I'm not going to lie about this mom and pop shop. They created a menu that works for them and keeps business running. They've been open for a long time and I have to respect that. We tried their popular hot and spicy chicken with fried rice. We also got steak and pepper with lomein. I think their lomein noodles taste better than the fried rice in my opinion. The chicken def had flavor and it's hard to find decent Chinese take out now days in Connecticut. We will be back ! read more

I finally made it to Saigon Kitchen to have their infamous hot and spicy chicken with vegetable lomein. Saigon Kitchen is located right behind City Steam Brewery. They have been aat the same location over 18 years. The sweet lady at behind the front desk cracked me up she has great customer service and she is very friendly. I wanted shrimp fried rice without carrots & peas, she said nope rice prepared ahead of time. I asked for extra shrimp no extra shrimp. I asked for extra veggies In my veggie lomein. She stated that her chef not making any exceptions. I was so tickled by her saying no to me. My sister found it extremely funny as I'm very specific about how I like my food prepared. My sister response was someone said no to you, lol. The restaurant is very clean and comfortable and ambiance is cozy. If you're ever in downtown Hartford please stop into Saigon Kitchen and try their infamous hot and spicy chicken. To all my Yelpers let's continue to eat our way through the world #Foodie4life. read more

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The last few times I've been to Saigon it's been very good. Happy that they made it through the tough times of COVID, likely that much harder in downtown Hartford. I will say I've read several reviews about the poor/mean customer service which I have also personally observed since coming here for a decade. However, I must say the front of the house staff (as to not call out anyone specific) has really calmed down. Lately when I visit, I haven't heard anything unpleasant coming from them. Highly recommend for a quick, affordable and tasty lunch option downtown. Just a note though, it is still cash only. $10-$15 bucks will get you a nice meal and drink. read more

Saigon Kitchen - Boneless Spareribs Lunch - Chinese Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

Lady that answers the phone and sits at the front is loud and rude. General T'so Chicken was tiny pieces of chopped chicken... not good. Was not what I thought it'd taste like. Would not order again. Chicken wings were not good either. read more

Saigon Kitchen - General Tso Chicken - Chinese Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

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Delicious sesame chicken and actual spare ribs! They only accept cash but their prices are very affordable.

The owners, well the wife, is extremely rude. Outside of that, the food is always on point. My go-to is the general tso with fried rice. I also love their broccoli and garlic sauce. If I could change anything, it would be for them to start accepting card--it's the 21st century. Other than that, this place is a gem. read more

Always great food and service I've been going here since the first early ninety "s never had a complaint

Can't say how much I love the hot and spicy chicken... or how many years I've tried it!!!

This is probably the only chinese restaurant in downtown. I go to this place once in a while. Food is cheap here. Plus they have placed to sit and eat. Owner lady is rude, but over a period of time you will start accepting it as a part of life. They used to have boards in the past where they wrote down the menu, but now it is all in smart tvs. Crab rangoon is good. I like the veg lo mein over veg fried rice. Hot n' Spicy chicken was good. Sesame chicken was ok, way too much color give it an artificial look. read more

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I havent had Saigon Kitchen before the time I went 2wks ago. Im not sure why. I have been alive for as long as they have been in business. I am happy my friend helped me discover them. I absolutely love chinese food read more

Saigon Kitchen - General Tso chicken and lo mein - Chinese Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

the best korean / chinese food in ct ! although they arent open for to long it builds up the anticipation to want it ! i feel like im rewarding my self when i get the chance to have saigon ! spicy chicken is my go too !! read more

Great ambience, quiet restaurant and quick service. We weren't fans of cash only payment method. We also didn't like the texture of the meat on our spicy beef and sesame chicken. read more

Saigon Kitchen - a close up of a plate of rice and meat - Chinese Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

