Chef Mai and her team did an amazing job of catering our 90-person wedding. * Food: Chef Mai created a delicious, personalized, Asian fusion menu for us. Dinner was buffet-style, and so many people went up for seconds and told us how good the food was. * Execution: We had an extremely tight timeline, thanks to the fact that our venue, a museum, didn't close to the public until 5pm. Her team kept everything running smoothly and finished cleaning up well before we needed to be out. * Value: We interviewed 13 (!) wedding caterers. Chef Mai was the only one whose proposal came in under our budget. She went above and beyond to make it work, even arranging to pick up our rentals to save on the delivery cost. Finally, Chef Mai is just a lovely, considerate person. We were taking photos during all of cocktail hour, so we didn't expect to have a chance to try our appetizers, but we found samples of them waiting at our seats when we sat down for dinner. We saw her personally wheeling our wedding cake out to make sure it got to the cake cutting in good shape. And when we badly underestimated how much ice we needed for the bar, she handled it herself so we could enjoy our wedding and only let us know about it the next day. I'm so glad I reached out to Mai's Place Catering - I almost skipped over them because of the lack of a website. They're a hidden gem! read more

Exceeded all expectations. It was the most seamless and stress free experience with a catering company. Safia was quick to respond, provided a menu that was well thought out and incorporated our requirements, and extremely professional. Her staff was efficient and friendly as well. That aside, the food was the hit of the party, even the picky eaters (including children) loved it. Garlic noodles, shrimp, masubi, egg rolls, all of it. Even my Vietnamese dad who forgot his dentures loved the Viet salad goi because he was able to chew it lol. Which is a huge compliment because he never says anything positive. Portion size was generous for a 50 person party and delivery was smooth like butter. Wish I had business cards because everyone asked for contact info. Absolutely will be using Mai's Catering for future parties!!! Can't recommend highly enough. read more

Just picked up a Family Tray for Four from Mai's Place Catering ($60). I usually had trays delivered during the height of the pandemic, but now that some events are opening up, they don't deliver anymore *and* they don't offer the trays for two either. I picked up the tray from San Bruno Market in the Portola District of SF (thank goodness for the parking lot!!). Easy pick-up from a friendly store owner/manager(?). The food is still as good as before. I ordered extra Spam and egg onigiri, but some only came with Spam and no egg; still good, but not *quite* as good!! She also substituted a couple of onigiri for the eggrolls that we don't usually eat, so that's a plus! The tray's presentation was, again, excellent. Garlic noodles were delicious, beef and chicken skewers tender and delectable, cha trung (?) very flavorful, and empanadas yummy! Two of the onigiri are enough for a light lunch, but I tend to eat more than that just because it's so good!! read more

