Food was great minus the fried rice with the sad defrosted shrimp. Why is this food so expensive?! Maybe it's because I'm from Houston and we have a healthy and proud Vietnamese population who doesn't try to gouge you with food prices. I know they've gone up but come on...$17 for fried rice?! And I could count the eight shrimp they gave me. The Bo luc lac was on point. It was $26 though so that made me even more sad. Service was perfect. The waiter event put my food in the container for me at the table...without spilling the rice. Nice. read more

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It's hard to disappoint me living in STL this long. Especially when others hype up a place as much as this one. I live nearby and finally got around to trying Mai Lee. First of all, this meal was highway robbery. $22 for Pad Thai is insane, and their other meals are on par with that cost. Not to mention - they do plug ordering on Uber Eats even for pickup which racks on an extra ~15% to the meal cost (call instead, that's what I did). However, what was priced like a family sized meal was deceiving. The takeout box looked like it promised leftovers for a day or so ... nope. There were divots in the container that took up space. There was also very little chicken in both the Pad Thai and Kung Pao ordered. $22 each for noodles and peanuts (yes there were so many peanuts it was overwhelming) is ... embarrassing. The chicken that was there? Very fatty. I get they use thighs and usually don't mind, but, having all of my pieces be that way is disappointing. Honorable mention: there was 10,000 delivery drivers there so my valid parking spot was blocked in for 5 min as I waited for some unknown person to emerge from Mai Lee. Annoying! Figure out the pickup if your business is mostly takeout. read more

LOVE MAI LEE!!! I first heard of this on the STL podcast and knew I had to try it. Had it for the first time last week and have already been twice. The first time I just got the crispy vegetable spring rolls. They were so incredibly crunchy, fresh and tasteful. The second time I visited for lunch and ordered the crispy veggie delicious spring rolls, again! I got the lunch special which came with hot and sour soup, shrimp with vegetables, fried rice and crab rangoon. It was such a tasty meal. I absolutely loved it. I will be going again very very soon! Highly recommend! read more

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Order: Grilled Chicken Spring Roles Pad Thai w/ shrimp, chicken, sub beef for scallops Pros: The pad thai was decent. Cant complain about what was added. There was shrimp, chicken, and scallops. Cons: not really a fan of the cold grilled chicken spring role rice paper. It was very chewy and rubbery to me. read more

Mai Lee - Chicken Spring Roll - Vietnamese Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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We arrived at 11:30 and were ignored. We even had to ask for a server. At 12:30 we still had not been served. Other people who arrived later than us got their food. We left and went to the restaurant next door and were served immediately by polite people. Maybe they just didn't like us at Mai Lee? read more

I finally made it to Mai Lee! I've wanted to go since dinosaurs roamed the earth, so that means literally forever. It did not disappoint. I truly have no complaints at all. I ordered the roasted duck which came with a delicious dipping sauce and steamed white rice. I also ordered the crab rangoon which was hot and fresh. I also ordered my regular Jameson and Ginger ale, however this Ginger ale was made with fresh ginger and I was in heaven. I was also given a sample of their Pho which also was perfection. The customer service was great. They are professional, friendly, kind, helpful and informative. The family run business cares about St. Louis and the community they serve. read more

Mai Lee - Vietnamese Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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Overall the food was quite good. The menu is enormous, with over 200 items on the menu. The noodle bowls were pretty good, although I wish it had perhaps more meat on it or slightly more quantity wide for the price. Service was quick, and there is an outdoor area that you can eat at. Parking is at garage next door to the restaurant. The restaurant itself inside is a big room where everyone sits. Nothing too special ambiance -wise but no major complaints read more

Mai Lee - Noodle bowls #62 and #66 - Vietnamese Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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Location is tough, not urban nor suburban but the establishment itself is not the cleanest either. While they hit several varieties of Asian foods none are particularly traditional or Americanized. And as such all the items I have tried as meh. Service is business like and to the point. I know others rave but I cannot find what they see. There are better traditional or Americanized places to try. read more

I went with my husband for dinner not really knowing what to expect because this was our first time. We did make reservations as suggested, it was not necessary for the time was around 5pm. When we arrived, I was not impressed with the design and setup. I felt like we were seated in the middle of the room. No ambiance. A little loud, very bright. I had the pho tai which is medium rare beef in a noodle broth. It was good,but honestly I forgot about the meal. I cannot remember what my husband was served. The wait staff is fine and nice but looked and seemed rush. The menu is full of items, it was difficult for my husband to decide what he wanted. In conclusion, I will skip this place and move on. It was highly recommended, but not for us. read more

