I can't stop coming to Mai's. It's probably the most flavorful broth I've had. I've tried other pho spots around the outer Richmond but they always let me down. It's run by a sweet, gentle viet couple. Bbq beef pho every single time. +$2 for extra beef. Thai iced tea. Never lets me down. So damn good. I've reviewed before. So check the pics there. I couldn't help downing it before the pic read more

Oh my goodness y'all I had the pho with BBQ pork and my partner had the rice claypot with chicken and both were phenomenal! Server was so sweet too~ Just an all around pleasant environment that I am pretty much certain to revisit in a few days because the only thing on my mind as I exited was "I gotta get that specific pho again" XD read more

Mai's Vietnamese Restaurant - Number 15 Pho with BBQ pork! - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Mai's Vietnamese Restaurant is a bit of an institution on Clement street. Family run since 1979 according to the year printed on their menu. While we can't vouch for other items on their extensive menu (we mainly come here for the noodle soups) the Phở is pretty delicious here. Friendly service and welcoming ambiance. Located on Clement and 4th Ave. read more

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Food was fine. Nothing special but certainly adequate. Nice people; quick service. If I'm in the neighborhood and craving Vietnamese food, I'd go back. read more

Mai's Vietnamese Restaurant - Grilled pork, vermicelli - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Local family establishment in the Richmond serving comforting Vietnamese food! I've only been a handful of times, but I really enjoyed the atmosphere here. The pho broth is tasty and I thought the rolls were a great appetizer. I wouldn't say it's the best pho in San Francisco. Yet, the service is warm and everything screams comfort here. read more

Mai's Vietnamese Restaurant - Pork rolls - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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38 years ago, when I first met the man I would marry, we used to go to Mai's and get coconut curry chicken and spicy prawns. We'd carry our containers up to the Plough and Stars and sit at the tables there, eating dinner from the steaming cartons, before he played in the traditional Irish session there. It was AMAZING. The food was delicious, and piping hot, and was the perfect foil for a cold, damp SF evening. I sometimes think we ought to go there again, and see if it those items are still being served. They used to put 11 prawns into that dish, but if there was an extra one, it was very lucky! read more

In-laws are in town and they wanted pho to warm up - it's also a food they are most comfortable with. We've walked by Mai's many times, but first time giving them a try and so glad we did. Kiddo, hubs, and MIL all ordered pho and all noted that the broth was flavorful. They all ordered the large size and their bowls were filled with noodles and meat. Hubs and kiddo finished theirs off and were full practically for the rest of the day. FIL ordered the lemon grass bbq pork rice plate - he finished it all. I decided to go with something different. I've had cold rice noodles before, but the Banh Tam Bi (shredded pork over warm noodles with coconut sauce) caught my attention. That coconut sauce mixed with the noodles and pork - so good!!! YUM!!! It's served with the fish sauce, but I did not use it. The coconut sauce alone added great flavor to the dish. I believe the owners were the ones taking the orders and servicing the tables. They were quite friendly and checked on us often. Don't know why we waited so long to try this place out. Will definitely return again. read more

Mai's Vietnamese Restaurant - Banh Tam Bi - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Love coming here. A classic Chinese restaurant. Its definitely a family owned business with classic and traditional flavors. I always get the porridge and imperial rolls. All their dishes are delicious though. Service is always fast and kind. Only one person usually works the front. Its often quiet and very clean. Love coming here when I'm in town. read more

Mai's Vietnamese Restaurant - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Yay! After being closed for over 2-1/2 months, Ricky and Becky are back! Ricky had knee replacement surgery and had to hibernate and rehab. So come on down and support the nicest couple in the Richmond District who have been serving the best pho noodles since 1979. That means something when you've been in business that long. Yes, that means the food is consistently yummy. Ricky makes the tastiest pho broth in the City. The food is comforting and the ambiance is like being at home. Becky will make sure you're well taken care of just like a mama-san would. We always start our meal with the tofu rolls. They're fresh and tasty. Oh, yeah... dip them into the peanut sauce and you just want to keep eating more and more and more. Ricky is carrying a tray with two steaming bowls of pho. We can't wait to garnish the noodles with the Thai basil, jalapeños, bean sprouts and a hit of hot sauce. Damn good. Hits the spot every single time. Nothing like a bowl of hot pho to warm the tummy and soul. I always order my beef on the side and cook it when the bowl of soup comes. Nice and rare. Other entrees are delicious too, but tonight was a pho night. A family came in while we were eating and the four year old girl asked her father if she could have "Becky's soup" tonight. Smart girl! She knows what's good. read more