COVID-19 DELIVERY UPDATE   I rarely do updates but Chef Mai SAVED the day today!   For my stepmom's birthday, I ordered a gorgeous cake from a amazingly talented pastry chef to be delivered to her.   Unfortunately, my order couldn't be fulfilled last minute due to a family tragedy (my heart goes out to the chef's family).   As a Virgo who always plans way ahead and writes a to-do list everyday, I was frantic. It was 8 PM last night....the night before her birthday. I decided to text Chef Mai to see if there was any chance she had time to make and deliver a Family Meal to my stepmom for lunch the next day. She texted me back immediately and said, "no problem".   She even asked about my dad's dietary restrictions which I told her to don't worry about. With my last minute order, I didn't want to be difficult.   It's my stepmom's birthday after all so my dad can just watch her eat. Lol!   Chef Mai had the Family Meal delivered to their home HOT before the 11 AM delivery timeframe.   My dad facetimed me while they opened up the family meal and their eyes WIDENED with the spread (this is the picture they sent me): https://bit.ly/2Lk3y1v. The Family Meal B for four included:   Housemade Cha Ca (fish cakes), Housemade Chả Trứng Hấp (meatloaf), Chả Giò (fried egg rolls), Bò Lá Lốt (grilled beef wrapped in betel leaf), Bánh Bôt Loc (shrimp & pork tapioca dumplings), Tiger Prawns, Lemongrass Beef, Bánh Hỏi (woven rice noodles), and myriad of fresh veggies and herbs to make wraps.   This entire spread was only $65 including tax and delivery!   She even threw in an order of Bánh Nậm (Vietnamese "tamales" filled w/ pork & shrimp) on the house for her birthday.   Since COVID, both my stepmom and dad have barely left the house (only for walks). They haven't had Vietnamese food since February so it was real treat for them...especially since some of the Hue specialties can't be found in SF.   Chef Mai doesn't get the recognition and exposure that she deserves. Her catering business is super under the radar (no IG, no website) and is based on word of mouth. During COVID, she pivoted to food delivery because of cancelled weddings and large events. I found her on a FB COVID Food Group. She posts weekly menus on her FB page: https://m.facebook.com/maisplacecatering/. She offers an array of Vietnamese homestyle dishes. She even has Com Tấm, broken rice plates; this is the only place in SF that has it. I've seen people post asking for a very specific Vietnamese regional dish and she makes it happen. All her prices include delivery and she now delivers all over the Bay Area - 3 entree minimum for SF - Burlingame deliveries and 4 entree minimum for deliveries to Oakland, Hayward, Peninsula, and all the way to Man Jose. Text or email your order to her. Payment via Venmo. Chef Mai's Vietnamese food is legit as you can get in SF without having to go all the way to E Man Jose.   With the lockdown back in full force again, it's the perfect opportunity to order some of Chef Mai's delicious Vietnamese dishes delivered right to the comfort of your couch. read more

Mai's Place Catering - Chef Mai came to the rescue last minute and had this Family Meal prepared and delivered to my stepmom for her birthday! - Caterers Near Me - San Francisco, California

Had a great experience with Chef Mai, the food, and the service. We were preparing catering for a baby shower for about 40 guests only a few weeks before the event and fortunately Chef Mai had availability. She was very responsive over fb messenger and email through the whole process. She sent over sample menus that I was able to look through. I selected some key dishes that I wanted and she was able to figure out the quantities for each and recommended a salad as well. I was a bit nervous about ordering food for this event without being able to taste test it, but based on the reviews and pictures I was hopeful. And the food did not disappoint! The guests and I loved the food. And it was also all very well presented (with their full service staff on site for the entire event). The service was also quick and professional. We were hosting in a condo building and they had no problems making multiple trips up the residential elevators in our building's common areas to set up the food. Everything was seamless and I didn't have to worry about anything. Would recommend Chef Mai for other small events! read more

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After two years of planning a COVID wedding, Safia and her team worked on my wedding during the Labor Day weekend in 2021. From my experience (as well as my wedding planner's experience), Safia was a pleasure to work with - flexible, creative, and trustworthy. There were a few obstacles with the venue, but as a bride - I felt very comfortable in Safia's hands. She's a pro! She also made me think about making better choices for my guests and I cannot thank her enough for that. The food was amazing - shout out to the duck bao buns, tuna tartare, and bo la lot - my favorites! The last thing I wanted to note was that Safia was extremely flexible during the two-year postponed planning period. We heard horror stories about wedding vendors from our friends and family and am grateful it was so easy with our vendors, especially with Safia and her team. I would highly recommend Safia and her team to work on your next event! read more

