Saigon Restaurant
795 Forest Ave, Portland, ME, 04103
Saigon Restaurant Menu
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Address :
795 Forest Ave
Portland, ME, 04103 - Phone (207) 874-6666
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :9:30 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
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Christa H.
I believe. I believe that they will win. I believe that they will win! If there is a Vietnamese battle on Forest Ave between Thanh Thanh 2 and Saigon, I know who the winner is and it's just by a hair. I had my first (and definitely not last) meal at Saigon this past weekend. I'm a pho fanatic. If I could marry it, I would. But our marriage would be a short one because the bowl would empty in no time and then I'd be married to an empty bowl. Anyway. The pho was wonderful and inexpensive for how much I got. It came with the usual extras: bean sprouts, basil, jalapenos and lime, but there was a twist with some spicy chili oil that almost killed me with awesomeness. I opted for the medium which was really reasonable at $8.95. The broth should ALWAYS be the star of pho and in this case, it was shining bright. Flavorful and hearty, I couldn't stop eating it until I was too full to move. The noodles, beef, onion and scallions were great as always. I've always enjoyed having to give my pho a swish to break up the noodles. I knew it was a good meal when my glasses fogged up from the soup because I couldn't wait for it to cool down. I liked that we got small bowls of soup to start with. We weren't told what it was, but that's okay. It was creamy and delicious with big chunks of tofu in it. We shared an appetizer of saigon rolls which are a mix of pork and taro. They were what you'd expect, nothing special to write home about it. We received some really great service including a little table demonstration on how I can make use of my chili oil. One of the waitresses put some hoisin on one of our plates and mixed it with a tiny bit of the chili oil. She told me I could then add that to my pho or take a piece of the beef and dunk it in the hoisin on my plate. I was glad for the suggestion because otherwise, I would have probably just ignored the chili oil altogether. I ended up adding a bit too much of the oil to my pho and my face was on fire, but that wasn't going to stop me. I did my best to eat the whole thing but I just couldn't make it through. I'll definitely be back. The lunch prices look really reasonable and they have a huge variety of things to try. I'm always drawn to a good bowl of pho so it may be some time before I try anything else. I believe that they have won.
(5)CB S.
5 stars for the clean ambience and friendly service. 4 stars for the pho - good portions, flavorful broth, and reasonable price. 3 stars (unfortunately) for the bun, which is the vermicelli noodle bowl - I felt like they skimped on the "toppings," as the shredded cabbage was just meh and scant, not a lot of meat, and overall bland flavor. I prefer the bun at Veranda Noodle bar.
(4)Yelena S.
My friend raves about their Pho, I'm not a big meat person so I opt for their seafood selections. I love their seafood noodle soup, for less than $10 you get a massive amount of food, the bowl is the size of your head and I love how you can customize how much or how little bean sprouts/spice/cilantro/basil you can add. It takes us an hour to finish our meals. You also get a little cup of complementary soup and hot tea, win! Service is friendly, a bit of an outdated building but you go there for the food, not the decor.
(5)Pete C.
Thanh thanh 2, Veranda Noodle Bar for pho!? Pho getta bout it! Saigon has the best pho fo sho'. Seriously though my fianceè and I ate at thanh thanh 2 and then Veranda Noodle Bar always ordering Pho then we tried Saigon and we both agreed Saigon was the best. The meat tastes better as well as the flavor of the broth. The pork spring rolls coming out like little sushi bites was cute. They also will serve an XL Pho you just have to request it. The place was clean, quiet, and the service was quick and very friendly.
(5)Ryan C.
Best pho in Maine. Excellent pho for anywhere. Great apps. Vermicelli bowl can be beat by Veranda noodle close by, but Saigon's pho is miles above.
(5)Amanda R.
This was the first time we tried this Vietnamese spot for take out. I wished we dined in because the aromas were so pleasant along with the cleanliness. Service is definitely great for take out and our order was ready in a matter of 10 minutes. I have had different types of Vietnamese dishes, but the rice noodles were very sweet and tangy. I should have settled for Pho, but take out Pho isn't the same as dine in Pho. I tried mixing paprika into the dish, but that didn't take away the sweetness at all. The main delight was the complimentary soup that was given to us and believe it was egg drop soup with tofu pieces. I will not give up on this restaurant because I know I'll find a dish other than Pho that I will fall in love with!
(3)Linda Y.
This is an authentic Vietnamese restaurant located near Baxter Woods State park. I was feeling crazy homesick and in desperate need of some Vietnamese food. Saigon restaurant did not disappoint this former SoCal gal! This is a family run restaurant with a diverse menu. I decided to play it safe by ordering the grilled shrimp and egg roll noodle bowl for $8.95+tax+tip. It was delicious with the addition of some garlic chili sauce. Service was on point and parking was a breeze. They have a decent size lot they share with a few other businesses. I will definitely be back to try the rest of the menu! P.S. they take credit and debit card.
(4)Simone D.
Three stars for the pho. The flavors were there but the noodles were essentially one massive clump and required heavy stirring and separation to become edible. The service was good, not outstanding but also not horrible. I was told by a friend that you get tea whenever you come in and we had to ask for it so that's a little bit of a bummer. The tea was tasty and hot when we did get it though! I'm not giving up on this spot. I'll likely be back but I won't be having the pho. I hear the tofu soup is good (they were unfortunately out when I came), so I'll at least be back to try that.
(3)Benjamin C.
I have had Pho all over the country and every place in Maine that offers it and this is the best! The service is good and the place Asian chic, love the piped in pop music and posters. I can never get more than a medium bowl since that is gigantic. The tripe can be a bit overcooked but the beef tendon in the Pho is delicate and delicious.
(5)Jacky O.
My boyfriend and I discovered Saigon a little over a year ago. We have tried several dishes and we have never been disappointed. The place is always clean and servers are friendly. The owner started recognizing us after the third time we came. Food always takes just a couple of minutes and while you wait you get some complementary tea and soup! Which are always comforting. I encourage anyone to stop by and try the Pho
(5)Celeste M.