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This place radiates comfort and coziness! Came here on a Saturday evening and there was plenty of seating available. The staff are friendly and efficient, giving the restaurant a true family small business feeling which I love. I got the Pho Tai, which was perfect for the chilly day. They give plenty of bean sprouts and others additional toppings that you can add, which I took full advantage of. The broth is so clear yet bright, and they are generous with the meat portions. It's one of those places where you have to drink every last bit of the soup because it's so good. I loved coming here and definitely will be back! read more

Mai's Vietnamese Restaurant - Pho Tai - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Love this place. They always take care of us and feels really homely! The pho and DIY rolls are fantastic and delicious, and always a perfect match whenever it's cold outside. They never play loud music, so it's inviting and comfortable when dining with friends and family read more

Mai's Vietnamese Restaurant - Pho Tai - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

I've never had a bad meal here. Kind and welcoming service, a big but approachable menu with fun takes on classic Vietnamese favs. Top recommendation and must haves are the definitely the imperial rolls read more

Mai's Vietnamese Restaurant - interior - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Came in for a quick lunch today and I got the best/friendliest service, Everything was fresh, and delicious! Reminded me of my grandmas cooking read more

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My in laws have been coming here for forty years, and it's always a highlight when we come back to visit. Delicious lemongrass pork and pho. Nicest owners. read more

This is the perfect spot for when you're craving a soothing bowl of pho. The staff were welcoming and kind, and the restaurant is cozy. I went at an off time so the service was pretty quick. Their hours are pretty particular with a few hours around lunch and another few hours in the evening, so make sure to pay attention to that when looking to come here. I got the pho ga which had a hearty chicken broth and a good amount of chicken breast. It really hit the spot. read more

Mai's Vietnamese Restaurant - Pho Ga - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

The lemon grass pork chops were delicious. Upgrade to brown rice for $1 extra. Attentive service. The waitress / owner actually checked in on us a couple times throughout the meal. Thumbs up! read more

Mai's Vietnamese Restaurant - Rice plate with lemon grass pork chops. Delicious! - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

We go to Mai's about once a week for takeout or sit down. The owners are delightful (if you order a lot they recognize your phone and always greet me with my full name which I love). Beef pho is A++, same with the cold noodle dishes (great for warm weather) and the imperial rolls (great any time). Mai's will go out of their way on takeout, especially for pho (and cook the rare beef ahead of time) so you don't have to re-boil the broth at home. And when you eat in, they'll even teach you the Vietnamese way to eat certain dishes (I've been doing some of these wrong for thirty plus years!). Thank you to this wonderful business. read more

Really tasty food and large portions. The workers are extremely kind and it's a pleasant atmosphere. Definitely coming back!

This was my first time at Mai's. I usually go to Pho Huynh Sang right across the street but they were closed and I was craving some pho. I opted to to try this place out instead. The woman working was very sweet. Overall, the pho and broth were delicious. I would definitely eat it again. However, the portions at Pho Huynh Sang are bigger, cheaper, and equally as delicious in my opinion. As for the other food here, I cannot say because I did not try, but I am sure it is good. The inside was quiet and dimly lit, but I do prefer the atmosphere across the street a bit more for when I just want a bowl of pho. This place is definitely delicious though, don't get me wrong! read more

Mai's Vietnamese Restaurant - dining area - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I love Mai's! After moving here from Seattle where I had had some of the best pho, I couldn't find a Vietnamese restaurant I really connected with until I found Mai's. The service is excellent and the restaurant is very cozy, you can tell they've been in business for a long time. Really great weeknight date spot if you live in the Inner Richmond. I always get the BBQ chicken pho in beef broth. I always pick up Mai's if I'm sick, I think of it as my health elixir. read more

A classic mom & pop restaurant! The same couple have lovingly run this restaurant for decades. The menu is ample, though not large. The more traditional Vietnamese dishes are the best, but it all is worth a taste. Give it a try! read more

