Saigon Bowl
6307 Center St, Omaha, NE, 68106
Saigon Bowl Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Omaha for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Omaha for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Omaha for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
6307 Center St
Omaha, NE, 68106 - Phone (402) 884-8770
- Website https://www.saigonsurfacebowl.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 3:00pm
- Mon : 11:00 am - 3:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : No
Caters : Yes
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Robert N.
You can have a fast, fresh lunch and feel good about it.. or take it the other direction. The amount of customization on the menu here leaves you holding the buck when it comes to what you're served. Double-edged. I like it.
(4)Gabriel P.
I'm not normally a big snob for authenticity, but this place makes me nostalgic for real Vietnamese food. They've done a decent job of packaging up Vietnamese cuisine for mass market consumption (and tacked on higher prices to match) but it's kind of sad in comparison to, well, any given hole-in-the-wall Vietnamese place. I give it 4 stars because, well, mediocre overpriced Vietnamese food is still amazing. Until I can get my banh mi fix somewhere else around here I'm still happy to keep going back to Saigon Bowl.
(4)Kevin C.
We've been here a few times now, and I must say it's VERY consistent. I love how I get to choose everything that goes in to my bowl. I always find myself ordering the egg rolls as well, which are always fried to perfection. After having had a few trips here, I would feel comfortable ordering any of the protein items. I would have to say, though, that the 18-hour short rib is my favorite meat option. I haven't tried it bahn mi style, but I'm sure it would be delicious. For my base, I typically go for the chilled vermicelli noodles. They are always cooked perfectly. My one thought here is that if there were less noodles, there would be more room for more vegetables. To me, the ratio just seems pretty off, leaving me with a ton of noodles at the end, and very few toppings. For the vegetables, I typically go for the steamed vegetables, and then all of the free add-ons as well. Like I said, I wish you got a little bit more here, but I'm nit-picking, really. The last item you can add are any of the sauces. Make sure to read the descriptions on these sauces. When they say hot, they mean VERY HOT. I feel like I have at least a little tolerance for spice, but the sriacha blend sauce they have is unbelievably spicy. That being said, there are plenty of options to fit anyone's tastes. I do wish, however, that they incorporated the sauces a little bit more throughout. I feel like it is drizzled on top, so it's difficult to mix it all in evenly. All that being said, the food is very tasty, and it is definitely a place I will be frequenting!!
(4)Liz H.
Really tasty! You pick the ingredients you want in your bowl, they cook it up fast! Lots of flavor and fresh. I got the lemongrass tofu, delicious!
(4)Lauren G.
I was skeptical to try this place but I went in with a open mind. I got there told the guy I had never been there and he calmly explained the menu. He helped me pick stuff I liked and my total was 8$ ish. Good! It came out like 10 mins later and I took it Togo. Needless to say I had the drunken chicken with sesame sauce and veggies and it was great. I didn't go out of my box and try new things I just stick with basic the first time around! I would say the flavors were very very good. The chicken was real and cooked to a crisp. I often look to see the quality of chicken or meat and this is fantastic. My only complaint is I want more sauce :(. Needless to say me and my friend will be back. Clean place friendly nice people and good food'!
(4)Austin K.
So here's the deal. If you like traditional Vietnamese food and are used to the typical hole in the wall joints with sticky tables, metal containers with all the utensils and very little explanation of what's actually in that bowl of deliciousness in front of you, this may be too "pedestrian" for you. Saigon Bowl does its best to widen the appeal of their food by making it feel more like a chipotle experience. You, American Diner, get to pick EVERY SINGLE item that goes into your meal down to the crispy scallions and herbs. This adds a considerable amount of anxiety (and time) to the ordering process for someone who has no idea what they're doing. I appreciate the idea of choices, but this is something that slows the process way down, especially since they cook your food fresh. Portions are a little bit on the skimpy side compared to the traditional places, but they are more than adequate. I ordered the grilled pork with peanut and house dipping sauce (ie: fish sauce) and all of the toppings plus an egg roll to shoot for a traditional Bun thit cha gio. It was solid, but had some things in it I wouldn't bother with next time, like the wok tossed veggies. The pork was tasty, toppings fresh and overall quite good. Work out the ordering process, keep the food good and you'll do just fine in this 'hood. I'll be back to try the Pho.
(4)Matt M.
