I so want to give this more stars because I want this place to succeed. Have been many times. Food is consistently very good. Pho! Yum! Service is consistently a mess and this last time was a complete train wreck. First, tables are all wobbly. To the point where the ladies next to us lost their glass. Second, it's clear that take out is the way to go. Put in your order and 20 minutes later, it's ready. We sat and order and waited and waited and waited. We sat and watched and watched and watched customers come and go. We waited more than 45 minutes for two bowls of pho. Come on. I expressed my irritation to the waiter and they comped our meal. Certainly a very nice gesture, and I will give it another shot. My recommendation is that they not have table service. It's more like a nice sandwich shop. Go, order at counter, sit if available. The way they are currently set up, eat-in diners clearly come second. They can't seem to figure out how to prioritize orders. Fingers crossed that they get it together because the food is tasty. (It's also freezing cold in there in the winter.) read more

Extremely disappointed. I have loved Pho for at least 10 years and have loved sampling different broths at fine authentic establishments up and down the East coast. As such, I was excited to find Pho in Marblehead. While the ambiance and the waiter were great, the food was anything but authentic. I should have known it would be no good when I read the available Pho options...basically not much. While I do not enjoy tendon, fatty beef or tripe, I do realize the massive benefit they add to the broth in the form of incredible collagen flavoring. Only a slow cook/simmer with multiple cuts can make true Pho. The Pho I received lacked any of that "shimmer" that tells you it has been cooked low and long with the appropriate seasonings and meats. What I had was bland, not seasoned and obviously not cooked for the time period needed to make true broth. While the meat itself was good, the tasteless broth killed any benefit. As there were no seasonings on the table (like every other Vietnamese restaurant), I asked for chili paste. I received a tiny amount that barely was able to slightly effectuate the otherwise bland broth. What really sucks is the price-point...$12 for a "large"...joke. I am by no ways cheap however this sub-par and totally unauthentic Pho is $3 to $4 dollars more expensive than the other real, authentic, tasty, spicy, savory Pho restaurants within a mere 20 mile radius. While I paid my full bill and left a generous tip (it was not his fault the food sucked), neither my woman or I could eat even 50% of the food we received due to the lack of flavor. We had to hit another restaurant immediately thereafter for real food. While I hate to leave this review, I feel Yelp readers deserve to know the truth...so sorry. read more

Consistently good. Healthy and tasty.

Always the freshest ingredients prepared for you as if you are an honored guest in the chef's home. The food is consistently delicious - from the shrimp fritter (my fave) or the tender steak-on-a-stick appetizers to the vermicelli and curry bowls, you can taste every hand-picked, delicious ingredient. Casual and comfortable atmosphere, VERY kid friendly. And just wait until you get the bill! You'll be so thankful for such great food AND great value that you'll come back several times a month, as we do. Take-out is just as stellar! MUST TRY!! And worth the trip into Marblehead! read more

Literally obsessed with their mommas pot. So delicious. The waiter was the nicest and quirkiest guy ever, the best service!

Chicken Curry Banh Mi. It's the best sandwich. Seriously, The Best sandwich in Mass! My husband and I ate here last night. We started with 2 shrimp spring rolls, which were fresh and very good...the sauces were amazing. Then I order the rice plate with steak, which was excellent and my husband ordered the BBQ'd pork vermicelli plate. He also thought it was very full of flavor and delicious. Then we had the Chicken Curry Banh Mi...unbelievable! We had 2 small issues, which would never prevent us from going back. One, the portions aren't huge. This is why we ordered so much between 2 people. The prices are reasonable though and the food is fresh and delicious so we didn't mind ordering more and more. Two, they didn't have many of the beer and wine choices that their menu listed. No big deal to us, we are easy to please and they did have good substitute choices. The food more than makes up for it! About the Chicken Curry Banh Mi...we wanted it again for breakfast, lunch and are, at the moment, contemplating going back for dinner. It's simply excellent. If this was all they served we would be back weekly. Seriously, try it. read more