Walked in on a Saturday afternoon and greeted by a very friendly lady. Very welcoming and full of smiles. Pho dac biet L I can say this is a solid bowl of pho. Flavorful broth to cure that hangover. Loved the meat to noodle ratio especially since most places usually stuff large bowls with too much noodles but this was perfect. Meats were tender and the texture of the noodles were great. 5 spice chicken rice plate: Oh man that chicken was insane! Pretty big portion of chicken and cooked perfectly through. Every bite was very tender and juicy coupled with a small amount of dark meat fat. Imo nothing beats the TL for Vietnamese food but if you're in the area, I would definitely recommend this spot for the 2 items I got. read more

Mai's Vietnamese Restaurant - Pho dac biet - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Very fast and direct service. I got a beef brisket pho here and it was pretty filling. The meat was tender and the noodles were fresh.

Great beef pho and imperial rolls. Friendly staff. Food was fresh and flavorful. Will definitely be back.

I have been going to Mai's Restaurant for over 35 years. I love going there because not only is the food excellent; but, it is always fresh! After 25, 35 years you usually develop a relationship with the owners. It is very different when the owners are actually ' in the store/ restaurant' and deals with you , one on one, face to face. If the food is subpar you can express it directly to the owner. She has to be one of the nicest, kindest people that I have met. NO, she could not tell you my name nor has met my grandchildren; yet, I would feel comfortable bringing my grandchildren. I have been there with children; but, they probably wouldn't remember. It is a place that is very quiet and clean so that you feel comfortable . In addition, it is handicap accessible. read more

Usually I have a funny story with my review but this one will be simple. Very nice, cosy place here, like a welcoming home. There is a sign what says "we are understaffed now, if you cannot be patient please consider going somewhere else." Very reasonable. And great food. Not fancy, but just exactly good. read more

There is a few Vietnamese restaurants on this block on Clement. I was in need for some Pho and I wanted to try Mai's . The service was good and the Pho Ga was delicious. I have to try the rest of the items on the menu in the future. read more

Mai's Vietnamese Restaurant - tables and chairs with yellow tablecloths - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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good place. Not that many Vietnamese spots on clement. I needed a rice dish and nothing noodle or broth lol

I normally don't leave a reviews, but I think this place definitely deserves it! It's a small and quiet place, but worth the dining experience. I got the curry coconut noodle soup and it was so delicious! The restaurant is ran by the sweetest woman and her family. I will be coming back here again to try other yummy food in their menu. read more

Mai's Vietnamese Restaurant - Curry Coconut (spicy) - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

I came here with my husband, just the 2 of us. We were in town visiting my mom and we'd had dinner with her every night and wanted a night without her. I found this place because my husband wanted pho. And since it was December and SF is freezing, pho seemed perfect. We got there as soon as they opened so we were the only ones in there (until later on when a group of 5 came in). We ordered a fried spring roll appetizer, which is always good, I ordered the broiled beef pho and my husband got the pho with rare beef and meatballs. I usually take a while to eat my pho but my husband inhales his, usually because he's always hungry and also because the food was that good. The broth is very flavorful and the broiled beef in my soup was really good. It had a nice charred taste to it which I think added to the flavor. Although there weren't that many people dining in, the phones were ringing off the hook from people wanting to place take-out orders--so the place is good. If you live in the area, check this place out. We'll definitely be returning. read more