Mmm... Chinese comfort food at its finest. This tucked away family run business has become my new downtown favorite for a quick, casual bite. I'd passed it so many times walking from the Market Street Marriott (my secret go to for public parking these days - shhh) to City Steam but only recently stopped in for lunch. Seriously solid Chinese-American food. Give me a heaping dish of perfectly spiced General Tso's, savory pork fried rice and chicken & broccoli (ok, throw in some crispy, delectable crab wontons while you're at it) and I'm the happiest gal alive. It's a casual, no frills atmosphere but it works. Oh, and the nearly out the door lunch line goes FAST, so don't fear! Since my first visit, I've been talking it up to my boyfriend who finally went last week before covering a show at the XL center. He's a new SK convert so I'm confident that we'll be eating there more often going forward. BIG WIN on my end. There don't seem to be a ton of local Chinese places conducive to eating in (other than Butterfly, Chengdu and those white tablecloth type places) so this is a much appreciated find. read more

Two weeks ago, I had the opportunity to order some to-go food from Saigon Kitchen, and now it's my favorite downtown restaurant and top Asian restaurant in Hartford. Located on the funky little street right next to City Steam, this eatery dishes up some delightful foods. The restaurant is clean and the prices are reasonable. The 'Hot & Spicy Chicken' that I ordered featured small pieces of chicken bathed in a mildly spicy/slightly sweet, red sauce that was quite tasty. A nice portion of yellow, vegetable fried rice was served with the chicken. The food is fresh and the ingredients are high quality. The dinner was so good, I've been wanting to go back to Saigon Kitchen for more. Today, I plan to return to this excellent restaurant to try their boneless spare ribs. Highly recommended. read more

For over thirty years, up until five years ago, I commuted to either downtown Hartford, or at first, to Founders Plaza in East Hartford, working for CBT, before Bank of New England and initial bank de-regulation of the '80s encouraged it to self-implode. Once a week, I would walk over the Founders Bridge to have lunch at this new place in the bowels of the old Sage Allen building's food court (a brand new concept in the mid-1980's) called Saigon Kitchen. The lines were long, but not the wait, and Hot & Spicy Chicken was (and still is IMHO) was the tastiest and best value you could get for lunch. After the bank got absorbed by the feds, and then Fleet Bank, I moved on to work at Connecticut Mutual up on Garden Street. Again, at least one day a week I would trek up Church Street to Main, and then over to Saigon Kitchen. Yes, Mihn (co-owner and wife of the chef) can be a bit short at times - she reminds me much of the Soup Nazi from Seinfeld, so you either accepted it and et well, or go without. I believe this comes from over thirty years of serving up good food prepared en masse during a brief lunch hour quickly and efficiently, sating likely hundreds of hungry workers during that time. Times have changed - the loss of finance and insurance in what used to be the "Insurance Capital", the emergence of technology that initially fueled growth (for a while) and then enabled working from home, and finally the Pandemic - and more (my son still bemoans the loss of the Whalers franchise) - have combined to make downtown Hartford not much more than a shell of what used to be a vibrant place. There very well may be a number of good places to eat, but WFH means eating in Hartford is very intentional. Recently, after a hiatus of a couple of years, I returned to Saigon Kitchen to discover not much has changed with the food - it's just as it was all those years ago. What has changed is that I no longer go at lunch time during the week, and make a purposeful trip on Saturdays, where I'm typically the only soul in there. It's unfortunate, but things change. I just hope the Kitchen can stay open and prosper for a bit longer. I'll keep going as long as it's there! Greg read more

This place should have two separate reviews. One for day and one for the evening. Day would get 2 stars, night would get 4. I've compromised with three. Why? Because the buffet is just that, a buffet. Forgettable. But in the evening, for a little over $6, they make pretty good, sizable chinese food. The spicy chicken was plentiful and the vegetables were fresh. Friend had kung pao - he scarfed that too. So, if you live downtown or work downtown late, the takeout (or even eating there) is a good deal. For lunch? You're better off at the gyro place next door. read more

