Sao Mai is a family-run restaurant in the East Village that serves traditional Vietnamese staples. We came here on a Saturday night, and the place is packed. They don't accept reservations, so allow yourselves some time to be seated. For our group of 4, we were seated early as we chose to dine slightly early. For appetizers, we devoured crispy spring rolls served with lettuce and mint leaves, and crispy calamari with a dipping sauce. Both appetizers were freshly made and delicious. We then ordered our own entrees. For myself, I selected grilled lemongrass pork chop with fried rice. Everyone enjoyed their dishes; my friend even quipped that it was really a good, unpretentious dinner to be had. With a good price point and friendly customer service, we can't wait to come back to try their other dishes. read more

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This is amazing Viet food!! I got the pho tai and it's genuinely delicious and reminds me of Houston (where I'm from). Some may say it's salty but they just don't know about Northern Viet food. The meat was very tender compared to other places. Usually I would have to add more condiments but I didn't. I also didn't have to wait on a Friday. The food comes out fast and servers are sweet with recommendations. I feel right at home here because they actually speak Vietnamese while most places are not Vietnamese owned. Decor is very cozy and you can automatically tell it's a Viet restaurant when you walk in. read more

Sao Mai - Phở Tái - Vietnamese Near Me - New York, New York

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Went to try the Banh Xeo and it was so Good!! Crispy and flavorful!! Around $19 Will come back for the Banh Xeo again! read more

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I have gotten take out here before and finally had the opportunity to dine in and it did not disappoint. Even while busy, service was quick. It's difficult to find good Vietnamese food in the city so it's a treat that Sao Mai is in such a great location as well. read more

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Superb location in the heart of East Village offering authentic Vietnamese flavors. What stood out the most was the sauces, offering spiciness with a mix of international zest that complemented each bite. Be wary, the spice is not for the weary, but worth it if you're looking for an authentic dining experience. The dining area offered cozy vibes with an inviting, well decorated atmosphere. read more

I got the spring rolls with shrimp and the bun bo hue. The service was really good, the staff was attentive and speedy. I would say this is more of a quick sit down place rather than a long sit down restaurant. I'm kind of picky with my bun bo hue, and I think I was expecting the chopped cabbage and banana flowers as a garnish/side, but it just came with lettuce, basil, jalapeños, and bean sprouts. The bun bo hue didn't have the traditional chili paste and I was a bit disappointed. read more

Sao Mai - Bún Bò Huế - Vietnamese Near Me - New York, New York

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Food 2.75/5 Service 4.5/5 Ambiance 3/5 I had high expectations for the pho here since many people rave about the bun bo hue, but it wasn't quite for me. I'm usually someone who finishes all the broth, but this one had a distinct, slightly gamey aroma that didn't match my personal taste. The meat in the BBH was a bit overcooked for my preference, though I can see how others might enjoy it. read more

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Big portion sizes and great flavor Decided to come here on a snowy day and get the pho They had lots of options and the service was quick. Would definitely come back here again read more

Sao Mai - Vietnamese Near Me - New York, New York

Sao mai is probably my favourite Vietnamese restaurant in NYC. The place is very cosy and  no-frills, the food is always so inviting and delicious, and price point is so good (especially in the city nowadays haha). My favourite dish here is the bun bo hue. The broth is sooo fragrant -- just the perfect mix of spicy and sour (the lemongrass and shrimp paste flavours both taste so vivid without being too dominant). The noodles are cooked to a nice texture (and come in a large portion size), and the beef slices are so tender and flavourful. So delicious ... I'm getting hungry just writing this haha. I also really like the bun thit nuong for one of the non-soup noodle dishes. The mix of lettuce and carrots is always so crispy and fresh, and the veggies complement the perfectly-grilled pork strips so well. Adding a bit of fish sauces adds a nice depth of flavour when mixed into the dry rice noodles, and every bite, combining a bit of meat, carbs, and veggies, is wonderfully balanced. The pho dishes are also fantastic. Pho tai is a particular favourite (the beef slices are so juicy and tender), and the broth is just so aromatic without being too salty or oily.  The price point overall is so good -- it's hard to find such a good value in the city nowadays. The appetisers can be a bit pricey, relatively speaking (I like their summer rolls, but it feels like I should just get another entree at that point haha), but each bowl of noodles is usually in the mid $10-20. So worth. I can't wait to come back again :) read more

