Wow. I haven't had such a mediocre experience at a nail salon. I called ahead to see if they took walkins because I had some time to kill before picking up my boyfriend at Comicon. The woman who picked up seems legitimately annoyed at the inquiry. It's a legit question, though right? Like half of all salons take walk-ins and the rest don't, right? Anyway she was hesitant but said I could come on in. So 2 minutes later I'm there in front of a sign on the door that says to take your shoes off and leave them at the door. Okayyy, then...so the girl opens the door and ushers me inside rolling her eyes when I ask if I should take my shoes off-she says no....so why the sign? Whatever. As I sit down, I start to wonder why the hesitation to accept a walk-in? Because there is literally not one customer there but there were 2 employees, one of which was laying on the floor in the back playing what sounded like some kind of action packed video game. It's not like they were busy cleaning or anything either because the place was kinda dirty. The girl who did my nails was clearly annoyed that I was there and she rushed through the manicure-it turned out nice for how fast it was so if you're looking for a quick no frills manicure it's ok but no arm or shoulder massage and pretty lame excuse for even the hand massage. But my nails look good. read more

Ban Sabai - Nail Salons Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

What I got: gel manicure & deluxe gel pedicure I was feeling the need to pamper myself so I did a yelp search and Ban Sabai seemed like the perfect place to go! The deluxe pedicure is totally worth it if your needing a little extra tlc. The chair has a built in massager and you can just relax while your feet and legs are completely pampered, The actual paint job for my pedi was absolutely perfect. No bubbles or uneven edges. I chose "Cajun shrimp" by OPI gel. My manicure was much quicker--not much pampering there, but the paint looks lovely. The same no bubbles or uneven edges. I chose "passion" by OPI gel for my mani. It was decently priced for everything I got, though I won't do all of it every month. I'm very pleased with my experience and I will be returning. read more

Ban Sabai - "Passion" by OPI in gel - Nail Salons Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Here are the top 6 reasons why I love going to Ban Sabai for pedicures: 1. It does not have the pungent nail polish remover smell that burns your nostrils when you inhale. It smells just like a normal house...which is way more relaxing. 2. It is clean, clean, clean. You could eat off the floor...or at least not worry about dirty tools and infections like you hear about in magazine horror stories. 3. The staff is super friendly and into social cues. If you want to tune out and get into a zen like quiet or indulge in their ample magazine selection, they will keep quiet and do their thing. If you want to chat it up, they are happy to interact with you as well (excellent English too)! 4. The prices are reasonable--watch for their coupons and discounts of 20-40% off. Service time is ample and thorough. 5. Plenty of free parking along the side streets. 6. Best of all: You can BYOB and have cocktails with your friends while you get your toes did! read more

I almost don't want to write a well-deserved glowing review of this nail salon because I feel like it's my little secret. However, these nail artists are too good (and cheap) not to share my jubilation at finding a nail salon that will be part of my regular rotation! This place is not only reasonable priced, but the ladies are incredibly nice and my nails always look perfect. The last time that I was in, I did a pedicure that removed calluses (totally worth the extra money, though I won't do it every time) and the Shellac manicure. My nails are still absolutely perfect 2 weeks later, despite washing dishes and typing on a computer all day for work. I am completely chip-free and expect that it will remain that way until I go in for my next appointment. I usually make appointments on a whim and am always able to get in that same day. I LOVE THIS PLACE! read more

Okay, I went back and I now officially love this little gem. I mentioned Yelp again and got the 20% off of my full-set manicure with french tips and my pedicure. My total came up at $44, pretty fricken sweet if you ask me. Plus they gave me a Diet Coke with lime while I waited for my nails to dry just because it was hot and they are the best. The ladies were so nice the entire time and I was really relaxed. The girl who did my nails took her time to make sure they looked perfect. I also was going to get a plain old french but she suggested I get pink tips instead of white to match my pedicure and I have gotten SO many compliments on them since! Seriously, go. If you need a little me time or your nails or toes look a little haggard call them immediately and then head on over. read more

This is a review for the nail side of the business, the massage side, well, seems a bit let's say unclear to me. The nail salon is great, though. You have to get buzzed in (why? don't know, don't care) and you leave your shoes in the hall. When I walked in, the first thing I noticed is that it's CLEAN. Sunny because of all the windows but SO FRESH AND SO CLEAN CLEAN. This makes me happy. They don't have enough polish and gel polish colors (more neutrals than you'll ever know what to do with...) to choose from but you won't be debating all of the fuschias for hours. The staff there are so so so friendly. They make real small talk with you (there's a difference!) and the last time I was there she was able to accommodate my request to change my appointment completely and get me out of there in time to make it to another appointment. And the best thing is that they aren't overpriced like other nail places in Uptown, don't charge you to pay with a credit card and will let you tip on your card if you have to. It's worth saying that tipping in cash is always preferable, of course, but if you don't have enough or none at all, you can always leave your gratuity on your card. Pro tip: call and make an appointment. Their buzzer system makes it kind of hard to just walk-in. read more

