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...

Came here on a friday at 6:30 PM with a reservation for 3, but it still took them quite a bit of…read moretime to seat us. There's limited indoor seating, but they sat us outdoors under a heater. Between the three of us, we shared the house special pho, bun cha, and crispy spring rolls. It definitely isn't the most authentic vietnamese spot, but was still tasty. My favorite were the crispy spring rolls. The pork and crab were tasty, and the crispiness was quite unique. The house special was a bit disappointing to me. Although the meat and broth were tasty, I was hoping for bean sprouts, basil, and mint on the side like most pho spots provide. If you don't like cilantro, they don't provide onions either, since they come mixed together. The bun cha didn't really stand out to me either, besides that it came with crispy spring rolls. I did like the flavors of the dipping sauce though. Overall, it was a solid meal, but nothing outstanding. I also found it to be a bit expensive for the portion sizes and the food quality.

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!

Very unique and creative dishes!…read more It's so cute inside, with two floors. The staff are incredibly kind and attentive. I really liked the crispy pork belly, the scotch egg, and the pho cheese melt. They only just soft opened, so go check them out!

You'd be forgiven for thinking every Vietnamese restaurant that opens in New York features pretty…read moremuch the same dishes-- bun bo hue, pho, banh mi, and the like-- because this has historically been the case. Co Lac is deceptively not like the others. Scotch egg made with shrimp, stir fried pho, scallop crudo, and pandan madeleines are just some of the star menu items that make this restaurant stand out in a sea of homogenous Viet restaurants in New York. The set up of the restaurant is interesting. On the ground level is a very tiny dining room with tiny tables to match, but a winding staircase smack dab in the middle leads down to a more spacious and nicely decorated dining room, cozy enough for dates. I do wish they had a full liquor license because I'm curious to see the creatives behind the kitchen apply their culinary genius to cocktails as well. They have a few sake drinks and mocktails, and also a pretty good wine list though. Of the dishes we ordered, I thought the banh khot, scotch egg made with shrimp, scallop crudo, and pandan madeleines were absolutely 5 out of 5 star dishes. I especially appreciated the shrimp scotch egg because scotch egg is often made with red meat, which I don't eat. The chicken liver mustard sauce it was served with is the stuff of my dreams. The mackerel was a bit fishy and bony, which yes I understand comes with the territory of the fish, but it wasn't my fave, though I loved how spicy and flavorful the bamboo shoots this dish was served with were. The stir fried pho was waaaay too salty, I really felt like I had sodium overload from that dish alone. I'm pretty satisfied with my meal and delighted by the unexpected dishes on their menu and would totally return for more.

I came here for lunch on a Saturday afternoon to cure a previous night of going out and drinking,…read moreand it wasn't bad. When you walk in, you're welcomed by the fragrant scent of Vietnamese cooking and friendly service. We did not need a reservation. My boyfriend and I ordered their com suon and pho sao mai. The com suon was pretty solid and honestly a really good deal for $15. Their pho was alright. I felt that the broth wasn't as deep as I would've liked. Overall, decent spot--big portions and good prices. Nice for a casual meal.

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.

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.