To me this experience was just ok. This is definitely a lunch stop in my opinion. I ordered the noodles with shrimp and Aimee got the noodles with five spice chicken. My meager bowl of noodles and veggies was topped with horribly overcooked shrimp and a fried egg that was oddly chewy. The chicken version fared much better but still not much in the bowl. The serving of noodles and protein seems ok but there is hardly any veggies. I wish they would raise the price a little if they need to so they can serve a proper bowl filled with veggies.
(3)Andrew F.
I usually stop here every evening after work for a grilled pork rice bowl and some extra egg rolls too. Hard to beat all the great flavors they have! I eat quite a bit, and the food is always just the right amount of food to keep me full after a long day of work. Keep it up!
(5)Ryssa C.
We moved here from Denver where we were spoiled by living in West Denver's Asian and Mexican communities. Since moving to Omaha we have searched for good Phô. I ordered take-out since I didn't feel so good and brought home an order of rare beef and an order of meatball Phô along with an order of crispy Vietnamese eggrolls. The Phô arrived with the noodles already mixed with the onion, green onion, basil, lime, and jalapeño. That's a problem because one household member is allergic to jalapeños. For me, it was easy enough to pick out the jalapeño slices but she had to make sure all the seeds were removed. The presentation is nice enough but the noodles glued themselves to the bottom of the organic disposable compostable brown cardboard bowl. And after dumping the broth over the noodles and stirring them around, not all noodles released from the cardboard. Thank you for being recycling minded but could you please spring for a bowl that has some nonstick waterproofing? The rare steak was tender and delicious (it's rare steak and either it's good or not) and the meatballs were perfectly seasoned and the right texture. Not too meaty and not too much non-meat filler. They were just what you expect a French inspired Asian meatball to be. But instead of thinly slicing the meatballs, they were only cut in half which gave them a most unfortunate resemblance to a male body part (my inner child is a 13 year old boy so he snickered in the back of my mind all through dinner while the adult woman savored her food). Broth. That's really what makes or breaks Phô. The broth was flavorful and redolent of the vegetables and bones that simmered all day. Absolutely perfect. And not nearly enough of it. I'm from Denver where a small order of Phô comes with a minimum of a quart of broth with more offered if you eat in and have Hoovered through the first round. I'm not joking. No one here offers enough broth. After stuffing myself with the meatball Phô, I opened my eggrolls. And cried. Vietnamese crispy eggrolls should not be the color of dirt. Tan, beige, mushroom but NOT dirt brown. I bit into one because I wanted to know if the filling was any good but it's impossible to tell because the burned flavor takes over. The mix of pork, shredded cartot, and glass noodles were dry and burned. The accompanying sauce is too sweet and lacking the bite of vinegar and red pepper. Impossible for me to rate this appetizer anything other than abysmal. We've now eaten two different restaurant's Phô and I can say that this was much better than the first but nowhere near the quality or quantity of the multiple Phô restaurants in Denver. I'll likely try this restaurant again, given its proximity to home but I'll try eating in and see I'd my opinion improves.
(3)Liz C.
Super tasty! I got the drunken chicken with fried rice, stir fry veggies, fried egg and sesame sauce. I also got an egg roll which was good but I will probably skip in the future. The service was great! Since it was my first time the cashier walked us through each step and made suggestions. She was very friendly and made some great recommendations! I will be back for more and to try some of the other options since this time was such a success! Also, you should try the crab Rangoon, it's SO good!
(4)Ka'ili H.
