BackEat & Drink » Saigon Hẻm Gems » Hẻm Gems: Chef Badeh Brings Syrian Cuisine to Saigon

In the small covered area outside the front door, Chef Badeh brings together two of my favorite things: bread and fire.

The owner of Al Sham, Saigon’s newest Middle Eastern restaurant, lays a trio of dough circles onto a flat, stainless steel pan and shoves them into a metal dome, where flames lick the inner walls of the piping hot oven. When they return from the fire, slightly smoking, the freshly made pitas are puffed up like balloons, floating back toward the wooden box from which they came.

Syrian bread-making at its finest.

It’s easily the tenth time he’s done this, but Chef Badeh is exceedingly patient with our cohort of millennials: photographing, videotaping and Instagramming his bread production to excess as we indulge in a two-hour meal. This is our second visit in less than a week, and something tells me a third is imminent.

Ever since word of Al Sham got out on Foodies in Saigon, it’s been all hands on deck for Chef Badeh and his staff. The place is barely a month old, and already there is the occasional dinner rush, not to mention a steady stream of diners during lunch. While that means a little patience is required, the Al Sham staff is as enthusiastic about their fare as the customers, scurrying back and forth between the kitchen in the back and the barbecue and bread oven out front. Chef Badeh himself regularly passes through the dining room, greeting customers and letting them know when their food will be ready.

Hummus with lamb (left) and falafel (right).

The end result of these efforts is a mouth-watering array of grilled meats, soups, salads and generally delicious Middle Eastern fare. Al Sham starts off strong with standards like hummus, falafel, tabouleh and shakshouka, a dish of poached eggs, tomatoes and spices. Though the latter is a little less soupy than other renditions, its hearty, home-cooked flavor will win you over.

Kofta kebab.

Beyond smaller, shared dishes, Chef Badeh’s grill is incredible. On our first visit, the kofta kebab – a plate of grilled lamb, spices and a few fresh veggies served over pita bread – came away the clear winner of the meal, but the next trip made a serious contender out of Al Sham’s shish taouk, or chicken kebab, never mind the kabsa rice with chicken, a heaping plate of rice topped with almonds, bell peppers, potatoes and veggies as well as a rotisserie chicken leg. With each trip, we seem to find a new dish to moon over.

Shish taouk.

If the food weren’t enough, Al Sham’s genuine hospitality adds to the experience. A combination of Vietnamese and Syrian, the staff stay close by without hovering and are always willing to strike up a friendly conversation or make a recommendation. Needless to say, we'll be back for round three soon.

Al Sham is open daily from 10am to 11pm.

 

To sum up:

Taste: 5/5

Price: 5/5 - Small plates run around VND60,000-80,000, while bigger dishes can get up to VND200,000

Atmosphere: 4/5 

Friendliness: 5/5

Location: 5/5

Dana is 70% caffeine, 50% fish sauce and hasn't taken a math class since 2004.

Al Sham Saigon

300 Vo Van Kiet, Co Giang Ward, D1

Print
icon


Related Articles:

Hẻm Gems: Kickin' It at Kim Thao's Hột Vịt Lộn Hangout

Hẻm Gems: In Search of Saigon's Best Home-Cooked Char Kway Teow

Hẻm Gems: The Bowl of Cao Lầu Worth a Run Across the City


Related Articles

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Check out the New Street Food Mecca Behind Ben Thanh Market

Barely more than a week old, Ben Thanh's brand-new street food market is already turning heads with its souped-up version of the standard roadside dining experience.

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

From the Bottom of the Barrel to the Top of the Heap: The Rise of Cơm Tấm

Swing by chị Hien’s street cart for dinner on any given day and you’ll find a cross-section of Saigon that covers all demographics: middle-class residents from the apartment blocks up the street,...

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Dropping the Flavor Bomb With Vietnamese Comfort Food

Given that most of the spots that show up in our Hẻm Gems series are full-on meals, we decided it was time to explore the vast world of small, snack-like Vietnamese dishes. There are plenty of great ...

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: A Bún Bò Breakfast in D3

Tucked away in a narrow storefront along District 3’s Nguyen Thien Thuat is a mean bowl of breakfast bún bò Huế.

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: A Long-Anticipated Bowl of D10's Pre-Eminent Mì Vịt Tiềm

Rarely have I gone into a meal with such anticipation.

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: A Perfect Saigon Breakfast

Most days, I roll out of bed 15 minutes after my alarm has stopped ringing, stumble downstairs, brush my teeth and leave the house just in time to grab my morning dose of caffeine before heading to th...

Partner Content