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This review is three months late but I wanted to give Chef Mai all the credit she deserves for executing the MOST BEAUTIFUL and MOST DELICIOUS bridal shower spread I've ever seen! I had my bridal shower in June of 2021 and right off the bat, Chef Mai was the most responsive caterer I've communicated with. She answered all my phone calls (even when she's on the road) and was able to whip up a scrumptious menu within hours of speaking with her. I had a very vague idea of what I wanted for my brunch themed bridal shower but after speaking with Chef Mai, she confidently knew and understood what I was envisioning. This is what she prepared for me: Smoked Salmon Mini Bagel Board, Spam & Tamago Onigiri, Mushroom Onigiri, Bacon Devil Egg, Bulgogi Quesadilla , Ham & Cheese Omelette Cup, Chicken & Pandan Waffle w/ Pecan Maple Syrup, and a Fruit Cup. THE FOOD: Y'ALL! My mouth watered reading her proposal and all for a very reasonable price. She is very honest and transparent with her prices and she lays them all out in the proposal, meaning no hidden fees! She also does her best to work with your budget (and mine was very small). I've spoken to several caterers before her but none of them gave me such a delectable selection of food for such a fair price. Everything was just delicious! My favorite was the Chicken and Pandan Waffles but honestly, everybody loved everything and all my guests asked for her business card after. Not to mention, her presentation was just stunning! She brought her own platters and decor and beautifully put together an aesthetic spread that was not only delicious to eat but fun to look at. THE SERVICE: Not only does Chef Mai make awesome food, but her service and professionalism are unparalleled. She and her team arrived on time and they STAYED for the entire duration of my party to serve guests, clean up, and even consolidated extra food for to-go. They constantly replenished the table and even though I didn't go through her for my desserts, she and her team took the initiative to keep refilling the dessert platters and make EXTRA charcuterie cones which my mom and I made. All I can say is, I am beyond pleased with her service and could not refer her enough! If you read this far, just contact Chef Mai and book her. You will definitely not regret it. I am so happy to have found a reliable and amazing caterer. I will absolutely be hiring her again for my future parties. Thank you so much Chef Mai for everything. You are truly the BEST! read more

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We recently hired Chef Mai and her team to cater a 75-person family/friends gathering at a venue in Mill Valley, and she and her team have delivered a wonderful experience. The communication with Chef Mai has been prompt, and she has been able to work/adjust within our budget. The Vietnamese meal has been presented wonderfully, and the food itself has been delicious. Even my food-connoisseur-restauranteur family is impressed. Overall, we have thoroughly enjoyed our experience with Chef Mai and will definitely hire her again if need arises in the future. Highly recommend!!! read more

Discovered Mai's Place Catering through the Bay Area Eats FB page. Ordering was very easy - texted Chef Safia what I wanted and she responded right away to confirm the order and send payment information. This was such a treat! Our first time having Vietnamese food since the pandemic started (most restaurants require pick-up or use 3rd parties for delivery). The "Tray A" family meal was home-delivered yesterday and so delicious (and affordable)! It serves 4 (though we had plenty of leftovers) and included: - Lemongrass Beef Skewers - Chicken Kabob Skewers - Spam Onigiri - Philly Empanadas - Imperial Rolls - Garlic Noodles - Eggloaf Also added a side order of Nem Nuong (which came with rice paper, vermicelli, herbs, and other goodies). We're still enjoying leftovers today! The Spam Onigiri, Imperial Rolls, Garlic Noodles, Philly Empanadas and Chicken Kabobs were our favorites. Will try the Nem Nuong later today. The tray arrived ready to heat and was home-delivered during the lunch hour. Support your local businesses! read more

Mai's Place Catering - Nem Nuong - Caterers Near Me - San Francisco, California

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My son wanted traditional Vietnamese food for his Bar Mitzvah party and Chef Mai delivered! We hosted 80 guests and everything was perfect. The planning was smooth, Chef Mai was very professional and easy to work with. The service was amazing, the room was gorgeous, and everyone RAVED about the food. And in the end, I didn't have to bus one thing or clean at all. HUGE thank you to Chef Mai and team. I recommend them highly for any of your catering needs. THANK YOU so much Mai's Place Catering. read more

