Sao Mai

203 1st Ave., New York
(212) 358-8880

Recent Reviews Order Online

Customers' Favorites

Vietnamese Hot Coffee Pot
Chá Gio Spring Rolls
Toasted to Perfection
House Special Pho
Mixed Seafood Pho
Bún Bò Nướng
Beef Brisket Pho
Crispy Calamari
Vermicelli Bowl
Fried Calamari

Menu

Sauces (Why Go for Less When More is Right Here?)
Lemongrass Chili Oil (6oz jar)
Keep chilled and mix thoroughly before serving.
House Avocado Sauce (6oz jar)
Keep chilled and mix thoroughly before serving.
Nuoc Mam Dipping Sauce (pint)
A pint of nuoc mam dipping sauce. Keep refrigerated.

Cac mon An Choi-Appetizers
4. Goi Cuon
Shrimp summer roll. Shrimp, lettuce, mint leaves and vermicelli noodles wrapped in rice paper served with peanut sauce.
2. Cha Gio
Spring roll. Vietnamese pork spring roll served with green leaf lettuce, mint leaves and dipping sauce.
7. Banh Cuon
Steamed rice crepe. Rice pancake wrapped with minced pork and ear mushroom, served with shredded cucumber, bean sprouts and dipping sauce.
6. Nem Nurong Cuon
Grilled pork summer roll. Grilled lettuce, mint leaves and vermicelli noodles wrapped in rice paper served with dipping sauce.
3. Cha Gio Chay
Vegetarian spring roll. Vietnamese vegetable spring roll served with green leaf lettuce, mint leaves and dipping sauce.
5. Goi Cuon Chay
Vegetarian summer roll. Tofu, lettuce, mint leaves and vermicelli noodles wrapped in rice paper served with peanut sauce.
Vietnamese Fish Sauce Glazed Chicken Wings
Six pieces. Cánh gà chiên nước mắm. swe, sour, spicy and glossy perfection, all with the thinnest crunchy coating.
8. Muc Chien Dzon
Crispy calamari. Calamari dressed with salt and pepper, served with a sweet chili sauce.
60. Tom Ram Muoi
Crispy shrimp. Fried crispy jumbo shrimp dressed with salt and pepper served with iceberg lettuce and an avocado dipping sauce.

Canh-Soups
14B. Ca Canh Chua
Salmon spicy tamarind soup. Bean sprouts, tomatoes, mushrooms, pineapple and Vietnamese herbs.
14A. Tom Canh Chua
Shrimp spicy tamarind soup. Bean sprouts, tomatoes, mushrooms, pineapple and Vietnamese herbs.
14C. Ga Canh Chua
Chicken spicy tamarind soup. Bean sprouts, tomatoes, mushrooms, pineapple and Vietnamese herbs.
14D. Cai Dau Hu Canh Chua
Vegetarian tofu spicy tamarind soup. Bean sprouts, tomatoes, mushrooms, pineapple and Vietnamese herbs.

Pho-Traditional Noodle Soup
27. Pho Tai
Beef eye round noodle. Thinly-sliced raw beef eye round in a traditional beef noodle broth served with bean sprouts, fresh lime and basil.
26. Pho Sao Mai
House special noodle. Brisket, beef eye round, beef ball in traditional beef noodle broth served with bean sprouts, fresh lime and basil.
28. Pho Chin Nam
Beef brisket noodle. Beef brisket in traditional beef noodle broth served with bean sprouts, fresh lime and basil.
31. Pho Do Chay
Mixed vegetable noodle. Mixed vegetables with mushrooms and tofu in vegetable broth served with bean sprouts, fresh lime, basil and jalapeno
30. Pho Ga
Chicken noodle. Shredded chicken with broccoli, sliced carrots and celery in noodle chicken broth.
Pho Ga Nuong
Grilled chicken pho with chicken broth.
29. Pho Bo Vien
Beef balls noodle. Beef ball in traditional beef noodle broth served with bean sprouts, fresh lime and basil.
Pho Suon Nuong
Grilled pork chop pho with chicken broth.
32. Pho Do Bien
Mixed seafood noodle. Shrimp, squid, fish ball, fish cake and crab stick in noodle broth served with bean sprouts, fresh lime, basil and jalapeno.