I came in to warm up from the Maine "Spring" weather,and I was craving some delicious pho. We walked in with a couple other groups and executed the seat yourself policy. Normally, you're immediately greeted and brought a piping hot pot of tea...not this time. We were told by the waitress that not only had they run out of tea, but they had also run out of their famous tofu soup! I've been here numerous times and this has never happened. We ordered our pho and it was good but not great. The noodles came in one huge dense clump, which was a little unappetizing. And the broth was not piping hot as pho should be. I was very disappointed as I come here often and have had great meals and service. I'm hoping it was an off night.
(3)Alise K.
Loved this little Thai gem. Looks smaller than it actually is. First time I have tried pho! Dumplings were really good as well.
(4)Sheila D.
Wow. One of the best Vietnamese restaurants that I've ever been to. This place has so many options to the point that even though I was craving pho, I second guessed myself and strongly considered another entree. I'm pescetarian, and I was a little disappointed that there wasn't any vegetarian or seafood pho on the menu, but you can just ask the servers for them. I'm sure that they are very flexible with dietary accommodations because everything seems to be made in house. Some of the differentiating factors: 1) they serve tofu soup with each entree! So refreshing and yummy! 2) Oranges AND fortune cookies after the meal. 3) The servers are really sweet anseem like they really want to converse with everyone that walks in the door. 4) Free tea! The pho we got was pretty authentic as well as the summer rolls. All in all, a must go if you're a huge pho fan or just love Asian/Vietnamese food!
(5)Alex K.
This place has made me fall in love with pho! It looks really small, but I have always been able to get in for lunch. They have been consistent and I have tried other restaurants that just don't compete. Come here for the # 1 pho in Portland! - Oh and get an order of the pan fried dumplings and add them to your soup. (You're welcome)
(4)Huero S.
Being from the West Coast, it's hard to believe that I would find good Pho in Maine, right? All over it was good, even down to the Sweet and Sour Chicken for the wife.
(5)S S.
I don't think there is a place in town that you can as much good food for as little money. The beef pho is so freaking good. It will warm your heart and soul like no other. I love the fresh springs rolls and the glass noodle curry as well! Eat in house and get complimentary tea, soup and fresh fruit! Service can be spotty but food is always good and wallet is always happy.
(4)Salinda N.
It's been awhile since I've been here because I've moved down to Florida. The owner is friends with my family and so I use to frequent here quite often. I can't remember what anything tastes like EXCEPT for one dish that I got most of the time I was there. Every once in awhile, I crave this. Get the Mi Xao Don! It's so good!!!! Last time I went though, which was a few months ago during a visit back to Maine after two years - the portions seemed to get smaller. But still good!
(4)Rick L.
This has become a weekly meal for us. We get the food to go and it is always ready very quickly and is delicious. The prices are much less than some other places in the city. Some favorites include the fried rice dishes, the spring rolls and the smoothies. Everything we have tried has been great. The servings are generous to the point that we can usually get a second meal out of our orders. I recommend picking up a printed take out menu for future orders, as the menus online are not easy to use and are outdated.
(5)Rachel K.
This place has become our regular take-out spot and I've eaten their food more times than I can count. My favorite dish is the fried noodles w/ tofu, but we also LOVE their pho (traditional Vietnamese soup). One of the best I've ever had and especially perfect for when you're sick! (I claim it has healing properties, but there is no data to back this up.) It IS available with veggies and tofu, but still has a chicken broth. I prefer the chicken pho personally. We also really love the spring rolls with peanut sauce and the egg drop soup. Even if you're getting take-out they give you tea while you wait and always include soup! I just wish they delivered to South Portland.
(5)April B.
Wow!! They delivered on a scooter, to start with. Love the Eco-friendly to-go boxes and this is the best Crab Rangoon since 1994. I can't wait to make my way through the menu.
(5)Phi T.
The food at saigon was pretty tasty actually thats why this place deserves 3 stars but if it wasn't good it would be a 1 star restaurant because the service was mediocre and not that great. The place isn't usually busy so no reservations really needed and its located on a busy road in a pretty run down building neighboring many other asian businesses. Will i come back? Yeah i would but if you want good service it's probably not the best place to go. There isnt really much vietnamese food in portland. And most of the vietnamese restaurants in maine is not as good as in san jose California where you got a pho restaurant literally like almost every corner. Oh well, this honestly got to be the best vietnamese in maine compared to veranda noodle bar, which isnt really that good.
(3)Thu T.
Excellent restaurant in Portland, authentic cuisine and great service. Pho was perfect for a March lunch, it comes with an appetizer soup (delicious!). Veggies came abundant which was a surprise. The pho was a little sweet for my taste but overall felt freshly prepared. Had a chicken stir-fried with broccoli to go and that was great as well! The Chinese food here is cooked with a Vietnamese flavor so they might be less oily than other Chinese places but that's just fine with me. Highly recommended from a native eater!
(5)Alex G.
Came here for lunch based on the Yelp reviews, and it was really a good call. A small, super casual joint, with a huge Vietnamese menu (lots of authentic dishes) and polite service. Bathrooms were spotless, which is a very good sign of the overall cleanliness of the place. Food was well made and thy obviously have pride in their cuisine. Try the veggie spring rolls, wrapped in rice paper and served with a peanut dipping sauce - yum to the max! Pho - one with chicken and one with beef and meatballs - were both excellent. Tasty broth, delicious noodles, and Vietnamese style meat. Chicken was white meat and super tender. Pho came with a soup appetizer (tofu soup) which wasn't necessary, but we ate it anyway. Squeeze that lime into it, add the bean sprouts, and take a long, deep slurp. Awesome!
(4)Jeremy N.
