Horrible food and expensive, I ordered chicken fried rice, and it was the worse bland rice I have ever tasted. I am used to Vietnamese fried rice and this was not even close, in top of that I paid over $20 for a small portion. I called and them to let them know and all they said was "this is how we make it" not even an apology. The Pho I ordered was in a broken bowl as well with the bag. DO NOT WASTED YOUR MONEY.!! Also BE AWARE IF YOU DONT EAT PORK! I ordered shrimp spring rolls and it came with pork. VERY DISAPPOINTED read more

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Everything I've had here is really flavorful and delicious. The pho's are great, dumplings and spring rolls also great as was the banh Mi. Prices also are very reasonable. read more

Came allll the way from Queens because it had so many gluten free options! We were very grateful for how knowledgeable the owners were on how to make sure everything we had was celiac safe! Will definitely be coming back, we'll worth the hour long trip! read more

Saigon Cafe - Vietnamese Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

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Grossly overpriced. A bad sign of things to come for Newark Ave with all the yuppies. 2 spring rolls and a shrimp curry (with only 2 peices of shrimp and a ton of canned coconut milk) for $35? $15 for a bowl of Pho? There are places on the LES with 8x the rental price for the same square footage of store, that charge $8 RIP OFF Jersey City estate fund yuppies...this aint Brooklyn! And dont you forget it! These owners must be laughing all the way to the bank No place to park or pickup read more

Saigon is the best! Literally the best food in Jersey City and Steve is an amazing host! I was just sitting here at the bar, a customer came is asking for a Bahn Mi which is a lunch item and since they were out of bread the waitress said it was unavailable.. Steve jumped from behind the bar ran to the bakery and got a baguette! Customer service to the max! read more

I can't imagine anyone rating this any less than 5 stars ! The food quality is 10/10. I have been coming here for years and have never tried anything that wasn't great. Consistency, Quality and good food - always ! read more

Food is good, however, the quantity for the price is too small. I get that the food prices have gone up everywhere, but please don't cheat us by giving only half the mixed seafood curry in a large box and replacing seafood with potatoes. Curry taste is great, but not worth $27. read more

I had a huge craving for pho and saw that this place got pretty good reviews so I could not wait to try it. However, I am sad to say that if you are looking for good pho, this is not the place for you. We started off with an appetizer and we got the new year's cake. It is glutinous rice with pork belly and egg yolk. I have had this many times before at Chinese restaurants and I love it. However, at Saigon Cafe it was quite tasteless. It was good that the waitress served it with hot sauce so that we could dip it in hot sauce for taste. For entrees, I got the seafood noodle soup which was basically seafood pho and my husband got the beef pho. The soup was not up to par for both phos in terms of taste and we had to add sriracha and plum sauce for extra flavor. After 3 disappointing dishes, we did not want to venture with dessert so we just got the check. I was quite surprised by my total which came out to be about $40. I guess I am used to my pho costing under $10. Also, the owner or waitress I am not sure who it was, barely spoke to us or acknowledged us despite the fact that it was not busy and there were only 2 other couples at the restaurant. On the day I came it was the first hot day of this season and I am not sure if they were not ready to turn on the AC or what but it was definitely hot enough to turn on the AC and there were only fans going on. It seems like this place gets a lot of take out orders. If I were to order next time, I would get take out and try some of their other dishes besides pho. They did not have too much pho options on their menu so perhaps they are known for their other dishes. read more

Saigon Cafe - New Years cake - Vietnamese Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

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This place was awesome! A very traditional Vietnamese restaurant that focuses more on real entrees instead of sandwiches and pho. Their food is very fresh and and has great creativity. I got the special which was pork belly and vermicelli cakes in lettuce wraps and OMG they were so good. I could have eaten three times the amount and still wanted more. The pork was so tender and every paired so well. My boyfriend got the pho and it was also very good. The broth was much more salt based than other pho broths that tend to have a sweetness to them. The meat was good but the portion size was a bit small. I would definitely come back here. The only down side is the price is very expensive for Vietnamese food. Luckily it's very good to justify it. Try the iced tea with evaporated milk( or maybe it was condensed milk?) it's like a Thai iced tea only with regular black tea and a little less sweet read more

