Saigon Social in New York
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New York, New York County, New York, US
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Site: http://saigonsocialnyc.com/
- Monday:5–10:30PM
- Tuesday:5–10:30PM
- Wednesday:5–10:30PM
- Thursday:5–10:30PM
- Friday:5–10:30PM
- Saturday:5–10:30PM
- Sunday:5–10:30PM
Always wanted to try this place out, but will need to give this another try in the future. Some of the dishes were good and some were okay.We had the Steamed Rice Cakes, Saigon Sticky Wings, Tumeric Crepe, Clams & Mussels, Garlic Noodles with Shrimp, and Oxtail Fried Rice. We ate the dishes as family style but they seem large enough for one person dishes.The ones I did not enjoy, but were still good, felt there was nothing differentiating it from finding similar dishes elsewhere. The broth from the Clams & Mussels was good but it was just clams and mussels, Saigon Sticky Wings was just wings, and the Oxtail Fried Rice tasted like just regular fried rice with beef.I enjoyed the Steamed Rice Cakes, Tumeric Crepe, and Garlic Noodles with Shrimp. The Steam Rice Cakes came in 6 individual saucers and were presented like a deconstructed Chinese turnip cake. All the flavors were there in a couple bites, nice appetizer. I did not think I would enjoy the Tumeric Crepe, the uni made this dish with its taste and the crepe was more of a shell/chip. Lastly the Garlic Noodles with Shrimp was good, especially the noodles, it had s crunch in each bite but I couldnt figure out from where. Downside to this dish was it only came with two large shrimps, for a party of 2+ two large shrimps wasnt enough to satisfy all of us.Service was great and attentive! The wall art going towards the restrooms were cool!
Creative take on Vietnamese/fusion food - outdoor seating only due to COVID. Was very excited about the menu but execution was unfortunately not great. We watched as food sat on the counter for a long time before being brought out, but it wasn’t a busy night. Some items were salty and some were bland. Hope to try again soon
Never in life have I tasted anything quite like this place, in the best way I could possible say that. 3 words: Bahn Mi Dip. Easily one of the best things Ive ever ordered. The staff here are all super friendly and make you feel right at home in this neighborhood gem. The owner of the establishment runs it like its a family kitchen--table touching, chatting up the tables and maybe even talking you into one too many adult beverages haha anytime Im in NY this will be a must-stop place for me. Thanks for the amazing food and service Helen!
Chef Helen opened Saigon Social at the start of the pandemic, and all she and her staff have done since then is feed thousands of meals to front line workers, offer discounted meals to neighbors in need, and delivered outstanding modern Vietnamese fare to those of us lucky enough to have it. Her dishes quality and creativity are outdone only by her passion and generosity. The short ribs, fried chicken sandwich, beer battered shrimp and garlic noodles, lemongrass pork skewers, banh mi burger, pho bo.. really everything on the menu is a must try, at this must-try spot!
We happened in here desperate for a late-night meal and they were kind of enough to accommodate us. We are so glad we found this place! Amazing food and staff really went above and beyond. Cant recommend the garlic noodles and the jicama meatballs enough! My fave place in the area right now. Will def be back! Btw, they rode out the pandemic as a community kitchen too, so theyre good people.
Finally made reservations to Saigon Social and it was amazing. We got the spicy chicken sandwich and garlic noodles for takeout. The food will know your socks off. We had to wait a few extra minutes for our order but it was well worth it. We even met the owner/chef and she was the nicest. Theyll be unveiling their new menu in a week or two so stop by soon!
Came here for dinner and walked up to the restaurant not knowing that tables were first come first serve. You have to place your order at the window. Keep in my they only accept cash or venmo.We sat down and scanned the bar code for the menu and placed our orders. I have to say it took a very long time for the orders to come out. They had a lot to go orders so it seems that the ones that are eating at the restaurant got pushed back.We ordered the pork and shrimp spring rolls and they were delicious! I had ordered the garlic noodles with soft shell crab and my boyfriend ordered the banh mi burger. The garlic noodles were fragrant not too overwhelming and had a nice chew to it. The soft shell crab was crispy and meaty. I have to say my boyfriends burger stole the show. It was so flavorful. There was all the essence of a good banh mi in that burger. The pate was delightful. Overall, I would come back and try the rest of the menu.One suggestion, since we were sitting outside and it was an unbelievably windy and cold day maybe the restaurant would invest in some panels. The fact that we were waiting for sometime for the food it was really cold. Panels would have helped block some of the wind.
