Having lived in Los Angeles/Orange County for the past 26 years, I'm kind of a snob when it comes to Vietnamese food, Pho, in particular. I was amazed when I found this little hole-in-the-wall gem in one of my old haunts, Closter. I decided to give it a try. I got two bowls of the beef combo Pho, a single order of the regular beef Pho, the Spicy Ma Mi banh mi sandwich, and a Vietnamese Iced Coffee. These items are the easiest to judge, as most of the Vietnamese restaurants around Bergen County and the surrounding area kind of fail, choosing to cater to the population (skimping on spice, choosing western ingredients over authentic Asian ingredients, etc.). When I picked up my call-in order, the woman at the counter was very nice, though not Vietnamese and neither was the cook (not a problem at all, just an observation). She handed my order and I paid with a nice tip. I made it almost half way home when I got a call from the restaurant, and the same person told me she forgot to hand me the Vietnamese Iced Coffee and apologized. I made a u-turn and drove back to Ma Mi Eatery and picked up my drink. None of this exchange knocks any points against them, in fact, I was happy they called me. When I got home and unpacked everything, it all looked pretty authentic. I started with the combo beef Pho, adding all the toppings, plus the condiments of Hoisin sauce and Sriracha. What was missing was the fresh Thai basil! Then I read the menu and saw that they put the basil IN the soup when they serve it, so when I got home, all the basil was wilted. That's a shame because every single AAA Pho restaurant in Westminster, California serves their Pho with fresh Thai basil so customers can control how much basil they want, and to prevent wilting. That is my only real critique. Otherwise, the Pho was delicious, the broth was flavorful, and the really LOADED the soup with beef. Seriously, a lot of places in Westminster aren't that generous with brisket, but Ma Mi made my day. The Spicy Ma Mi banh mi sandwich was delicious, and loaded with all the appropriate toppings and condiments, though I wish they packed the wet ingredients (pickled carrot and daikon, cilantro, jalapeño) so the bread wouldn't get soggy, which it did, slightly. The bread itself was not the best bread I've had, typically, the bread used in most Vietnamese sandwich shops have a flaky crust and airy soft bread inside. This one a bit coarse on the crust with a heavy crunch. The interior was okay though. All in all, it was a great effort. The next time I revisit my hometown, I'll be sure to stop by Ma Mi Eatery for sure. read more

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Can't beat a lil spicy jerk pho on a cold day. Soup portions are solid and taste is spot on. Dumplings were nice but portion vs price I don't see the value. Pork Banh Mi sandwich was good and hit all the notes. Ma Ma Mia - In! read more

Ma Mi Eatery - Pho Spicy Jerk Beef, bang mi sandwich, Pad Tha Dumplings (4) - Vietnamese Near Me - Closter, New Jersey

A truly amazing eatery serving up some seriously great grub! My favorite was their take on a chopped cheese , the meat was so so tender ! And don't miss out on the crazy loaded fries so cheesy! && u can wash it all down with a Thai tea, the owner takes a lot of pride in making sure every detail is perfectly curated. read more

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good local spot, great sandwiches and starters. Really great spot if you're hungry for something on the go

Ordered take out lunch via the Clover app. The order was ready upon arrival. The grilled chicken sandwich was super good, delicious chicken with veggies and sauce. The pad thai was also amazing. It has little bit of sweet taste to it. read more

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Casual Vietnamese food made with love This is a small, no frills place with a selection of Vietnamese fare like pho, noodles, rice, buns, salads and appetizers. I enjoyed the tofu and veggie pho ($14) and the original banhmi ($11) got high reviews too, for good texture bread and juicieness. Everything comes in takeout containers even when you dine in, which I didn't love especially for something one pho. You order at the counter and sit at a table. There seemed to be a good flow of people ordering takeout so that's probably a good sign! There are so many options for dining and bakeries in this area. read more

Ma Mi Eatery - Tofu and veggie pho - Vietnamese Near Me - Closter, New Jersey

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Amazing service , good , decor ... all around great experience fan favorites are breakfast wrap , coffee , Israeli salad and hummus

Well executed Mediterranean inspired menu. A very pleasant patio for nice weather and shielded from traffic. Would definitely go back for more! read more

