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Ratings and reviews

RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere

Details

CUISINES
Asian, Vietnamese
Special Diets
Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner
View all details
meals, features

Location and contact

Downtown Manhattan (Downtown)
0.9 km from Union Square
Reviews (63)
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50 results
Traveler rating
22
23
3
0
2
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LanguageEnglish
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Traveler rating
22
23
3
0
2
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All reviews pho summer rolls noodles service was excellent dishes
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Reviewed October 7, 2023 via mobile

Lovely fresh food. Warm welcome and attentive service. Pork spring rolls were very tasty, as was the pho and bun Sao mai. Good price. Money taken off if paying with cash.

Date of visit: October 2023
Helpful?1  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed August 24, 2023 via mobile

This is my second review of this restaurant. On the last occasion, which was over a year ago, we had visited the restaurant in person. For a change, this time we ordered a takeaway dinner. The order consisted of Bun Thit Nuong, Ga Mi Xao...Dzon, Com Ga Sa Ot and Goi Cuon. I am delighted to report that the taste and the quality of the takeaway meal was simply as good as the dining-in-restaurant experience. A superb takeaway meal!More

Date of visit: August 2023
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Reviewed March 20, 2023 via mobile

Sao Mai is average. Service is good and prices are reasonable. However the food was relatively pedestrian. Noodles were cold.

Date of visit: March 2023
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Reviewed April 4, 2022 via mobile

It was busy on a Saturday evening. Most tables were taken which is an indicator of how popular the place was. So many people could not be wrong! Indeed, that was proved to us to be true, by the end of our meal! Staff were...welcoming. We are promptly shown a table and a high chair provided for our 1+ year old. Service was excellent and the dishes came out of the kitchen in rapid succession. The crispy pancake rolled in fresh lettuce was an absolute delight. There were printed notices on the door that they accept only cards or cash; specifically not Apple Pay. And there was a hand written sign above the cashier’s desk saying a 5% discount was available for cash payment. We enjoyed the evening most thoroughly. Of course we are biased, being fans of Vietnamese cuisine. Yet the flavour and taste of the dishes we had that day was beyond compare, and far superior to any we’ve had even in Vietnam itself!More

Date of visit: April 2022
Helpful?1  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed March 20, 2022 via mobile

Our son and his girlfriend are forever talking about this restaurant and my husband and I are very picky. We went last night and were blown away. We did not realize traditional Vietnamese food could be so flavorful and diverse. Tammy then came over to...encourage us to put the fresh mint leaves in our lettuce wrapped rolls. Who knew how delicious that combination is? I never like summer rolls but I loved these. Pho heaven!! I ate various foods and was not disappointed. I can’t wait to take friends and our other son. Food, service and atmosphere are unforgettable. Loved Tammy.More

Date of visit: March 2022
Helpful?1  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed November 24, 2019 via mobile

We always enjoy a meal here when we visit NYC. This time we just stopped in for lunch and had the fresh summer rolls and the spring rolls. I had forgotten how much I enjoy those when wrapped in salad and dipped in the delicious...sauce. The waiters were a little too busy talking amongst themselves, otherwise it would have been 5* again.More

Date of visit: November 2019
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Reviewed September 4, 2019 via mobile

I really enjoyed the veggie pho I got from this place. The broth was tasty and the vegetables were great and generous.

Date of visit: September 2019
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Reviewed January 8, 2019

We dropped by for Pho and summer rolls. Great priced menu, good food, good value for money overall. Would come back.

Date of visit: October 2018
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Reviewed November 14, 2018 via mobile

The food here is pretty good , and reminded me when I was eating street food in Saigon Vietnam. I did their take on my favorite Vietnamese dish Bun Bo Hue. It’s a beef broth with noodle that will you leave taste buds craving for...more. Good customer service , and good food with excellent music in the back round.More

Date of visit: November 2018
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Reviewed August 16, 2018 via mobile

Such a gem #vietnamesefood in #eastvillage #eastvillagenyc 🥢 The food is #delicious with #reasonableprice 💓 We had such a good meal and plenty #leftovers for later 💓

Date of visit: August 2018
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Reviewed April 13, 2018 via mobile

I came here because of the previous reviews, but nothing like that. Staff was extremely rude, food wasn't that good. Not recommend.

Date of visit: April 2018
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Reviewed February 7, 2018 via mobile

This place is serving incredible authentic vietnamese food. The service is good and the restaurant is very nice and cozy. All in all a great place!

Date of visit: February 2018
Helpful?2  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed January 23, 2018 via mobile

I’ve been here a few times and service is good and fast. The food is good quality. The prices can’t be beat. It’s also not usually super crowded.

Date of visit: January 2018
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Reviewed December 21, 2017

Excellent menu with a variety of options (vegetarian and otherwise), really excellent food, nice friendly service, and a great value! I will be back and I wholeheartedly suggest Sao Mai for anyone looking for casual Vietnamese in NYC!

Date of visit: December 2017
Helpful?1  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed May 8, 2017

We went here first time 2 years ago and had to come back (we live in Denmark). The food and the service was excellent again and we talked at lenght with Billy who said that they again this time gladly would cook us a Banh...Xeo like they did last time even though it is not on the menu. So we ate there twice in the 5 days we had in NYC, and we did not regret it. It is cheap, healthy, tasty and a great service - we will be back :-)More

Date of visit: May 2017
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Sao Mai Vietnamese Cuisine, New York City - East Village - Menu, Prices & Restaurant Reviews - Tripadvisor

Frequently Asked Questions about Sao Mai Vietnamese Cuisine

Yes, Sao Mai Vietnamese Cuisine offers takeout services.

Yes, Sao Mai Vietnamese Cuisine offers delivery services.

Sao Mai Vietnamese Cuisine is rated accordingly in the following categories by Tripadvisor travelers:
  • Food: 4.5
  • Service: 4
  • Value: 4.5
  • Atmosphere: 4