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Ordered takeout pho and classic baguette. Food was prepared fast and ready to be picked up. Pho broth was a little light but the beef and meatballs were all very good. Veggies were enough too. The baguette was very good and filling for 8 bucks. Was a nice meal. read more

Saigon Cafe - Special beef pho and classic baguette - pretty good! - Vietnamese Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

Stopped by while walking the JC street fair this past weekend- we tried the Banh Mi sandwich with slice pork. It was good, had some fresh vegetables and was a solid lunch choice. We felt it could have used a bit more dressing or slaw and the bread was a little tough/hard but overall great choice. The service was very kind and we would happily stop by again! read more

Saigon Cafe - Banh Mi - Vietnamese Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

Totally not worth the price!!! Also, $10 for each sharing plate!!! A Vietnamese restaurant violates a basic Asian principal: sharing food. What's going on in their owner's mind? Their menu is pricier than most Vietnamese restaurants. A Vietnamese restaurant at this price is easily considered upscale. However the experience is just meh. Food is particularly not much better than other Vietnamese restaurants, and definitely not as good as some Vietnamese restaurants in Chinatown Manhattan. read more

Saigon Cafe - $10 for each sharing plate - Vietnamese Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

I stillreally love the food here, but when I came here last Friday the service was a little weird. The final server who ended up taking our order was the best but someone took our appetizer order and never put it in... I think it was their first day and English wasn't their primary language :-) not good for hangry people :-) everything we had hit the spot. Clay pot chicken curry Nanh Yet Going Cuon (summer rolls?) Bi Cuon:(shredded beef rolls?) Bo Luc Lac with Brown rice read more

Saigon Cafe - Some beef dish #delish - Vietnamese Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

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In my opinion, it is not only the food that determines if I go back to eat at a restaurant,  but also the service from the workers.  -Short story: I will not be spending any of my money at Saigon Restaurant, nor will my work associates at my company, as well as others.  -Long story: I am a rep and I have accounts all over New Jersey. I book breakfasts and lunches with offices, so I order from restaurants all the time, and when I find one I like, I usually stick with it. This time, the office wanted to order lunch (which was delivered ONE block from the restaurant on Newark Ave).  It is a standard company policy for me to retrieve an itemized receipt on the day of delivery. The office informed me that they did not receive the receipt. Weird. But, this usually is never an issue for me because restaurants can forward me the receipt from their POS system.  When I called Saigon, John answered. I asked John if they sent a receipt to the office, they said they did. I explained that they didn't receive and asked for a copy to be sent to me. John said that the only way that I can get my receipt is if he mails it to me via USPS, or I can come pick it up. Waiting for USPS mail was just not an option for me. And during these COVID times, the LAST thing I want to do is DRIVE 1 hour from my home to pick up a receipt. John said there was no other way and refused to e-mail me or send a picture via SMS. He said that was his policy, not the restaurants. They would not travel ONE block to drop off the receipt. John then recommended me to commit FRAUD and to call my CC company to say I never got the food delivered, so that I can get my receipt.  So guess what I did. Drove down to pick up the receipt (2hours there and back), putting myself and others at risk...just horrible... A few days later, when I check my Expense Reporting service, I see that the total is a flat $180. My itemized receipt shows $173.80 So what happened was THEY TIPPED THEMSELVES on my card. John, enjoy the $6.20 tip. Just be sure to let the owner/manager know that you lost that restaurant consistent business. Not only from me, but my counterparts and I will advise any other rep or potential customer reading this, to stay away! During our phone conversation, John refused to call the owner/manager bc he said that he doesn't answer the phone when he is not in the office. I told John to pass along my number to the manager, so he can call me. Still haven't heard from anyone, and don't bother calling. Good Day Sir. read more

I called to place an order. The staff advised against eating there if you have Celiac Disease. I asked to speak to a Manager or Chef so I can ask about their process and decide for myself. The staff member came on the phone and said the Manager said no it was not safe. I could hear the Manager in the background yelling out that they have flour in the kitchen. My issue is that the Manager NEVER came on the phone. Just could NOT be bothered. Terrible service! read more