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pretty solid bun bo hue. nothing to write home about but also not bad. i did not really like the pho soup though i thought it was way too sweet. decent prices. not horrible for nyc viet food but also not particularly memorable read more

Sao Mai - Bún Bò Huế - Vietnamese Near Me - New York, New York

This was a solid choice with plenty of vegetarian options. Spring rolls - crispy and with a lightly sweet sauce. Canh Chua - slightly sweet and quite sour from tamarind, with plenty of vegetables. Went really well with steamed rice. This was my first time trying this dish and I really enjoyed it. Bun xao chay - quite simple, but good. There was a nice variety of vegetables tossed in a basic sauce. Clay pot - also a nice variety of vegetables and tofu in a rich and comforting sauce. Prices were very inexpensive at a total of around $65, and this was enough food for four people. read more

Sao Mai - Ch Gi Chay - Vietnamese Near Me - New York, New York

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This restaurant has always been a neighborhood gem. The Vietnamese food is fantastic in an adequate small well - appointed location. Over the last few years, it has become extremely popular with the NYU crowd. They take no reservations and very hard to get a seat between 6 to 8 PM on any night. The young service staff has been a little lacking recently and the prices have gone up more than most restaurants;however, still the best Vietnamese venue for a few miles around! read more

Incredibly, mouthwatering deliciousness - an understatement. The bun bo hue here is SO FREAKINNNNG good, I can't believe this is my first time having it. I will absolutely be a regular here - solely for the BBH & vietnamese iced coffee. The BBH was so flavorful, and they packed ON the meats. Loved all the veggies & herbs to add on & the broth was so rich, perfectly spicy, but not heavy or oily. The noodles also had a great bite & were a nice slippery balance to the broth. ($18) The Vietnamese Iced Coffee is crack in a cup - like actually. So delicious, so strong, and not too sweet (iykyk) ($5) Be back so very soon. read more

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Revisiting after 3 years and it's even better. The avocado sauce (monkey sauce) is still a hit and they now sell it by the jar. Got to try the banh cuon this time and the texture and filling was done really well. BBH was just as delicious as I remember it maybe even better this time around, deeper flavors! Family owned business with solid dishes! read more

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Very efficient and sweet staff - my party of 3 was seated very promptly at 6:30PM on a Thursday and our waitress was so kind and cute. No wait even with the restaurant being pretty packed. We all got the pho and it was really good - it didn't feel too heavy or salty, super tasty. There was a ton of the eye of round, and I didn't enjoy the meatballs but the tripe and brisket were excellent. I wish I could have traded the meatballs for more tripe. We also got the pork spring rolls and the shrimp summer rolls. Not bad at all, and they gave us extra sauce. I'd definitely come again, it's more spacious than Non La and VNam Cafe which is nice for bigger parties. read more

Sao Mai - Vietnamese Near Me - New York, New York

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This is casual dining with a very good idea--you use only a few ingredients that many people love, and you mix and match in different formats (vermicelli, pho, etc.) to create a full menu. Add in a tastefully furnished interior and you have a good place near a college campus. Unfortunately, everything was just good enough, not great. The ingredients were fresh but put together almost (but better) like a fast casual. The service was enthusiastic but a tad short of professional. Given the price, I wouldn't complain much, but when a clay pot includes only one meat and not the rice, you have to wonder how genuine the presentation is. read more

Came just before close. Just needed to sit down and enjoy a nice hot bowl of Pho. And it was legit awesome. Service was great. Did not lack, even just before closing. TY! read more

Sao Mai - Phở Tái - Vietnamese Near Me - New York, New York

My main thing that I LOVE about the pho here is that they do not skimp on the protein unlike most places in nyc. The price is fair for that fact. Also full of veggies and just an incredibly filling meal!! The service is nice the food comes out very fast. It's casual which is just a nice vibe on a winter day. I've come twice this month. read more

