got food here with my friends and it single handedly cured her tonsillitis. she stopped coughing and hacking because of the pho tai chin. so blessed. again, WONDERFUL vietnamese owned establishment that makes me miss home a lil less. mmmmmmmmm and the chef made our bowls so fast i was very pleased indeed. very nice hostess too!! plenty of seating and clean space. read more

Mai Tea Vietnamese Cuisine - "it wasn't even dat good" - Vietnamese Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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The banh xeo here is great! Full of delicious pork and shrimp plus enough veggies to make a second meal! I also really liked their black forest tea which came in a cute cat cup. They have a nice indoor seating area and had a good crowd for a Saturday evening. read more

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Went there around 3-4pm, no customers. The owner was on her phone and forgot to make my order. The pho was not authentic, but it did taste good so I finished it. I would come back only for the pho since I heard there's not many pho restaurants in that area. Also, parking was horrible! I almost gave up because I couldn't find street parking. read more

Ordered take out pho . The noodles and meat were put in a 3 compartment flat takeout box, the soup in a plastic container ( it was 16 oz, but not all things would fit), and the bean sprouts and basil came in a plastic bag. Taste was good but the take put set up made it hard to eat in a hotel room. read more

This place is near, but not on the main arcade. It is a spartan outfit. A Vietnamese place just down the road specializes in noodles, but this one here does soup, crepes, and bubble tea, so it's nicely non-overlapping. The freshness of the cuisine was appealing and I was happy to have solid vegan options for both soup and crepe. The crepe ended up having some shredded tofu and vegetables. A fruit tea was robustly flavored. However, the amount of actual food that I got for $30 with tip just wasn't cutting it for me; that was hardly a filling lunch. I like what they're doing and I hope they can make it work a little better. read more

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This was my 2nd time trying Mai Tea but me and my friends put a To Go order in this time. Very sweet family business, they had my order ready in 15-20 mins for multiple pho orders. It's downtown so parking is limited so he suggested to just park in front and call when I'm out front next time so they can just bring it over to me instead of walking or getting out of the car. I thought he was really nice to suggest that. Drove back to the house only to find out they missed a pho order. I called to tell them and he fixed the mistake right away. Even compensated with complimentary boba. I loved their Thai tea boba. We ordered pho and banh mi and it was super yummy. I applaud for their service, they go above and beyond the call of duty to fix mistakes and I will be coming back. Thank you guys! read more

Mai Tea Vietnamese Cuisine - To go pho - Vietnamese Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Pro: clean interior, friendly staff, food, soft opening discount. Con: parking. I am very happy that this Vietnamese restaurant just open recently because in the Charlottesvilles area you mainly have Thai and Chinese restaurants but barely any Vietnamese. The only Vietnamese restaurant in the area is " Nguyen kitchen" but their food was very subpar and brings dishonor to the Vietnamese culture. This restaurant is fairly new and still in their soft opening week so come and try it now for a 20% discount on your meal. For parking you have to either park in the garage or the parking lot, and sadly you have to pay. Upon entering the restaurant it is very modern and clean. We were seated very quickly. The menu was fairly limited to pho and Bánh xèo but they will most likely expand the menu once they settle in. For appetizer, we had the spring rolls and for my entree I had the pho tai. The spring rolls came out fresh and that peanut sauce the came with it was very unique. The sauce gave a type of tang I never experience before but I liked it. The Customized Fruit Tea that my sister order was on point and tasted very tropical & refreshing on a hot day. I haves tasted many pho in my life so far and I always tell people that you can tell if a pho is authentic & tasty is by the flavor of the broth. The broth was good, slightly on the lighter side compared to what I'm used to in Maryland but it was still enjoyable. The meat was tender and portion size was decent. All in all, I would highly everyone to come and try the good Vietnamese food while also supporting a local small Vietnamese establishment. In my opinion this Vietnamese restaurant is 10x times better than the other Vietnamese restaurant "Nguyen kitchen" their pho broth was very bland and they have a small dining area compare to here it very spacious. read more

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Oh my goodness! When I first saw this place, I couldn't believe it! As a Vietnamese person who grew up eating almost all Viet foods, I couldn't believe this place opened and has banh xeo, a very traditional southern Vietnamese dish. The owner is such a lovely, sweet, intrapersonal person who made sure my food was 100% what I wanted. Was very inviting space, felt welcome, and the food AND tea were 10/10. Highly recommend, thank you all so much! Excited to come back. read more