Nice decor and lighting to create a warm environment. Pretty delicate bar and nice selection of beer, wine and alcohol. Service was great. We had the veggie spring rolls, clay pot curry seafood and Rendang (Malaysian style coconut spice) beef. Spring rolls were nicely fried with good portion of stuffing. The clay pot curry seafood, according to my friend, was great. My Rendang beef was too salty and lacked the rich flavor of coconut. Also they listed two Vietnamese beers (33 and Saigon) on their beer list but they were not available. Guess that's not a very good sign for a place named "Saigon" :) All in all, still a pretty decent place for food and chat. read more

Saigon Cafe - Above: clay pot seafood curry. Below: Rendang beef. All come with white rice. - Vietnamese Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

We've always passed by this place, but have never made it in. Until now! My fiance brought me here for dinner on my birthday. The atmosphere and setting is perfect for a date night - dimly lit room, light music playing in the background and cozy space. One thing that makes this place different: babies/toddlers not allowed in the restaurant after 7pm. I know, you might initially be offended. But would you really want your little kid wailing at the top of his/her lungs while people are trying to enjoy their dinner? No, judgments and looks will be thrown at you and that's not something anyone wants. Anyway, the food was delicious. I ordered the clay pot pork with the apple salad and my fiance ordered the pho bo (pho with beef meatballs). I really liked the clay pot pork, the pork and onions were so flavorful. The apple salad was delicious as well. I like that the dressing is light and not overwhelming. My fiance loved his pho, especially the beef meatballs. For dessert, we got the banana bread cake. We assumed it would be a big slice of cake, but it's actually a bunch of little pieces, which is perfect for sharing. I love the different textures of the dessert - there was the cake which was smooth, the coconut milk, which was creamy and thick and crushed peanuts for that little crunch. Overall, dinner was delicious and the service was good. Would come back here again! Just FYI - it gets pretty packed here after 7:30 pm and they don't take reservations under 4 people. read more

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This is was the most disappointing Pho I have ever ordered. A pound of noodles with a couple pieces of meat. 2 leaves of basil :( :( :(

Been coming here since I moved to JC in 2002 and it's always been a solid choice. Good food, good preparation, good ingredients, and tasty AF. The summer rolls with peanut sauce are amazing--pro tip: get an extra one to take home, you'll be happy you did come lunchtime the next day. We usually eat the vegetarian items, which never disappoint and are always as flavorful and deep as the seafood and meat dishes, especially the Sauteed tofu w/ spicy lemongrass sauce, bell peppers, onions. It's a place where long time F&B people go to eat good Vietnamese food, crafty drinks, and when feeling a little ill, pick up the best chicken soup in town. Can't wait to order tomorrow... PS, as a father I want to add that if you've eaten in-house before, you can understand the no stroller rule and no kids after 7. read more

My wife and I had lived in Jersey City for over a year before finally trying Saigon Cafe for the first time maybe 1.5 months ago, and I keep kicking myself for not going sooner - now we're constantly craving their food! We've been trying to make our way through the menu, and everything we've had has been excellent. Their banh mi with candied pork belly was a real standout (it's pretty rich - nice to pair with something lighter). Other favorites have been their grilled lean pork special, grilled beef short rib special, beef pho, and Tom Ca Ri Mi (egg noodle shrimp curry). Happy to see them staying busy during COVID, definitely one of our favorite restaurants in the area! read more

Originally my friend and I were headed to a different restaurant, but this one caught our eye! I am a sucker for fairy lights, so that was definitely part of what drew me inside. My friend and I were seated very quickly, despite it being a Friday night, so that was certainly a plus. We ordered the Goi Du Du (green papaya salad), Ca Ri Kho (Claypot Curry with Shrimp and Potatoes), Purple Yam Dumplings, and Sweet Sticky Rice Pudding with Taro. The green papaya salad was a great start to the meal and was a good portion size for 2 people to share. The fish sauce made the salad flavorful. I am a big fan of the Claypot Curry, which also comes with rice. If you want the same curry but with noodles, you can get the Tom Ca Ri Mi (Egg noodle shrimp curry). I can handle spice well, and I did not find the Claypot Curry too spicy. The broth had the perfect balance of creaminess. I personally wanted more diverse veggies in the curry without paying more, but I would get this dish again. The desserts were great and stood out in comparison to other desserts I have gotten at other Vietnamese restaurants. My favorite was the Purple Yam Dumplings, which were not too sweet. Both desserts were easy to finish on top of the appetizer and entree. While I enjoyed the food greatly, I did find it pricier than other Vietnamese places, especially since I eat often in the Central Jersey area. A lot of the Soup Entrees range from $15 - 22. Furthermore, you most likely have to pay for street parking. This restaurant, however, would be an ideal place for a date! read more