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Mai is my holy grail of caterers. We do a ton of entertaining, at least once a month, we throw anything from fancy dinner parties for 12 to a Halloween party for 100. Along the way, I tried at least 10 different caterers, from big name caterers on the approved vendor list for all the SF museums to smaller caterers with good ratings on Yelp. Now I've met Mai, I'm never going anywhere else again. She has done 6 parties for me in 2018 and they have all been flawless with endless compliments from the guests. 1. The lady can cook! She has terrific range, uses only the freshest ingredients and makes pretty much everything from scratch herself. 2 Reliable and responsive. I never worry about whether the food will be ready or will the presentation be pretty... etc. She hits perfection every time. 3. Excellent value. Mai can work with most reasonable budgets and produce something above expectations. I've worked with many other caterers who charged way more and delivered pitifully less. 4. Great staff. Mai works with her family and her operation has a close knit family vibe which I love. 5. Creativity. For my Halloween party, Mai covered plastic skulls with prosciutto to create a fun themed display. She used black olives to create spiders on top of the flat bread. There was also a gumbo station with a witch's brew theme in the back yard. The food was delicious and fun - a terrific enhancement to our Halloween party! I use to dread big parties because catering is always so stressful. Now that I found Mai, I cannot be happier, she is my Mary Poppins for all my entertaining needs. Thank you Mai! read more

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A couple of months into the pandemic, I was getting damn tired of my own cooking. Then one May day, my sister piggybacked on her friend's order from Mai's Place Catering's Family Meal Program. After my first bowl, I was hooked, and joined the FB Group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/244887736876982/), so I could see the weekly menus. Being in deep Pacifica, I'm super appreciative that she delivers to us, as our delivery and takeout options are limited. We try to make it worth her while by combining our orders with another family and my parents. Some of my favorites include: - Ox Tail Pho with Tai and Bo Vien (love at first bite) - Duck Banh Cuon - Bo Ko (Vietnamese Beef Stew) - Thai Beef Salad - Empanadas (Spicy Philly Cheesesteak FTW) - Mai's Famous Lasagna (a little sweet, but so good) - Beef Stew - Pho Ga My family also likes the seafood dishes, like the Hu Tieu Nam Vang. I'm missing out though because I've developed a tragic seafood allergy. Play a small violin for me. Anyway, I'm so happy we discovered Mai. I'm not sure what life will look like post-pandemic, but I'll keep ordering Family Meals from her as long as she continues doing it. When she stops doing Family Meals, I'll look forward to her catering one of my post-pandemic social events! read more

We were lucky to cross paths with Ms Mai during SIP on a friend's recommendation. Her weekly menus were diverse & creative. She had something for everyone's taste buds at our house. Deliveries were extremely punctual. I may not be able to pronounce everything we ordered but they were all delish. Safia, we wish you continued success. read more

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My husband and I worked with Mai for a big milestone birthday party. She was a joy to work with and made our event a smashing success. She worked with us to design a fun menu based on our "Crazy Rich Asians" themed party. Everyone thought the food was delicious. The buffet table was beautifully decorated. She took care of every detail so we didn't have to worry about anything. Her staff was professional and took really good care of our guests. I would highly recommend Mai for your next catering event. read more

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We had Safia cater our wedding for 50 people. She was very thoughtful and help us come up with a menu that fit within our budget. Not only was there more than enough food. Everyone couldn't stop talking about how good the food was. I definitely recommend her for any catering needs. She went above and beyond for us!!!! read more

Mai was recommended to me by a friend when I needed catering for my company holiday party. I reached out to Mai with my budget, which was quite low, but she was able to come up with a menu for my budget. She is quick, picked up the phone right away and was able to send over a proposal the same day with two menu options. She gave me two options that were completely different types of food. I was impressed with her service and what she came up with. Food was great, she even dropped off for free! She was very helpful when relaying info regarding the catering food to the servers at the venue of my event. Great service and great food! Will be back for future catering needs! read more