I'm going to admit something to you that I've never told anyone. I've never had Pho before! Shocking I know! Some people who are Pho connoisseurs are very particular (picky) about it and it's almost like a cult thing I think. I will defer to their expert opinions but I can say that I thought it was really yummy. The location is set back off the road in that limbo stretch on Forrest Ave. that no one actually remembers passing through when you try to give directions. Use GPS and Google Maps.. it's your friend! The staff were great and the ambiance was just what you'd expect of a nice Vietnamese restaurant. I plan on going back if I remember where it is.
(4)Thao V.
I must be on a quest to try almost every Vietnamese restaurant within a 30 mile radius of Portland. After trying Thanh Thanh 2, Veranda, and Phoever I wanted to check out Saigon Restaurant. I had the look of dismay when the shrimp and pork spring rolls was brought cut up in one inch pieces. From the first bite, I can taste it was chilled and not soft like a fresh made spring roll should taste like. I did not taste the shrimp, and the pork was not the usual pork cut used but instead had a char siu reddish color on the outer layers of the meat. The peanut sauce it came with was good. I felt like the experience of eating a spring roll with your hand was taken away when it's all cut up into bite size pieces. It IS an experience picking up the entire roll and dipping it in peanut sauce--why would you take that away from people? My pho of choice was rare steak and meatballs. The fresh herbs and garnishes they brought out is by far the best I've seen in Maine. I am impressed with the beautifully fresh asian basil this time of the year and bonus points to them for having gorgeous looking culantro leaves. I did not expect to ever eat pho with culantro in Maine. The bean sprouts looked very fresh and crispy. Unfortunately the garnish plate came with 1/8 of a lime instead of desirable 1/4 piece but that's forgivable considering I'm sure I could have easily asked for more. I've seen so many people neglect to even use any garnishes with their soup. I can understand why restaurants skimp out on some things such as lime and garnishes when most of it will end up in the trash anyways. So now comes the soup. I ordered a medium and it was indeed fair in size. I look down at my soup to see only a few token pieces of scallions and cilantro and some white onion pieces. Note to restaurant: you will NOT scare people away if you added 10x the amount of that. Those nuance additions make up so much of the flavor of the soup. After looking at my rare steak, I see it's been very well cooked in the broth. Biting into what was suppose to be a rare soft steak piece, it was not soft at all but rather tough in texture. There were a few pieces of brisket beef I did not expect but luckily I like beef so I did not mind. For those who just ordered just rare steak and got some bonus brisket cuts might be put off by that. The meatball and broth was not bad. Before I even ate the soup I had to mix and loosen up the noodles with chopsticks due to the noodles being rationed and precooked. Precooking noodles and rationing it off like that is a slippery slope due to the fact that it's practically like cooking the noodles TWICE. As I bite into the noodles I can feel that it's considerably softer than it should be. There was not much elasticity or a hint of firmness. The perfect texture and consistency for pho noodles is not being too soft but slightly chewy. It's not mad science and could easily be achieved by just cooking the noodles as it's ordered. Clumped noodles wouldn't make a good impression on someone that has never had pho before. First time pho eaters should not get the impression they have to work hard to untangle their noodles before eating. Overall, the broth was decent, side garnishes are gorgeous and green as it can be. They need to reconsider what they call 'rare' steak. It's way overcooked and tough. If you are feeling under the weather or need your pho craving then sure try this place. I would go again but try something else, maybe the crispy egg noodle dish which looked good.
(3)Nancy N.
Love this place and their awesome service! I came in during their opening hours with their open sign ON. Had the hot tea and famous tofu soup. The bun thit noodle's sauce was way too sweet though and not authentic like real Vietnamese's spicy fish sauce should be.
(5)David D.
Haven't come here for a while and decided to invite some of my good friends to try my favorite place. HOLY MAMA COW, it was packed and we had to wait for like 10 mins for a table. Finally, we can sneak in a table at the corner near the heat ( it was "freeeeeeeezing" at night out there ). Hot pot of tea was sent right on our table in a second even when it was extremely busy. My friends are all new to this place and they were recommend to try the noddle soup ( Hu Teiu Mi, correct me if i'm wrong ). We all got different stuff like F3 F6 and F5 and they were all tasty. The broth of my spicy beef soup is AMAZING !!!!! My friends were all satisfied with their stuff too. We are definitely gonna come back. SOOOOOOOON !!!!!
(5)Justin A.
I've got to agree with Anh T. I love pho. I would eat it every day of the week if I could (and I sometimes do). And this was some of the worst pho I've ever had. Poor quality vegetables, poor quality broth, everything about it was disappointing. The vermicelli was okay. The staff was nice. The portions were large. And I did like the tea and soup as an appetizer. However, I was here for the pho, and I left disappointed.
(2)Christine L.
While I wasn't too impressed on my first visit, this place has definitely grown on me since then! The staff is always friendly, the menu has a lot of variety, and it helps that this place is super close to school! The egg drop soup usually comes with the meal and it's definitely very chinese. I usually get the Pho Tai Chin Nam which is rare meat and well done brisket (aka nape meat??). The broth is nice and clear with tons of flavor, and it isn't super oily! My only disappointment is that their "small" is a LOT SMALLER than what I'm used to seeing back home in California where there are pho establishments everywhere. While disappointing, I'm not exactly complaining about it because it's the perfect serving size for me and none of it goes to waste! :) Can't wait to try more of their menu!
(4)Melanie R.
Delicious!! As others have mentioned, the egg drop soup that they start you off with is fantastic- the best I've ever had. But that just paves the way for an even more fantastic bowl of pho! The broth was perfectly seasoned and clear, and they brought out a plate overflowing with bean sprouts, basil, lemongrass, lime, and of course that crazy chili sauce, so that everyone in our group could personalize to their heart's content! I wasn't a huge fan of the fresh spring rolls- I actually thought they were kind of bland- but you don't need an appetizer. Service was extremely friendly and prompt!
(5)S And E H.
I go here for the Pho. It's super yummy. Not a fancy place but who cares. The people are nice.
(4)Bento B.
