With all the choices around downtown, Madame Saigon is one of the best ones out there. The spicy lemongrass chicken Bahn Mi is absolutely delicious: not too heavy and just the perfect size. The bread is toasted on the outside and fluffy inside, the pickled daikon and carrot are sweet and crunchy, and the cucumber/cilantro add some necessary freshness. The employees are curt but sweet, just trying to get you your food asap. They have some grab and go items available but otherwise I'd avoid busy lunchtimes between 12-1pm. They also have sauces like fish sauce, sriracha, chili paste, and hoisin next to chop sticks and napkins. I can't wait to come back to try more items! read more

Madame Saigon - Spicy Lemongrass Chicken Bahn Mi - Vietnamese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

It's Friday night and I'm home thinking about a combination sandwich from Madame Saigon. The combo sandwich was so good. I loved the long thin bread. It's super crunchy on the outside and soft inside. The pickles carrot and daikon was sweet and crunchy. There was some sliced pork, nice fatty pork. The vegetable bao was also good. The sandwich and bao were served warm. The bread was super fluffy. There's the downtown office building location on Hotel and Bishop Street, too. There, the fragrance of the soup broth punches you in the face as you walk past. It's unfortunate that the Ala Moana location is a downsized outpost. I would have loved to sample more of their foods. Given for what it is, it's well worth trying out what they have here. Kudos to the two servers there. The punched out those orders quickly and with care. Thanks. read more

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It's food court dining so of course you shouldn't have high expectations but this was pretty horrible. I paid $30 for combo pho and some dim sum. Dim sum was siu mai and shrimp har gow. It was cold... so the wrappers were tough so I save it till I got home to heat it up. The combo pho was okay, flavor of the broth was very cinammonny (Is that even a word?) and sweet. Doesn't have any seafood in this combo, just some pieces of flank steak and more tripe than anything. For the price I paid, I was very disappointed. read more

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I used to get banh mi sandwiches all the time from Ba-Le. Too bad so many of them closed shop. My fave was the steamed pork (cha lua). Of course I had to try the one from here at Makai Market. Their banh mi sandwich is really good. They didn't have the steamed pork, so I got the bbq chicken. They toasted the bread and put mayo on it. Then, in went the veggies, picked carrots and daikon, and the chicken. The pork spring rolls were also very yummy. Don't forget to ask for the dipping sauce. I would definitely eat here again, especially since I live at the mall, lol. read more

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We ordered the lemongrass Tofu Ban Mi, Veggie Bao, and Vegetable spring rolls and all were really good! I mean we were impressed with how good everything tasted that we would definitely go back and eat here again. Food came out in a timely manner, there was a line which meant that I wouldn't worry about how much they're pumping out, if in case they have tons of left over food.- so not the case. I didn't realize but there was another menu I. The back side for noodles, pho, etc. Awesome!! I'm happy cause they cater to vegan/vegetarian peeps and it was so tasty so I know even meat eaters and non-meat eaters would be happy too! Can you imagine it's only 2 older ladies running the show and banging it out like nothing! They do a good job. read more

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Well ... this rating is quite divided but overall soup broth: amazing and authentic, noodles: incorrect, used pho noodles instead of vermicelli. Temperature was luke warm at best, undercooked noodles. Staff was friendly but overall too many options to have to come here. read more

Madame Saigon - Bun Bo Hue - Vietnamese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

OWoW! Tofu Lemongrass Bahn Mi YUM! The baguette rolls have a delicious crackly outside, soft, airy texture inside and...surround the umami lemongrass tofu, tangy slightly sweet Vietnamese pickled daikon, carrots and cilantro. It's big size but delicate enough that I ate the whole thing! And I went back the next day for another one! Staff are the sweetest!! Healthy eating Bahn mi so good! read more

Madame Saigon - Tofu Lemongrass Bahn Mi - Vietnamese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I love Ban Mi sandwiches so when my wife and I were last at the Ala Moana Makai Foodcourt I opted for a sandwich at Miss Saigon. They have a selection of remade sandwiches in a glass case and they bake it after you made your selection. The size was generous but it tasted just OK. It did not satisfy my craving for a good Ban Mi sandwich. read more

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Food pretty good, service on this Saturday evening horrible. I don't expect much with fast food, but acknowledge when I'm at the register. Say thank you after I order. C'mon, lady. Will not be back. Cannot recommend. read more

Came here twice in the last month.... Delish. Located right in the middle of busy ala Moana Makai food court is this gem of a bahn mi place. It's a walk up counter with quick service. I was a bit nervous because the sandwiches are premade, but they are so busy and go through them quickly so they are super fresh. The service was fantastic. The aunties were so nice. The baguette was fresh and the meat was not overpowering... just the perfect crunch, soft, crisp bahn mi ratio. Tip: these sandwiches do not come with jalapeños automatically, so you have to request it. The aunty was super sweet and gave me a side jalapeño, no charge. The ambience is always booming in alas food court so this is a nice spot to get in and out of quickly for a decent price and delish meal. read more

