Saigon Xin Chao is a Vietnamese restaurant at 3 Hagley Street, Porirua, rated 4.8 on Google, sharing updates through its Facebook page.
The test of any Vietnamese restaurant is the broth: a proper pho base simmers for hours with star anise, cinnamon and charred onion, and regulars judge a kitchen on that first spoonful. Expect a plate of fresh mint, coriander and Thai basil alongside your bowl — add the herbs as you eat rather than all at once, and taste the soup before reaching for the sauce bottles. Rice paper rolls are best made to order rather than waiting in a cabinet, and a slow-dripped iced coffee over condensed milk makes a fitting finish to the meal.
For Porirua diners, Saigon Xin Chao puts a corner of Saigon within easy reach on Hagley Street.