Mai's Vietnamese Restaurant - Broiled beef pho - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Mai's Vietnamese Restaurant Ratings: 4.2/5 Food: 4.5/5 - My first time here with my boyfriend for lunch, because he was craving for some Pho. We randomly found this place on Yelp and decided to go try it out, since we are open at trying new places. This place was a hidden gem. See the descriptions of some of the dishes we got at Mai's. - Shrimp & Crab Imperial Rolls [GET]: These are amazing and delicious. The imperial rolls are packed with shrimp and crab. The fillings are moist and packed with flavors. The outer layer is super crunchy and crispy, perfectly fried and paired really well with the dipping sauce. Make sure to use the lettuce to wrap around the imperial rolls and add some noodles too, really gives off a refreshing taste. You cannot stop eating them. - Imperial Roll & BBQ Chicken Over Rice Noodles [GET]: My go-to dish at Vietnamese restaurants. Mai's cold rice noodles with grilled BBQ chicken and imperial roll was just so delicious, better than the regular vermicelli noodle bowls. The BBQ chicken was thick, tender, juicy, and very well-marinated with a perfectly caramelized chicken skin. It was served with plenty of veggies and a refreshing dipping sauce. Lastly, the pork imperial rolls were just amazing and crispy, but I think the shrimp & crab ones were still better. Ambiance: 3.75/5 - A hole-in-the-wall family restaurant located in Richmond. It is a small store front, and you can easily miss it. We were seated by the window and interior is a bit doomy and tight. There was no music in the background, only the sounds from the kitchen, so it is usually quiet and not crowded. It feels like home, and definitely will come back for the inviting atmosphere, but some renovation is probably needed. Price: 4.25/5 - All dishes range from $12 to $20, depending on what you order. I believe our entrees were around $14 and the imperial rolls were around $10. I do not know the total bill, since my boyfriend treated me this meal. The portion sizes were quite decent though. We were able to leave feeling full and satisfied. Pretty good value and worth. Service: 4.25/5 - There were only two staffs working there, but they are so kind and welcoming. My boyfriend has a dislocated right shoulder, and our server was nice enough to give him a fork instead of chopsticks. She constantly check-in with us to see if we need anything else. She was definitely thoughtful and considerate, and we really appreciate that. The dining experience was smooth, and didn't feel rushed after we paid either. BLUF: Tiny little gem with authentic Vietnamese food with a good twist to it. Food is fresh and incredible, especially their shrimp and crab imperial rolls. Go support your local restaurants, if you are in the area. This place is not crowded, so you can go anytime. My boyfriend and I will return again. read more

Mai's Vietnamese Restaurant - Imperial Roll & BBQ Chicken Over Rice Noodles - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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We went twice. The first time was very good, super authentic Vietnamese. 5 spice chicken was fresh and tender. Few weeks passed by we tried again. We could not even touch the food. Not sure what happened to the chef. We went across Burma Star instead.... read more

Mai's is a humble little spot that serves solid Vietnamese food. The shrimp and crab Imperial rolls were the best I've had in several years with a great crunch and chew accompanied by leaf lettuce, rice noodles and lots of fresh mint to roll them up and dip in fish sauce. I greedily ordered a second appetizer of (cold) shredded chicken rolls that were fresh and delicious, side peanut sauce for dipping. The grilled 5-spice BBQ chicken had a great depth of flavor. The mmm mmm grilled meat was served on a bed of cold noodles, cabbage and carrots. Dipped in nuoc cham sauce, this dish hit the spot. I nipped two bites of someone smaller's grilled pork and rice dish and it had a lacquered, roast-y taste complemented by a scattering of green onions. The Thai iced tea woke me up, they had root beer that made doppelgänger happy. We had dinner early at 6 and by the time we left, there were a few tables dining, but many more pulled into the vortex of Burma Superstar across the street. We had a good amount of leftovers that'll be going to school tomorrow. $50+ tip for 4 plates, 2 tea drinks, a soda for three meals, not bad. read more

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The people here are as NICE AS THEY COME. They're people who you want to give your business to. Pho is very good, as are their rolls. I'll be coming here as long as they're in business read more

Cute family owned hole in the wall, but truly authentic. I'm always greeted with a smile, my mothers tongue, and a smell of home. The food is fresh, dazzling, and ready for eating. Whether you need some soup to cure your hangover or illness, or some bbq pork for a quick lunch, this neighborhood goodie has it for you. read more

Ate there 5 years ago. Decided to try again. Maybe it's improved. Others gave good reviews. For appetizer ordered the shredded pork cold rolls. They were good with the dipping sauce. I ordered lemongrass beef cold noodles. Portion was decent, tasted good but not enough lemongrass flavor in the beef. In fact didn't have any lemongrass flavor. But it was still tasty with a bbq flavor. My partner had beef & meatball pho. Flavor was good, portion good. This was a winner. Had the Thai iced coffee. There must have been something wrong. The coffee dripped extreeemely slow. By the time it finished, I was half way done with the meal. Maybe the tiny holes were clogged. They need to do something about that. Service was meh. Friendly at first when we sat then she wasn't. Not busy. Was it something I said? ‍. She never checked on us. She didn't say Thank you. No eye contact. No smile. Nothing. Overall the meal was good. Just a few things that should be improved. read more