Saigon Cafe - Claypot Curry - Vietnamese Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

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The food here is fresh and delicious. I'm so upset that I hadn't given Saigon Cafe a try sooner. The servers are knowledgeable of the food, attentive, friendly, and most of all really pleasant to interact with. Having a Pho Bo, and a Pork special - I understand why they have such a great reputation. Pork was the most delicious version I've had locally and sticky rice was an excellent compliment to the dish. The pho, best I've had in JC. Can't wait to come back! read more

Kind, helpful staff. Nice and clean restaurant. Good crowd. I'd definitely recommend if you are looking for amazing pho! read more

Saigon Cafe - Beef pho noodles - Vietnamese Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

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I've been wanting to try Saigon Cafe for a while now so I ordered chicken pho from here on a raining day to go. It only took about 10 minutes to be prepared and it was just what I needed. The broth was delicious and the chicken was fresh. I would definitely love yo come back and try other dishes on the menu. The only thing I would complain about are there prices. I spent $16 on pho when I have definitely been able to get this same dish for wayyy cheaper at other places. Nonetheless, I would definitely recommend this place. read more

Fancy place. Food was great too. The staff were very attentive to our needs. I always order the chicken sautéed with bell peppers. read more

Saigon Cafe - Vietnamese Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

I changed my mind. This place is good. The first time I came, I was of the mindset that it's going to be traditional vietnamese food at the typical inexpensive prices. However, I've turned around and this place is part of my usual rotation in Jersey City. Pros: Crowd is always pretty good. It's never too quiet or too loud Full bar with good (and generously portioned) drinks Food's good and the portions are reasonable Great vietnamese coffee, it really makes the experience memorable You feel more comfortable sitting for a while and enjoying your meal as opposed to being rushed out like a lot of other Vietnamese joints. Cons: It's on the pricy side when you compare it to other Vietnamese restaurants. But its still reasonable compared to nearby places The foods got a bit of a twist for the American palette but it's not necessarily bad, especially when you're trying the food for the first time. I recommend getting their com bo luc lac (shaking beef). Its the best I've ever had and worth every penny too. Their papaya salad is also very good. & save room for dessert. The banana tapioca pudding is the bomb. I really enjoyed how they put a lot of thought in the atmosphere. It's a place where you can take a date and mingle for a while. It feels like a classy vietnamese restaurant with a lot of the modern touches. They're very accommodating and I definitely recommend date night here. read more

I am so lucky to live in the building next door. Best Vietnamese coffee in JC. Staff is super helpful and always answers my questions. Willing to make substitutions for allergies. Well priced - I usually get to go but the place is super cUte. Tonight's order there was a tiny (understandable) mixup and the manager met me outside with a new dish which he def didn't need to do. What a doll. Highly recommended - in my opinion one of the few JC old timers restaurants that still serves consistent delicious interesting food. Tonight we had Green papaya salad Dobien clay pot curry Mi Hay Hu Tieu Xao with beef and friend noodles Banh Hoi Thit Nuong GF Grilled sliced marinated lean pork And two delicious desserts read more

Great place. Love the Pho Bo and summer rolls. Every dish is good that I tried. Lots of great options read more

Yes, the acorn squash with shrimp is worth all the hype! The flavors are amazing, and it had a generous portion of plump fresh shrimp. Get it! Their marinated pork banh mi is straight up crack. Their fried pork spring rolls are solid. And you can't go wrong with any of their grilled options. Omg! I almost forgot about their rice pudding! It is soooooo good! Made with coconut milk and orange zest! It's sooo delicious! read more