I've been coming to Saigon ever since this place opened. Love the relaxed atmosphere and staff. Well prepared dishes, fast preparation and balanced menu. I travel a lot to Southern California and have found that Saigon fares pretty well with similar pho restaurants in the San Diego (Clairemont Mesa) and Orange County (Westminster) areas. One of the reviewers gave Saigon one star and mentioned that it had a "mild flavor." Well, add some spice and side condiments to your dish and it won't be so bland - that's what they are there for. My favorites here are the pork Banh Mi (only as breakfast/takeout item), bun bo Hue (central Vietnam style pho), Tofu in brown sauce, imperial fried-rice, BBQ pork-chops with lemon grass and rice as well as their fried fish in brown sauce dish. Go get some. You won't regret it.
(4)Samantha L.
/sigh It is always such a challenge to find decent Asian food any where north of Boston. We got a take out pho because we already ate lunch previously but wanted to test the waters for Viet food in Portland. First thought when we opened our brown bag and inspected its contents- we were frightened when we looked at the pho beef broth. It was so clear that I thought it was a veggie/chicken broth and not the beef bones stock. Then comes the little white carton with the "Extra Large" size order filled with noodles and rare beef. For 9.95$ I almost fainted at the portion size. Noodles: maybe 3/4 cup and we counted about 6 thinly slices of beef. All I can say is WHAT? Clearly this establishment is fueled for and paid for people who never had a "Extra large" size Pho Bo. The broth lacked flavor and tasted a lot like MSG. The thinly sliced onions, scallions/cilantro that came with this order were so miniscule I don't know why they even bothered putting it in the take out box. If the food was good I wouldn't care the portion was small and the price. I'm a girl that has eaten a lot of Pho and viet food in her life. This did not pass the test.
(2)Taj M.
Fresh, generous portions, pleasant speedy service, affordably priced!!!!
(5)Asya P.
I should have written this review when we went, because I no longer remember all of the details, but I remember loving it!! I had a cold noodle salad dish with tons of veggies, and I really loved it. It came with this lovely light dressing. My boyfriend had a more typical veggie stir fry type thing which was very nice as well. Very generous serving sizes, at least eating in. Fantastic service, super friendly people run this place. I love the complimentary tea and soup to start your meal! Little details like these really elevate a restaurant in my mind. Pleasant seating arrangement, pretty moderate prices. Great, traditional place. We will be back repeatedly in the summer, because I liked the cold dish so much. 4 rather than 5 stars just because it isn't food I will dream about, but it's high quality for what it is. No down sides. If you love Vietnamese, this place is one of the nicest around.
(4)Quin A.
I was very pleasantly surprised at the recent surge of Asian restaurants in Southern Maine while I was there earlier this month. Saigon Restaurant was highly reviewed in an article in the Wall Street Journal newspaper and I needed to go see for myself if the review there and on Yelp lived up to the praise. This place was easy to find, along a busy street with a small parking lot of its own. The building is small and the dining room only houses about 10 - 12 tables. Inside, it was nice and bright with no shortage of Asian decor. The people working there were very friendly and served us quickly. Their menu was a mix of authentic Vietnamese food as well as some traditional Chinese-American familiar dishes. There were many items on the menu which I wanted to try but that day I was there for the Pho. I am happy to report that their Pho did not disappoint. The broth was flavorful and well seasoned. The vegetables were fresh, the meat was tender and the portion was just right. I have eaten plenty of Pho and this does rank up there in the top 5. If you have the opportunity to stop in here while you're in Maine, take a break from the seafood platters and have some Pho instead.
(4)Francine L.
I eat here fairly regularly. The staff are attentive and friendly . In fact they remember my name and inquire about my family when they aren't with me. The offer complimentary tea and soup while u wait for take out or while u wait for ur food. Both of these are delicious. And the rest of the food is scrumptious! From the Pho to the spring roll. We try something new each time and have never been less than completely happy with food. Place is clean and small but huge on flavor and positivity.
(5)Wei Y.
Stopped by on a rainy Monday night for dinner during a road trip in Maine. We are pleasantly surprised as soon as we step in by the businesses inside the restaurant. The service is tentative and prompt. Husband who's a soup drinker completely loved the pho soup. It's not quite the same stuff as we consumed in so. Cal but it's equally delicious. The noodles are cooked to a soft texture which are very comforting. Contrary to most of the Asian restaurants I've been to, this place serves awesome tea for free! There are no loose tea leaves just simply good tasting tea. The waiter said it's made with jasmine and lotus in house...overall a really cozy family run restaurant. Forgot to mention the spring rolls. They are not overly fried but just right, serving piping hot. Thrums up for the taste too.
(4)Polin M.
I'm still wondering why not so many people realize this hidden gem on Forest Ave. I did drive by this restaurant few times and I was like "nah, it looks so unprofessional, maybe next time :))". And then we finally stopped by last night to give it a try, it was just.... FANTASTIC!!!. We got the special Duck Soup and the Bean Vermicelli with seafood, everything is flavorful and well-marinated. Service is awesome, we even had tea at beginning and main dish came with complimentary soup. We are definitely gonna come back. Soooooon :3
(5)Anh T.
Totally NOT a fan of this place. I am Vietnamese so I am particular about my viet food. This place is definitely NOT a place to go for Vietnamese food. I had pho and they come with a complimentary soup. Both of them were way too sweet to my taste. Even though on the menu it had lunch and dinner menu but they said they only so dinner on Sunday, which I found weird. The meat tasted very frozen-like meat. I know all meat are frozen anyway but it's really grossed to taste it in your mouth. The service sucks. We get our receipt in a post it note and the waitress was on the phone the whole time while we are ready for the check. Totally a bad experience and I'm not planning to come back.
(1)Elisabeth A.