I was heavily involved with the planning of my wedding this year. My wife and I wanted to do a champagne hour instead of the traditional cocktail hour after the ceremony. Along with the champagne pour, we also wanted fruits and cheeses to be served to compliment the champagne I was providing. With the recommendation from my wedding coordinator, Sheila Dizon, I received a quote from Safia of Mai's Place Catering. Based on the research from other catering companies & purchasing the fruits/cheeses myself, the quote was more affordable than my research. When the day came, I was speechless. Safia and her team went above and beyond my expectations. I still don't even know how to describe how beautiful and extravagant everything looked. The fruit was fresh and cheese/meat selection was delicious. Along with the catering, the champagne pour & clean up was included. I want to throw another event just to hire Mai's Place Catering again! Thank you Safia. read more

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I found Mai's catering through a yelp search and I couldn't be happier with her food for our rehearsal dinner. I'm Vietnamese and married a German and wanted my new German family to try authentic Vietnamese food. Unfortunately, the Vietnamese restaurants are sparse with either hole in the wall joints in the Tenderloin or over the top pricey a la Slanted Door. We decided to try Mai's Place and couldn't be happier. Mai came up with an authentic menu and it was a crowd pleaser. Not only that, she is very generous in her portions. Everyone raved about it and it was a cultural experience for everyone. She's so friendly, professional, and reliable and I'm trying to get her to be one of the vendors that my work caters from :) Can't wait to have Mai cater our next event! read more

Mai's Place Catering - Mai's menu for our wedding rehearsal dinner. - Caterers Near Me - San Francisco, California

I was on the hunt for a cater/coordinator for my wedding this past fall when I came across Mai's Place. Once I met with Safia I knew she was the one who could execute and add to my vision. With her team, she literally made my dream wedding come to life. The details she put into our customized menu along with the service have left my guest and family raving for weeks and weeks. More than anything, I am so thankful to have met her and work with such a beautiful sweet person. I live out of state and to have someone like Safia that stayed in constant communication with the venue, all of the other vendors and me, made the planning experience smooth and seamless. THANK YOU, Safia!!!!! You are truly gifted and an amazing person. http://www.oaklandpost.org/2017/10/30/meet-moores-millennials-wedding-blends-traditional-new-visions/ read more

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My partner and I hired Chef Mai (aka Safia) for our son's first birthday and Baptism celebration. From beginning to end, Chef Mai and her team delivered. We wanted a specific theme for our event, but needed someone who understood our vision. We are so grateful that we found Chef Mai. The food was delicious and the presentation was gorgeous! Also, her staff were very diligent, hard working and helped the event go smoothly. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts Chef Mai! You and your team definitely contributed to the success of our memorable milestone event. read more

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This year I decided to do a private dinner event for my Thanksgiving. We had a sit down dinner for 16 adults and 5 kids. Mai arrived well before her scheduled time to start her set up. We had an immaculate cheese and charcuterie station set up, followed by passed hors doeuvres that was on point. My family had the pleasure of eating a great dish of duck confit with parsley purée with a red wine reduction. Everyone was floored. The presentation was great as well. What I wanted was for my guests to feel that they were graced with a fine dining type of experience instead of food in an aluminum tray ( which is how a lot of huge get togethers do their events) and Mai was able to deliver on all points : taste, presentation, execution. I am an event planner as well and so I will be sure to continue to work with her for my future events. The great thing about Mai is that the variety in menus that she can create to fulfill your event. Whether it's California cuisine to Southeast Asia, she can do it! I can't wait to have more of her creations in the future! Great job! read more

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Everything from Mai's is amazing. I highly recommend. You have to order 2 days in advance. She also does family platters. read more

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I picked up some Vietnamese food from mai and it was awesome. I ordered the Bo La Lot and it was amazing. I will definitely try all of the food in the menu. read more

This review is long overdue. Chef Mai catered a lovely cocktail reception for our organization. She worked with us to accommodate all of our dietary restrictions, helped us stay in budget, and provided great service from her team's prompt arrival to tidying up the kitchen and loading out. We really appreciated her team and attention to detail, and our guests all raved about the delicious treats. The fried coconut prawns and fresh spring rolls were a big hit! Thank you Chef Mai! read more