FOOD: Let's get this out of the way first: despite the name of this restaurant, they primarily serve Chinese, not Vietnamese food. If you ask the owner about this, she says "it's a very long story." That being said, they do a good job with the dishes you order off of the menu. I had the spicy beef over rice and it was flavorful with fresh, crisp vegetables. SERVICE: Since this is a cafeteria-style place, you stand in line, order, and get your food from the counter, so there's not much in terms of table service. However, the owners are a family and genuinely care about their business and having a relationship with their customers. LOCATION/AMBIANCE: The place is small, but clean. It is in downtown, so parking can be a bit of a hassle depending on what time/day you come. VALUE: is excellent. You can get a decent meal for about $7-8 or $10-11 with a drink! read more

Saigon Kitchen - Chinese spare ribs and veggies over rice - Chinese Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

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This place is the definition of "hole in the wall." We moved down the street 6 months ago and had never seen or heard of it until today. What a treat. Such a welcoming staff and the food was excellent. Only downfall is it's cash only BUT there's an ATM on site. read more

THE WORST. They have a tendency to close early for no real reason - and HORRIBLE customer service. Last time I went, I ordered food (an hour before closing time) was asked to pick it up in 10 minutes. Showed up 10 min later and the door was locked and lights off. This is the 2nd time this happened. Here's a tip to the business owners. If you don't want to be open until 6, change your business hours. Food is mediocre at best. Not coming back. Don't recommend. Go somewhere else where customers are treated with respect. read more

The hot and spicy chicken is a Hartford institution. Sweet and great and delicious. Don't forget to ask for the hot sauce!

This is the best Chinese Food in the area! Make sure to order either the Hot N' Spicy Chicken or Sesame Chicken. The Bourbon Chicken (W-F only) sells out quickly, so make sure to come during lunch if you want to try it. Haven't gotten to it yet, but I've heard great things! Also, I've never experienced any negative service. They have always been nice and remembered me when I returned! Will be back soon and frequently! read more

I have been dining here for 35 years. The is the best Chinese food of all the Chinese restaurants around. The Sesame chicken has always been my favorite. Cash only, but it's worth it. Prices are reasonable. You will enjoy the food. read more

Saigon Kitchen is a great little place, but you have to understand what makes it great and it's not the buffet line. You need to order something off the menu on the wall, not take the crap from the buffet line. While it is true, as one reviewer noted that SK doesn't do special orders, food made "to order" is not "special order" and it is in the made-to-order category where Saigon Kitchen shines. Also, you need to eat there; take-out will completely destroy the quality of the food. The "breath of the wok" is such a fleeting and transitory beast, I've even had a dish go from spectacular when first arriving to "meh" by the time you get to the clean white plate in front of you. However, beyond the food is the lady who runs the joint. This is why you go to Saigon Kitchen: dinner and a show. The reviewer who was offended by the SK Lady yelling at her husband completely misunderstood SK. SK Lady's tirades are the stuff of legend. The SK Lady does not brook fools lightly. She was on the phone with a customer who was trying to get lo mein with their order. "That no come with lo mein, lo mein $2 extra....no, it never come with lo mein...you must got it somewhere else...you got my menu?....good, you read menu, call back when you figure out what you want." Click. Some poor lady in front of me wasn't sure what she wanted to order. God forbid you be undecided when it is your turn: "Can you read?" SK Lady asks. "Um...yes," came the reply. "Good, here menu. You read. Figure out what you want you come back later." Next in line, please. If you get to be a regular here, and you know you're a regular when you become "my friend," then you'd better be regular. Miss a couple weeks and be prepared to get an earful. It is however, because of SK Lady that I keep going back, not in spite of her. I love this woman and she never fails to crack me up. And yes, I have been on the receiving end of a legendary tirade: "You want chopstick? Chopstick $2 extra. Fork free. Where you think you are China? Eat with fork. Chopstick." *December 2012 - Frank Cohen quoted 149 words from my review in his rant about Saigon Kitchen in Harford Mag. Considering his article was only 679 words, if he got paid for that, he owes me 22% of the proceeds. Not only lazy journalism there, but completely missed the point of SK. read more