We used to go here over 30 years ago, and they had the most delicious Coconut Curry Chicken and Spicy Prawns! We live in the East Bay now, but we will have to go there again. So wonderful! We judge every other Vietnamese place by Mai's. read more

We were running an errand nearby and decided to stop by Mai's for dinner on a Monday night around 6:45 pm. With a solid 4 star Yelp review I was thinking this place can't be that bad. Boy, was I wrong. There were four of us: one ordered a bowl of pho, two ordered grilled pork over vermicelli (bun cha) and another ordered grilled pork with steam rice. Nothing super complicated, nor out of the ordinary. We placed our order at 6:55 pm, as there was only one waitress serving several tables. We didn't get our food until 7:20 pm...this was by far the longest time we've ever waited for Vietnamese food anywhere, but I digress. Mind you, the table two seats away from us ordered well after us and got the food shortly after us, also pho noodle soup and grilled dish. With all this waiting we just hoped that the food make up for it and everything would taste great. When the food finally did arrive and we tasted our dishes, it was just meh. The soup of the beef pho was a bit bland. The grilled pork over vermicelli was nothing to write home about. The imperial roll tasted refried as it was bit dry and darker than normal. The grilled pork with rice was perhaps the most disappointing item since the white rice was hard and had bits of flaky rice paper...what do I mean you ask? It is as if someone was scraping the bottom of the rice cooker to get the last bit of rice that has been sitting there for a while. You think I exaggerate, but it wasn't until we over heard another table try to order crab fried rice. This was about 7:15 pm, the waitress tells the customer she will have to double check but they might be out of white rice already and won't be able to make the fried rice. We weren't really so much eavesdropping as the fact that the 80's decor and quiet atmosphere made for normal conversation audible from across the room. Sure enough, the waitress comes back and they don't have white rice anymore. Not sure what else she ended up getting. Two "walk in" patrons came by to order food to go around 7:20 pm, only to be told, "Sorry, no more white rice. We close at 7:30 p.m." Needless to say, both of them ended up walking out and didn't feel welcome to place an order to go. Well, if that's the case, the owners should change the sign on the window that says they close at 8:00 p.m. Atmosphere - 80's panel, a bit dated. Very quiet. Service - Waitress came and took our order. Delivered the food when it was ready, and gave us the bill at the end. Seemed like they were short staffed, and she had 4 other tables to take care of. I was keeping an eye out for the infamous 15% charge that another Yelper had mentioned, but we didn't see that on our bill. Food - uninspiring. We've definitely had better Vietnamese food before. Not sure how this place got a 4 star average rating on Yelp. You Yelpers...*tsk tsk.* Maybe we came at an off time, but given the food and service we received, we will likely not be returning. And of course as you walk out you see the line of folks outside Burma Superstar still jostling around the doorway. read more

Mai's Vietnamese Restaurant - Bbq pork with Imperial roll over vermicelli - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

I love Mai's, been coming here for years. Super happy it survived the pandemic when so many other wonderful places did not. I really enjoy the Special Beef Pho( I think that's what it's called) barbecued pork over rice, the Imperial rolls and the filter coffer ( Vietnamese iced coffee). Those are just my personal favs. although it's hard to go wrong here if Vietnamese Street food is your thing like it is for me. Just a good old fashioned neighborhood Vietnamese restaurant with friendly, lovely people( the proprietors )and prices that won't break the bank. If you're looking for a place that's so hip it hurts this is not the place for you. But if you want to eat some great grub, have a couple of beers and kick back, come on over. read more

Their pho dish has a nice ratio of noodles and flanks as well as garnishes on the side! Comparatively to the flanks I've gotten to eat their texture aren't as chewy as the others and its less fresh however the restaurant gave a a lot of them so I wont complain. I really like the service! Although I came by 10 mins before the restaurant would close, they allowed me to order as well as stay a bit after the closing time as Im finishing (not encouraging to do). The ambiance in the restaurant has a nice family restaurant cozy feel to it! Overall I recommend going to Mai's when you wanna try other pho restaurants in San Fran! read more

Mai's Vietnamese Restaurant - Pho tai nam - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California