Mai was such a pleasure to work with! Our original caterer backed out 3 months ahead of our wedding and it turned out to be just fine because we found Mai. She was super communicative, thoughtful, and generous. She helped us build out our menu based on our budget without ever sacrificing quality. Her service went beyond our expectations and everyone loved the food! We really felt cared for by Mai and never had to worry about any little details or logistics. She is a complete professional who also makes you feel like family. We definitely recommend her for any catered events! read more

Mai's food is amazing! I decided to throw a party and didn't know what I should have on the menu. When I spoke to Mai she was attentive to any ideas I had and since I wanted food that was healthy she helped me come up with a menu. Everyone loved her food at the party because it was consumed very quickly. Thank you again! read more

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Safia and her team helped me out with a holiday office party for a pretty well known tech company. I had scrambled to find a caterer who could help me in such short notice and she was able to do this successfully with flying colors. The food was fantastic, the decorations were spot on, and you could tell a lot of thought went into the presentation. I would recommend Safia and Mai's Place catering to anyone! Alex read more

I've used Mai several times for work events - each time, she was above and beyond expectations. The food is fabulous, so good a coworker wanted to use her for his wedding. Her service is kind, flexible, accommodating, reliable. And it's not just your normal cheese and charcuterie on a plate, her food is super gourmet, delicious. AND her cuisine style is so broad! I think she can cook anything well! I always look forward to a work budget where I can call on her again! read more

I had the pleasure of going to quite a few of her catering events through friends and I am simply amazed by the diversity of the food. Anything and Everything she makes is delicious! Very professional and staff are extremely friendly. read more

We've used Mai's Place on multiple occasions both for private and business parties, and would highly recommend their services. Great, high-quality food with lots of variety with excellent and speedy service - and the price is right. Mai's Place can handle catering at corporate parties professionally and in a dependable way. read more

I can't say enough what a pleasure it was to have Mai cater a few events I had. Highly recommended!!! Food was delicious and very flavorful. She was very professional and prompt. Not 1 person was left hungry and we still had a lot of leftovers. She was quick when prepping appetizers followed by main courses afterwards..and let's not forget about the desserts...yummy. Thank you Mai! I know I'll continue to use your wonderful services. read more

Love Mai's food. She always have so many varieties. Very professional and super friendly. I highly recommend her.

I had the pleasure of attending a couple of party that Mai's Place Catering did. Food was alway great and fresh. very professionally done also. presentation is always at it best. if you like Vietnamese food I don't know any other catering that can provide the high quality that mai can. but they do provide anything that you ask. always a pleasure to talk to mai. very professional and friendly. if you plan a party and don't want to deal with the headache of cooking all day and then dealing with all the guest. call Mai and you just need to worry about entertaining guest and all the preparation, cooking, table setting will be taken care of just sit and have a great time with your guest. highly recommend. just look at all the pic of the food. We plan to use Mai many more times. Thanksgiving and x-mas around the corner guess who getting a call. But seriously the food is great. Mai and her staff is friendly, polite and prices is very reasonable. take the headache of the food out and just enjoy the fun that the best part. read more

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Mai has catered several events for me and she is the best! She is very professional, always on time and her food is tasty. She is my go to caterer! read more

Every Family Event ..... We always use Mai's Place Catering. Not only is the food so good! But she doesn't skimp on portions. We feel that we always get our money's worth and good service as well. She also does private chef sit-down dinners and as big as weddings. THIS is definitely Gourmet Home Style Cooking just like mom's!! Check her out! read more

Mai's catering service Is the best experience I've tasted and witnessed thus far. I would totally recommend everyone to try It out If they haven't yet. read more

Everytime we had Mai's cooking it always taste full of authentic flavors! It is delicious every single time. Just writing this review and thinking about all the food she makes is making my mouth water. She makes most of her dishes from scratch. It is made with love and comes from the heart. Try it and find out for yourself! You would not regret. read more