Oh my goodness, what a find! This place is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! Maybe the best pho I've ever had. I became a bit obsessed with it while living in Brooklyn and am so pleased to come across this Portland gem. The entire waitstaff was incredibly friendly, helpful, and attentive. We ordered the chicken wings (perfectly crispy), crab rangoon, crispy pork dumplings, spring rolls (which were really more like summer rolls and soooo delicious), and the large chicken pho. The bowl was ENORMOUS and seriously fed three of us (we even had leftovers!). Also, if you order an entree they give you a complimentary bowl of what I'd describe as mouthwatering egg drop soup with fresh tofu and veggies. YUM. I will definitely be back!
(5)Sandra P.
My first visit was great. We had a group of 13 ( 7 children) and the service was great and the food was excellent. Highly recommended.
(5)N S.
Love! The Pho is amazing and comes with fresh Thai basil. Their spring rolls are good too. I haven't tried much else from there to be honest. I alway order the Pho to go (even though the place does have a charming and clean ambiance) and it is always ready within 10mins. A bonus- they offer you a hot cup of tea while you pay. Ive tried Pho from other places but this is my go to Pho place!
(5)Meridith H.
Ambience: Clean & comfortable. The decor is consistent except for a string of heart shaped lights taped to the wall (which is quirky in a good way). Service: Friendly & very quick. Food: Meh. My dish was full of fresh ingredients, but the combination of noodles, bean sprouts, mint leaves, etc. (I had a bun) created an extraordinarily mild flavor. Nothing stood out, and the overall impression was of a flavorless dish. The texture of the fried tofu, however, was pleasant. Verdict: I would not return to Saigon unless they did a complete overhaul of their menu. Vietnamese food does not have to be so bland!
(1)William C.
From the reviews, i had very high expectations in coming here. The noodles were cooked just right and the ingredients were fresh, but the broth to the pho was very, very light in flavor (almost tasteless). I had to add the plum sauce and hot sauce to the soup to give it flavor, whereas I normally don't. I also ordered the summer rolls (vermicelli and shrimp and other bits)... the portion was small and there were pieces of shrimp rather than whole pieces of shrimp. This is portland. I would've been happy if the roll were stuffed with lobster, so long as there's a whole piece of it rather than chopped bits.
(3)Lana H.
Undoubtedly the best Vietnamese food and best pho in Portland . I'm am so happy that the business now is packed on a Sunday for lunch. I want my local businesses to thrive to keep Maine local business strong. Owner Mai (pronounce My) has expanded her menu . Awesome to see. I have included the new menu. So disregard the old "pink" paper old menu. Bon apetit!
(5)Marta H.
Visiting Portland to eat and my husband and I ate here because of reviews on Yelp. The beef pho was absolutely delicious and ended up being our favorite dish of the weekend! Nothing fancy about the interior but the staff were all very nice and service was fast and attentive.
(5)Danae D.
I have traveled to many places, Vietnamese food being one of my favorites, I have tried many, many Vietnamese restaurants all over the east and west coast. This is by far my favorite. Not only is their food absolutely amazing, with a flavor I can't even describe, the service is amazing. They simply don't get noticed as they should due to their "set back from the street" location. If you enjoy vietnamese food and want a place that you won't be able to resist coming again and again then you have found it here. (Pho soup is my favorite, cooked for over 14 hours to get its unbelievable flavor)
(5)Lanna Lee M.
I come here for the Fresh Spring Rolls (with pork and shrimp and peanut sauce on the side) - A3 on the menu, and that is all I eat when I come here I love it SOOOOOOO much. I've brought several people here to eat with me and they all have loved their food as well. Great service, delicious Spring Rolls. My husband loves the Seafood and noodle dish. Mmmmm Spring Rolls.
(5)Vanessa T.
A couple of my friends and I decided to come and eat here for one of my friend's birthday. Im new to this restaurant because I've just recently moved here front Texas. When we had arrived, the service was great. We were greeted at the door and presented to our seats. They gave us water and a hot pot of tea. Oh man, The tea was delicious! It was great for the cold weather . My choice of food was the Vermicelli with shrimp and egg rolls. I've never had it before but it sounded tasty. Before we got our main meal, they gave us a complementary soup while we waited for our meals. I believed it was called "egg dropped tofu soup." When our meals finally arrived, they all looked great. My dish was delicious as I thought. It came with a side of fish sauce as a dressing to pour over. When we were all done eating, they gave us our check but that wasn't the ending, along came a plate with oranges and fortune cookies to end it all. Overall the food was great and so was customer service ! I highly recommend this restaurant!
(5)A K.
Just found this on yelp. Absolutely delicious Pho'. Very good service and delicious summer rolls. Very out of town but I would gladly go back any time I was in the area.
(4)Tiffany T.
I thought it was only appropriate that my first Yelp review in Portland be for Saigon Restaurant. This is a cute family owned restaurant off of Forest Ave -- easily missed if you're not paying attention. Had I been hungrier that afternoon, I would've ordered more! Their menu is pretty extensive and not wholly Vietnamese but I can understand their need to appeal to a wider range of customers. The usual appetizers -- spring rolls, egg rolls. Entrees included rice plates, noodle dishes (bun and mi), pho, and other stir-fried goodies. I ordered the small pho E1 (surprise, surprise) and it came out with the usual garnishes (very fresh). I was pleasantly surprised with the addition of ngo gai or "sawtooth herb". The authentic pho dishes in Vietnam usually come with this herb and not many pho shops outside of California offer this little guy. The broth itself was flavorful and slightly oily, but I don't mind. It tasted a bit sweet to me -- msg? Not a big deal either. The meat was unusually soft and tender. Some pieces were TOO tender that I question whether they put some kind of meat tenderizer on it? I also ordered the "soda chanh" or fresh squeezed lemonade made with soda water. It was perfect. My friend ordered the pennywort drink which came out in a radiant green that she thought was a little too sweet. I don't care, I'm coming back for that pennywort drink. It looked delicious! Overall, a good experience with very good service. I'd come back to try their other menu items and for the sole fact that there aren't that many Vietnamese restaurants here. But for such slim pickings, this place isn't bad at all. I'm taking my parents here when they come visit.