Xa Lach-Salads
15. Goi Du Du
Papaya salad. Fresh shredded papaya and carrots with vietnamese herbs topped with grilled shrimp and a house special sauce.
17. Goi Bo
Beef watercress salad. Fresh watercress topped with sautéed beef, fried onions, tomatoes and a house special sauce.

Banh Mi-Vietnamese Sandwich
46. Banh Mi Dac Biet
House special combination sandwich.
48. Banh Mi Thit Muong
Grilled sliced pork sandwich.
47. Banh Mi Ga Nuong
Grilled chicken sandwich.
49. Banh Mi Pho
Pho Vietnamese sandwich.
51. Banh Mi Dau Hu
Tofu sandwich.
50. Banh Mi Clay
Vegetarian sandwich.

Bun-Rice Vermicelli Noodle
19. Bun Sao Mai
House special vermicelli noodle. Grilled shrimp, grilled pork and spring rolls served with vermicelli noodles, chopped lettuce and a lime sauce.
20. Bun Thit Nuong
Grill pork vermicelli noodle. Grilled marinated sliced pork served with vermicelli noodles, chopped lettuce and a lime sauce.
Bun Bo Hue
A spicy lemongrass beef noodle soup with beef brisket, cha lua (Vietnamese ham), and house-made shrimp cake served with a side of beansprout, shredded lettuce, basil, jalapeno & lime. Spicy.
21. Bun Ga Nuong
Grilled chicken vermicelli noodle. Grilled chicken served with vermicelli noodles chopped lettuce and a lime sauce.
22. Bun Cha Gio
Spring roll vermicelli noodle. Spring rolls served with vermicelli noodles, chopped lettuce and a lime sauce.
24. Bun Tom Nu
Grilled shrimp vermicelli noodle. Grilled shrimp served with vermicelli noodles, chopped lettuce and a lime sauce.
23. Bun Xao Chay
Mixed vegetable vermicelli noodle. Mixed vegetables and tofu stir-fried in a traditional Vietnamese sauce served on vermicelli noodles.

Mi Xao Dzon-Pan Fried Noodle
33A. Ga Mi Xao Dzon
Chicken pan fried noodle. Fried crispy egg noodles topped with mixed vegetables.
33C. Bo Mi Xao Dzon
Beef pan fried noodle. Fried crisp egg noodles topped with mixed vegetables.
33D. Dau Hu Mi Xao Dzon
Tofu pan fried noodle. Fried crispy egg noodles topped with mixed vegetables.
33B. Do Bien Mi Xao Dzon
Seafood pan fried noodle. Fried crispy egg noodles topped with mixed vegetables.

Com Dia-Rice Dishes
34. Com Suon Nurong
Pork chop rice. Grilled pork chop served on rice with cucumber and tomatoes.
35. Com Ga Nuong
Grilled chicken rice. Grilled lemongrass chicken served on rice with cucumbers and tomatoes.
39. Com Bo Luc Lac
Beef cubes rice. Frank steak cut into cubes and onions prepared with the chef's special sauce served with cucumber and tomatoes on rice.
41. Com Chien Sao Mai
House special fried rice. Minced shrimp, chicken, and pork sauteed with ginger fried rice and topped with a pork chop.
36. Com Ga Sa Ot
Lemongrass chicken rice. Chicken stir-fried with lemongrass sauce, bell peppers, and onions served on rice. Served spicy.
40. Com Tom Ram
Shrimp lemongrass rice. Jumbo shrimp prepared with lemongrass sauce, bell peppers, and onions served on rice. Served spicy.
37. Com Xao Chay
Mixed vegetable rice. Mixed vegetables and tofu sauteed with a traditional Vietnamese sauce served on rice.