Was excited to return to Soall, Which is difficult with their limited hours, but we found a way! We had enjoyed the food a few years back. We ordered pho (delightful, and yes a bit pricey) and a beef skewer Bahn mi. The Bahn mi was small, and lacking ingredients - including the essential Vietnamese mayo. When I inquired about this, the server claimed that there wasn't any sauce on the sandwich and the meat is marinated.. and maybe the "mayo" I'm referring to is mixed in with the vegetables. This server was not knowledgeable about the menu, Vietnamese cuisine, and showed no concern. Didn't even offer to ask the kitchen. Later she came back to tell me she checked with the kitchen and it was supposed to have mayo, but they made it without and didn't tell her so that's "probably why it was dry." She looked at me as if this was an acceptable response.... and I was appalled that both the server and kitchen staff were unapologetic that the dish was wrong and not good. I'm also suspicious that the spring rolls (sub par) came with the wrong sauce. Will not be rushing back, but will stick with pho in the future. read more

Amazing! The pho is awesome...as is everything else I've tried. Please let this be a test case for Swampscott/Marblehead that we like good food! More more more! read more

I can't wait to go to Soall Bistro again. I was getting take out and dining in 2-3 times per week between lunches and dinners before the close for the expansion. I did not go the first night they announced they would be reopening(like the previous poster did). Anyone with half a brain would see how wildly popular this place is. When you get hundreds of dine in and take out orders the first night you reopen, delays are absolutely going to happen. This is a true testament to how wildly popular and excellent the food is at this gem of a restaurant in beautiful Marblehead. read more

Soall Viet Kitchen - Nothing better than some takeout Pho Ga and a Spring Roll from Soall while getting work done at home! - Vietnamese Near Me - Marblehead, Massachusetts

I have asked several times if they use MSG and no one can tell me ...I do know every time I eat there I have a upset stomach and headache the next day! read more

I am disappointed that it has taken me so long to review this restaurant. I could go on and on about my favorite dishes and gush about the staff and owner but it would be best if you go for yourself and see what I am talking about. Don't think about it. Just try it. You will thank me. read more

My wife and I were eagerly looking forward to dining at Soall. Number one, we love Vietnamese food, but we also love supporting small mom and pop operations like this. However, we were very disappointed in our meal. First, the positives: the shrimp spring rolls were very tasty and comparable to other more traditional Vietnamese restaurants we frequent. They were lacking slices of pork other more traditional restaurants use, but they were tasty nonetheless. As for the entrees, my wife's chicken pho had a very flavorful broth that was comparable to most bowls of pho she's had. Sadly, the positives stop there. The traditional plate of bean sprouts and greens for the pho was pretty pathetic looking. Rather than a large mound herbs and vegetables, there was a small handful of bean sprouts, a tiny amount of wilted, old basil, two slices of a hot pepper, and a wedge of lime. That's it. As for the pho itself, it was severely lacking in ingredients. There were a couple of pieces of chicken, a small handful of noodles, and that was it. It was very disappointing. As for the spring rolls, while the flavor was very good, the price was not. $2.50 for one spring roll is a little high. Most Vietnamese places charge about $3.50 for two, so we were a little taken aback by the price. If the product was overwhelming, I could understand the price, but unfortunately, it wasn't. I was most disappointed in my entree. Having looked at their menu online, I was intrigued by the curry chicken soup. Their site says "We marinate a whole chicken in a mixture of Vietnamese curry powder, lemongrass and other seasonings then simmer it with potatoes and carrots in a coconut concoction for a rich and tasty broth." I had high hopes for this dish but was sadly let down. There was no flavor at all to the broth, no thickness associated with a coconut curry, the chicken was dry as a bone with no flavor, hardly what you'd expect from a marinated chicken, and the potatoes and carrots were under cooked, which isn't bad for carrots, but biting into a raw potato is not a pleasant experience. All in all, this dish was nowhere near as advertised. While I can't say the food was bad, per se, it was just very bland. There was hardly any flavor, or if there was flavor, there were hardly any ingredients. Their site says they tailor their dishes towards the American palate; however does that mean there should be no flavor?? There are plenty of other cheaper, more traditional Vietnamese places, such as Pho Minh Ky in Lynn, that are tastier and a better value. The owners and the staff seem very nice, so I hope they turn things around and succeed, but I don't see myself going back there anytime soon. read more

