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    Saigon Express

    3.8 (516 reviews)
    Closed 9:30 am - 7:30 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    Saigon Express Photos

    SAIGON EXPRESS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Classy
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Saigon Express

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    beef vermicelli - A white ceramic bowl filled with Vietnamese beef vermicelli features grilled beef slices, onions, and vegetables on a bed of rice noodles. The bowl is set on a wooden table, with a bottle of Sriracha hot chili sauce in the background. Part of a person's arm and sleeve are visible in the upper left corner, indicating a casual dining setting. The image emphasizes the dish's ingredients and presentation in a restaurant environment.
    Barry W.

    One line review: Solid. This place was a no-frills experience: just a reasonable portion of good food at a decent price. The decor is nothing to speak of. The customer service is a cashier who takes your order and cashes you out. But the food was satisfying. Having been here once, next time I would skip the spring rolls and just order the meat over vermicelli. It looked like my friend got a slightly better portion of meat, and while the spring rolls were fine, I would have preferred that. Customer service was minimal but adequate. Parking stinks in downtown Berkeley, but I parked for free blocks away (near McKinley) and took a walk on a pleasant, sunny day. Bottom line: I would eat here again.

    Food so good I had to draw it. Got the #44 grilled beef + egg roll vermicelli bowl with the thai iced tea
    yunha k.

    My date got cancelled tonight so I treated myself to some good ol saigon express. Never had the vermicelli bowl here before but it hit just right. Tender grilled beef, fresh veg, soft noodles, and crispy egg rolls. Finished off with some thai iced tea and my day's already made better. Def recommend

    Bánh mì - A Vietnamese banh mi sandwich featuring a baguette with visible crust and filling of fresh vegetables, such as cucumber and greens. The sandwich is partially wrapped in yellow paper and placed on a tray, likely in a casual dining setting.
    Angela W.

    Came in for early lunch at around 11am on a Monday - ordering was quick and easy, service was fast! Plenty of seating inside for dine-in, not super busy at the time that I went. I got the Fish ball Bánh mì, and my sister got the tofu vermicelli noodle salad bowl. I enjoyed the Bánh mì - it's affordable, you get what you pay for. The bread was crunchy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, I do wish there was slightly more protein inside. A perfect light lunch, albeit not super filling. My sister's vermicelli noodle salad had a good balance of vegetable, protein, and noodles. The vermicelli noodles were cooked well, tender and springy. Overall, I've had better, but this place will do if you're craving Vietnamese food or a quick meal that isn't super heavy!

    A bowl of Vietnamese pho with rice noodles, herbs, and broth is on a wooden table near a window. Noodles are lifted with chopsticks, and a spoon rests inside the bowl. Outside the window, parked cars and a street scene are visible, with a sign partially seen through the glass.
    James B.

    I really enjoy eating here and the experience overall each time I come. I've decided that this is my favorite pho shop in downtown Berkeley.

    Pho
    Lainey C.

    I love this place, it's recently become my new favorite in Berkeley! The food is delicious, the prices are great, and the service is friendly and awesome. They're also super fast! Everyone here is super nice, especially the man who usually takes your order. I've tried the spring rolls, banh mi, Thai tea, pho, everything! Super tasty, and my roommates and friends love it too. We come here numerous times throughout the week, and it's one of my go-to's. The restaurant is also always clean, spotless.

    Banh mi sandwiches
    Sabrina M.

    Probably the best tofu banh mi I've had in Berkeley! Service was great, food was super yummy, and was very affordable. I would 100% go back to reorder. They also have rice plates and noodles with good veggie and tofu options for vegans.

    Veggie shredded tofu banh mi - A banh mi sandwich featuring shredded tofu, sliced cucumbers, carrots, and herbs, served on a crusty baguette. The sandwich is placed on a white paper wrapper, with some crumbs and bits of filling visible. The background shows a rough outdoor surface, indicating it may be a takeout or street food setting.
    Sydney J.

    This review is quite late, sorry about that - please note that the price info listed is as of May 2022. I placed an order ahead via phone, and I think at first the staff were a little confused where to find my order when I showed up for pickup, but didn't take long for them to find my order and hand it to me. Prices have definitely gone up over the years so at the time it was $13.75 for the lemongrass tofu, $6.25 for a veggie shredded tofu banh mi, and $4.25 for Thai iced tea (not including tip and tax). The lemongrass tofu was quite salty and slightly spicy, but overall delicious and flavorful. I felt the huge quantity of rice was actually good to help balance out the strong taste and it was a pretty generous portion even if the cost isn't so cheap anymore. The banh mi was also yummy and I felt that was a good portion for the price so it's still a good place to get banh mi in Berkeley. The Thai iced tea was fine, nothing particularly remarkable. It's too bad they're not open on weekends at the moment, but you can stop by for a weekday lunch or dinner.