(4)Jacob S.
Best Vietnamese food in Maine for sure! Went there last night for the first time had roasted duck(k2) level 4 spicy(1-5) was absolutely delicious!
(5)Scott M.
Atmosphere: Don't let the outside of the building scare you away. Decor inside was nice and the staff was amazingly friendly! Food: I like most people love me some free stuff. Tea was awesome and the Tofu soup was amazing and complimentary. Settled on chicken pad thai. After living in the Virginia where I believe spicy food is illegal, or perhaps a sin, I aimed for the top of their heat scale. The waitress helped me realize that I was crazy, so I settled on 3/5 with extra heat on the side. It was PERFECT! Oh...and it was under 8.00 w/ tax. Verdict: I'll be back with the Mrs...many times. This place is WAY too close to my office.
(4)Boo H.
Average food to me... But for a place Vietnamese place in Maine... I guess it's not so bad when you're craving Vietnamese food.
(3)Wendy M.
The Lo Mein here is out of this world. This restaurant isn't fancy so I wouldn't recommend it if you're looking for an upscale dining experience, but it's a nice place to go out for a casual meal. The food is great. I ordered pork fried rice, which came in a huge portion full of actual vegetables and large pieces of broccoli, in addition to the pork. It was tasty, but my fiance got chicken Lo Mein, and it's the best I've ever had. We stumbled onto Saigon Restaurant while driving through Portland and I'm so glad we stopped.
(4)Charlene J.
Very unassuming building but don't let that scare you away. We found this restaurant on Yelp while driving around Portland looking for a Vietnamese restaurant for Pho. We ordered egg rolls, pho, and vermicelli with roasted beef to go. While I waited, they very graciously served me some of the best tea that I have ever tasted at an Asian restaurant. I had very high hopes for our food if they cared this much about their tea. They also offered me a little Egg Drop Soup which I have never tried before and I really liked it and appreciated fresh crunchiness of the scallions in the soft texture of this soup. They also gave me some tea to go and my boyfriend also enjoyed flavor of the tea. The egg rolls were very good and we enjoyed them with and without the dipping sauce. The pho was fantastic! It was very fresh and you could taste all of the flavors. The vermicelli with beef was also very good. Because this was all take-out it was really appreciated that all the hot & cold pieces of this dish were kept seperate so that we could still have the texture of fresh vegies. The sauce for this dish also comes separately so we could control the flavor intensity. Suffice it say that we will definitely be back and will tell our friends!
(5)Natalie M.
You kind of scary looking from the outside and in a strange location. Plus, the first time I went I wasn't totally convinced the door I went through was the really how you enter the place (it was) but you are a sweet pea of a hole in the wall restaurant with delicious Pho at massively reasonable prices. You have an adorable staff who are very kind and one lady actually showed me how to put hoisin sauce in the chili for dipping the beef in AND put a little hoisin in the Pho itself for added Noshingness. Nothing beats this place on a cold winter day. Go in there. Enjoy your complimentary egg drop soup and hot tea, then order the Pho and a cold one. You won't be disappointed. Pho and Sapporo. Phapporo. Om nom nom.
(4)Joe B.
This place is really good From the service, ambiance to the food. Really love eating here. Love their egg roll
(5)Chris F.
I was in Portland for a couple of meetings and had some time to kill and needed lunch. I dropped in to Saigon hoping to have a decent meal- turns out this was truly very good. I had the Saigon noodles with Pork- nice spice level, great noodles. The service was friendly and attentive and the free cup of soup with lunch was a really nice touch. I only wish that I had been able to try the Pho. I was wearing a white dress shirt and there's no way I would have been able to slurp up the delicious looking broth and noodles and remain unscathed. I will be back.
(4)Herb E.
One of the best Vietnamese restaurants in the Northeast, if not THE best. I have tried the Pho from every Vietnamese restaurant in Maine (that I know of) and I have to say that Saigon makes the best, hands down. Excellent broth with plenty of sprouts, lime, basil and cilantro to add. The rare beef Pho is phenomenal. The service is always fast, courteous and friendly and more importantly, the food is consistently good.
(5)Kyung R.
This is my favorite place for pho in Portland, ME. They also have great lunch deals on fried rice noodles that were quite delicious for under $10. In the mornings, they have deals for the vietnamese sandwiches, but I haven't had the opportunity to try them yet. This a great place and the staff are really friendly! Definitely my favorite Vietnamese restaurant in this town!
(4)Charles G.
I went for lunch on a weekday. The place was packed. As the other reviews said the Saigon is not much to look at from the outside. The inside is clean and pleasent. The food is presented nicely and the service is quick. I had Pho with seafood and fresh spring rolls. The soup was excellent, nice broth, and reasonable quantity of seafood. The fresh spring rolls were good, ingredients fresh, although I think they had been in the fridge too long. I would definitely go back soon
(4)Emily D.
Amazing. I love LOVE this place. It's a vietnamese and chinese place that just opened up on forrest ave. First: The people that work here are wonderful. Very generous and kind. Every time I'm there waiting for pick up they ask me to sit and insist on serving me jasmine tea and some sort of egg drop soup. (its thicker than usual chinese egg drop soup with big bits of Tofu, tomatoes and cilantro) The soup is wonderful and always makes me happy. Food wise its also excellent- all very fresh and their sauces aren't the stock store bought kind you can find at other local vietnamese places. I really enjoy the Pho of course- comes with plenty of fixings to add to the bowl. My favorite go to dish is now the rice noodles with pork and brown sauce (R3). Simply awesome. The sauce has just a hint of sweetness and it comes w/ chili oil so you can spice it to your liking. The pork is of good quality (not fatty and grisely) and there is a nice cilantro accent to the dish. I would appreciate a bit more veggies in the dish, but I get that isn't the point. The interior has also been redone and its a nice cozy space! couldn't be happier!
(5)Mark L.