Phonomenal! Really, phenomenal pho! Can't believe I let this little gem languish in my bookmarks for so long! Fellow yelpers, you gotta go ASAP! The curry puffs were the right size and perfectly seasoned, the Vietnamese dumpling stuffed with pork and steamed in a banana leaf was a first for us, ClayPot shrimp had some lovely flavors and the right amount of spice, the Pho was a steaming hot bowl of umami goodness and the Banana taro pudding with coconut milk was an addictive dessert! I also loved the hot toddy and attentive service. Had it not been so busy, we would have chatted with the manager/ proprietor who clearly takes pride in the place and has a passion for what he does! This is just the kind of place I'm thrilled to have in the neighborhood and will surely be frequenting this winter! read more

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Chanced upon this Vietnamese place while a group of friends were walking on Newark Avenue looking for a place to eat. It is very nondescript, low key place, but the food is sure to make up for it. On a Sunday evening, the place was just about filling up and we were lucky to get seated since we were a party of 8 without prior reservation. Probably a good idea to get a reservation here over the weekend. Food - Pho - depends on what protein you get, the beef variation was good but I wasn't a fan of their chicken version. Claypot - Something to definitely try, the seafood variation is pretty spectacular. Curry + Rice - They have a lemongrass curry which is really really good, if you are a fan of tang, its a must try. Summer rolls - regular, fresh, the peanut sauce is tasty but pretty standard Satay - Pretty healthy and the sauce that comes with it is awesome The great thing about their menu is that they can make vegetarian versions of pretty much every dish. The tofu that the veggie options come with is not bland. We didn't have drinks, but I cant wait to go back and try the Buddha beer everyone on yelp is raving about. Special mention to the AH-MAZING vietnamese coffee they serve. I have had Vietnamese coffee in lots of places in the city but theirs is my favorite - Sweet and strong. Service was very friendly and the turnaround was also very quick. The prices are pretty fair for the Jersey City area and the portion sizes are good. A casual place with yummy food. If you are in the area do give it a try. read more

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While the dining scene has changed rapidly in Jersey City over the course of the past year, there are the stalwarts like Saigon Cafe that continue to deliver on consistency. A quick walk on Newark Avenue from the Grove Street PATH, it's one of the few restaurants in the area that specializes in Vietnamese cuisine, with a few scatterings of other Southeast Asian dishes on its menu. To start off with, I can't say that the Fried Chicken Wings are overly impressive; at $10 for five pieces, neither was it the most reasonably priced. The wings were on the smaller side and while the sauce utilized, a sweet-savory mixture of honey, plum, and garlic, was tasty, it could have used an extra punch of spice or acidity to round out the flavor. A better bet probably would have been the Cha Gio, the traditional spring rolls, or for something lighter, the Goi Cuon. It's hard to avoid a noodle dish in a Vietnamese restaurant (or, at least this is the case for me) so I debated between a traditional bowl of Pho or one of the more "fusion" items. In the end, I opted for the Bun Ga Ca Ri Thai, or the Thai Curry Chicken Soup. It's a well-portioned bowl with a yellow curry and coconut milk base, served with sliced chicken, potatoes, and thin vermicelli noodles. Topped with freshly chopped lettuce, cucumbers, and bean sprouts, it's a well-rounded and flavorful bowl of noodles, with just the right balance of spice, creaminess, and crisp vegetables. The fact that it's very unlikely to be busy at any one point in time, and the reasonably priced menu are additional pluses to note for the restaurant. I'll likely have to make a return visit in order to pass firm judgement on Saigon Cafe, but it currently stands as a solid 3.5 stars in my book. read more

Saigon Cafe - Thai Curry Chicken Soup - Vietnamese Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

The BEST pho in NY/NJ. Definitely the champion of Grove St. Saigon Cafe definitely brightened my days in Jersey City. read more

Saigon Cafe - Vietnamese Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

I just want to start off by saying that the food is great. I really like this place because the food isn't overly greasy or heavy like other places around Jersey City. We come here numerous times, and majority of the time the waitstaff has been very friendly and cordial. The only reason why i give it 3 stars instead of 5 is the customer service. The younger staff is amazing and very friendly. But the mom seems pretty full of herself and so are her kids. read more

