Sao MAI

Robert Sietsema is convinced that Sao Mai may be the best Vietnamese restaurant New Yorkers have. Keep an eye out for the goi bo, banh cuon , and for all you naysayers, give the pho a shot.

Bowls of pho are some of the best/biggest in the city ! Rice and noodle plates are worthy contenders though the papaya salad/rolls always win a spot in my heart/on my plate. Great lunch specials !

They have a vegan pho called Pho Do Chay (yes, the broth is vegan too)! And it's delicious! How amazing is that!

Fantastic flavorful pho . Also love the cha gio. Nice ambiance, very friendly service ; a step up in that way from than Xe Lua and Pho Bang.

Honestly have been looking for 2 years for a place that serves up Pho as well as they do in Vietnam -- I think I've come several steps closer some of the best Pho I've had in years -- 2 to be exact!

Unassuming neighborhood spot with great authentic food. Get the beef pho and ask the staff about proper eating techniques with the condiments. You'll see the difference in taste!

I think it was House special or something like that. It was as rice mixed with chicken and egg that had a really tasty, sweet and filled with spiced roasted pork chop . absolutely delicious!

The papaya salad is superb, a crunchy heap of green fruit tendrils flavored with fish vinegar and Vietnamese mint , an herb rarely scene in Gotham. Read more

The pho is the best in town , with a light broth barely scented with spices. The house signature variety features brisket , eye of round, and beef balls . Read more

sao mai has an incredible lunch special monday-friday! $10 will you your choice of appetizer , a huge bowl of pho AND a soft drink ! heaven for a pho and diet coke addict! :)

Best, reliable, cheap pho in the East Village . Have never waited for a table, service is quick. Try the pork summer rolls and beef eye round pho (nice and lean). Yummm.

The pho is a little oilier than I like and the prices are higher than the nearby Chinatown places, but still a good option for when you need a bowl of soup . Good spring rolls , too!

Sao Mai debunks the old wives’ tale that you can’t find a good bowl of Vietnamese beef-bone-broth noodle soup outside our city ’s Chinatowns, let alone in Manhattan. Also good for takeout/delivery.

Reliably delicious Vietnamese in the East Village . The lunch-only banh mi are winners, too.

I’ve been coming to Sao Mai for over 5 years. It’s one of the best Vietnamese spots in town , is in a great neighborhood , and has affordable prices !

My daughter does not want me to say this but Buzzfeed was right that this is one of the best pho places in NY. Have the original pho .

8 of us ordered appz and tons of pho , various chicken and beef and fish ... it was all so delicious and super cheap !!!!

Humberto Leon: "The sweet and sour soup is delicious; they put lily pod stems in there. They also make these steamed rice rolls that I love. When we take roadtrips, we'll order banh mis to go."

Pho Ga : Initially thrown off by the presence of broccoli and carrots , but pleasantly surprised. The white meat chicken was tender and the broth was delicious.

The pho here is probably one of the best in the city and they have banh xeo , which is an off-the-menu item!

While not the best pho .. It isnt bad actually, considering the area. And the lunch special isnt too bad either, and at a good price u get a drink, a small appetizer and pho for 10 for lunch special

The starters platter was delicious! A great option for sharing. Great service - waiter have us good recommendations.

Great pho but a bit salty. Get the spring roll app. It comes with rice paper you to make your own rolls - best dish here!

Pho and banh mi in one restaurant ! Lunch only though. #Pho was #delicious but mediocre #banhmi #vietnamese #foodie #eastvillage #asianeats #cheapeats #nyc

A very solid spot for pho . Get the pho tai .

Pho is excellent. Not too greasy, broth has excellent well rounded flavor. Meatballs are good. Bun bowls are clean ,tasty, fragrant.

Great Vietnamese, a bit more classy than most. Mussels were particularly excellent and the pho and spring rolls both good. Still BYOB .

Food is so fresh and delicious! Service is always great, but sometimes you have to flag them for the bill...but I think that's on purpose so you never feel rushed.

The appetizer platter is definitely a great choice for a group. Also try the mango lemonade , it's pretty refreshing.

Not big on pho , but their lunch special is undeniable: an app and either pho , banh mi or rice bowl for $10!

The pho is pretty good - for NYC. Got nothing on LA. The rest of their menu is great though. Try the egg crepe !

The pho is perfect, and you can choose from several options of which cut of beef you would like.

Portions are big and the food is a great value for money . Try the different types of rolls!

Light in the oil and use of fresh veggies made for really good noodle bowl

The bun was pretty good actually. This place is much more authentic than places in the area. Would go again

If you come for lunch you have to specifically ask for the lunch special menu if you want it. They try to hide it from their customers. Also, banh cuon , pho , grape leaves = go. Kho to = pass.

Impressive pho . Excellent proportions and quality.

With its semi-private tables, this is a great place for a date. Read more

Tasty and affordable ! Plenty of condiments, great service and decent prices.

The trifecta of quick, cheap , and delicious. Will be back for more pho !

Bún Sao Mai. Get it. Undoubtedly the best bún in Manhattan.

The Vietnamese pancake here is off the chain, it's not on the menu but be sure to ask.

If you want to try something different than pho , order spicy lemongrass chicken !

Try the house special pho or the vegetarian bahn mi if you want something spicy .

Pho was good ???? Lunch set only $10 including a coke

Delicious hearty pho , some of the best in the city

The Sao Mai Pho is the best pho I've had in NYC.

The best damn pho spot in the city .

Critics' Pick winner of The Village Voice Best of NYC 2012 Best Vietnamese!

Delicious and affordable Vietnamese. Get the pho and the papaya salad !