Saigon Panda is the east-side family-run Vietnamese-and-Chinese spot that the regulars insist makes the best egg rolls in Sioux Falls — and the regulars are right. 3301 East 26th, in an east-side stretch of mixed retail, with 263 reviews at 4.3 stars. Closed Wednesdays. There is no website. This is a phone-and-walk-in operation, and the operating model is exactly the same as it's been for years.
The orders. The egg rolls. The egg rolls are the reason Saigon Panda has earned its place on this list. They're fried to order, the wrappers have the right crispness, the filling is properly seasoned, and the dipping sauce is the right balance of sweet, sour, and heat. Most American egg rolls — including most Sioux Falls egg rolls — are fried-frozen. Saigon Panda's are not. You can taste the difference. Order them as a starter for the table; they should always come first.
The pho is solid. The dac biet is the standard call. The broth is good — not transcendent, but reliable, with the right aromatics and the right meat-to-noodle ratio. If Phnom Penh is the city's pho-as-art kitchen, Saigon Panda is the pho-as-comfort-food kitchen. Different intentions, both useful.
The fresh Vietnamese spring rolls are the lighter starter — the cold ones with shrimp and vermicelli wrapped in rice paper, served with peanut sauce. These are excellent at Saigon Panda. The peanut sauce in particular has more depth than the standard version, with a hint of hoisin to round it out.
The blend of Chinese and Vietnamese on one menu is the operator move. You can order General Tso's chicken at the same table where you're ordering pho. That's a feature for groups that include Chinese-American-leaning eaters and Vietnamese-leaning eaters at the same time. Most of the city's Vietnamese specialists don't accommodate that kind of split party. Saigon Panda does.
Hours. Closed Wednesdays. The Wednesday closure is unusual in this category — most rooms close Sunday or Monday. If you're an east-side resident planning around Saigon Panda, build the Wednesday closure into your weekly rotation. The lunch hours are dependable, the dinner pace picks up around 6 PM, and the kitchen runs straight through.
The room is small, bright, sit-down dining, the strip-mall format. Family-friendly. Good for parties of two through six. Larger parties should call ahead.
Parking. The strip-mall lot. Easy.
For takeout: the egg rolls travel decently if you eat them within ten minutes of pickup. The pho doesn't travel. The fresh spring rolls travel perfectly. Most of the menu travels well. Call ahead by twenty minutes.
Cards and cash. The phone is (605) 335-8825. There's no standalone website. The operating presence is the phone and the door. If you need current hours, call.
Compared to Pho Thai East (the other east-side Vietnamese specialist, on East 10th): Saigon Panda is more egg-roll-focused; Pho Thai East is more pad-thai-focused. Different specialties, similar quality, both serving the east-side residential and working population. If you're choosing between them: egg rolls or pad thai, you decide.
Compared to Phnom Penh and Dynasty (the city's two more-authentic Vietnamese rooms): Saigon Panda is the more accessible, more family-restaurant-coded option. The pho isn't quite as refined as Phnom Penh's; the kitchen isn't quite as duck-specialist as Dynasty's. But the egg rolls are better than either. Each room has its specialty.
If you've never been: order three egg rolls for the table, two pho dac biets, and one order of fresh spring rolls. About $35 for two diners. The egg rolls are the takeaway memory.
If you're a regular: keep ordering the egg rolls. They're the best in the city. Don't second-guess yourself.
For groups: parties of six or more should call ahead.
The "best egg rolls in town" framing is a real distinction in a city with this many Asian restaurants making this many egg rolls. Most of them are fine. Most of them are interchangeable. Saigon Panda's are different. The fryer setup, the wrapper quality, the filling seasoning — something about the kitchen's egg roll specifically separates from the field. The regulars know this. The 4.3-star average reflects an audience that's not specifically there for the egg rolls and is rating the whole menu. The egg-roll devotees rate higher.
The bottom line. Saigon Panda is the east-side family Vietnamese-Chinese spot with the best egg rolls in the city. 4.3 stars at 263 reviews. Closed Wednesdays. Order the egg rolls. Stay for the pho.