This is one of my favorite restaurants in St. Louis, and I recently had the pleasure of going back this past weekend. Ambiance: Relatively spacious restaurant with some decorations. They have both a bar seating area and regular tables. Service: Pretty friendly service, although a bit haphazard on a busy night. However, it is generally pretty fast. There can be a little bit of a wait on a busy weekend night, though. Food: As a vegetarian, I appreciate the separate section of the menu dedicated to about 20 or so vegetarian dinner options. Admittedly, I almost always get the same item. - Crispy veggie egg rolls: Always crunchy and stuffed with veggies, served with some cilantro, lettuce, and cucumbers on the side. Always a delightful beginning to the meal. However, for some reason, they always take 15-20 minutes to prepare, so I recommend asking for these immediately as you sit down if you want them as an appetizer. - Dau Hu Xao Lan (Item 142): I have been getting this vegetarian dish for years without fail, and I leave satisfied every single time. It is a beautifully aromatic vietnamese curry with a coconut milk and lemon grass base that is served with fried tofu, crushed peanuts, onions, and delicious wood ear mushrooms served with warm white rice. There are also a small bit of vermicelli noodles mixed into the curry. Every aspect of this dish is wonderful. The large tofu triangles are cooked perfectly and soak up the flavorful curry, the wood ear mushrooms add this hearty, meaty texture, and the mix of other fresh vegetables and crunchy peanuts complement the umami-packed explosion packed in every bite. - My meat-eating friends have also enjoyed their pho and banh mi as well, too. One of my to-go spots in St. Louis for both smaller and larger groups. If you're looking for a satisfying and tasty meal, be sure to try the Dau Hu Xao Lan or any other dish on the menu at Mai Lee. read more

Mai Lee - Dau Hu Xao Lan (Fried tofu curry with mushrooms) - Vietnamese Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

I always get so geeked when I know I'm about to dine at Mai Lee's! It was an unplanned lunch and I had a heavy breakfast, but I found room for their cuisine so opted for a small dish - and decided to try the #41 which is called "Noodle Me". The dish has cold noodles with a sesame dressing with sliced cucumbers and carrots. It was light and delicious! What amazes me is how I never noticed the dish before ... glad I found it! Parking, as always, is easy - just head to the attached parking garage and you'll find a spot with no problem. There wasn't a wait - but we always dine in the cocktail / bar area and get a great view of the street. Service is always perfect - the waiter was very attentive with divine timing. Water is always filled up without having to ask. Food came out in awesome time - you don't wait long, at all. I love eating at Mai Lee's! It is ALWAYS perfect! read more

Mai Lee - Vietnamese Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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Ordered the bun bo hue. I would like to say I'm a little disappointed there is not a taste or smell of the essential lemongrass. They also added rare steak slices (found in pho) when usually it has beef shank slices. There should also medium or large thickness rice noodles, but instead they were small like for bun rieu. I understand there is an extensive menu, which means they may cut corners and add ingredients in meals that can be part of multiple items, but don't do bun bo hue like that! I also ordered the nem nuong rolls, which had two pieces cut in diagonal slices so it didn't fill the ends of the spring roll. They had fish sauce for dip instead of the traditional nem nuong sauce. There was no crunchy egg roll wrapper in it as well, just nem nuong, noodles, and lettuce. I think it would be best to just take out the Chinese menu so they can focus on just Vietnamese cuisine, since some menu items were lacking. I do have to say, though, that the tamarind drink was really good! Tart, sweet, with crushed peanuts and ice for a refreshing drink. read more

The food & ambiance here was great! Super quick service and unbeatable lunch special prices !

Everyone raves about this place but I found the soup flavor to not be very good. Seemed a bit watered down. I have had better. read more

Mai Lee - The #1 not very flavorful - Vietnamese Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

Mai Lee is a spacious restaurant located close to parking garages which are free. As I entered I could see it was busy, and people where inside dining, ordering to go, or food was picked up by deliverers. I was seated at a high table, and a QR code gives you access to their menu. They have a large menu, so I recommend do some homework before you come and know what you want to order. I asked Yelp and I ordered the Bahn Mi with BarBQ pork. This sandwich is only $5 and to be honest can fill you up. It is delicious! I also ordered the bun Bo Hue a tasty soup. It arrived as I was enjoying my Bahn Mi and I was advised to dip it in my soup. It reminded me of the French dipped sandwich in LA, but then Vietnamese style. It was good, but I prefer my Bahn Mi un-dipped. The soup was rich of taste, sweet, not too spicy. I wouldn't mind if it was spicier. A perfect bowl after the Bahn Mi. Mai Lee is definitely a place to return to. I probably study the menu again to see what to order next time. read more

