Fantastic Vietnamese in Wast Village. The poached shrimp salad is an amazing light salad; I didn't…read moreexpect the various ingredients to complement each other as well as they did. The morning glory was good, but a little bland. The grilled pork noodles were fantastic; the broth, pork, and vermicelli all tasted delicious separately and together. The service was a bit rushed and disappointing. We had a couple people each waiting to use the bathroom after dinner, and the second our last person got back to the table, the waiter appeared and rushed us out. It's not our fault that there's only one bathroom for the entire restaurant...

Okay this is like my place for pho and their addictive shrimp chips. I haven't been back here for a…read moreminute, and I wanted to say some things fell flat here for me. The shrimp chips are still good, but no longer addictive. Like I felt like they went a bit light handed on the seasoning this time around. Not to mention the egg cream coffee didn't taste good anymore. It didn't taste very eggy and neither did the coffee. I should have looked over at their menu more carefully, so that's my fault for not realizing they changed their Clams flavour. It is now stewed tomatos with anchovy. Gosh, I didn't like this flavouring at all, and it was overly salty to me. The pho was no longer phoing for me. Like it used to be the better tasting pho in NY, but now I don't know, it is kind of on the same level as the Chinatown ones now. Was it a bad day or did they change chefs? What happened here?

The Viet game in NYC is coming up and Madame Vo is one of them. The thing is that it's so pricey…read morecompared to other spots, so the Vietnamese scene also becomes a more elevated version with nicer aesthetics too. I've been craving some noodle soup, so came here for their Bun Bo Hue ($22). I did look over at a neighbor's Pho with the Shortrib, which looked amazing. Luckily, we were able to add the Shortrib ($10) to the bun bo hue soup too. That shortrib fell off the bone and was so tender. It's a great way to add extra protein in your meal. I also loved the flavors of the bun bo hue broth making this soup so comforting. We also shared the Com Suon Nuong ($24), which is their pork chop rice. Now usually I find pork chop a bit dry, but they grilled and marinated theirs perfectly. The meat was so tender and tasty and left me wanting more. Both of these dishes were wonderful with the most tender meat and I'd be back for them again. We also had some appetizers which were just ok. They were nice to share and snack on before our meal, but could also live without it. We had the Banh Xeo ($17) and Banh Knot ($16). They both come with veggies to make into a wrap. I do wish they gave some extra lettuce or rice paper so it was easier to wrap into a roll. The main courses are the star here, especially any of their meat dishes.

Swung by one evening for dinner with my cousins, and I thought it was really good. I appreciated…read morehow well the menu was marked for dietary restrictions like vegan or gluten-free, and the food was tasty. I ordered a vermicelli dish w/ grilled pork and enjoyed it! Prices were on the high side, but that comes w/ the territory. Ambiance was really nice too - I'm starting to see more nicer Vietnamese places coming up, which is cool. This one has a nicer vibe than most I've been to in and around Philly, though. I guess that's to be expected of NYC. Service was really prompt as well, and the staff was very friendly. I would consider another meal there!

Co Lac was both refined in taste yet homey in experience and that is a real winner in my books…read more The inside was beautifully decorated, the servers were super warm but both carried an air of elegance! The food was overall great. I especially loved the banh ram it because it was so crunchy and salty. The pho stir fry was also very tasty. The steak was a bit dry unfortunately, but would still come back and try the other dishes!

I enjoyed dining here! Very chill atmosphere, excellent service and great food…read more Came in the evening with a reservation and the staff was very welcoming and accommodating. My friend hasn't arrived yet and they kindly seated me anyway. I ordered a mocktail and checked out the menus. There was also a letter explaining a bit more about the restaurant and the concept which I appreciated. We shared scotch eggs and for the main I ordered Canard Saigon. The duck was glazed in 5 spice sauce, there were some veggies and saucy noodles as well. Presentation was perfect! It was all very beautifully arranged and thought out...I appreciate the artistic quality of the food. It also tasted so good with all the flavors profiles. The restaurant itself is excellent but I think it doesn't make sense for a neighborhood like Alphabet city. It's casual and relaxed there and a high end approach doesn't truly fit. If this was a tier down spot then people would absolutely come and enjoy the fusion Vietnamese concept like Co Lac.