Food - 5/5Spot on! Must try the garlic noodles. Al dente noods coated with ‘wok breathe’ oil. Simple yet so well done. Just amazing. The seasonal pumpkin is delicious too. Fried pumpkin coated with salted egg yolk. YUMZService -5/5It’s self service right now due to covid but they still bring the food to you. Order at the window. Everyone is wearing a mask and super friendly. Tables are wiped down thoroughly and free jug of iced water for the tableAmbience - 4/5Outdoor sitting around the restaurant. Its on the curb so it gets bit busy with pedestrians walking past the tableVegetarian option available
Review is for pho only. Contemporary taste. Definitely not traditional by any means. The broth was oily, greasy, lacked flavor, and tasted flat. A wedge of lime and sprouts would have been good here actually. The basil and jalapeno didnt add much to the broth. The beef was just a few slices of fatty brisket. It looked exactly like the instagram posts though. The youtube video (from Fung Bros) and the various instagram posts made this looked amazing. The reviews below are almost all raving about this place. But ultimately I was left dissatisfied. It didnt hit the noodle spot and definitely very disappointing pho. Ultimately the actual product, unfortunately, was all style and no substance.Walk a few blocks over to Nam Son where you can have better pho and Vietnamese dishes for half the price.
I had good experience with their take out food so I decided to check it in person. Their beef banh mi was really impressive (brisket on baguette). I only ordered pho for in person dinning and it takes about 20 min — quite slow compare to other restaurants. And it is waaaayyy too salty. Tasted like salt water instead of beef broth. Beef is good , but not the soup nor pho. Saigon shacks & hanoi house have much better pho. Sangria is alright.
The banh tet and banh beo taste just like it was made by my grandmother. The clams/muscles are tender and so delicious (and has rau ram, one of my favorite herbs!)The sangrias were decent, but on the same level as the food. I only wish the nuoc cham were stronger, but that’s definitely a personal preference.
First heard about this restaurant from friends Instagram feeds. Read about the chef and story and it sounded authentic and had genuinely well thought out menu. Like many new businesses, these are trying times. Vietnamese food is very special for me and finding good Vietnamese cuisine in NYC is not easy. Its a little out of the ways for me so I havent had the chance until today. I had looked to get the braised pork pork but fortunately they advised it would be on the spicy side and I opted for the chicken instead. The price was so fair and the portion that is given is amazing. Definitely a lot for one person. The chicken was so flavorful and not dry at all. Hope to try other menu items.
Growing up, pork 🐷 ruled our house at dinner time 🕡, which is no surprise since its the preferred meat for 75% of 🇻🇳. With popularity comes variations of childhood meals that I thought only existed under the tutelage of my mother🤱🏻.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀So when this 🇻🇳 pop-up served up *sườn non kho trứng*, it wasnt the juicy pork riblets or the well-timed quail egg 🥚 that got both 👍👍 it was the black pepper mixed with the caramelized liquid on the rice 🍚 that brought those fond memories back 😌. Whats your favorite pork dish?
Ordered pickup through phone. Order was ready 30 min later. I got the short rib special and pork over rice. The protein was seasoned well and tender - pretty close to how my mom makes it. Fried shallots is a nice touch. Portion size were generous too. I like the way they make the sauce here, it’s not as sweet as other places, and doesn’t shy from the fish sauce. I would say I wish there was more cucumbers and pickled veggies, but I would order again.
Each dish is its own experience, and the care taken with each dish lends an artisanal quality that gives each flavor a special place. We had tasted the Banh Mi Burger and Hanoi-style Grilled Pork were so good and really delicious. The hospitality of the wait staff, and the comfortable atmosphere with a touch of class and uniqueness is a restaurant that everyone should experience when they are near the place.
Came here for the bahn mi burger and garlic noodles. Both did not disappoint! The burger is dry aged meat and it is covered in an oxtail maggi sauce gravy giving it more complexity than a standard burger. Its topped with grilled jalapeno, the pickled carrots and daikon, which is where the bahn mi feels comes from. Served with extra crispy tater tots. Who doesnt like tater tots?! Garlic noodles were super tasty too. Good tooth feel on the noodle. We got it with soft shelled crab but you could also get it with tofu or shrimp. Everything on the menu sounds so good. Coming back for sure to try the rest!
Been here twice so far! Came with a fellow chef after shift on a busy Saturday night. We ended up ordering the Bun Bo Hue, Garlic Noodles, Oxtail Fried Rice, and the Banh Mi Burger. A staff member sanitized our table before bringing out our food which was awesome.The Garlic Noodles, Oxtail Fried Rice, and Banh Mi Burger were all amazing. The flavors really worked well together and as someone from Vietnam, I appreciated how they incorporated a lot of our traditional flavors in a more modern canvas. My family is from Hue where the Bun Bo Hue is said to have originated from. Their version is authentic and on par with what I grew up eating at home!During our meal we got to meet Andy, one of the owners. He was very polite and always made sure we were taken care of. I cant wait to come back here and try everything else on the menu.