This place might not look like it but it has some of the best Vietnamese food in the area. A small little takeout place with a very interesting menu. We tried the duck buns,chicken fried rice,spicy chicken banh mi and vietnamese coffee. Everything tasted amazing.Loved the banh mi. The portions are huge,especially the banh mi and fried rice.The prices are very reasonable especially after everyone increased the prices for inflation. The lady at the counter is very attentive and courteous. Definitely check this place in closter. read more

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Absolutely delicious. The Pho flavor is so good. Stays hot and gives you a lot of noodles. The pho buns are amazing, a lot of flavor. Definitely will come back. read more

My husband and I order from here often. Our usual is the Chicken Pad Thai, which is super tasty with some spice to it and the Pork Fried Rice, extra spicy. The rice is my absolute favorite--garlickly, spicy and the pork bits are so tender and tasty. The portion sizes are on the bigger side, which is appreciated. We have never been to the physical restaurant, but delivery has always been good! read more

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Dined for the first time with my daughter. First off, the menu prices on their website are lower than in the restaurant. Time for an update! My daughter ordered an original mommy, and I selected a spicy mommy. Both sandwiches were decent size on very tasty bread. Unfortunately, the Original Ma Mi includes some very tasty, but very fatty pork. The portion of pork was also not generous, and once you remove the fat there's not all that much left. As for my Spicy Ma Mi, it included a healthy amount of chicken and was quite tasty. Two high school girls behind the counter, one with an infectious smile, the other looking like she partied hard the night before! Pho being enjoyed by other diners looked good! Will go back, but likely stay away from the Original Ma Mi. read more

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Ordered the grilled chicken bahn mi and a Thai iced tea. Service was quick and friendly. Unfortunately I think you can't eat inside... but the food is really good. Will come back again read more

Ma Mi Eatery - Inside - Vietnamese Near Me - Closter, New Jersey

NJ doesn't have as many Vietnamese cuisine compared to Brooklyn/NYC so I'm used to a different flavor. I can see how this place attracts other people in different aspects-- service is great, neighborhood is nice and quiet, and the interior is inviting and comfortable. The menu is simple and easy to read. However, this spot serves mediocre Vietnamese cuisine relative to my experience with eating it in other ethnic neighborhoods & in Vietnam. I tried the Chicken pho - it was decent but definitely over seasoned with sugar & salt(idk how that's possible). The chicken was dry ... but it covered with soup so I'm not sure how they did that. read more

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Some of the best to-go food in the area. Amazing pad Thai and fried rice. Large portions and never disappoints. Also check out the spicy ma mi sandwich, delicious with a refreshing taste with all the fresh herbs and vegetables. read more

Ma Mi Eatery - Pork fried rice extra egg - Vietnamese Near Me - Closter, New Jersey

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Was so excited to try. Looks better than it tastes. I got the ma mi spicy chicken sandwich. And my colleague got the chicken fried rice. Decent, sort of bland; nothing special. Wish I had something more, or better, to say... read more

Ordered the shrimp summer roll and the spicy chicken bahn mi. Have not been here in a while and the quality and preparation are all still there! The sandwhich was seasoned perfectly and had a good amount of veggies and the spicy mayo perfectly compliments the sandwhich. The summer rolls were fresh, soft, and tasted great! I asked for a side of spicy mayo bc i love it. Usually comes with a peanut sauce. Cheers! read more

Ma Mi Eatery - Vietnamese Near Me - Closter, New Jersey

Named Best of Bergen Finalist for 2022 and 2023, this establishment opened 7 years ago as a fast-casual Vietnamese restaurant located in Closter, where I came as a first-timer for lunch today. Upon entering, it was very simple, cozy, yet clean, with a couple of little tables, and I was fortunate to meet up with the husband-and-wife team. They also own a sister restaurant, "Simply Vietnamese," in Tenafly. The owner, Joe, has informed me that the eatery is named "Ma Mì," which is derived from "Ma," paying tribute to his mother and grandmother, while "mì" means bread or noodle in Vietnamese. The menu is relatively simple, not overly complex, consisting of banh mi sandwiches, pho soup, bao buns, and salads. For starters, I decided on the summer roll with chicken and avocado. As the main meal, I opted for the seafood pho consisting of shrimp and basa (fish). To wash these down, I ordered the Thai iced tea. Since all orders, including dine-in, are packed to go, the food was packaged very well. They included siracha and hoisen sauce without asking for the pho. The soup was bursting with flavors of anise and other spices--perfectly warm and comforting. The broth was generous in size, and the noodles were fresh. The rolls were okay, but not wrapped tightly. The friendly staff makes you feel like family, and the price is reasonable, so I can recommend this place. read more