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This was my second time to Mai Lee and I was glad I gave it a second chance. It was crowded, not overwhelmingly so; a good sign for a cold, Saturday night. We had good seats at the bar and despite it being busy, the service was great. The staff was intent on making sure we ordered something we wanted by giving recommendations and suggestions. Several of the patrons seemed to know the bar staff, which made me appreciate the community feel to this restaurant. I ordered spring rolls (#35) and substituted the fish sauce for the fish sauce. The veggies were crispy and fresh, the proportion to pork and veggies was just right, and the rice paper held everything together. They weren't messy and were easy to eat with chopsticks. The peanut sauce was a perfect substitution. I also ordered the pho (#10). It came with thin noodles, meatballs and sliced brisket. They also brought limes, bean sprouts, cilantro, and jalapeños to add. The meatballs were OK, but the show stopper was the sliced beef and noodles in the flavorful broth. They even packaged the leftovers in a way that made taking them home easy. read more

Mai Lee - Pho Tai Bo Vien - Vietnamese Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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No introduction needed! Mai Lee is a Saint Louis, MO gem and has been for years. I have been going to this restaurant since their original location off of Delmar, and it just seems to get better and better each and every year. Don't overthink it, just go and enjoy this awesome restaurant! read more

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I wish I would have taken pictures, but I totally forgot! This place is THE BEST place to get a Beef Pho bowl. The fixings, the spices, the tastiness - Delicious! Their appetizers of crab rangoon and dumplings are so good as well. I will honestly say, I will only get the pho because its that freaking good!!! read more

Food is good & hot service is excellent! You want great Chinese food this is the place to go.

We ordered shrimp eggrolls and No. 26 Mi Vit Tiem Roasted duck leg & fresh shiitaki mushrooms cooked in an herbal broth with eggnoodles. Herb broth taste was really good. Roasted duck leg so tender.Me and my husband really enjoy to eat that soup. So I give 5 stars. read more

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The food was so great and hit the spot on this cold day. Highly recommend this place for good pho with quick service. This is the second time this week we have come here and both times we left full and happy! read more

Mai Lee - Pho tai - Vietnamese Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

Hands down one of my favorite restaurants in St. Louis. This restaurant is always busy. If there is a wait list it is worth the wait!! The menu is huge and there are options for everyone type of eater. I am a pescatarian and there are a ton of options. The food is always fresh and delicious. I have tried several items on the menu and have never been disappointed. Best crab Rangoon and calamari! Clean inviting interior. The food comes out extremely fast and the wait staff is so friendly. read more

Don't eat at the bar. The bartender with the Conejo hat is rude and disgusting. Greeted with a grunt. Took my order then literally stood there stuffing peanuts in his mouth. Never checked on anything. Brought the check and walked away. The food is great but this guy should never, ever be in front of a guest. read more

I love Vietnamese food and was thrilled to try Mai Lee with some friends after work last night. I love that there is a parking garage connected to the building for easy parking/access. We walked in and there were so many people waiting for a table so I immediately thought it must be good. We ordered a variety of things. The Thai tea is good, but not as sweet as I feel it is at many other places I've gotten it. My friend loved her Pho with the spicy oil. They were out of the regular egg rolls but I still enjoyed the vegetarian version- hot and crispy. The banh mi chien Tom thit was delicious and totally not what I expected. The bun Tom thit nuong was good but felt it was missing a little flavor- or maybe additional fish sauce. Loved the goi cuon nem nuong (spring rolls) but ordered peanut sauce as it comes with fish sauce. I am a sucker for mango sticky rice and was thrilled they had it! Warm sticky rice with perfectly ripened mango- heaven! Will definitely return. Our waiter was incredibly kind and knowledgeable- great service. read more

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I did a pickup order for The Pho Ga and fried rice which were delicious! The order was ready in a timely manner.

My wife and I love eating Pho where ever we travel, "Pho for Life." The Pho Dac Biet has a comforting beef soup that is savory, rich, and refreshing. The bean sprout, cilantro, jalapeno, and lime are fresh to the taste. The service was prompt, and the waitress is very polite. The environment is friendly, clean, and comforting. Parking is very convenient and safe. We will eat at Mai Lee again when we are back in town. read more

Mai Lee - Pho Dac Biet - Vietnamese Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

Mai Lee is a STL classic. The team is super friendly and attentive + that caramelized cat fish is addictive. So good read more

Mai Lee - Caramelized catfish (ca kho to) - Vietnamese Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

Prices have gone up significantly while portion sizes have gone down. $14 for a bowl of pho that barely feeds a 5'4" petite girl. This bowl now had maybe 4 slices of beef. I still like the broth but man it's just not worth coming here anymore. My mom had the pork chop rice dish the other day and the pork was not even a pork chop. Just a sad small thin slice of pork. What the heck man!? Coming here just makes me feel like STL is no comparison to major metros such as houston that have good quality Vietnamese (and other Asian) restaurants aplenty and keep each other honest. I know mai lee is a huge successful local story of STL but dudeeeeee they've lost me read more

