Manoa Shopping Center in Havertown has always been a destination for the finest in mediocre dining including Manoa Diner & Deli (it’s neither), Applebee’s, Shogun 3 (sushi rolls are half price at lunch), some Chinese place called Szechuan Lei Lei in the back (guess it wasn’t good enough to be in the front), Manhattan Bagel and Bravo Pizza. But wait! Saigon Harbor opened about 6 months ago where the Verlo Mattress store was (next to Citizens Bank). You wouldn’t even know there a murder took place there a few years (it was a domestic incident… Havertown is safe!).
The only killings taking place these days are your diets. This place has delicious food and while it lacks the spice of the Vietnamese restaurants in South Philly, it sure beats driving down to 11th and Washington. The bubble tea comes in various flavors and the wide straws really make shooting the tapioca balls at your dining partners quite tempting (haven’t done it… place is too nice, plus Candace kept ducking).
Appetizers are all delicious… I love the summer rolls with the peanut dipping sauce. The stuffed grape leaves appetizer and the meatball appetizer definitely aren’t what you’ll get in a diner, so you may want to pass on those. They have a funky taste (I like it, but I eat anything). The soup (pho) portions (between $7 and $9) are a nice size, and you’ll have enough leftover for the next day. I tried the seafood soup (great) and the beef soup (think I’ll pass on the tendons next time… too fatty) and loved it. The selection of entrees is extensive and all quite flavorful!
Every time we’ve been here, the waiters have been friendly and the service perfect. They also seem to be doing a nice take-out business, but they seem to guard their website like it was a matter of national security. Give Saigon Harbor a shot! If you don’t like it, McDonalds is also up the road.
1501 West Chester Pike
Havertown, PA 19083
(484) 454-5105
Website: who knows?