Vietnamese to me = PHO and the Pho is great here. One of the best I've had in New England. There are other items on the menu that are very good as well: from spring rolls to Crab Rangoon or Chow Foon. I wish they had bubble tea, but they do have other drinks on the menu that suffice. If you have ever had Pho and enjoyed it, give this place a try and I'm betting you will enjoy it.
(5)K M.
Saigon is right around the corner from my house, and my husband and I go there all the time. Fast service, friendly servers, reasonable prices, big portions, and great food! I am a vegetarian and there are quite a few dishes to choose from.
(5)Chad K.
It is more like 3.5 stars. The chicken wings for my nephew was not fully cooked, the portion of chicken pad Thai was equivalent of five big bites, but my pho was delicious. The service was a little lacking as we were half way into our meals when our specialty drinks came out. I would have given a lesser rating, but my pho was delicious. F.y.i.- ask for a table away from the door or you will freeze.
(3)Scott P.
My 2 friends and I ate here for the first time today and we all really enjoyed the food and the staff was great! We were pleasantly greeted and immediately sat at the table, While we were looking through the menus, they brought each of us a cup of hot soup w/some chili paste to spice it up with. We ordered the spring rolls, chicken wings and fried egg rolls as appetizers. Each was tasty, though I'd probably skip the fried egg rolls next time (just your standard little things), where as the spring rolls were tasty (love that peanut sauce) and the chicken wings were really good too! I had one of the noodle soups (F1 on the menu) and my partner had another one (F3 on the menu), while our friend had the fried rice dish. The waitress came over and helped enhance our soups by adding the basil, lime and bean sprouts to our soup, as well as some chili paste. Very hands on and a neat experience. All three dishes were delicious and the staff checked on us numerous times to make sure everything was ok. If you are looking for some really delicious Vietnamese food in the Portland area, this is a great place to visit. We drove up from Dover, NH (about 50 minutes away) and we'd definitely visit here again while visiting Portland!
(4)Daniel C.
As a Portland local I am glad to have discovered Saigon. It is the best meal around if you are looking for Asian food. The Beef Pho is a must try. I first experienced it in the fall of 2011 and have been nearly 15 times since. The staff is extremely nice and helpful. I was taught exactly how to properly dress my pho in the most authentic way, to get the level of spice I was looking for. Aside from the Pho, they have great spring rolls. Everything is super clean and fresh. Great tea and soup...also free. If you like Pad Thai please try it at Saigon. I was completely loyal to a nearby Thai restaurant, though after trying the Saigon version, I can no longer order from anywhere else. Don't worry about the appearance from the exterior or the somewhat random location. I'll admit, it made me hesitant to try it at first. I have been so many times now they treat me like family.
(5)Alexandra C.
I had pho for the first time that my friend's mom made, and I was instantly hooked. He recommended Saigon, and it did not disappoint. Everyone was very friendly, the large size pho is very generous for the price, and it was absolutely delicious. I went in again this weekend, and they gave me a cup of tea while I was deciding what to order, and a small bowl of soup while I was waiting for my to-go order to be ready. I've only been twice and I already felt like a regular. I've been recommending it to everyone, and I will definitely go back soon.
(5)AJ P.
I had a craving for a nice bowl of hot pho, and decided I should try this place out. The pho here was very good and tasty. Service was quick and attentive. Would definitely return.
(3)Bud P.
This place is cheap and delicious need I say more?
(4)Ginny P.
Pho ga that I dream about. So simple and so delicious. The staff are kind and welcoming.
(5)Mary L.
On a whim I checked out Saigon the other night. I was in the mood for something different and I'm glad I stopped!!! I ordered the spring rolls and the duck entree. While I was waiting they gave me a complimentary bowl of soup and I ordered a sapporo. The spring rolls with their spicy peanut sauce was fresh and delicious an the duck was spicy and so very yummy! This place is a new favorite. Dont let the outside appearance turn you off from stopping in!
(4)Noah G.
A 5-star rating on Yelp is supposed to mean "Woohoo! As good as it gets!" and I would say that fairly describes my experience there. I have eaten there many times, and I go there more often than to other places because the quality of the food, service, and atmosphere is so high. I could go on and on about freshness of the ingredients and complexity of flavors, and the artful presentation of the dishes, but the star rating says it all, and I'm sure other reviewers have covered that ground anyway. Sometimes the servers can be slow at returning to your table if you need something, but they are always very pleasant and willing to please. (One word of advice: they mean what they say with spice stars! I once ordered a dish at five stars [on a scale of 1-5], and I could barely finish it. Three stars is plenty if you really like hot food.)
(5)S. K.
Came back again and I have more details to give to my review. So the pros to this restaurant is that they give you complementary soup when you eat in and the tea is good and uses real leaves. They also have the vietnamese sandwich (banh mi) which you have to order to-go (I don't get why..) and it's okay for probably the only place in Portland to get banh mi. So I ordered pho again to retry it and it comes out and the broth is practically clear. I just started laughing. Yea, definitely not quality food. Also had the crab rangoon.. better ones at Pom's on Congress.
(3)Jon R.
Pho used to be very good here, but I don't know what happen. Every time I had their pho, I feel a little dizzy. This usually mean there's a lot of MSG in the broth. Service is ok. I'll go back to try something else.
(3)Kathy K.
Will be back when I'm craving pho. Went during lunch and had the beef pho. Yummy fresh ingredients and I thought the staff was very attentive. Every staff member came to our table to ensure we had what we needed and were enjoying our dishes. Also had the spring rolls. It's my opinion but sometimes I get concerned when Asian restaurants try to 'do it all' they had Thai and Chinese dishes available too. I'm sure they're good but definitely come for the Pho. I don't think I'd ever order the large, the medium was plenty!
(5)Eric D.
Broth for the Pho is great, the chicken wings here are to die for!
(5)Kyle C.
Super nice people and the best Pho in Portland. Greeted with smiles and tea. Pick up order ready in five minutes. I would definitely recommend to anyone.
