bar, a new Vietnamese restaurant and bar concept from the family behind Pho Ca Dao Vietnamese Kitchen, is getting ready to open in Hillcrest at 3687 5th Ave.
The company’s newest location is set to open in the former home of Two Seven Eight, which previously housed The Tractor Room restaurant. Owner Duke Huynh tells What Now San Diego that the restaurant is expected to open toward the end of July. Customers can expect a menu centered on Pho Ca Dao’s classic Vietnamese dishes, along with additional Asian fusion offerings and a full bar program.
Founded by the Huynh family in 2001, Pho Ca Dao has grown steadily across San Diego County over the past two decades. The company currently operates multiple locations throughout the region, including restaurants in Mira Mesa, Mission Valley, Rancho Bernardo, Poway, and Escondido. Each location is independently owned and operated while remaining part of the broader Pho Ca Dao family of restaurants.
Saigon Alley Kitchen & Bar represents a new concept for the company while still building on the foundation that helped establish the Pho Ca Dao brand. Duke Huynh tells What Now San Diego that Saigon Alley Kitchen & Bar will feature many of the restaurant group’s most popular menu items while introducing new flavors and dishes. The addition of a full bar also sets the concept apart from the company’s existing restaurants.
Pho Ca Dao’s menu is known for its wide selection of pho varieties, including combinations with rare steak, brisket, tendon, tripe, meatballs, oxtail, seafood, chicken, and vegetarian options. Beyond noodle soups, customers can choose from spring rolls, egg rolls, banh mi sandwiches, broken rice plates, vermicelli salad bowls, fried rice dishes, and specialty noodle soups. Vietnamese coffee, teas, desserts, and fruit-based beverages are also staples of the brand.
This will be an excellent landing space for Saigon Alley Kitchen & Bar, given Hillcrest’s active dining scene and mix of longtime residents and visitors. The restaurant’s combination of Pho Ca Dao favorites, Asian fusion dishes, and a full bar offering is expected to bring a new option to the neighborhood while expanding the family’s presence in central San Diego.
Dish from Pho Ca Dao