Soall gets 2 thumbs up from the whole family. From the spring rolls, clay pots and pho you can't go wrong! Gets very busy and it's a small space so keep that in mind. Worth the wait! read more

Now that I've gone a bunch of times for take out and eat in, I can say that the food is delicious though the portions are small as some others have mentioned. But the service is always spotty. It's like they hire servers and people to take and put together orders, but either don't interview them well enough to assess their competence, or don't train them well enough. Since they've been around for a few years now, these definitely aren't start-of-business kinks that are being worked out. It's always a bit chaotic there, which is too bad. read more

I go to Soall frequently because of the freshness and passion for their food. I get the Pho everytime and can't resist the spring rolls.. You HAVE to try both!! The spring rolls are DELICIOUS my favorite is the shrimp or eggplant.. Couldn't tell you which over which.. The beef skewers are also good. The PHO delicious and I suggest it anytime you need a fresh bowl of yummy soup. The waitstaff is friendly and pretty in point. MUST GO!! read more

Best restaurant in Marblhead, hands down. I come to Soall 1-2x a week for their amazing pho. I normally do takeout but our family also loves to come in for dinner and try whatever is recommended. We've never had a bad meal, service is amazing and the prices are great. I moved from NYC and was SO HAPPY to find Soall in Marblhead. read more

Good addition to Marblehead. The chicken curry soup has become a family favorite, with a nuance and lightness not typically seen. We prefer taking out, though its is a cute space. read more

I get takeout from here all the time (the garlic lemongrass shrimp with rice is my favorite!) They always seem super busy, no matter what night, and also do a ton of take out. We've been to dinner here a couple times and the atmosphere is super cute! My reasoning for 4 stars instead of 5 is that the service can sometimes be a little slow, and even though they hustle, a lot of times there's only one waiter. My other reason is that they don't have a dessert menu (which, in my opinion, is the best part!) Also be mindful that the portions are a little small for the appetizers but they're all delicious and taste nice and fresh! The last couple times I've gotten takeout there a young lady named Maddie checked me out and she was the sweetest, so shout out to her! Overall would definitely recommend this place! read more

This is a high end Boston quality food restaurant on the north shore, and there is plenty of parking. The dishes were all very refined, tasty, and filling. We had the shrimp toast which was by far the best I've ever eaten. This is a must. I also ordered the shrimp fritters fabulous! Followed by shaking beef - the beef was tender and very flavorful. The portions are perfect and they give you the option of a small plate or entree therefore having more opportunities to have room for other dishes if you choose. And I did. Had the lobster dish that was beyond tender and succulent. Ahhh I want to go back soon just for this dish. Oh almost forgot the pomelo salad w crab so fresh and bright flavors. The wine list has many options that are thoughtful and great with the food. Clever descriptions that I haven't seen before on North Shore. Value driven for the quality of wine that you get. I'm coming back soon with friends. My only worry is that it will be so popular it will be hard to get in, especially considering there are so few nice dining options up here besides pizza roast beef subs and fried fish. read more

Food is terrific and well priced. The service was terrific and fast. The clay pot chicken was to die for. read more

This is my favorite pho place in the North Shore, I have been going since they opened and I've got to say I have not had one negative experience. I like to eat there or take it to go, and everything is very fresh and delicious. My favorites are the beef pho, shrimp spring rolls, and eggplant entree with rice. The pho is spicy but I like it that way! Awesome work!!! read more

For months my wife has suggested that we try this Vietnamese restaurant, which we did today for lunch. Well there really isn't much to say, except that for all the hype about this place, it is, at best merely average. My wife ordered the beef hot spicy soup bowl, which she rated as ok. I ordered the vermicelli bowl with bbq beef, which was substandard. We are big fans of vietnamese food, and this should have served with bean sprouts, mint leaves and vietnamese spring rolls. Instead this had chopped lettuce and carrots (Blech!) We can, and do, make this at home much better. These were served in the standard large Vietnamese bowls, but with smaller portions. In the future I will stick with Pho Minh Ky in Lynn, which has much better food and better pricing. Better yet are the food stalls at H-Mart in Burlington. Aside from the food, there is a problem with seating which consists of metal chairs. These were cold to sit in and should have been supplied with cushions. read more