Recommendations: Bánh Bèo Huế/Steamed Rice Cakes, Bò Lá Lốt/Betel Leaf-Wrapped Wagyu, and Đậu Hũ…read moreLắc Sả Tắc/Lemongrass Kumquat Tofu. The Mì Quảng Tôm Thịt/Quang Nam Golden Noodles were a bit worse this time. I went back to this spot with a group relatively recently. Most of the dishes were repeats this time, but one main and one appetizer were new. To drink, I had an $8 Yaourt Hạt Đức/Palm Seed Yogurt with creamy yogurt, hat dac palm seed, citrus zest, lime condensed milk, and fresh milk. The drink is also listed as "a tangy, chewy treat inspired by the coastal flavors of Nha Trang." It reminded me of a lassi, in terms of thickness, but with a nice lime flavor. The drink was mildly sweet, and the palm seeds added some chewiness. There was maybe a bit too much ice, but it was good overall. For food, since most items were repeats, below is a shorter review with bullet points instead. Bánh Bèo Huế/Huế Steamed Rice Cakes ($16): Delicate steamed rice cakes with shrimp-pork sauce, finished with fried shallots and scallion oil. This came with 4 pieces, and it was excellent. The rice cakes were soft and chewy, and the sauce was mildly rich, with a nice fragrance from the scallion oil. This was honestly better than the version at the popular Bánh Anh Em. Would recommend highly. Bò Lá Lốt/Beef Wrapped in Betel Leaf ($22): Minced Wagyu beef with lemongrass and spices, wrapped in betel leaf and flame-grilled. This came with five pieces, and the meat was nice and juicy, like last time. This was a bit oily/rich, and I would pair it with a less rich appetizer, but I would still recommend it a lot. Đậu Hũ Lắc Sả Tắc/Lemongrass Kumquat Tofu ($12): Crisp tofu tossed in a warm glaze of lemongrass, kumquat, and garlic. The hot tofu had a nice mix of textures. The sauce was a bit less sour than last time. Still good overall. Má Heo Nướng Cha/Charred Pork Jowl ($14): Pork jowl marinated in bean curd, slowly grilled over an open flame. Unfortunately, the pork was chewier this time, but it was still flavorful. As before, it came with nicely grilled shishito peppers and a mildly spicy mayo with chili oil on top for dipping. Mains- Cơm Bún Hến/From Huế with Clams ($24): Sautéed baby clams over rice or vermicelli, served with herbs, roasted peanuts, fried shallots, and crispy pork crackling. We got the vermicelli option, and it came with some Mắm Ruốc, a fermented shrimp paste, along with a light broth. The clams were chopped up a ton, so they lacked a bit of texture, but the dish had some nice flavors. I liked the pork, shallots, and various herbs for crunch and fragrance. Mì Quảng Tôm Thịt/Quang Nam Golden Noodle ($24): Wide rice noodles in a light turmeric broth, topped with sautéed shrimp, braised pork, broth-cooked egg, peanuts, herbs, and sesame crackers. A bit less flavorful than last time and also in a smaller bowl. This was my favorite last time, but this time the broth was less nuanced, with fewer scattered pork pieces and overall less flavorful. I hope this isn't a sign of things to come, as I wouldn't recommend it as much anymore. Overall, we had a good meal here, but some of the dishes I loved the last time were a bit worse. I hope they keep up the high quality, as I'm a bit more hesitant to come back here. Leaving the same rating, barely.

I absolutely loved this place. I had wanted to try this place for a really long time, it has been…read moreon my to-do list for quite some time, and it's a great place in the East Village. A lot of different types of Vietnamese food, things you don't normally see. I had these four items with my cousin, and we loved every dish. The waiter was so nice and she was so helpful, explained every dish, and then also as they brought them out, explained how to eat them too because not going to lie I was a little bit unsure how to eat some of the dishes . Everything was very fresh, great taste, and came very quickly. The entire restaurant was full, so I would probably recommend a reservation, was easy enough to get. My favorite dish was the rice cake and the beef wraps, Wagyu. But honestly, everything was so good. I would love to come back and try more dishes. Will definitely use this as a hidden gem to show family and friends when they come to visit New York. Ambiance was great, nice little spot, cute tables for a small group or date!

Decent bun bo hue for $19 cash excluding tip. Apparently Chinese patrons here prefer pho, Viet go…read morefor bun bo hue. I'd come back for it when Im homesick. Interested in their homestyle dishes, too. Went at 10pm no wait but only a few open tables.

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.

Their pork bahn mi was quite good and also great sized! It was a little expensive, but you get a…read morelot of sandwich, which includes a lot of meat. The meat was very tender and flavorful, and there was a great ratio of veggies to bread and meat! I would definitely give this one a shot! The service was friendly and efficient, and the atmosphere inside is welcoming.

I've been frequenting their restaurant for many many years and is always my go-to spot for viet…read more Their staff is nice but I feel like their recent quality has been decreasing despite the prices going up. The cooking of the meats is now a hit or miss. The beef cubes could either be nice and juicey or dry like dehydrated meat. Their prices also do not match their menu even though I ordered my take-out while staring straight at their menu...