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Ma Mi? Mommy? Ma Mi is my Mommy? We can discuss that at a later time. It was a Friday afternoon, 5PM. Hit the road to go clown around outside of Closter with the misses. Needed some fresh, something new... something that I could eat in the car and it still be of high quality. After diabolically massaging my way through all options on Yelp, I came to the decision that it was time to duck and dive into Ma Mi's Eatery. I so did not want to be disappointed, I put my faith in my mommy and hoped with my humble and hogwartish heart that it would pay off like I paid off that guy I "ran over" last week bc I was "yelping and driving." The menu really hits it right on the big fat nose. I couldn't have written it better myself and most call me the Mark Twain of this Sawyer. Starters include dumplings and spring rolls. Got the dumps and made light work of them, little bumps before the partayyyyy if ya catch my drift. They got some Pho but I didn't Pho around with that this go around, and I slid passed the sandwiches although they did intrigue me... I must said oh they did intrigue me. Next time... next time Linguini. They've then got two little playaaaas. Plenty of Bao Buns and Fry options. Really knocks your socks off just did not expect this situation. This conundrum. So many decisions, yet was I feeling decisive? Bc I'm so lean and mean I made sure my eyes avoided the fries and I instead forced an order of BBQ Pork Bao Buns... protein... feel me fellas? Don't judge me. But hey these suckas slapped. Bao Buns are a gift to mankind and you can't convince me otherwise. Soft and light yet filling and tighhhhhttttt Dawg. In finalmente, we had to pick our entrees. Recall, we ate this all in the car like some HS lovers out late in a local abandoned grocery store parking lot. We got one of the Pad Thai's and one of the Fried Rice's. Holy cow, holy bao my head bobbled and my eyes brightened. My hawk holes perked up and got some gnarly whiffs of lemony, fresh and salty waves. They came in these cardboard boxes and were filled to the brim. No cap and zero bap these boxes were brimmed. Had to finish in two car sittings, that's absurd. But it was welcome and I promise you enjoyed. The pad Thai was extremely yummy but this was some of the best fried rice I've ever had. I didn't feel like an absolute chubby bucket after knocking it down as it wasn't overly dressed up in deathly material. Plenty of protein, veggies. Oh mannnnnnnn I need me some more. And guess what? Guess what? I saved the best for last. This is an ALERT ALERT ALERT. BANG FOR YOUR BUCK ALERT. Yes... one of the last affordable meals in the area. Affordable, plentiful and tastiful? If that's not 5 stars then shoot me into space and give it 5 moons. So is Ma Mi, a mommy? Go try it out yourself, but me myself? Yeah... I'm sucking off that teet. Bless you all have a lovely January. read more

a fantastic, affordable, and quick spot to stop by for lunch or dinner if you're ever in or driving by closter. i ordered a banh mi and 2 appetizers: - tofu banh mi: this is seriously one of the best banh mis i've had in the northeast region-- perfect amount of mayo and sauces, the tofu was teeming with flavor, and the bread was so soft and fresh. i dont even know how to describe it but the whole experience of consuming this banh mi was just SO pleasant-- since having it, I've been periodically craving it and can't wait to go back when I'm back in the area. - duck baos: i highly recommend this starter; it was INCREDIBLE!! the baos were so so soft and fluffy and the duck was so well cooked and flavored - veggie summer rolls: this was just okay, not the highlight by any means and definitely overshadowed by the other amazing items. still a solid summer roll though-- you can rarely go wrong with these. read more

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I love the food, tastes so good and gives great portions. The service is great and they are so nice, will be coming again!

Totally recommend! I've been here a few times. The Thai iced tea with coconut milk is delicious! I'm lactose intolerant and it's great that they can whip this up non-dairy. My daughter is addicted to their crispy tofu bao buns. The grilled chicken Ma mí sandwich is really yummy - flavorful. The banh mi fries are a must try. Keep in mind that they have wet topping so if you take them to go, eat them fast otherwise it's all soggy. They're flavorful and filling. read more

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Note: only takeout right now, but you can sit inside. For five dishes, the total was $50. Skip the pho: the portion is super tiny, for reference my hand is very small. However, the plastic spoon was so cute lol. The chicken sandwich is horrible; get the original instead. For $9 I'm not mad at the portion. There is a decent amount of protein! The pad thai is too sweet, but its pretty good. I would recommend coming here for the original sandwich for a quick to go bite. read more