We went there this evening and they are closed. Their website makes it seem like they are open but they are not. There is a note on the door apologizing but it does not mention when they will reopen or why they closed. read more

Since I've been frequenting Marblehead on a regular basis, I was looking to try something different and I came across Saoll through Yelp. I'm a big fan of PHO and when the opportunity arises to try a new venue I'm interested since there's not a whole lot of Vietnamese food offerings here on the North Shore. Right from entering the doorway, my experience was very positive being warmly greeted by one of the co-owners Sa. Her generous and warm presence reflected the bistro's aura. It was evening dinner time, and with the busyness about to set in, it was a calming place to be. I ordered the PHO with chicken and vegetables plus the shrimp spring roll to-go. While waiting, I read the article posted in a frame near the entrance published in one of the North Shore news publications that gave me the story behind Saoll. (Read here: http://marblehead.wickedlocal.com/news/20161004/marbleheads-soall-bistro-has-soul-vietnamese-hotspot-turns-four) Having a little of a background on the story and the process of how Saoll came into existence and its journey was enlightening. Strong ties to family and familiarity of food through roots. Once I got to my studio and unpacked dinner, it was a pretty simple assembly. I appreciated how the Pho, vermicelli and vegetables were each kept separate and applied to the Pho when ready to eat. Everything had a fresh aroma and appearance like it was just home cooked. The Pho was really delectable with a balance of broth, vermicelli, chicken (white breast meat) and vegetables. I was pleasantly surprised and it was a true testament, of any culinary food/culture that the soup/base is paramount to its foundation. It was smooth, flavorful and the vegetables held their tenderness: snap peas held their integrity and the mushrooms were unlike any I've had before that had their unique, semi-buttery flavor. Lastly, the Pho had the right amount of salt as it did not leave me quenching for water afterwards. The shrimp spring roll was also well made and that the tenderness of the ingredients was consistent with a nice bite of crisp basil to add a refreshing appeal to it. The peanut sauce was a little on the light side, I would have preferred a more robust peanut flavor, although I was still happy with it. I am certainly looking forward to another meal from Saoll and will have to dine-in next time to get the full experience. Thank you!! read more

The food is amazing however it is extremely frustrating when you go on the online menu and nothing is labeled gluten free. They have a bunch of Gluten free items but not clearly marked. So when you call for a pick up order you talk to a high school student who isn't knowledgeable about what is or isn't gluten free. So you spend a good 20 minutes asking what is. If you go to the restaurant the waitress usually knows. It just would save more time and frustration to mark things clearly GF since they have a lot of items. We love the food their that is not the complaint it's labeling the menu more clearly. read more

Omg! This place is amazing! From start to finish, the dishes are well presented and very very delicious. We started with the shrimp toast and spring rolls, both very flavorful and filling. The shaking beef was so good, perfectly cooked and well spiced. The quail was perhaps the best dish of the night, succulent and juicy, with crispy skin and tender meat. And of course the pho was fabulous, lots of noodles and a broth full of flavor. All the wines on the menu have been expertly chosen to pair with the various dishes, and they did not disappoint. For dessert, we had a warm orange that was bruleed with cinnamon and sugar, the perfect end to a wonderful meal. The service was first rate, and the prices are very reasonable. This is a gem of a restaurant. 5 stars! read more

This place is great. Kid working the counter was super friendly and the service was excellent! Went in there on duty (EMT) and found out they offer a 50% discount for on duty first responders. Not only that, but this was one of the best bowls of pho I've ever had (rare beef). Packed with flavor and the broth is to die for. Ordered it to go, rice noodles, bean sprouts, jalapeños, sriracha, and extra hoisin came on the side. Only thing I'd do next time is get the beef on the side as well because when I got back to the station it was well done from sitting in the broth. I should've thought of that to begin with, so no points off there whatsoever. Highly recommend this place to anyone, and look forward to going back on or off duty to try the rest of their menu! read more

Delightfully fresh and full flavored Vietnamese food served with a smile. We eat here several times a month, and have never had a bad meal. Love it! Sa, the chef/owner is as delightful as the food! read more