I have always had good experiences. Clean, cheap, friendly staff, consistent high quality service and nice massage-y chairs. There is something just a little odd about having to "buzz" to get into a retail location but keeping the doors locked probably isn't a bad idea for women who often work alone. (The fact that the massage studio upstairs is called something like "Ughhhh Massage" isn't doing them any favors). My point is, don't be creeped out by the single family residence turned Thai spa. Ban Sabai is a great choice for a quickie pedicure. read more

I love this place! If you want a fancy spa-like environment, this place isn't for you. If you want a great manicure at an extremely clean place for a great price, then this is where you want to go! I had their ultimate pedicure for only $30 which included a paraffin wax dip, leg and foot massage, mint scrub, and callus removal. Everything was really great, with the only (very slight complaint) being that my calluses aren't completely gone. But at $30, I still feel like I got more than what I paid for. Also, they let you tip on your credit card which is a definite plus. Don't be misled by the duplex (which i have to admit, looks a little sketchy) or the buzzer required to get inside. This place is a gem! read more

I had noticed this place driving around Uptown and finally went in for a pedicure. It's a little strange to be buzzed in in broad daylight on a safe and busy street. The place was completely empty and there was one staff member who was minimally, and I mean minimally communicative. It's nice to not have the pressure to make small talk when getting a pedicure but the staff member who worked on me did not say a word except when I asked her a question. It was a bit too impersonal for me. The salon is clean, like other reviewers have mentioned. The pedicure went rather quickly so it didn't give me a feeling of getting a relaxing service. Afterwards, while I was drying my toes, another customer came in and when settling down, she was offered a choice of beverages! So I guess service is not consistent. Perhaps I will give this place another try, not sure why or if I should. read more

Tried the deluxe pedicure and the nail color lasted for 2 months + ! I was surprised! Other pedicures I've had done at other salons, usually chipped within a week or 2. I enjoy the quietness of the place, and I'm glad I'm not forced to be chatty with the staff if I don't want to be. I'm not a big talker when I'm getting manicures, pedicures, hair cuts, -I'd rather just relax and zone out, so this was perfect. There's only 4 spots for pedicures, so, perhaps not the best choice if you're planning on going in a huge group. read more

I was really impressed at the cleanliness and the welcoming vibe of this place. I would be willing to try a pedicure/manicure here but I was definitely disappointed by the hour long massage I had. It would have been different if I would've paid $60 but I ended up paying $84 including the tip and that was after the 20% off. If I got a killer massage at that rate, I would be raving about this place, but I was really disappointed in the quality of the massage. read more

I had the best experience here. I made a reservation online for a deluxe pedicure because my feet were bordering on hobbit-looking. They needed professional help. I was the only one in on a Sunday afternoon. They took meticulous care of my feet. They carry OPI polish almost exclusively. They didn't have a bunch of magazine around which is fine. I brought the Economist (what? they send me one every week. I have trouble catching up). A little less than an hour later, I had normal human looking feet again. I'll be back! read more

I hail from the land of 19 dollar pedicures, so I am usually sticker shocked when I get my nails done in Minnesota. I was expecting to shell out 30 dollars for a basic pedicure in Uptown. I was surprised to learn that Ban Sabai's pedicures start at just 25 and you can get a deluxe pedicure with all the extra frills for just 10 dollars more. I got the deluxe pedicure and it was the MOST THOROUGH pedi I've ever had. I highly recommend getting the 5 dollar callous removal add-on, which was included in the deluxe pedi. My feet are softer than they have been in years! I was coming off of a big dancing weekend during which a dance partner stepped on my toe, cracking it down the middle. I was worried they were going to cut it into an odd shape or just tell me to leave it alone (impossible). My technician, Lina, actually gave me a gel pedi on just my one broken nail for no extra charge. Now, you can't even tell it was split! I was very impressed with her ingenuity and dedication to providing good service. Ban Sabai gets 5 stars because they went above and beyond to help me! read more