(5)Emily G.
We were in Portland for some good seafood but the husband is a non-seafood lover. Go figure. But he does love him some pho so we found this restaurant while we were trying to find Fishermen's Grill (another review on its own). With good ratings on Yelp, we decided to give it a try. He order the pho tai and I ordered the egg rolls. I wanted to save stomach space for Fishermen's Grill. The pho was very good. The broth was flavorful and not too fatty. The husband enjoyed it thoroughly. The egg rolls were also good. This is probably the best Vietnamese restaurant I've been to since leaving Arizona. Bonus point: Very clean and nice looking traditional decor.
(5)J M.
Just finished an excellent lunch of beef pho, fresh rolls, pillowy steamed dumplings and a delicious complimentary taste of hot and sour tofu soup. We have traveled extensively in Vietnam and give this place high marks for authenticity. The service was superb: friendly, helpful and clearly interested to know that we were enjoying our meal. I can't wait for dinner to taste the take-out special fried rice noodles (one with pork, one with tofu and veggies). Have definitely bookmarked Saigon for a return visit.
(5)Oliver H.
Came here for lunch on a Saturday afternoon. The place was clean and the waiters were all very friendly and polite. Pretty fast service as well! I ordered a large beef pho noodle soup (around $9.50 i think). wasn't as filling as i expected but the noodle soup was decent. meal came with a separate soup as an appetizer, followed by my order which included the standard bean sprouts, lime slice, basil, and hot peppers that you would expect with any pho order. The meal ended nicely with a couple slices of oranges that came with the check. good overall dining experience, probably try something else next time to see if they are better portioned.
(4)An L.
Excellent pho, very aromatic! Very polite hostesses wearing ao giai (long traditional Vietnamese dresses). Looks great on the inside, better than the outside. They also don't do MSG.
(5)David M.
The menu is epic. The pho is a feast for the senses.
(4)Rebecca B.
We have been on the hunt for the perfect Pho which led us to Saigon. Although I prefer the Pho at Thanh Thanh II, the service at Saigon was excellent. Basically we sat down, they immediately brought us tea and egg drop soup. Our water was constantly filled and they were very hospitable. We tried one of their Vietnamese specials and it was very tasty. Try it but be sure to stick with the Vietnamese dishes there because they are more authentic.
(4)Audrey D.
My boyfriend and I go atleast once every weekend. The soup is amazing and the wait staff is so friendly. I would highly recommended Saigon to anyone who loves Vietnamese cuisine. Big fan of the D7.. Delicious!
(5)rosylen m.
The pho broth was really, really flavorful and delicious. I didn't order it, but I finished what my companion could not. I ordered the vermicelli with pork skin and pork which was okay (not great). The crispy dumplings hit the spot with their crispy, chewy wrappers. It was a little light on the filling, but the wrappers made up for it. Our other companion ordered the vermicelli with chicken and was pleased with it. Next time I go to Maine, I'm ordering the pho.
(4)Clare P.
Incredibly good food, great bang for your buck, fast delivery.
(5)Phyllis P.
Excellent pho. Great service. Will be back.
(5)Lola N.
Best Asian food I've had in Portland. Ordered the fried dumplings, which were really good (I'm a dumpling fanatic and these were top 10%) with thick dough and a good chunk of meat inside. I could have used a little more seasoning in the meat, but other than that they were perfect, and the dumpling sauce on the side made up for any lack of seasoning in the meat. Also ordered the vietnamese rice noodle with beef sate, medium spicy, and it was truly delicious and a huge portion. The seasoning was exactly right and there was a good amount of meat in the noodles, along with vegetables like onions and carrots. I saved the noodle dish in my fridge and it stayed delicious until like 5+ days later when I finally got around to finishing it. Also delivery was super fast and everything was still hot. I'm usually skeptical of pan-Asian places, but it looks like I'll hae to re-evaluate that policy. For now this will definitely be my go-to Asian in town. Looking forward to ordering from here again.
(5)Dan G.
Awesome!! you know an epic restaurant is good when it is full of people of that ethenicity. This is one of those places. Absolutely fresh ingredients , great service, great value. Not to miss if you like Vietnamese food.
(5)Lauren J.
curb appeal leaves much to be desired, however once you step inside- its a cute, clean and friendly restaurant. I was offered tea while I waited for my to go order. I ordered the wonton soup and the vegetable spring roll for lunch. the soup was wonderfully flavorful and portion was large. the spring roll was super fresh and served with a delicious peanut sauce. I am looking forward to heading back to eat in and try some more of the menu.
(4)Frank H.
the larger part of my grilled shrimp and egg roll vermicelli now rests peacefully in my trash can. it was the least dignity i could offer the poor dish - the bloated blue trash bag probably the closest thing to the sea those damned decapods have experienced in months (unless, that is, i'm to believe that they actually were dipped in lighter fluid prior to leaving the restaurant). the sprouts, carrot, shredded lettuce, and cilantro did their best to impart a sense of freshness to the noodles, but against the one-two combo of toxic avenger shrimp and boring fish sauce, they never had a prayer. thus was the chopped-up egg roll so flattered as to be considered edible amidst the execrable. apart from all that, the veggie spring roll was quite tasty.
(1)Christina U.
Absolutely love this place. My go to place for asian food. I love the pho. Portions are big and reasonable price!!! I go here every other weekend maybe. :) I mostly order take out, I'm surprise the ladies haven't memorized my number yet.
(5)Joshua L.
this is a small place, nothing fancy looking from outside. but once you go in, you will have awesome experience. . Service was excellent with complementary soup as soon as you sit in. Spring roll and pho were delicious. Their standard for quality of food and service was way beyond a typical vietnamese restaurant that I've evern been to. they have very affordable prices, too. I will definately come back when visiting this area again.
(5)Grigory F.
Very nice place. Simple from outside, much better inside. Food and service are great, prices are very descent.
(5)