Absolutely amazing! Their homemade broths are packed full of flavor. The bun bo hue was a little too spicy for my wimpy taste buds and bun noodles were a little too firm. Broth could have been more hot to help cook the noodles more. Otherwise, excellent customer service. The owner chef also came out to check in with us which was much appreciated and humbling. Will definitely go again to check out their rotating menu.
Amazing food! Amazing vibe and hospitality! Come here if youre looking for something different, a touch of modern, and a well-thought out Vietnamese menu. Think classic dishes with better ingredients like Pat La Frieda and dry aged meats. I got to speak to the owner and she seem to always have a smile on. Bring your friends or family, you wont be disappointed. Definitely a must visit if youre visiting from out of time-issa NYC vibe!! Favorite dishes: garlic noodles, iced coffee with Vietnamese coffee beans, and classic pho.
Months ago I ordered Bun Bo Hue with the special ribeye meat at extra cost. Ended up with sparse serving of meat and one of the advertised meats was missing. For an extra cost I had expected more. On top of that the added soup base? or spice element they do NOT put on the side overpowered the whole flavor and made it too spicy to enjoy, and I enjoy spice. It’s not really a smart addition to the bowl at all. The broth itself was did not taste like BBH should taste and was water and oil. And there’s a lot of oil (maybe fat?), which is not normal. No remnants of bun bo spices and flavor at all.I was truly underwhelmed for such an expensive bowl. And yes, I actually did try to contact the restaurant, which I never do, and was only able to via social media. I received an apology but really nothing more and was never followed up on nor did I receive an explanation for lack of meat.I’m definitely one to encourage Vietnamese owned NYC restaurants and really wanted to like Saigon Social, but the whole experience put me off.
Couldnt be more impressed with the food at Saigon Social. I ordered the spicy chicken sandwich after reading a good review from food critics, and it still exceeded expectations. It was equally impressive that it tasted just as good after a 20 minute delivery trip as it probably would have in the restaurant. The chicken was still crispy, bun was still dry, toppings still perfectly assembled. Hats off to the chef and crew for putting out such great food!
Delivery order review: Ordered the brisket pho, pretty disappointed overall; the broth lacked flavor, no lime included in the delivery, but everything was packaged nicely; ultimately expected more based on the prices and the hype, it was ok at best but generally wouldnt recommend
I ate here more than a week ago and I’m still dreaming about their garlic noodles and fried chicken sandwich. Helen, the chef and owner, was so friendly and made sure that everything was great (which it was!). The outdoor dining area is first come first serve and the entire area is closed to cars, which made outdoor dining so pleasant. The plastic stools made me feel like I was in Vietnam again. Can’t recommend enough!
This instantly became one of my favorite restaurants in the LES the moment it opened. Ive eaten here at least five times now and each time I have walked away incredibly satisfied and full but still wishing I had ordered more. Get the banh mi burger. Get the bun cha. Get the saigon dip. Get it all because nothing on the regular menu or any of the specials Ive tried has been a miss. The staff is all extremely friendly and its worth mentioning that the chef/owner does so much to give back to the local community despite all the struggles I can imagine are involved in operating a restaurant during the pandemic. This is the kind of place that deserves our support right now and you certainly wont regret doing so after tasting the food!
First visit this afternoon and greatly impressed with the food! The burger was utterly delicious with a generous spread of Pate which added a unique and morish flavor. The Bun Bo Hue was utter perfection with the perfect blend of sweet and spice.The shop is meticulously clean, they have a fast and efficient service window for takeout, and the staff were delightful.I look forward to joining your list of shop regulars :-)
Food and service above and beyond! Helen who is the owner and the chef truly cares about you having best experience possible!Roasted chicken leg! Fried chicken sandwich! Many Mi with soft shell crab! Spinach sautéed with garlic! Garlic noodles with shrimp! Everything is AMAZING! Do yourself a favor and check this place out! Hidden gem! Will definitely recommend!
Went a couple of times to try various dishes.. everything was just uninspired- the spicy brisket noodles had no taste except spicy and bit of sour from the lemongrass; the broth mightve been just hot water. The garlic butter noodles strongly smelled of garlic but tasted bland. The fried chicken sandwich was way too over-fried and had a fishy taste (cross-contamination?). The pork belly rice was nothing special- you could do better at the hot foods section at HMart. With so many better options in East Village and Chinatown combined, I wouldnt bother going back.
