Little Saigon is a Vietnamese restaurant located at 1106 East Colonial Drive, Orlando, FL 32803 that has been a part of Orlando’s Vietnamese community since the 1980s. It’s the longest serving restaurant and oldest Vietnamese restaurant in Orlando, a taste of home for the Vietnamese community that began to grow in the late 1970s with refugees arriving after the Vietnam War. Over the years, it has become one of the first places Orlandoans have ever tried Vietnamese food.
I remember growing up in the 1990s we would always make it a point to stop in Mills 50 after traveling from South Florida to visit Walt Disney World here in Orlando. One of the places we would eat at was Little Saigon – it was here that I had my first try of Com Dac Biet or special rice platter with egg, pork casserole, pork chop, and tomato and vegetables with a side of nuoc cham sauce drizzled on top – it made this little boy feel like a king eating that meal.
This past year, the Orange County Regional History Center in downtown Orlando had an exhibit called Orlando Collected, celebrating the city of Orlando’s 150th anniversary with an exhibition of 150 historical objects that showcase Orlando’s history through the items collected from its past. Little Saigon’s menu from circa 2000 as part of the exhibit.
After nearly four decades of serving authentic Vietnamese cuisine, family-run restaurant Little Saigon will be closing its doors at the end of this year.
Brother and sister Vu Nguyen and Mai Huynh who have run the restaurant since Little Saigon’s opening in 1987 reflect on their journey with gratitude.
“When we first took over, Little Saigon was just a small 1,000 square foot empty space with a double door fridge. Over the years, we grew through four expansions, all while keeping it a family operation,” said Vu Nguyen. “We are happy to say that we can retire thanks to this community.”
“We have so many shared memories as a family here. Our parents worked in the restaurant until they passed a few years back; they would often come by and add touches to the pho and sauces to make sure everything was just right for every guest. It gave them a sense of purpose,” Mai shared.
“Vu and Mai extend a final, heartfelt thank you to everyone who has dined with them, celebrated milestones, and supported the restaurant through its journey.
“As one of the original Vietnamese restaurants of Orlando, we are proud to have shared our culture and a little piece of home for four decades. We loved hearing that we were the first for many to experience Vietnamese cuisine. We THANK YOU for the love, generous support and feel so much gratitude for our time as Little Saigon. Thank you for 40 years!”
Their last day of service will be December 28, 2025 – so go visit them soon and wish them a great farewell, Orlando!