So much to like, there's no way you can try it all at once. But, maybe you can! Saigon Kitchen get 5 stars, in my book. Overall, I had a very pleasant experience at this restaurant. The staff were very sweet and friendly. She inform me that she was out of white rice because they do not like using left off material for the next day. So you all know all the ingredients are made fresh for just that day. Coming from New York, it is really hard to find a Chinese fast food to meets my standards. I would recommend the Hot and Spicy Chicken. The sauce is a unique sauce that the chief created. So it very unique to the restaurant and not something that you can get at another Chinese take-out. I recommend Saigon for it taste, delivery and a great lunch place overall. read more

"my new go-to place for when I don't feel like cooking" You know when you try a place that you've kept hearing good things about...but you've just never made it a priority (even when you live across the street and there's really no excuse) and when you put that first bite into your mouth and start chewing and experiencing the flavors and textures of what is one of the best stir fries you've ever eaten and it dawns on you... "Ooohhh...THIS is why everyone raves about this place." Ok. Well that's me now. And I'm kicking myself for not trying it sooner. Fresh, cheap, healthy food..? Hello?! I just finished my first meal (a take-out order) from Saigon Kitchen. I tried two dishes: the General Tso's Tofu and the Broccoli with Garlic Sauce. Both were sooo delicious. Everything is made fresh and the food comes out piping hot. It was still too hot to eat after I had walked home (I live a block away, but still). The vegetables were stir fried with just the right amount of crispiness. The tofu was also stir-fried perfectly - they somehow manage to get it light and crispy on the outside while maintaining the soft, delicate texture inside. I loved the sauces in both of the dishes. Flavorful, and again, very homemade tasting. I don't think I lifted my head for ten minutes after I started eating. The food is that good. Oh - and each dish was $6.75. And there's plenty left over for tomorrow. They're really nice there too. The woman working the register said, "There you go, my friend. Thank you!" to every customer who came in. And there was a steady line. At 4 PM on a Saturday. But they make your food quickly, so my wait was not even ten minutes. And now for the best part: they use good ingredients. How can I tell? Well, I don't have any food allergies, but I am very sensitive to artificial preservatives and sweeteners - I try to avoid them because they make me feel s**t and then I just want to sleep. It's now been an hour since I finished eating...no awful food coma. Yay! I'm so happy I found this place - a family-run business, in downtown Hartford, that makes awesome food with good, fresh ingredients. They're going to be seeing a lot more of me. read more

Best Chinese food in the whole state of Connecticut and that's a fact you won't ever go to another one after eating from here

You know what? When I worked in Hartford, this was my fave for lunch. It is "real Chinese"? Nope. It is yummy and the portions generous? Yes. And as for the tiger lady, she loves me. So there! And her husband, he loves me too. read more