Sao Mai - chicken pho - Vietnamese Near Me - New York, New York

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They have the best bun bo hue in New York City, no doubt! That's the only thing I order here when I come. It's so consistent and good every time. The broth is packed with flavors including beef, shrimp paste, and lemongrass. What a good bun bo hue requires. It's not spicy at all. The noodles are cooked perfectly. The cuts of meat and fish cakes are great. I've had their pho before but it didn't stand out as much as their bun bo hue. The staff speak viet, so this place is legit! read more

This was my second visit and I have no complaints only compliments. Perfect for a quick meal. Service is excellent and the food comes out hot. We got the shrimp summer rolls and pho with brisket. The broth to noodle to meat ratio is perfect. And they give you all the sides without asking. read more

Sao Mai - Pho Chn Nm - Vietnamese Near Me - New York, New York

Was excited to try this place and I finally did. I was not disappointed! The vegetable pancake was amazing crispy, flavorful and with all the right condiments, this alone can fill you up. But if you pair it with the soup, it's the perfect combo. Be mindful that this place is kind of small with limited seating, and it has a homey feel to it. Not razzle dazzle but it is good for authentic Vietnamese cuisine. Would recommend and would come here again. read more

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Really solid spot for pho. Everything from the broth, to the meat, to the staff was lovely. You know it's going to be good when you see a table full of older Asian grandmas eating together :') I got the pho tai, and the meat was sooo tender. It was absolutely delicious. The broth was hearty and had a great flavor. read more

Sao Mai - 27. Pho Tai - Vietnamese Near Me - New York, New York

This is one of my top 2 Vietnamese restaurants in NYC, as a Viet girlie. If you're in NYC, you know good Viet food is hard to find and this place has great Bun Bo Hue and other yummy options. The service is super attentive. It's a plain but quaint place with a good amount of seating. They even opened up the front for fresh air since the night was nice. read more

Sao Mai - Crispy Calamari with Avocado Sauce - Vietnamese Near Me - New York, New York

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Wow!!! The bun cha gio salad was delicious and perfect for a hot summer day. Restaurant was clean. Wait staff were welcoming and gave prompt service. $7 beers and $8 glasses of wine. We'll definitely be coming back. read more

The food was absolutely delishious, family run business! Amanda was incredibly kind and helpful with accommodations and the service was super quick and exact! Will be a repeat spot, the prices were affordable for the area read more

Best spot in NYC for pho. I8 hour broth and it tastes like it. Putting love into all their dishes. Definitely 5 stars.

This place is always busy, and the service is so fast and helpful. Fish sauce wings are super hot when they come out so be careful eating but the flavor is great, super addicting. Canh Chua had the right flavors too, with sweet pineapple. The shrimp was overcooked but good sizes. Com Ga Nuong was a little disappointing. Wouldn't order again. read more

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Food (4 stars): Banh xeo is really crispy and delicious. Bun Bo hue is good but has a stronger lemongrass flavor to it. Service: we walked in at 1pm on a Saturday and was seated with a 5 min wait. Definitely would come back again! read more

Sao Mai - Banh Xeo - Vietnamese Near Me - New York, New York

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Rich pho, bold coffee, awesome service you can never beat family owned restaurant and attention to detail.

Came here for dinner and it did not disappoint. We were seated rather quickly even though it was pretty busy. The staff were super nice. We both kept it simple and ordered the Pho Sao Mai. The broth was very flavorful and rich. This is literally my go to pho at every Vietnamese spot i've visited and this was pretty good! read more

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Most of the bad reviews are straight up bullshit. I've had nothing but good experiences here since 2010, so yelp better start getting moderators to check this out. The pho (Pho Tai) is straight up banging and they put so many portions of meat, it's hard to believe that a place can be this generous in 2025. The broth is so crack, you literally can't stop drinking it; even if you don't want to. If you are craving pho, here and V-Nam are the 2 spots nearby. read more

I got both the fried spring rolls and banh mi. The spring rolls were decent, I mostly loved the dipping sauce they were served with. The banh mi had a generous amount of meat and all the toppings were delicious. The only thing I'd change about the sandwich is the bread. I wished the baguette was a bit more toasted and airy. But I'm just being extra picky since I recently came back from Vietnam where I ate a lot of delicious banh mis. The service was average. They were quick to take my order but then the food took a bit longer than expected to come out and I had to wait a bit for someone to come bring me my bill. I came for lunch on a weekend and was seated immediately. read more

Sao Mai - Banh Mi Dac Biet - Vietnamese Near Me - New York, New York

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The food here never disappointed- always a great time and good food. Whether you're here with a group or alone on lunch, great food and great people! My go to for lunch during work read more

I've been wanting to try bun bo hue and was curious to try it here. I expected it to taste similar to pho, but it tasted so different, in the best way possible. It wasn't spicy and was loaded with meat so it was very filling. I'm very happy I tried the bun bo hue and will definitely be back. read more

Sao Mai - Bun Bo Hue - Vietnamese Near Me - New York, New York

Great hole in the wall Vietnamese in the East Village. Flavorful pho and solid Bahn Mi. Only downsides are they charge $1 for thimble chili sauce (Total BS...WTF?!?!), and there is a 5% surcharge on credit cards. Hence knocking off a star. read more

Came here for a dinner party with about 20 people (half Viet, half non-Viet group) and everything was delicious. Sao Mai put together their tables in the back of the restaurant so it was a fun family style dinner. One of my friends made reservations beforehand and had a set menu. We had a bunch of food and a lot of it didn't make it into the pics haha. Everyone really dug in. For appetizers we had tom rang muoi. The avocado dipping sauce was unique and tasty. I've never had the shrimp with that type of sauce before. We also had nem nuong which I didn't see on their menu as an appetizer but my friend probably requested it beforehand. It was served on thinly sliced daikon and you wrap it and dip in fish sauce. Everyone was a fan. Main dishes (with rice): -canh chua - Very refreshing. It was a bit more sour than I like my canh chua but everyone else at my table liked it. The canh chua is made with salmon instead of catfish. I usually prefer catfish for canh chua and ca kho but salmon is good too. -ca kho to (with salmon not catfish), tom ram mang, goi bo, rau muong xao toi, bo luc lac, suong heo nuong. My fave was the suong heo nuong! All the food came out quick and you can ask for serving tongs since we did everything family style. Authentic flavors, authentic vibes. It was sooo hot in there though. They had fans going but I think we had so much food on the table it made everything hotter haha. Plus it was already a pretty hot day outside. Everyone enjoyed dinner. One friend who came from VN two months ago really missed Vietnamese food since moving to NYC and was so happy with this choice. I'm also really picky with where I go out for Vietnamese but would def recommend Sao Mai. Thank you for hosting all of us! read more

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I love Sao Mai! It's a tiny restaurant but it's cute! The service is quick and super kind and attentive. I've only had their shrimp vermicelli bowl but it's so delicious and refreshing. The shrimp are huge and so flavorful, and the sauce that comes with it is delicious. My friend also enjoyed the veggie vermicelli bowl. We talk about how much we enjoyed it constantly! read more

Sao Mai - Shrimp bún - Vietnamese Near Me - New York, New York

The food is OK but the place got dirty over time and started to have a stench to it. Came here a few times when the house was empty with a large party and everytime they tried to sit our party by the front door. After requesting to be seated somewhere else, they then try to move us by the bathroom table. This happened EVERY TIME and they always have an attitude about this. I understand if the place is packed and no tables are available but if the place is completely empty, is it too much to ask to sit somewhere where a door is going to be banging over our heads every 15 seconds with people going in and out? Will not be coming here anymore. read more

Everything is way too sweet and definitely not authentic food ! Pho is so terrible Bun bo hue is lack of everything that makes it Bun bo Hur , without the name I would never able to tell what it was ! Only ppl who dont know how authentic vietnamese food taste like would enjoy food here ! read more

Food (5/5): Absolutely delicious food. I particularly enjoyed the oxtail appetizer and squid. Also, the pho was amazing with super delicious broth and high quality meat. Service (5/5): Came for a friend's birthday and they were extremely courteous and welcoming. They accommodated the cake we brought and helped set it up, they gave a variety of complimentary appetizers and were super friendly to us. My friend is a regular there so that probably contributed to the good treatment. Overall super top notch service. Ambiance (4/5): It's an authentic looking place that has plenty of seating and is comfortable. read more

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