Mai Tea Vietnamese Cuisine - banh xeo - Vietnamese Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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It's street parking only. We were already downtown, staying at the Omni, so it was an easy walk. We had the P4 pho and the roasted oolong milk tea with boba. They were both very good! I was talking to the owner and he said he sources the ingredients for the milk tea from Taiwan and learned how to make it from his time overseas. His pho bone broth is also 24 hours made and no msg. Enjoyed everything, Highly recommend! read more

We got Black Forest Fruit Tea and it had a blend of around 5 to 6 fresh fruits, no dyes/preservatives. We added the lychee boba and it paired very well with it. The chicken Bahn Mi sandwich and Chicken Pho were authentic in taste and very very delicious! Great portion size and hearty. Finally a local spot for great pho and Vietnamese food! The restaurant owners were incredibly kind and hospitable, cannot wait to go back! read more

Mai Tea Vietnamese Cuisine - Chicken Bahn Mi Sandwich - Vietnamese Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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An Unforgettable Authentic Phở Experience at Mai Tea Restaurant https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pho As a frequent traveler from Atlanta to Charlottesville, VA, I've sampled Vietnamese cuisine across many states from South Carolina, North Carolina, Wytheville, WV, to Washington, DC, and beyond. Yet, Mai Tea Restaurant stands head and shoulders above the rest, delivering an unparalleled authentic Vietnamese dining experience that has earned my highest praise. Having left Vietnam at 26, I'm a discerning eater when it comes to Phở, my favorite beef noodle soup, and Mai Tea's rendition is nothing short of perfection. From the moment I walked in, the warm hospitality of the owner and staff made me feel like family. Their genuine smiles and eagerness to ensure every guest leaves satisfied set the tone for an exceptional meal. The staff went above and beyond, patiently answering questions about the menu and offering thoughtful suggestions, clearly dedicated to earning their customers' trust. The star of the show was the special Phở with medium-rare beef slices and a perfectly cooked oxtail--a rare find in Vietnamese restaurants across the South, Northeast, or even California's Little Saigon. What makes Mai Tea's Phở extraordinary is their meticulous preparation. The broth, slow-cooked for 24 to 48 hours in a special pot imported from Vietnam, extracts every bit of rich, marrow-infused flavor from the beef bones. Served piping hot, the clear, aromatic broth was so vibrant it seemed to still be simmering in the bowl. Pro tip: if you prefer your beef rare or medium-rare, ask the server to serve the broth on the side to avoid overcooking the meat. The result is a bowl of Phở that's fragrant, deeply flavorful, and the most authentic I've tasted in years. The attention to detail extended to the accompaniments--fresh herbs, bean sprouts, and chili were pristine, enhancing the dish's authenticity. The owner even stopped by to share the story behind their traditional cooking methods, a personal touch that made the experience feel special and underscored their pride in their craft. Compared to other local spots in Charlottesville, Mai Tea is in a league of its own. My recent visit to other restaurants serving similar type of Beef noddle soup in late March was a big letdown; the broth lacked depth, was served lukewarm, and left me unable to finish even half of my bowl. The other dish called "Bún Bò Huế" was equally disappointing, with a bland, uninspired broth that failed to capture the essence of true "Bún Bò Huế". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bún_Bò_Huế. Mai Tea, on the other hand, has become my go-to stop on every trip to Charlottesville, and I'm already looking forward to my next visit. The cozy ambiance, combined with the staff's unwavering commitment to excellence, makes Mai Tea a gem worth celebrating. I urge the owner to stay true to their recipe--customers like me know quality and will keep coming back for it. With their grand opening approaching this summer, I'm excited to explore more of their menu and share reviews of other dishes. Mai Tea Restaurant is a must-visit for anyone craving authentic Vietnamese cuisine served with heart and soul in Charlottesville VA & surrounding areas. My advises to any one, do not hesitate to talk to the owner or staff about any things that you want to have it differently on your dish, they will be happy to do it for you. I asked them to not to pour boiling hot soup directly onto the rare steaks as I love its rare, so they did! read more