I was finishing up a meeting over at One Constitution Plaza and stumbled on this place via Yelp. I made it in right before they closed and placed my order for tofu and broccoli (a brown sauce) with white rice. As I ordered standing at the counter, I realized I could see into the entire kitchen, and I was surprised to find how clean and orderly everything seemed. They even have the menus displayed on screens so you can see what's offered while you stand in line. Finally, I think they've done a great job with the branding of the place - the logo is professional, the menus are well-done, and I could totally see myself taking a seat at one of the tables and people-watching during my meal. This place is a local small business that makes great Chinese American food and is owned by a wife-husband duo. It took less than 10 min for my food to be done, and while I waited, I chatted with the wife and watched her husband cook the food. She said they moved from mainland China 36 years ago and the restaurant has been open for 30 of those years. They're open six days a week, and they take a week off in the winter and a week in the summer for vacation and close down the restaurant while they're gone. Obviously they're doing something right if they've stayed open for this long! To address the brusque service that many other Yelpers seemed to complain about, I echo what Jon L. said, "She knows she has to hustle to serve all of her customers and she knows that her regulars need to get their food fast and get back to work. The way she operates allows that to happen." I have not personally witnessed this lunch rush, but the friendly way she treated me led me to believe that she was actually trying to be courteous of everyone's time through the efficient way she runs the place, even if it was interpreted as rudeness. I docked a star because they don't offer free water (only purchased drinks), they use the environmental terror that is styrofoam for their takeout containers, and I wish they had a minimum spend requirement to use debit/credit--instead it's cash only. But for the $7 and some change I paid, the money was well spent for the hot, freshly made food. EDIT: I came back a couple days later and tried their sesame tofu, which strangely has a bright red sauce that tasted a little like sweet and sour sauce. I wasn't a huge fan of this entree and would probably stick with the tofu and broccoli with brown sauce I ordered last time instead. The owners were just as friendly as last time, and the wife asked my last name so she could address me by "Miss." I noticed that regulars were recognized and their orders memorized, and even newcomers were greeted with, "What would you like, friend?" This restaurant is really a joy to come to! read more

This lady is so crazy and mean, it's hard to come here anymore. One more bad experience, and I will vow never to return. She is so mean to her staff. I feel bad for them, and it's uncomfortable. She yells at people to stand here, move to the side, do this, which I get to an extent. Also, when you call in an order, you can get the guy, who is very accommodating and nice, or she answers, yells she can't do certain things (like sauce on the side. which is no problem for the guy), and says shes too busy, call again later. The food is good, the cafe is clean. I'll give it one more shot, but if she is still on fire, I'm never going back. read more

This restaurant is pretty good. The food is tasty and it is reasonably priced. It feels a little mall-ish to me (like food court style), so I don't love that. My main issue is that some of the staff is a bit difficult. The lady who works there and answers the phones is not interested in being accommodating at all if you call ahead and ask for something special. I like my food steamed, and she always yells at me. I don't like to be yelled at when I'm at lunch, I get that enough everywhere else. It's the only Chinese place in town, so I go there and the food is good enough, but if there was a different Chinese restaurant close by I would switch. read more

You are in the Heart Beat/New England's Rising Star/The Insurance Capital of the World and need a cheap but filling lunch. Something that allows you to come back to the office without feeling completely gross but won't break the bank. Look no further than Saigon Kitchen. Reasonable prices and large portions are the standard here. Bring cash and KNOW WHAT YOU WANT WHEN YOU STEP UP TO ORDER! Them's the rules! Saigon Kitchen is all about efficiency and so don't be "that guy." Respect the process. As for the food, delicious Chinese take out served fast. I am a fan of the boneless spare ribs and pork fried rice. Try it and you won't be sorry. The tables and floors are cleaned with a fervor rarely seen in the take out industry. You can also see into the kitchen itself, which appears clean and organized (can you say that about YOUR favorite Chinese take out joint?). As for the staff, some Yelpers have complained about the woman at the front counter. Listen, she knows she has to hustle to serve all of her customers and she knows that her regulars need to get their food fast and get back to work. The way she operates allows that to happen. There is a reason people keep coming back to Saigon Kitchen, why people can't wait for the mid-week bourbon chicken, and why Saigon Kitchen has been around while others have come and gone. She is the reason. So, in short, bring cash, know what you want when you step up to the plate, and keep the line moving people! And, if you can follow those simple rules, you'll eventually be a regular. read more