Literally, out of the 5 other salons I've gone to, THIS is the only place that knows how to do a gel manicure! Every other place sloppishly painted my cuticles so when my nails grew, the gel would rip the cuticles out and the polish would peel up. The girl who did my nails painted them perfectly; she definitely seemed to know what she was doing. They have a good variety of gel colors, and have my favorite color (Dutch tulips) most importantly :) I am pretty sure you'd need an appointment; they are a pretty small place and only had 2 girls working on a Saturday @ noon. Also, they are super friendly which adds to the experience of course. I'm so so happy that I finally found a good nail salon! read more

This is the Second time I've come to this salon. It has taken my old nail place's spot in my heart. They aren't super talkative, but that's a plus in my book. I got the deluxe pedi with little floral designs. Brought a pic on my phone to show them. If you feel like they are not buffing a callus, just tell them. I figured it's hard to tell with gloves on. Place is always spotless and relaxing. My opi gel pedi from last time lasted three weeks and was still going strong. Just got sick of the color. Thanks so much!!!!!! read more

It's a simple low key place, by appointment. Very well priced. Mani/Pedi Combo $45, and I got the 3rd most expensive pedicure treatment. It was AMAZING! read more

I don't know who wrote these previous reviews.... I'm not one to complain unless it's really bad the deluxe pedi doesn't have callus removal like other said. The foot scrub is for one minute and the girl rubbed SO SOFTLY it was literally pointless. I have to go home and use a pumice and do it myself. Took 20 mins, not 45 mins. The place is junky & the leather is all ripped off the chairs and the stuffing is coming out. There are nail holes in the walls w wires running out & the massage chairs suck. I was bouncing all over the place and obvious I needed help turning the chair off. Their dryers are from 1955. You have to enter with your shoes left unattended in the hallway outside and the floors are dirty. No parking like stated read more

Ban Sabai - This is 15 mins after my DELUXE PEDI. - Nail Salons Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Dear God NO!! If you search Yelp for pedicure and massage this is the first listing that comes up. Four stars and they have a Yelp coupon, seems legit, right? It is NOT a day spa. Their massages are conducted under black light on a futon on the floor in a room with a shower. WHAT.THE.HELL. And why was she wearing a spandex micro-mini? Got home and took a look at the web page and laughed for hours. Aveda doesn't post slow scroll body shots of their employees, KWIM? The pedicure side of the business is clean if overpriced and currently only seeing people by appointment. Never heard of a mani pedi place that wasn't open for walk-ins. They do offer a pedicure for $25 but they don't touch your calluses until you move up to the $35 package. The polish was chipping 12 hours later. Everyone was nice and the place was clean but I don't want to be there when the vice squad decides they've seen enough. read more

Ban Sabai has friendly manicurists that do a great job for a reasonable price! It's a small salon, but they almost always have appointments available when I want to go. It's my go-to place close to home! read more

Cute little gem on lake street; I'll be going here from now on for my pedis. It's clean, quiet and you don't feel like you're on the pedicure treadmill (getcha in getcha out). The staff is friendly and sweet, and you can actually put the tip on your credit card... a plus for those of us who rarely have cash. $25 for the basic pedicure can't be beat! I went on a Monday afternoon and didn't have to wait, also a plus. My toes look perfect! read more

A great place in the Uptown area to get a pedicure. Their equipment and furniture are new and it is really comfortable. They have different options for pedicures (from the basics to a rose pedal option). I went to Lena. She gave a great massage and I thought it was one of the better pedicures I've ever had. I loved that this was not in a strip mall, rather a cute duplex. I am going back for sure. read more

I was skeptical of this place at first since it does look kind of shady from the outside, multiple hand written and electric signs and a weird out of place fountain. The coupons they send out in the mail advertizing after hours appointments don't help either. A friend had me convinced that this place was a front for prostitution. After reading the reviews here on Yelp I decided to give this place the benefit of a doubt and try it. It is small 5 chairs and 3 manicurist tables and it is very clean. I went at about 4:30 4:45ish and there was one girl working and no wait. She was very quiet and polite and spoke English. The services and prices are clearly displayed and listed, and there is a separate menu just for pedicures. I got the chocolate pedicure and the name makes it sound nicer/fancier than it really was. Not that it wasn't great because it really was just what I wanted but for the price and the description I was expecting just a little bit more. I was impressed by how much scrubbing with the pumice stone the girl did on my feet and the fact that she didn't dip my feet into the paraffin pot like a lot of other places do. She didn't get all the dead skin but 95% of it is gone but my feet were pretty bad I'm pregnant and it's not exactly easy to get to my feet. She could have been more aggressive with the foot massage part but did an acceptable job. She did a good job on the polish but I managed to mess it up not once but twice probably 50% my fault (I walked home) and 50% theirs. I think they may "water" down the polish with acetone and the dryers didn't seem strong or warm enough. Next time I will bring my own polish and see what happens and dry for a little longer. Over all I had a good experience I will go back but I will not forget to mention Yelp or bring a coupon for the discount read more