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First time here. Located literally in the center of the food court at Ala Moana Center. I'm not a big fan of food courts. This restaurant is an example of why I don't like them. They are trying to serve "fast" food for something that isn't meant to be served fast. I ordered the beef banh mi sandwich. From what I could tell, the sandwich had been prepared ahead of time and put into the toaster oven once I ordered it. For what I paid, I expect a bit more effort in the food preparation. The taste was decent but very mediocre for the banh mi sandwiches I've had in my life. Also, there was one person handling both the food and money. I don't like that. I've seen this before. She had a glove on one hand - that hand is used for food prep. The ungloved hand is used for money. I'm crossing this place off my list. read more

Came here 3 times last week! Their vegetable and lemongrass tofu is my favorite! Their hot sauce is a must! The heat makes you want to eat more! Lol. For me, the veggies in their banh mis are pickled perfectly and they are very generous with the portions. The lady who's helped me everytime I went is very sweet and helpful. I first ordered the veggie banh mi but the second time I went, the lady suggested I try the tofu which I did. And the third I went, I ordered the tofu banh mi and made sure I took a picture. I haven't tried anything else but I plan to go back the next time I'm in town. read more

Madame Saigon - Tofu banh mi. The chili sauce on the side is a must! - Vietnamese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Quick bite at the food court. I wanted something warm and chicken pho was calling me. We order the bbq pork ban mi and pho. Everything was made in advanced thus microwaved food. If you are looking for legit Vietnamese flavors then this is the closest. I haven't had this cuisine here in Waikiki so it was good for us. Chicken in the pho was a little dry but broth and noodles made up for it. Dip the meat in the hoisin sauce or hot sauce and it covered the taste. Good cheap eats! read more

Madame Saigon - Chicken pho plus condiments - Vietnamese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Wow The service is awesome Courteous worker Very presentable location Clean surroundings Above all food is awesome read more

Madame Saigon - Beef stew with rice noodle Yummy - Vietnamese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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5 stars because they turned out delicious food using minimal space and kitchen equipment. I had beef pho and the Special ban mi. Everything was tasty and fresh, portions were ample. Staff very friendly. Yeah my go to Ala Moana viet grinds. read more

LOVE!! First of all, the owner is SO nice and professional! I was passing through the food court one day when I realize Madame Saigon replaced Rainbow Burrito in the food court. I decided to try this Vietnamese place out the next day after finishing work. It was so good that I brought my sister with me on my second visit and the owner instantly remembered me, it was a really nice feeling. I was able to talk to her during their downtime and it's amazing what you can learn about a place. They serve a lot more than what they currently have listed on the menu, you just have to ask. For instance, I asked the lady if they could make a vermicelli dish and she said yes! Usually, dishes like that are made to order. I was able to try out the BBQ chicken & spring roll vermicelli combo and a special combination banh mi sandwich, BOTH DID NOT DISAPPOINT. Also, keep in mind that since they're working out of a small kiosk, there's limited space to store all the ingredients, so NOT everything from the downtown location's menu will be available to order. FYI, the "special" sandwich is the same as the "combination" sandwich, the term is used interchangeably. Most of their banh mi Vietnamese sandwiches are $12.50 as of May 2022. There are some already made that are displayed in the display case, very quick to grab if you're in a hurry. OR you can have the workers make it to order too! It's what you'd expect for a banh mi, which is great if you're craving for one. I'm genuinely excited and happy that there's now a Vietnamese (fast food-ish) place in the food court! read more

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I've been here a couple times and go the lemon grass chicken banh mi. It's not bad but nothing special neither. The bad review is for the lack of good customer service. The lady shows no appreciation towards the customer. No thank you, no friendly service. When you pay with a card, it's asks how much tip you want to leave. For what? Poor customer service? You haven't tasted the food yet! So it's an entitlement? Take this peddling BS off your machines. Your banh Mia is already over 13$ after taxes. Ridiculous read more

Okay skeptical am I when I see a Vietnamese place at a food court. To me there is no such thing as good Vietnamese fast food pho. Banh mi, yes. Pho, no. However my son loves pho so I ordered it in hopes that he would just eat it no matter how it tasted. I ordered the beef pho and the BBQ pork banh mi. It got the pho and it had all the elements of real pho, even the basil that she put in right before sealing it up for me. I usually test out the broth to see how good it is before you need to add the condiments. To my surprise, the broth was actually really good. Maybe because I came in with such low expectations, but I would definitely eat it again. Of course my son loved it and wanted more. The banh mi itself was also very authentic and delicious. I'm from San Jose, CA with one of the largest Vietnamese communities so I do know a thing or two about real Vietnamese food. The sandwich tasted just like on of the places that I often go to in SJ. Give this place a try if you are craving Vietnamese food. I'm pretty sure this beats most of the other places in the food court. read more

Didnt get to try it- stiod in line for a few minutes then when all customers were served the two ladies who were working there on 8/23/22 at 5 pm ignored me - so I stood there for another 5 minutes and walked away read more

Amazing lemongrass tofu banh mi. The bread makes or breaks the sandwich and this had the perfect ratio of crunch and softness. The pickled veggies and tofu were seasoned perfectly. The employees were engaging and happy. As far as ambiance, it's a mall so a clean table is readily accessible. I just love the fact that the whole family can grab food from anywhere and sit together to enjoy it. read more