I made a reservation for 1 for a Saturday lunch at 12:00 PM. Not sure if the reservation was…read moreneeded, but the restaurant was crowded as I finished up. I given a brief rundown of how the restaurant worked, then left to fill out my ordering card. The seating is short chairs and you may be sharing a table or bar type seating. I ordered the date drink and one of the sharables . When my food was served, person working asked me if I'd eaten this before, and when I said no she instructed me to mix the fermented shrimp paste until it became frothy and then to dip the items in the paste. She also let me know there were other sauce options (fish and soy) if I wished. It was delicious! My favorite item was the blood sausage but the tofu had a great texture and was more pleasant than I expected! The greens provided were a mix of cucumbers and various leaves more common in Vietnam so it was nice to try some again. I left feeling full, with maybe 3-4 tofu pieces left. Halfway through they brought me the fish sauce too, but I preferred the shrimp paste. As a heads up, this isn't casual Vietnamese food most Americans are used to, but the options are delicious!

I've been wanting to try Mắm for awhile but wanted the hype to die down a little because I wasn't…read moregoing to wait 30mins plus for a table. But saw reservation was available so was glad I was able to reserve a table for 5 on a Saturday at 12pm. We arrived 10mins earlier and were seated right away at noon. Space is tight with uncomfortable plastic chairs but that's as close as you can get for an authentic experience. I think overall, the flavors are authentic, fresh, and well-balanced. The following is what we ordered: Beef skewers platter (off menu item): Savory, perfectly grilled beef skewers wrapped in betel leaves, served alongside fresh herbs, woven vermicelli and savory dipping sauce. This is something you can always find in other Vietnamese restaurant. The skewers were flavorful and well seasoned and my kids had a fun time assembling the wraps themselves. Crispy fried rolls filled with fried taro, kholrabi, and carrot: super crunchy and packed with flavor. Well fried without the feeling of it being too greasy or heavy. One our favorite dish. Fried eggplant served with peanuts, soft-boiled egg, and soy sauce: The richness of the soft-boiled egg paired with the tender eggplant was fantastic. And I enjoyed the added textures from the peanuts and scallions. Raw surf clam salad with snow fungus: bright, refreshing, and great texturally which makes a great starter. Crispy fried tofu tossed in a fragrant scallion fish sauce: the tofu was fried perfectly and we loved how it's paired with scallions and its oil. Stuffed snails with lemongrass and pork: this one was so so for me. I felt there's way too much herbs and wish there's more meat and less herbs as I felt like I was just chewing on herbs. The snail is so small I almost couldn't find it while others didn't even know there's snail inside and thought it was just pork. It's still incredibly fragrant and juicy, but the meat to herb ratio was a little off for me. Service was really quick and since you're not sitting on the most comfortable chairs. You won't want to stay for too long anyway. It's kind of like an Asian fast, street food vibes. Another thing I want to touch on it their restroom is incredibly small and uncomfortable. There's barely any room to turn around at all. Overall, I think it's a unique experience but menu option is very limited and it's definitely overpriced for what you get. It's most likely going to be a 1 time experience for me.

Busy Vietnamese restaurant in Little Italy/Chinatown area…read more Loves: + $15 for a regular bowl of pho and it's filling + Other food choices too (eg. banh mi, rice dishes)... but I mean it IS pho bang + Friendly and efficient staff + Consistently busy but you can snag a table + New remodeled bathrooms Remember the spot is ca$h only!!!! No ATM inside to my memory.

The best bah mi ever! It's better than the popular chains around Chinatown!…read more I haven't tried their pho yet but it's been on some online list that it is also one of the better places to get pho. But I love their $13-17 bah mi. The bread is so crunchy and fresh I wish they advertise their bah mi a little more. Pho Bang's been on Mott street for years and I wish I walked into them a little earlier. Nevertheless, I highly recommend coming here and trying their food. It looks really good and I honestly think they have the best bah mi in town!

I walked in with my young daughter after a long day exploring NYC. The staff could not have been…read moremore welcoming and friendly. We tried the ribs, dumplings, and salmon carpaccio. All fantastic. The carpaccio was legitimately one of the best small plates I've ever had in my life. Bursting with flavor and texture. The atmosphere was warm and relaxed, everyone around us was having a great time and we heard many comments from other diners how amazing their food was. Incredible meal - thank you to the owner and her team for having us!!