I hate to be the only one to give this place a lower review, but my experience wasn't as awesome as the other reviewer's experiences were. Yes, it is really clean (which is super important and a huge plus.) And their massage chairs are nice, and it's easy to walk in and get your nails done on a whim. But that's kind of where the good stuff ends. In the interest of full disclosure, I am perfectly capable of giving myself a great manicure, so I guess I set the bar pretty high when it comes to the quality that I expect from salon manicures. Even at $14. I lived in New York for years and paid around that for the BEST manicures of my life (and $14 is considered fairly expensive for a manicure by New York standards.) So I guess this brings me to the salient point: the manicure I got here was disappointing. When I went to dry my nails I noticed that the edges of my nails were ROUGH and that not only that, many of my nails were missing polish at the tips. And there was polish and top coat on the skin around the nails. Not so awesome. Also, the top coat caused some bubbles in the polish and it wasn't very glossy. And did I mention that in less than 24 hours there's tip wear? When I do my nails/get them done professionally I can go well over a week without any tip wear. So something must be up with the top coat they use. And my nails don't feel done - you know what I mean? When your hands feel smooth and pampered the day or two after a manicure? I didn't get that from this experience, which is sad. So, all in all, I know that it was only a $14 manicure (more of course, with tip - and I paid before she polished my nails - yikes!) but it really wasn't worth it. I'm glad I took the time out to go to this salon with a friend (yay for social events!) but I don't think I'll come back again. read more

This place is indeed a hidden gem! They were very accommodating and extremely precise with scheduling. The nail tech lady was a perfect combination of friendly and professional: starting conversations without coming off as nosy. She also was pretty quick without compromising the quality of her work. I have often had negative experiences when it comes to Nail Spas in the Cities, involving amateur nail tech wannabes, ridiculously overpriced services and crappy quality of work altogether. This is the first time in the 3 years that I've been in the metro area where I walked out of a Nail Spa feeling completely satisfied with the service I paid for.. AND it was very decently priced too! I only have one tip for future customers: When you call to make an appointment, make sure you are calling the Nail Spa at 612-870-0404. The number they have enlisted on the Yelp page over here is for the Therapeutic Massage section, which I will probably be coming back to try out very soon :) read more

Ban Sabai - The waterfall definitely added to the sweet serenity of my experience at Ban Sabai.. Major plus! - Nail Salons Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

I had high hopes, but my "deluxe" pedicure was really rushed. There was only 1 other person in the salon when I got there. It probably only lasted 15 minutes total. I don't think that I got the seaweed wrap, at least not one that I've ever had before...it was just hot towels. Every aspect of the massage/treatment lasted just 30 seconds to a minute. The pedicurist seemed nice but rushed and not very social. I wasn't offered a manicure or other services after. At least the pedicure turned out well but I would try a different place next time. read more

Are there more stars? Pretend there are. This gets like 10 stars. I read these reviews at least a year ago and the "hidden gem" thing stuck out to me. Today was my birthday and I FINALLY got to go there and get a pedicure, which I direly needed. That's coming from a girl who didn't own any purses whatsoever until she was like 23. Not only did they do a STELLAR job on my feet, but the women working there were kind and had wonderful senses of humor. I love the feel of the place--very casual but high quality work/product. Every moment was fantastic. They even have massage chairs--GOOD ones. I'm not going to wait 7 years for my next pedicure, and I'm never going anywhere else. read more

I don't ever get manicures/pedicures. I'm a mountain biking, shorts and tshirt type of girl. So when my best friend asked me to be her MOH in MN, and then requested I find a place for all the bridesmaids to get their nails done... I was at a loss. Plus I am native to NJ/NYC, so I couldn't even ask friends for advice! When I first walked by, I didn't know what to expect, but Elena was patient, kind, and very professional. (I booked an appt for seven ladies, both toes and hands) The employees were nice, friendly, quick, and EFFICIENT! I feel like the biggest difference between MN and NY is that those in the service industry here (uptown) are slow, inefficient, and have a sense of entitlement that comes from never working hard in a dingy hellhole in NYC. I had a great experience here, and so did all the other bridesmaids :D I highly recommend it! read more

One of the best pedicures I've had! Definitely worth a visit.