What a great little Chinese good place, tucked in downtown Hartford. They have gone through a bunch of changes in recent years, but are probably better now than ever. They used to be forced to be part of a food court, but were really the only of the 4 places to get a crowd. The owners decided to redo it and recreate a bunch of separate places. This gives the place more of a restaurant feel now. If you going during lunch on a weekday the line will be out the door, but don't let it discourage you, it moves very quickly. Everything is cooked when you get up there, and they just give you a few scoops of what you want, and you are on your way. Don't let this scare you off though, because of the huge line, the turn over of food is very quick, and always tastes fresh. If you like your food spicy, ask them for their home made hot oil, it gives the food that extra little kick. Its small but it goes a long way! read more

First timer today. Instead of calling ahead, we chose from the buffet. I got the hot & spicy chicken, and the chicken with broccoli. Very tasty and good! Very convenient working two minutes away. Only 10 bucks for a LOT of chicken! Yum. I can't wait to try their other items. read more

Saigon Kitchen - hot and delicous! - Chinese Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

NEW LOCATION: 40 Temple Street, Hartford (behind City Steam). A coworker introduced me to Saigon Kitchen more then twenty years ago when we worked at The Travelers Insurance. I'd always been fond of Asian cuisine, particularly Chinese, but Vietnamese was new to me. I learned to love their General Tso's Chicken, then added Chicken with Broccoli, Chicken with Cashew Nuts, Hot & Spicy Chicken and Sesame Chicken. Their Lo Mein is tasty and slightly yellow, like no other I know. I now frequently get a special Luncheon order of half Hot & Spicy and half Sesame Chicken. I order this with Steamed Vegetables instead of Fried Rice or Lo Mein; it costs a little extra but cuts down on the carbs. NEW: In 2010, the Saigon Kitchen added Bourbon Chicken to their menu. Available only on weekdays, this incarnation is a barbecued chicken in a slightly sweet sauce. Order before 1:00 on a Friday, or it will sell out! --Perfesser read more

I love this place, like someone mentioned in another review I am a regular and called "My friend". I love the attitude of the owner. I love the food. That said, lunch is a buffet. Sometimes its really good and sometimes its meh. I only get the spicy chicken off the buffet. It is very popular, so it is always fresh. Its all dark meat, but I have never taken a bite and wondered what I just put in my mouth. That's my lunch review. I ate dinner for the first time tonight, been going here for six or seven years. Hot and Spicy Beef. No sketcky pieces of unidentifiable meat, very little fat or grissle(sp?). Vegatables were crisp and tast (broccoli was firm, bell peppers were crisp) and man it was SPICY. I recommend Saigon Kitchen anytime. Parking is tough. Remember, lunch is quick and cheap but you lose some quality. Dinner is lovely. OH, this place is cash only. read more

It's a great place for dinner take out. I love their curry tofu. You have to try! One thing I have to let people know is that this is not vietnamese restaurnat - If you are expecting for pho or vermicelli, then you are looking in a wrong place. However, if you are looking for a chinese restaurant, it's one of the best in Hartford area. read more

Their signature dish: the hot and spicy, is like crack! They even sell bottles of the sauce so you can put it on everything you want. Try the general tao's tofu, also really good - but be prepared to get attitude because it's not one of the pre-made dishes. read more

Cash only, clean, high quality and fast chinese-american food. My favorite however is not traditional, Wednesday to Friday I'm addicted to the bourbon chicken and noodles combo at lunch. If you're looking for a solid and affordable chinese-american food in the downtown hartford area, this is the place to go. read more

The food is real good but the lady has a real attitude issue. Being a cash only establishment make sure you count your change, she will rip you off . I gave her $30 and she swore I only gave her $25. She has done this Multiple times. Besides the attitude and poor cashier skills it's an ok place . read more

Reliable and easy Chinese food. I usually prefer to grab Chinese at the little place inside State House Square but if I want to get out and walk this is a good option. I'm pretty sure it's cash only but that may have changed (it's been a few months since my last visit). You can grab a table with a group of friends or sit solo at the counter near the windows. The servings are a good size and it's very cheap, so it's a win - but nothing to write home about. read more