Prior to coming to Saigon Social, visiting Vietnam was an idea we had flirted with for our summer…read morevacation. Although that didn't work out, coming here was definitely worth our trip across the river. Shortly after sitting down, I soon realized that I was visiting my second Vietnamese restaurant within a week. However, this place was definitely not a typical Vietnamese restaurant that we New Yorkers are used to. After getting some input from our friendly server and some discussing, we decided on the two signature dishes of oxtail fried rice and garlic noodles, Helen's Bo Kho that was highly recommended by the server, and the lemongrass ribs. Both signature dishes lived up to their reputations. The fried rice was very flavorful from the oxtail and was prepared at such high heat that we could tasted the intensity from the wok. The garlic noodles had a great chewy texture that contrasted perfectly with the tobiko coated on top. Helen's Bo Kho had a more mixed reception by our family. I loved how earthy and fragrant the broth tasted and was ideally paired with the toasted bread. The beef shank was flavorful and tender that made you want to savor each bite. Across the table, my wife was underwhelmed as she found the broth a bit too salty for her palate. Our boys were too full to give an honest option at that point. To us, the lemongrass ribs were less remarkable. The ribs themselves were nicely marinated and tasted good with the green sauce. I was wishing that they were a bit charred or smoky to elevate their flavors. The service was friendly and attentive despite a rather busy weekday evening. As for the place itself, the spacing definitely had a LES-level of coziness and had a modern feel. If you are a Star Wars fan, definitely head downstairs for a little exploration.

Thai Son is always reliable. Walked in on a peak dinner rush, place was packed and lively, but we…read moregot seated almost immediately. Service moves at full speed from the second you sit. The broth on the pho comes out piping hot and packed with deep, rich flavor -- tossed in the lemon slice and fresh basil right away. But honestly the grilled pork chops stole the show. You get that legit smoky char on the edges with a sweet garlic flavor that goes crazy. It really hit the spot after work. Got the Thai iced tea to round it all out, and it hit just as hard. Super affordable spot where you can eat fast and get out without any fuss.

This restaurant has THE BEST authentic pho tai I really missed having pho in Chinatown. The broth…read moreis hearty, I love the type of noodles and the amount they add in, the amount of beef slices and sizing is very good. Everything that comes with it is great. Pho brought back some fond memories. Was able to fill my craving and left happy. We ordered the bun gcuon too. Feel like there wasn't much meat in it though but still very good flavor and cucumbers and stuff the pork slices were enough and the sauce was very excellent. Would come back again for pho and try other dishes. I've been here a few times, I just don't get out much anymore. The service is basically you get what you get (it's Chinatown). Looking forward to coming back though

Service: 3.9/5 Food: 4.4/5…read morePrice: $15-$30 holy moly! the most tender chicken i've ever had, + they're so fast!! my pho was literally on the table by the time I returned from the bathroom. solid soup with a very hearty portion. every bite had a piece of chicken + I like that it came with veggies for ~balance~. the space is casual + unassuming, the focus being on the food. tho I wouldn't consider them a hidden gem as they had a full house even on a thursday night. also, they have 2 relatively roomy + clean individual bathrooms.

My friend and I usually get pho in Chinatown, but I was recommended to come to Sao Mai, so we…read morechanged it up a bit. When you walk in, there is a sign up wait list if there are no available tables. We ordered: Chả Giò ($9) - Crispy Vietnamese Pork Spring Rolls served with lettuce & herbs to wrap. This was decent. Mainly meat inside. I've had better spring rolls elsewhere. Bánh Xèo ($19) - Crispy Vietnamese Crepe filled with sliced pork, shrimp, scallion and beansprouts. Served with fresh lettuce and Vietnamese herbs to wrap. The combination of textures and flavors were delicious. This was my favorite of the dishes we ordered. Bánh Cuốn ($11) - Vietnamese Steamed Rice Rolls filled with minced pork and wood ear mushroom. Wish there was more filling, but overall was good. Phở Tái ($16) - Beef Eye Round Pho. Thinly sliced rare beef. Traditional noodle soup served with a side of Bean Sprouts, Jalapeños, Basil, Lime. Topped with scallions, cilantro, and onions. Portion size was good and broth has a lot of depth. Bún Bò Huế ($20) - A spicy lemongrass beef noodle soup with beef brisket, cha lua (pork), and house-made shrimp cakes served with a side of beansprout, shredded lettuce, basil, jalapeño & lime. My friend said she still thinks about this dish. Portion size was also good. Every dish came with a similar dipping sauce. I would come again just for the Bánh Xèo. Maybe try out their bahn mi next time too. The front hostess is very nice. There are 2 unisex bathrooms in the back.