Been here several times. The manager/owner is usually in a bad mood twice requested fresh jalapeños and extra Chinese parsley and both time missing! Finally today after confirming 3X I got the jalapeños! I paid 1.00 more but no extra Chinese parsley? The sandwiches are delicious or I wouldn't be back due to the service. There spring rolls are also good. The tiny container of hot sauce with barely a drop in it is not enough for the sandwich when requesting 2 she gets mad. Geez? The person making the sandwich doesn't seem to speak English, but she was pleasant so I left her a few dollars tip. Not sure I'd come back here unfortunately due to the attitude. I give it 3.5 stars. Not sure how to leave a half star. read more

The staff/owners behind the counter are kind and attentive people, I particularly enjoyed their earnest service. The food was disappointing on both occasions I have visited the food stall. The first time was pho and spring rolls, which the spring roll wasn't crispy and the pho was bland. I thought to myself that maybe this wasn't speciality, and I should open myself up to try their other items. The second time I visited was more recent (within the past few days of this review), and I was met with more disappointment as I ordered a $14 Banh mi. It's my favorite thing to order from a Vietnamese restaurant, so I was expecting soft, crunch bread with generous fresh fillings of deli meat and pâté, with pickled vegetables. Instead, the banh mi was already made from the refrigerated display, and put into the toaster oven. The results were stale and warm bread with cold vegetables and lukewarm meat. It was the most expensive banh mi I bought on this island and the worst I've had to this date. If the owners read this, I believe your food has a lot of potential if made to order, despite the time it would take. This is within the Ala Moana food court next to Holy Cow! (Which I stopped by next because I was still hungry), so the ambiance is typical bustling mall crowd with plenty of tables being switched out from other parties. It can get packed, so be ready to take your food to-go or a couple minutes to find your table. read more

I don't know how I should rate this place. For a banh mi place in the mall, I think it's pretty good. It's overly pricey and average tasting but for the mall I think it's fine. It's so convenient some times I just pick it up occasionally. I have favorites elsewhere but it's fine. It's fine. read more

Been past a few times, never very busy when I'm passing. I was missing out. The bahn mi is freaking yummy! Ive only tried the bbq chicken, but I plan to try more. It's super filling. I've been her 2 Saturdays in a row now. My new fav spot at the food court! read more

Madame Saigon - Vietnamese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I got a lemongrass chicken banh mi. The chicken was thinly sliced & generously stuffed with pickled vegetables & cilantro. Very tasty ! This is a very popular and beloved eatery that's already established downtown (pioneer plaza & Bishop square). I'm so happy to see them here at Ala Moana Makai food court. Can't wait to back for another banh mi ! read more

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I am obsessed with their combo bahn mi.... The pate is soooo yummy !!! The shrimp dumplings are yummy too!! I go there a few times a week since I work in the mall... so darn good!!! The chili oil is also AMAZING! read more

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As a Vietnamese person, this is Garbage Vietnamese food with nasty service. All of the sandwiches are pre-made and then tossed into a toaster oven, to hide the soggy sandwich --- because they are premade with the veg and pickles. Over-priced at 14 dollars for a special. Spend your money elsewhere where they turn out a better product and are polite. read more

BBQ Pork Banh Mi is my favorite. Tasty and filling. Polite and good customer service. Would recommend. read more

One of the best options in the food court. I have been a big fan of Madame Saigon even when they only had 2 downtown locations, so I was very excited to find out they opened another one in the mall. The sandwiches here are soooo good and the bread is nice and crispy. A variety of options and they even serve other dishes like pho (which I haven't gotten around to try yet, but it's probably just as good). read more

Another location of Madame Saigon now open for the past 2 weeks at Ala Moana food court. Since I no longer work in downtown, this is a huge perk for me to come here and get my banh mi fix! Also, you don't have to pay for parking which is a plus! The owner is super sweet per usual and was working when I stopped by. The picture does look a little deceiving like it's a small portion - but it really isn't! It is very filling and long! I got the tuna which is my normal favorite and the combo (special) for my husband. Please go support this small business! They hope to open an actual store in the mall in the near future. read more

Madame Saigon - Vietnamese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Nice looking display of Bahn mi offering so tried it. Sandwich was toasted and nicely wrapped, bread was toasty and crispy. Paid a premium, and expected the usual made to order fair like its competitors, no such luck. Sandwich was pre-made, cold inside, over cooked and definitely sat there for a while. Bad, bad effort of fast food Bahn mi. Never going back here again. Lesson learned. If I wanted pre-made sandwich, I can go to ABC stores and pay half the price. read more

The BAHN MI SPECIAL sandwich I had for lunch was very good and most importantly fresh tasting throughout. WELL DONE

Best banh mi and spring rolls here! They make their own bread everyday and the ingredients are fresh! I always get the bbq pork sandwich and some spring rolls to share. The dipping sauce is amazing!!! And the owner is super nice!! Give this place a try and they are available on Uber Eats if you want it delivered!! read more