I always go here for pedicures, and have a wonderful experience each time. The deluxe is worth every penny. They prefer you call and ahead and book your appointment, especially since there are only four chairs in the shop. The shop itself is very clean and sunny read more

I had a great experience here. I have a back injury and it's often painful or impossible for me to sit comfortably for the time it takes to complete a pedicure. I got the Tropi-Citrus pedicure and it was wonderful. The lady who worked on me was gentle and very flexible ...always trying to help keep me comfortable. It was so pleasant to get the pampering and be relaxed and pain-free enough to enjoy it. My feet and legs look sooo much better now. She gave a good foot massage and did a beautiful job on the French pedicure! I almost missed the place due to the street construction, but found easy parking in back with a ramp to the door ...so happy not to have to bring my cane! The place was quiet, calm, with soft music playing. I went first thing in the morning so I was the only client for awhile. Plus, the place smelled fabulous ...hard to find a nail salon anywhere today that doesn't smell of chemicals! Definitely recommend you try this place! read more

The staff was really pleasant, but my pedicure did not last long. It's close to home, so I would consider going back.

My husband and I got mani/ pedi and waxing. I now have 7 pimples and zits around my lip, he has 3 around his eye brows. My feet still have callous and my polish has chiped after 2 days. Will never return! read more

Did not find this place to be clean as others have noted. The towel on the floor where the gal was working had clippings from the previous client. So gross! I got the "deluxe pedi" - included callous remover. Didn't do much and I don't have bad callouses. Did not get top coat so had to put that on myself when I got home, as well as had to clean up my cuticles - they were ragged from the trimming she did. Would not go back. read more

My search for a nail salon has been a bit of a disaster until I found Ban Sabai. I tried Daisy Nail for a while, then Honey, then Nail Images (all in the Minneapolis area). All of which were almost indistinguishable from one another. They're all dirty, the tools come out in a cloud of previous customers' nail dust, the service is nothing to speak about... I even found fungus under my acrylic nail after removing the polish. A friend of mine recommended Ban Sabai and I won't be going anywhere else. The facility is *very* clean, aesthetically pleasing, smells great (you're not stepping into an overwhelming cloud of toxicity), all of the tools come out of a sanitation machine right before they're used on your nails, and the technicians are friendly and do a fabulous job. They don't offer acrylics as they are extremely harmful to your nail (as I was explained), but their skill with gel makes it so that even the frailest nails such as my own have a chance to grow. Keep in mind that they do have parking in the back, it's not super clearly advertised (or maybe I'm just not very observant) but don't feel as if you need to pay for parking like you do for most shops in Uptown! Love Ban Sabai, will be returning regularly. :) read more

A wonderful overall experience. My mother was in town and wanted to do a daughter-mom date for nails [we both had deluxe pedicures and a manicure]. I had never gotten my nails done in Minneapolis before but I'd seen the little waterfall out front a few times before. I would certainly return! The service is great- very friendly, efficient, chatty but not intrusive- the chairs are super comfortable, and the pricing is very reasonable [almost too reasonable for the super long hours that they're putting in]. read more

Love these guys. I get a mani/pedi MAYBE twice a year, for special occasions such as my birthday or vacations. I've always been happy with the service and the outcome. On Friday I went here for a Deluxe Pedi and a gel manicure. My tech was a young man named Tin. He did an excellent job on both services, he was quick and friendly. On Saturday I noticed that two of my fingernails had chipped, and the edges were already wearing down, so on Sunday I called and Lina scheduled a time for me to come back in, no questions asked. I went back in Monday morning, and Tin redid my gel manicure for free. Turns out it was just crappy polish, and he recommended I go with the OPI. I chose a beautiful nude, sparkly color, he re-did my manicure, and I was out and on my way within an hour. He was warm and friendly, worked quickly, and didn't make me feel awkward about complaining (unlike some other salons I've visited). I will definitely be returning! read more

This is the best salon in the area. I have been going there for manicures and pedicures for over 4 years. The staff is very friendly and prompt. They do first rate work and their prices are very reasonable. read more

I regularly get deep tissue massages for ongoing back issues, so I decided to try this place out. I splurged and got the "Lingerie Special." The girl was nice and all, but I'm sorry, she had ZERO professional massage knowledge and likely ZERO professional training. I got lots of eye-candy looking at a beautiful girl, but NOT a massage. I don't know what it was--not sex--but definitely NOT massage. I was kind enough to give the girl a small tip on my card, but I later found out she never received her tip from the boss lady. I think the boss keeps tips run on cards and think that might happen a lot there based on what I could gather. If you want a truly good massage, do not go here, even if the girls are nice and beautiful. If you do tip the girls, be certain to tell the girl you put it on your card and to get it from the boss lady. I think taking tips from your workers is really slimy and likely illegal. read more