Mai Tea Vietnamese Cuisine - Special "Phở" Beef Noodle Soup with rare steak & Ox Tail, and a cup of ice tea, Yummy ! - Vietnamese Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

I was so excited to hear about a new pho place in town. I tried the pho and the crepe and have to say I was overall disappointed. The soup was unfortunately bland and just didn't have the beef broth taste that really makes a good pho. The crepe was okay but nothing notable to me. The restaurant looks newly renovated with kind staff members though so I might consider coming back once they make some modifications to the pho broth. read more

Too greasy but okay for a quick bite for lunch. But the service is good. Ambience is quiet and calm

Good pho and good vibes. The ingredients is fresh. Friendly staff. Will be coming again soon

Very good pho! The broth is superb and very nice portions. Atmosphere is a bit spartan, but definitely go for the phood!!

Excellent authentic Pho and spring rolls. Really enjoyed the slightly spicy peanut sauce the spring rolls came with. Delicious milk tea- ask for the Taiwan style tea (only sweetened a little bit). You won't regret it! It's very exciting to have a great Vietnamese option Downtown. We will be back! read more

Really delicious vegetarian Banh Mi. Highly recommend. Nice and spicy. Looking forward to trying the Banh Xeo

I found the food expensive, menu is very limited, but otherwise food was fine and service excellent. Difficult to find parking and location is a bit off the mall making restaurant a little tricky to find. read more

the food was so good! good servings and the boba tea was SO GOOD!!!!!! they were super nice and kind and i loved the decorations! read more

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Please try this new, amazing restaurant, off the beaten path! Next door to C&O Restaurant on Water Street, downtown. The tea drinks are creative and amazing. We also had the spring rolls (huge!) Vietnamese seafood crepe, and vegetarian pho. Everything was amazingly fresh and the portions are large. They hope to offer banh mi soon. Smallish eating area, and not great parking, but if you are walking the downtown mall and need a cool drink or a bite to eat, PLEASE check Mai Tea out. You'll be glad you did. read more

As a Vietnamese college student who is homesick, this place is truly rare and wonderfull! So many of the dishes I missed all in one place and tastes super authentic! Fresh ingredients and very flavorful. I will be visiting often for a taste of home. The owners are also kind and friendly. The place is new and clean. read more

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The drinks that me and my friends got were so delicious!!! Chả Giò was flavorful, crispy, and full of flavor and was so surprised that it is that good for a vegetarian dish! Highly recommend to anyone who wants good Vietnamese food and drinks! For sure will bring all of my Viet friends and non-Viet friends to come to this place if they want good Vietnamese dishes!!! read more

Just finished an amazing lunch. I had the best Banh mi with grilled pork sandwich. The pate is house made and delicious. My dining partner had the Pho Thai. The broth was super flavorlful and the beef was tender. The spring rolls were made fresh and had large pieces of shrimp. Bobo tea and the milk tea are a must try. The staff was super friendly and accommodating. The menu is laid out to be very easy to follow. For a tiny establishment there is plenty of seating for those dining in. Quick walk from Water Street Garage. Highly recommend trying this lovely restaurant out. Closed Tuesdays. read more

The meal and hospitality were excellent! The pho was very authentic, and I was surprised by how good the cha gio was. The owner was incredibly nice. He shared his passion for running the restaurant, especially his pride in the tea they serve and the locally grown bean sprouts. Their drinks are so good and incredibly balanced, not too sweet and very fragrant. The interior was also very clean, but a little brightly lit. I highly recommend Mai Tea, it was a fantastic visit, and I'll definitely be returning. read more

Food was so good, service was quick and kind, clean and cozy ambiance, loved the experience

Im not super well-versed in pho, but it tasted good to me (bubble tea was also good). We struggled trying to ask a clarifying question about the menu since the staff have limited English. read more

First of all, owners are nice people, trying their best. However, the food is really subpar and not anything near the flavors of authentic food. I got P1 pho which should be good, but the broth is EXTREMELY lackluster. It tasted like water, and there were barely any noodles or meat in the huge bowl. The ingredients seemed to be old too, and were not the best quality. The ambiance and store is in a well kept and new condition, but I'm really disappointed in the food quality; it's just really bland. read more

For $18, the Pho was forgettable. The noodles seemed to have been sitting out in the bowl for quite some time (hours?) because when it arrived, it was very clumpy. read more