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I mean if your looking for authentic Thai. A place that makes their own stock that cooks for 8 plus hours, a place that knows how to make a real summer roll, that knows the meaning of heat this is not the place for you at all. If your new to Thai food. If your looking for an approachable soup and food items sure this is your place. I giant bowl of soup and noodles in a relatively clean environment. read more

Really cute place in Closter that serves really good Vietnamese food. Never been here before and thought this place was a restaurant..but this is more of a take out and minimal seating..this isn't really the ideal place to dine in. came here with my in laws for dinner per my sister in laws request and we ordered at the register and waited at our seats...food came out quick and the service was really great. I ordered the tofu and vegetable pho with a side of the BBQ pork buns. My pho was good..I've had tastier broth before but this isn't bad for a small local place. The BBQ pork buns was a little overly topped with vegetables if you ask me and the sauce was a little much, making the buns really soggy and breaking at the bottom. Worn trying but I would probably eat it right away so the sauce isn't soaking. This isn't a close drive for me (prob about half an hour) and I can't honestly say I'd drive back here to order take out, but if I'm ever in the area I would consider coming here to get some fast pho. read more

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This restaurant doesn't look like much when you walk past, but implore you to stop by. My usual order is some type of bao bun and a sandwich or from the grill. This review is not to accurately describe their pho, I've never had it. Mami has become regular take out for my family. The only downside to this place is that they close early and are closed weird hours. read more

After being on lockdown for over a year, we finally decided to eat out and we looking forward to having some Pho. Honestly we were so disappointed. We had told the cashier that we were dining in and we sat ourselves in the corner expecting to eat in. Thirty minutes later our food comes in a to-go bag and they told us they were closing in 40 minutes. It was like they didn't want us to dine in so we grabbed our bag and left. Had we know that we were not going to dine in, we would have passed on dining in. By time we got home, the meat in our Pho was well done in the soup and we could not make out our three different Pho orders since they were not labeled. Pho should always be served as a hot meal - not from a luke warm container. I was looking forward to supporting a local business but I should have known better since our last experience was not great. Sadly again, we were still hungry after eating our Pho. Never again ... we are done with this place. read more

Ahhhhh!!!! I don't know what I was expecting but this place is off the charts. We ordered 3 Ma Mi sandwiches, pork fried rice and Thai tea. Every single one was packed full of flavor. It was a foodgasm in every possible way. The meat is seasoned and mouth watering. The sandwiches are fresh and you can't stop devouring them after one bite. The rice was probably the best pork fried rice I've ever had. Let's talk about the plating. This was to go and yet it was still set up beautifully and added to every possible element of getting ready to enjoy. My Thai tea was exactly how I would expect it to be. Sweet but not overpowering. I'm so happy we finally tried this place. Go hurry!!! read more

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First time trying bánh mi and it was so good. The tofu bao buns were so crispy and full of flavor. Spicy chicken banh mi is so yummy, the veggies and the chicken blended together very nicely! Would super recommend. Tofu bao buns is crispy and light. The coconut sauce that came on the side was great too. read more

Ma Mi Eatery - Vietnamese Near Me - Closter, New Jersey

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Wish we had more Vietnamese spots in this area for when I'm craving pho, but Ma Mi's the closest I can get here. Pho- Personally the broth is too sweet for my liking. Otherwise, would be good but sometimes even when I'm hungover and craving pho, it doesn't hit the spot cause of the sweetness. Bao buns- also on the sweeter side but a nice quick snack/appetizer. Ive tried the spicy and regular. Bahn mi- not the best but not the worst. Fries- hahah idk why I got fries here but I was craving them once. Not terrible but I wouldn't order again. Overall, the foods I've tried tend to be on the sweeter side. Might be good for some but not my personal favorite. Customer service and ambiance- always nice. Everyone who was working when I've visited have always been sweet. read more

Just had dinner at Ma Mi Eatery. The vibe is casual but updated and the staff is friendly and professional. I selected the beef combo pho and the woman at the counter recommended the bbq pork buns for an appetizer. The pho was extremely flavorful and they certainly didn't skimp on the beef or noodles, an ample portion of quality pho. The buns were the perfect accompaniment, a tender bun surrounding delicious bbq pork and fresh crispy veggies. Really nice to have this in the area, certainly looking forward to a return. read more