    Banh mi dac biet - A Vietnamese banh mi sandwich features sliced meats, pickled vegetables, and fresh herbs inside a crusty baguette. The sandwich is partially cut, revealing the ingredients and filling. It is placed on a plain surface, with a piece of cilantro visible on the side.
    Katherine G.

    I came here for the banh mi, since I heard this was a great spot for an affordable and delicious meal! I love banh mi, and haven't really found any good ones in the Berkeley area so I was super excited to give this a try. I came around noon on a Wednesday, and there was a good number of people inside. You order at the counter and then pick up your food at the end, and then go sit down. My friend and I both got the #1 banh mi dac biet (combo) which came with a variety of different meats and pickled veggies, all in a nicely toasted bun. The bread was crispy on the outside and nice and fluffy on the inside which is the perfect texture. All of the meats inside, which I honestly cannot name, came together deliciously. For only around $7-8 after tax and tip, this definitely makes a great lunch! If you need something quick and are close by, definitely give this spot a try!

    Saigon Combo Plate.
    Hernan A.

    You can always rely that they will serve you fresh food here. Everything on their menu is delicious. The workers are always friendly and happy that you're coming in to eat. I love getting their rice plates and vermicelli noodle bowls. The protein is perfectly seasoned and the flavors are just so good.

    August 2021 menu - The menu from Saigon Express in Berkeley, CA, includes sections for sandwiches, appetizers, rice noodle soups, beef, poultry, tofu/vegetable dishes, beverages, and grilled items. It features items like pho, banh mi, grilled pork, chicken, and seafood dishes, with prices listed for each. The menu is printed on paper with images of some dishes and is organized into categories for easy selection.
    Karen C.

    Saigon Express is a locally owned vietnamese restaurant serving up a variety of noodle plates, phos, banh mis, and more. They are currently open for indoor dining and have a surprisingly spacious seating area towards the back. There are extra squeeze bottles of sriracha and hoisin(?) sauce to season your food to taste, not that it's needed - I just like my food spicy enough to clear my sinuses for the rest of the week. I always get the beef ball pho here because that's my go-to at any restaurant that serves pho. The servings are plenty generous and last me a minimum of 1.5 meals. I wish I had my own rice noodles so I could reheat the leftover broth for a full second meal. The people who run the restaurant are so kind and grateful every time I patronize their business. Although you pay when you order at the front, if you specify that you're dining in, they will take note of where you sit and bring your food to you. The pho isn't the best I've ever had but it hits the spot when I'm craving some piping hot noodle soup. I look forward to trying their banh mi someday!

    Beef Stew Pho with Egg Noodle
    May K.

    I've been craving Beef Stew Pho so I decided to come here this morning as it's open for business @ 10am and decided to dine in there. My bowl came piping hot with my special request for egg noodle instead of the typical rice noodles. Now everyone knows a good bowl of pho requires a tasty soup base full of flavor and having depth in flavor of spices and this met all my expectations. The beef was very tender and had very little fat on it and was accompanied with the usual chunks of carrots! I must say I found another great Pho place in town! Food=A+ Full of Flavor Service/Staff=A+ Super Nice Cleanliness=A+ Price=A+ Very reasonable If you're looking for a no frills tasty place for a quick bite to eat, this is the place! Another Keeper!!! Big Thumbs Up!!!!

    Menu 6 of 6 as of 3/23/2023
    Kin L.

    Small hole in the wall in downtown Berkeley. Close to campus. Hours are 10-7 so limited time to visit if you work a 9-5 and not in the area. I stopped in after work for a quick sandwich to go. There's a few tables in the back and what was a hot food bar up front. I was greeted immediately and order taken quickly.b the staff were friendly. Food was ready really quickly too. Got the pork combo (#1) bahn mi. The sandwich wasn't too big but the head cheese and pate were real good. I would definitely want to try other items there. Didn't like that they have an extra charge for using a card but at least it was posted.

    Veggie with Shredded Tofu Banh Mi (Front) and BBQ Chicken Banh Mi (Back) - Two Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches are shown, each with a baguette-style bread. The sandwiches contain fresh vegetables such as carrots, cucumbers, and cilantro, along with protein fillings of shredded tofu and grilled chicken. The sandwiches are placed on white paper, highlighting their ingredients and presentation.

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    It was super good!!! The workers were very nice and service was fast. I ordered Banh mi and they were delicious

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    6 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Owner is very personable, but the rice vermicelli bowl was so disappointing and prices seemed to have raised too

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    10 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Love this place. I usually take a banh mi or vermicelli bowl to go and sit on the West Crescent lawn or somewhere on campus.

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    Page 2 of 13

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