Rau Cai-Vegetable
76. Dau Miao Xao Toi
Snow pea tips garlic sauce. Fresh snow pea shot sauteed garlic sauce.
70. Thap Cam Xao Chay
Tofu with mixed vegetables. Tofu mixed with vegetables and your choice of sauce.
79. Dau Que Toi
String bean garlic sauce. Fresh string beans sauteed in garlic sauce.
73. Dau Hu Dau Que
Tofu and string beans in a vegetable soy sauce.

Ga-Chicken
69. Ga Nuong Sa
Grilled chicken. Chicken marinated with the chef's special barbecue sauce served with ice berg lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumbers. rice is not included.
68. Ga Sa Ot
Chicken lemongrass. Chicken sauteed with chili and lemongrass sauce. Serve spicy. rice is not included.

Heo-Pork
64. Suon Heo Nuong
Grilled pork chops. Marinated sliced pork chops grilled golden brown and served with iceberg lettuce and tomatoes. rice is not included.

Bo-Beef
61. Bo Luc Lac
Beef cubes. Frank steak cut into cubes, prepared with the chef's special sauce, served with iceberg lettuce. rice is not included.
62. Bo Sa ot
Beef lemongrass. Beef, bell peppers, and onions stir-fried in a chili lemongrass sauce. rice is not included.

Do Bien-Seafood & Shellfish
57. Tom Ram Mam
Shrimp lemongrass. Jumbo shrimp sauteed with bell peppers, onions, ginger, and a lemongrass sauce. Serve spicy. rice is not included.

Sides
House-Made Chili Oil
Pho Broth
Pho Noodles
Fried Rice
Plain.
White Rice
Fried Egg
Side of Pho Veggies
Side of basil, bean sprouts, lime and jalapeno
Steamed Mixed Vegetables
Rice Vermicelli
Steamed Broccoli
Pork Chop
Vermicelli Noodle
Brown Rice
Grilled Chicken
house avocado sauce

Giai Khat-Beverages
2. Caphe Sua Da
Vietnamese iced coffee with condensed milk.
Soda Can
Vietnamese Ice Tea with Milk
7. Soda Chanh Tuoi
Fresh lemon soda.
6. Trai Vai
Lychee drink.
3. Da Chanh Tuoi
Fresh lemonade.
9. Soda Xi Muoi
Preserved plum soda.
1. Ca Phe
Vietnamese hot coffee with condensed milk.
8. Soda Chanh Muoi
Preserved lemon soda.
Cup of ice

Photos

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Recent Reviews

Sao Mai is my go-to Vietnamese restaurant and has been for the past seven years. My favorite dish is the cơm bù lúc lắc (beef cubes)—absolutely delicious. Their pho tai is incredible, and the shrimp summer roll is a must-try (I just add a dash of hot sauce to the sauce they provide). I love that it’s family-owned with a warm, friendly small-business atmosphere, and their prices are fantastic.
July 2025
Food was awesome, definitely felt genuine and not like crafted for the American palate, which I appreciate. I love Asian food and Vietnamese food is one of my favorites and the food came out hot, I got the vegetable pancake. More like a huge fried crunchy crepe than a pancake but very good. We also got some soup that was both spicy and flavorful. The broth was delicious.
July 2025
Was visiting New York for a weekend and a friend recommended this restaurant, mentioning that they served authentic Vietnamese food. We stopped by on a Friday night and it was packed. We tried several dishes including the chicken wings, banh xeo and the crispy pan-fried noodles. They did not disappoint! Everything was so flavorful and cooked to perfection. It really felt like I was eating in my family's kitchen! Can't wait to come back next time we visit New York.
July 2025

More Reviews

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Sao Mai

203 1st Ave., New York, NY 10003
(212) 358-8880