Ma Mi Eatery - BBQ pork buns. A great contrast of texture and flavor. Really quality stuff. - Vietnamese Near Me - Closter, New Jersey

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No dine -in at the moment, but pre-covid it was a cute little place with limited seating. I've been ordering takeout from here frequently and always order the spicy jerk beef pho ($11) and the jalapeño poppers (4 pieces $5.75). The broth is super tasty and comforting, and you're given a pretty good amount. If you order takeout, the noodles are separated from the soup & meat, and you also get a small bag of bean sprouts, jalapeño slices, cilantro, and packets of hoisin and sriracha. The jalapeño poppers are wonton wrappers filled with cream cheese and jalapeño and then deep fried, served with sweet chili sauce. I also like their pad Thai ($10-$11)! The workers have always been friendly, and they're wearing masks and have a limit to how many people can come in at a time. The orders are set out on their tables for you to pick up, to limit interaction. read more

Ma Mi Eatery - 4 Jalapeno Dumplings Poppers ($5.75) - Vietnamese Near Me - Closter, New Jersey

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We ordered the Spicy Ma Mi Sandwich, Pad Thai Dumplings, Jalapeno Dumplings Poppers, and BBQ Pork Bao Buns - The spicy chicken sandwich and jalapeno dumplings poppers definitely had a good kick to them! I was also surprised at how much flavor the pad thai dumplings had. Overall everything was packaged really well and was super delicious. Can't wait to go back and try more things on their menu! read more

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We order chicken pho, spicy jerk beef pho, and chicken pad Thai. The soups and padthai weren't bad but very very sweet, they added too much sugar to both stocks and the padthai. I think the chicken pho lacked depth of flavor and needed more traditionally spices to bring out the flavor. It felt like they made up for lack of flavor with sugar. The spicy beef pho was more flavorful and better balanced, but still too sugary. The padthai was also overly sweet. It was tasty but could use more spices and only had a few chicken pieces. read more

The food was great! We appreciated the variety of choices to accommodate all of our friend's tastes. The staff was friendly and the food was ready for pickup quickly and still hot by the time we made it home. The space is clean and small, so I felt that my food was safe but consider it more of a to-go restaurant. read more

A surprise find of an interesting concept, Ma Mi is like chipotle of Pho. They have very minimal interior with an order counter and a few seating (at most ~15?) near the windows, with nothing else. It's a place clearly designed for a quick order and pick up. When I ordered my beef pho, I was surprised that they brought out the food in disposable bowls on a tray, with the condiments (sprouts, etc.) pre-packaged in plastic bags resting next to the bowl. A bit of a turnoff but hey, this is their concept that requires minimal wait staff expense. So let's see if the food is worth all that... Well, unfortunately the pho was subpar. Broth was actually okay - a bit light but doable - but the perpetrator of the pho-crime was the noodles. They must've been pre-cooked sitting around because they were overcooked and very limp. Also, I dare say the quality of the noodle they're using is subpar because it just wasn't holding the flavor like other places' pho. It's like I had to slurp the soup to get the flavor. Surprisingly, meat quantity was pretty legit.. they weren't skimping. But the quality of the meat, again, was a bit subpar - dry and less flavorful. More utility-driven meal overall designed to fill my stomach. Interesting concept, but the concept has a specific audience - less discerning patrons of pho that just want a decent bowl of pho at a lower cost and get it quick. I just happened to be not that customer this day. read more

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The Shrimp Pad Thai is horrible. There was hardly any sauce, eggs or shrimp. All I tasted was the dry plain noodles. read more

Ma Mi Eatery - Shrimp Pad Thai - Vietnamese Near Me - Closter, New Jersey

I love the shrimp chips and spicy jerked pho. The regular beef pho is okay but if you really want to try something more signature to the restaurant you'll have the spicy jerked pho. Pick up is smooth and the food is amazing. read more

Ma Mi Eatery - Beef Pho - Vietnamese Near Me - Closter, New Jersey

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So bad that writimg this review seems like a waste of my time. No flavor at all and not authetic. Stay away from this place and spend your money elsewhere that serves good food. read more

Very tasty with a bite! Spring veggie roll was fresh. The pork and spicy beef buns were great. And the ba mi sandwiches were very tasty with a slow heat but very flavorful! Can't wait for winter to try the pho! read more