Okayyy idk how I haven't posted a glowing review for Mai Lee this whole time. We've been stopping by here on road trips since my sister in law first took us here. Whenever I pass St. Louis I make a point to get #153 salt and pepper squid. It's called something else on the menu. One of my fave Chinese dishes and it's so hard to find in Nashville so I make a point to order this You are in good hands with Mai Lee. Their food always comes out BURSTING with flavor. I would say one of my favorite Viet or Chinese restaurants. Now the price is kinda getting steep, but since I only drive through St. Louis every few years I suck it up. The fresh rolls with the grilled bbq pork. My godddd umami central. Get it. Same with the pho and shaking beef. Wellllll now I've made myself sad cuz I can't eat it for dinner, but you can. Head on in there!! read more

Mai Lee - Calamari 153 - Vietnamese Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

Wide ranging selection always well prepared. Service is always hit or miss here but it's usually pretty solid. The Vietnamese is better than the Chinese, but they're both good. Great place to come at least once a month! read more

Great place to eat Vietnamese food at, they have soooooooooo many options. SO MANY. the only problem we had was the service was slow and not very attentive server, otherwise food was good, and if you're looking for authentic place to get Vietnamese food this is a place to go read more

Mai Lee - Vietnamese Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

It's clear to me that people who don't like Mai Lee don't order the right things. The menu is vast and can be overwhelming for sure. This is another place that I take people and order dishes for them and I watch them hurt themselves trying to eat it all. My suggestions: Fried egg rolls served Vietnamese style, salt and pepper beef, caramelized catfish, hot braised eggplant (vegan), roast duck, the shrimp and egg dish (trust me), lamb curry, lo mein, and the fried rice. Pick a couple of these and you and your table will be happy. I'm not into pho and the soups that much. I also order the lychee martini when I'm dining in. All those people filling up the spot can't be wrong. Mai Lee does NUMBERS and has for YEARS. I guess with success comes naysayers for sure. I prefer the bar area for seating as well. read more

Great service and fresh wholesome ingredients! I walked in on a Thursday evening around 5:45 pm and was able to be seated right away. I was so happy it was not cold inside, too many restaurants have temp set too cold all year long. The shrimp St. Paul tasted good and fresh, it wasn't as heavy as it can taste from fast food Chinese restaurants. The same went for the beef and broccoli. I did order the oxtail pho and I wasn't a fan since the oxtail wasn't tender like I'm used to. The server mentioned it is cooked different for this dish. He graciously took it off my bill and I ordered the beef and broccoli in its place. read more

Mai Lee - Beef and broccoli (white rice not pictured) - Vietnamese Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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I've been here before, but I had to take my friends last night. My friend got the Pho Bai, and I got the Bun Bo Nuong . Delicious. I love the customizable-ness of their soup dishes. I really recommend their spring rolls for appetizers and the Cha Gio Tom. The atmosphere is fun and is, surprisingly, good for conversation at your own - as it's small and crowded. The wait staff was nice and proactive in service, but I was very confused at the end with the check. Just FYI, you wait at the table to pay . Love this shop. I'll be back...again. read more

Mai Lee - Vietnamese Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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Great food and quick service. Staff was very attentive. 10/10 lunch spot. Ordered the shrimp fried rice and rangoons, both delicious.

outstanding lunch visit!! service was impeccable and the food was over the top!! Quite authentic and the selections are mind blowing

Awesome food, fast service. definitely try the Bahn Mi sandwiches. Will be our go to in the future.

I absolutely love Mai Lee- the food here is always incredible! I always order something different every time I come here and I have yet to be disappointed. The service is also always great and the best part is that I always have plenty for leftovers. Being that Mai Lee has a Vietnamese and a Chinese menu, there is plenty for you to choose from and it's dope to be able to try so many different dishes from their cultures. The food here is bomb and if you haven't checked them out yet, then you really should whenever you get the chance. Btw- this is how fried rice is supposed to look! If my rice does not look like this, then you can keep it. lol read more

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best and freshest vietnamese on the planet. their wine suggestions bun choices have no equal and the bahn mi sandwiches are the best. all served up by an excellent staff read more

Stopped in with the family my cousin suggested sesame chicken with an up charge of fried rice and it was a very delicious dish the steak was perfect and the fried rice had a sweet kick to it! We also had shrimp spring rolls and they were very fresh and the sauce was very good! The kids had lo mien with chicken and it had a sweet flavor to them which was also very good. Service was amazing even with it being packed and people coming and going whole time we were there. I tried my friends pho and it was really good as well. Definitely will be coming back to try more delicious meals. read more

Mai Lee - Sesame chicken with fried rice - Vietnamese Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri