Sao Mai

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.

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!

Tasty Vietnamese joint in East Village. Seating is somewhat limited so there can be a bit of a wait. Pho was tasty as well as the bun Bo hue. Prices are reasonable - I would recommend if you're around the area!

I love this place for its delicious food and simple decor. Vietnamese food is always fresh but it's hard enough to find a cost-effective option especially in Manhattan. This restaurant is family run and works hard to purchase only the freshest ingredients, including tofu from a specialty Korean supermarket. Staff are unassuming and plenty of the standard Vietnamese staple items are present on the menu, including the authentic, spicy Pho noodle soup. A+ experience overall.

My husband and I went to Sao Mai before a concert on Saturday and had a wonderful dinner. Sao Mai is a casual spot that does not take reservations. We got there around 6 and had no trouble getting a table, but by the time we left folks were having to wait 10-20 minutes. We started off with the tofu summer rolls. They came out quickly and were really good. The lemongrass that was used was delicious and added a brightness when paired with the hoisin-based dipping sauce. For my main, I had the pan fried crispy noodles with tofu and my husband had the pho. Both dishes were incredibly generous portions. Mine was fantastic -- the crispy noodles were mostly out of the broth, meaning you could decide when to soak them in the broth. This allowed for the perfect bite .There were a ton of veggies in the dish and nearly an entire block of tofu. Everything was seasoned really well and had great flavor. My husband loved his pho and said it was some of the best broth he's had. The service was efficient and friendly and our bill was only $49! Definitely a great spot and will plan to return when we are in the area.