On a return journey from South Dakota, a fellow traveler in our convoy suggested a lunch stop. A quick mobile search led us to a promising Pho spot in Dayton, Ohio, with rave reviews. The first one advised, 'Don't Judge a Book by its Cover.' The second raved, "A Hole in the Wall Gold Mine." Ten minutes later, we found ourselves standing in front of a modest shack, nestled between a Tire & Auto station and a Holiday Hair outlet, proudly bearing the sign of Little Saigon, Vietnamese Restaurant.

Across the street, an establishment called The RootBeer Stand caught our eye, but we were drawn to the unassuming charm of the shack before us. Stepping inside, we were greeted by the warm, no-nonsense voice of an elderly Vietnamese woman, who assured us, 'I got you, honey,' before leading us to our table.

Our caravan consisted of several folks in the food biz, so when asked whether Little Saigon served Pho with tendon, the host replied for a second time, 'Tendon? I got you, honey!' satiating our foodie's desire for less traveled cuisine.

I had been writing Dream Fisher for some time and was looking for a meeting place for Jason and Becky to strike up a connection. As soon as we sat at our table, the scene poured out of my mind. I spoke the details into my phone for the next thirty minutes of the drive back east.

Mama described our proprietor's welcoming nature, and Pho-Ga added her snappy street presence. Until recently, I hadn't heard the Fuh in Pho used to mimic English slang. Now, it's everywhere. There's even a Pho King a few miles away from where we live, a little heavy-handed, if you ask me.

If you enjoy Mama Pho Ga's scenes in Dream Fisher, you're going to love the real thing! So next time you're road-tripping through Daton, stop into Little Saigon for some incredible Vietnamese fare!

Little Saigon

https://littlesaigondaytonoh.com
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1718 Woodman Dr, Dayton, OH 45420-3639
937-258-8010
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