Been loving Helens food for a while and her menu keeps getting better and better. Everything is so tasty, generous, and nourishing. Some of my favourites have been the bun cha, pho bo, banh mi burger, and today we tried the special ham banh mi thit nguoi (omg took us right back to Vietnam! The bread was so good! Proper light and crusty banh mi bread, with delicious pate and mayo) + finally got the Tri color drink (soooo good! And not too sweet which is a rare refreshing find in New York). I know this is going to become a New York fav for me!
Had my best take out experience here. I got the chance to meet with the owner for a little bit and she was so kind and generous. I got the crab and tomato soup (bún riêu) And it was AMAZING!!! Can’t wait to come back. This restaurant gave me a taste of home and a reminder of human kindness and I’m so grateful.
We live nearby and have been eagerly awaiting the opening of this place, which unfortunately ended up happening during lockdown. Their food is fantastic and it is quickly becoming our takeout go to. They are friendly there and have been donating meals to frontline workers.
Total reviews rating 4.4
110 Reviews for Saigon Social 2023:
Review №1
2022-06-28Had dinner last weekend at Saigon Social and really enjoyed it. We were able to try lots of dishes considering there were 4 of us. The standouts were the garlic noodles & oxtail fried rice, Both were excellent & I would recommend basing the rest of your order around them. The lemongrass spare ribs were also very enjoyable as was the cucumber salad, fish sauce wings & burger. We did like the fried chicken sandwich and the crispy rice appetizer but not quite as much as the rest. Overall I’d say go with friends, order as much as you can and down some Saigon beers inbetween courses. It’s a great time & great value for the quality & amount of food 🙌🏼
Review №2
2021-12-13Good Vietnamese food! The waiter and service was super nice!The crab soup noodle was very good! The rest wasn’t however the best. A lot of the food was over burnt and not eatable. Definitely they offer very local food, but could improve in the overall delivery
Review №3
2022-07-19Authentic and wonderful! Made a res after reading the NYT article and was really happy with the food and experience. Our favorite dish of the night was the garlic noodles with soft-shell crab (weekend special since they were able to procure them), which we saw earlier the week on their instagram.
Review №4
2022-08-08The best garlic noodles I’ve had. Very flavorful!Though the AC doesn’t seem to be on in the restaurant because all the windows were open so it was kinda hot
Review №5
2022-04-17Indoor dining is opened. Started with Clams and Mussels deliciously served with toasted bread. Softshell Crab over garlic noodle is our favorite, also Crab and Tomato Noodle Soup. Great seeing Helen behind the helm with terrific staff.
Review №6
2022-07-16Inventive Vietnamese dishes; I never realized how well fish roe goes with banh xeo until now. Their pho is loaded with beef and is similar to my favorite pho restaurant, phoholic in Westminister, though it’s a bit bland. Umami and flavorful, but bland. Could use more salt. Definitely visit and if you do, try the banh xeo.
Review №7
2021-10-25This place is yet another delicious and authentic modern Vietnamese restaurant that has opened in New York City over the last several years. They have a fun and rotating menu that is seasonal, and while a lot of the dishes are modern and a bit fusion, the flavors are certainly authentic and like they are in the motherland. Some of the dishes that they have that rotate are very hard to find in New York at Vietnamese restaurants. One of them was the bo nuong la lot, Or grilled beef logs wrapped in betel leaves. This is one of my very favorite Vietnamese dishes, and I usually can only get it in orange county or San Jose in California! Bun cha Hanoi is also not very common, but they make the accompanying pork and crab fried rolls just like I remember them in Hanoi!! I also really loved the creativity behind the Saigon dip. The sandwich itself is incredibly rich and fatty, so luckily my friend and I shared it. The pho broth that it came with is also amazing, likely one of the best pho broths in all of New York next to District Saigon in Astoria!!! I am looking forward to coming back and trying their big bowl of pho and their banh xeo!!
Review №8
2021-06-05Cute place. Outdoor dining. Wanted to like it more. The skewers and spring rolls, 5 stars. Beautifully done. Chicken sandwich was cooked perfectly, but literally overpowering salt. Tater tots were good. Husband didn’t care for the pho at all, didn’t even finish it. Busy and nice staff. Probably won’t go back?
Review №9
2022-07-24This a great location to have great Vietnamese food in a fun neighborhood. The pho is just one highlight with quality ingredients that shines through.
Review №10
2021-04-16We have been following Saigon Social on their Ingram page for a while and finally got a chance to try with a takeout order from our neighbor.We ordered 2 Softshell Crab Banh Mi, 2 Fried Spring Rolls, Oxtail Fried Rice, Bahn Mi Chicken Sandwich and Banh Mi Burger to share with a group of six. The portion was enough and the food was delicious, especially the Oxtail Fried Rice.The oxtail was braised soft & flavorful and the rice was cooked perfectly, similar to sticky rice. However, its too spicy for us so we couldn’t finish all.