This place knows how to get it done. The Pho is fantastic, fresh and authentic. I crave the soup regularly and whether I eat in or takeout it's always consistent. Ingredients are always fresh. Appetizers are all fantastic as well as the sugar cane shrimp entree. Only warning: the place is small in size and it has a huge following now, so it can fill up quickly. Get there early--but go soon because you're missing out if you don't. read more

Of the Asian cuisines, I am biased toward Thai and Vietnamese as they are (in my opinion) generally fresher and lighter than Chinese (at least the Americanized version of Chinese). So, when this place opened up in my home town I was excited. Thankfully, it lived up to expectations and I have been back 4-5 times. We mostly use it as a take out place and really like it. The quality, flavor and freshness are consistent and excellent. We have tried the spring rolls, beef pho, hue's spicy beef soup, and garlic lemongrass shrimp. All have been very good but the pho is our favorite. The broth is clearly home made and the side ingredients make it such a fresh, fragrant experience. For takeout, our experience has been flawless but the one time we ate there, it was cold (it was December but still) and the service was slow. We tend to order earlier in the evening (before 6 or 6:30pm) and the 6-7 tables are usually only half full when we arrive to pick up our food. read more

Our first visit to Soall, so my review is based on incomplete data, but..... I'd have to say Soall Bistro is promising. The food is light, of good quality, fresh and tasty. We shared an eggplant with vermicelli noodles and a roasted chicken over rice. The menu is quite varied for such a small place, with several seafood choices, pork, beef, chicken and vegetarian options. Wait staff is attentive and the place is very clean. Although the portions are not huge, nor are the prices. We had two meals and one bottled beer for $23.00, which I think is certainly reasonable. As befits a "bistro" the music leans toward soft jazz, Bill Evans, Nat King Cole, and soulful French songstresses. A couple of less than great things from my perspective... no Vietnamese beer choices and the free standing chairs were very uncomfortable, like chairs you'd find in a middle school cafeteria in the 1950's. We'll definitely return to Soall Bistro to try other menu items, the place has potential. read more

Delicious! Great food with very simple ingredients. I got the chicken pho, which was very good. My friend got the beef over rice and that was also really good. They were a little understaffed but it was fine- the kids were doing their best to keep up with everything. I will absolutely be back to this place! read more

Great light summer dinner tip: grab two of their shrimp spring rolls for each of you, and grab a decent bottle of white wine. Go to the M'head lighthouse, and watch the world go by. read more

This used to be my favorite place to splurge, not so much anymore. Staff was rude and slow, seemed to have little to no experience. Food was good, but we waited almost 15 minutes for our drinks. Will not return. read more

Great food, Great ownership and Great prices. We are very lucky to have such a great restaurant in our town.

First time trying This place. Very authentic. I tried the bahn mi ( pork sandwich) which was amazing, fresh spring rolls, and a pork steak entree. The ingredients were super fresh. The pork steak entree was served with the bone in. Not as flavorful as I thought and served differently than traditional Vietnamese places I've been to but still decent.The fresh shrimp spring rolls are very fresh and the bahn mi sandwich was the best!! Will be going again. read more

By the time you read my review, you could be enjoying the best Pho and spring rolls along with a glass of wine north of Boston. Go! Years of meals and not a single minor issue. Consistent and delish. Authentic. I rarely give 5 stars. read more

My family and I, together or seperately, have been eating here at least twice a week for months now. We are completely addicted. My daughter craves the chicken pho when she comes home from a stressful day at school. She often adds a shrimp spring roll to her order. My husband and I are more adventurous and have tried many of the items on the menu. We love the tilapia, the pork chop, the bun bo hue (making a return to the menu this week!) and the beef pho. The restaurant itself is cozy, and you may have to wait for a table on a weekend night. But it is worth it! It is warm and friendly; if you have questions about what to order, ask your neighbor! Or, you can always carry out like we do at least once a week (have I mentioned we are addicted??) read more

Good food, they were a bit understaffed, but with more waiters it's great, friendly hostesses :)

they have great food but recently i've been seeing changes. the past 4 orders i've received not all of order and very poor service. i hate to act like this because i love soall but i'm extremely disappointed with my experiences over the past couple orders. read more