We are wandering around the neighborhood and decided to come to Saigon Cafe to order takeouts for dinner on Sat night around 6:30. I haven't been to this place for a long time because I was not happy about their waiter's attitude last time but I decided to give them another try since all my other experiences here were good. I went in to order the takeouts and everything was ready in 15 min. The staff told me the trick that it's much better to come to pick up rather than delivey on Fri & Sat nights since they are busy on both nights and they don't have their own delivery people so they need to call for the delivery service to pick up & deliver after they get the order. I ordered summer rolls (goi cuon), clay pot seafood curry, rangdan beef & bahn gio (Vietnamese tamale/zhongzi). All the food are good but the portion is kinda small. Food - Summer rolls (goi cuon): it's a standard Vietnamese spring roll with shrimps & pork inside. It's a refresh and light appetizer. You can have fried tofu as substitute for vegetarian option. Bang gio (Vietnamese tamale/zhongzi): it's a kind of steamed dumpling wrapped in bamboo leaves. They have pork & chicken options and I had the pork one. It's kinda gelatin/gluten dumpling filled with minced pork & mushu mushrooms. The flavor is just ok for me. I might not order again. Clay Pot Seafood Curry: it is one of my fav dishes. It's sour & spicy soup curry. I like the lemongrass flavor in it but I wish they put more fish inside. We only had 2 pieces of fish. Randang beef: I like rangdan beef in general. They do have a good one here but there are only 4 pieces beef in one order. The clay pot seafood curry and rangdan beef are too spicy this time but usually they taste good and perfect with rice. read more

Saigon Cafe - Vietnamese Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

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Saigon Cafe is a cozy, inviting Vietnamese eatery near the end of Newark Ave's restaurant row. Comfortable lighting and a pleasant atmosphere match well with the simple-yet-tasty fare. The summer rolls are fresh and the claypot salmon bursts with flavour. The soups, though, are a little on the bland side. If you're looking for more authentic and bolder flavours, Nha Trang is a few blocks north on Newark Ave. But Saigon Cafe offers a much nicer dining experience (and a Bahn Mi lunch special) read more

The second time around, the Pho Bo wasn't the best. It had all the elements of a good pho, but the flavor wasn't there. The broth was very flavorless, and there was no tripe or omasa. Luckily, the Green Papaya Salad and Shrimp Curry Acorn Squash made up for the disappointing pho. The salad was huge with lots of pork and shrimp, soaked nicely with fish sauce and fried shallots sprinkled on top. Great crunchiness from the green papaya, and overall quite large and filling with all the add-ins. Get the Shrimp Curry Acorn Squash!!! Wow that acorn squash. I loved how it was soaked in the delicious, slightly sweet curry. It came with four large pieces of shrimp and covered with fried shallots. Simply amazing. It seems like pho is not their specialty, but they do the other entrees very well. Not sure, but the trend might be that good pho restaurants have the word "pho" in the name. I'll still be back to try their other dishes though. read more

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The claypot curry is amazing. As somebody who grew up in South East Asia, I really enjoy their curry, bun (rice) noodles and summer rolls. Their banana steamed cake is also amazingggggly good! I usually ordered these every time I am here with my bf, so I can't speak for the other dishes, but if you like spicy, order their claypot curry! read more

Saigon Cafe - Steamed banana cake - Vietnamese Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

I ate here a while ago with my friend, and I remember it fondly. We started with cocktails, which were tasty. My friend's was the cucumber gimlet, it tasted refreshing in the summer day. For food, I had the pho and she ordered the pork chops that came with two eggs on top. When I first saw that I had to laugh at it for the sheer amount of food. The egg went deliciously with the pork though. I love pho, and I eat it everywhere I go. I still like pho the most from when I lived in California's Bay Area, but this was quite good too. The soup was flavorful but light, and the portion was a good size as well. For Vietnamese food, it's not exactly cheap as I can find better deals in Chinatown, but the tastes are good. read more

We love ordering from saigon cafe when we have crave for Pho & crispy spring roll. Very nice lady on a phone taking our order, food comes hot and on time. We tried their new fried rice and it has more flavor and delicious :) read more

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