This review is sinceriously, thank you captain Amell for this rad word, (if you don't know what this is visit: facebook.com/stephenamell ) long overdue. I've been here a handful of times now and have enjoyed my meal, the atmosphere of the restaurant, and staff each time I've dined. My favorite bowl to order here, so far, is the grilled caramelized shrimp bowl with steamed veggies, vermicelli noodles, and the Vietnamese sauce. I also add peanuts and the fried egg ( 55 cents ) which is a lovely addition to the bowl, if you have yet to try that fried egg with your bowl I highly suggest that you do. This is my go to bowl because I love shrimp and it's consistently cooked well. Sometimes I feel shrimp can be a bit sensitive, it's easy to overcook, but the chefs in the back certainly know what they're doing. This bowl is $8.50 plus the 55 cent egg. Love it! I've also had the shrimp rolls which are just as yummy, it's a mix of shrimp and beef and is a perfect appetizer to your bowl or for a light lunch. I'm also a coffee lover so their Vietnamese iced coffee is strong and tasty at $2.75 it is reasonably priced without sacrificing strength and deliciousness. I'm looking forward to trying the pho since it's winter now and freezing, a bowl of nice pho would be wonderful to have sometimes and I'd also like to try the 18 hour short rib too. It will be hard to break away from the yummy grilled shrimp, but if that's as good as I know it is I'm sure I'll be pretty happy with the other choices they have on their menu. Saigon bowl has an awesome location too!! It's on the bus line and it's just across the way from Aksarben and right below my hairstylist!! This is very convenient for me now that my salon has moved because each time I need a bang trim or hair trim I plan to have lunch at Saigon. This restaurant is a great addition to the plethora of restaurants in Omaha, it's casual, clean, and the food is great!! The staff here are friendly and inviting and I foresee this place sticking around for some time. Writing this review is making hungry as I type, luckily I'll be stopping by this weekend to get my Saigon Bowl fix!! Now go out and try this place, you'll be happy you did :)
(5)Ian S.
I was really hungry on a Saturday afternoon and I was in the mood for something filling and flavorful, yet healthy. My brother recommended Saigon Bowl and it was spot on. It's in a good location near Aksarben at 63rd and Center, and it's similar to a Vietnamese Chipotle. It's a cornucopia of Vietnamese delights with infinite possibilities.
(5)Frans S.
So I'm craving some Bun & call The Bowl at like 8:15 to make sure that they are open because they close, if not busy, on a whim which is a totally bad practice for Any business! Anyway I ask if they are open & until what time; he say 9p so I say I'll be there in a few mins. So we get there at 8:30 and go to order & the manager asks if we are going to get the food take out. I say no we want to eat in. He says, we close at 9 & if you're not done, Too Bad because we lock up at 9!!! The little lady gets pissed & say, " I'm not eating here, this is outrageous! " So she being the boss, we leave NEVER TO RETURN!! On a side note, the last time I ate there, I got a Free Colon Cleanse!! Just saying, Be prepared!!
(1)Kaai L.
Every time I think of this place, I get hungry so it's a good thing I have a snack by my side! Anyways, I have been to Saigon Bowl numerous times. Each time I come here, I usually get the same thing. The tofu bowl with steamed rice, and a double dose of steamed veggies. They have many options for sauces, but I choose to forgo those since the lemongrass tofu has tons of flavor! Every time I come here, my meal is consistently good. There are other options besides tofu to eat too! They also have an 18hr short rb, pork, shrimp and chicken. They also have vermicelli noodles, salad, and fried rice as a base. You can even make your own bahn mi! There are just so many different combinations you can choose from! Saigon bowl also added to their menu, pho. I haven't tried it, but from everyone I know who has tried it, they have loved it. After having a meal here, I leave super full like I just ate way too much. I'm sure there are some that will find that there is not enough food, but there is a solution to that!! Get appetizers :) Oh, I forgot to mention, the staff that work here is super friendly and already they know what I like to order :)
(5)Mytrang N.
This is an Americanized Vietnamese restaurant so I will rate it as such. Pho: They only have one option: beef. Their pho doesn't taste too watered down so the broth is decent. Their pho includes meatballs (2) and sliced beef. I was hoping they'd have tripe or tendon but they don't (surprise, surprise). Most of the essential additions are available: basil, bean sprout, cilantro, lime, and jalepeno. Banh mi: Unlike Saigon Surface's overpriced one-dimensional banh mi, their sister restaurant (Saigon Bowl) allows the buyer to choose what goes into the sandwich. Still overly expensive, but if I have to pay 2X the normal amount for a Vietnamese sandwich, I'd appreciate having choices. If there's anything I can say that I enjoy here, it is their peanut dipping sauce. I like that they add fried onions in it. This place looks clean with nice service. However, I personally don't enjoy the pop music playing in the background or It's not so homey feel. It Is definitely not the best Vietnamese restaurant for sure but the food isn't low quality and it doesn't taste that bad either.
(4)Scott E.
Excellent addition to Aksarben! First the food is delicious. Excellent flavors and fresh produce. I'm a huge fan of their take on a spicey Sirachi sauce. It has just the right balance of hot and sweet! The atmosphere is very minimalist/modern. The outdoor patio makes this a great place to enjoy a dinner with friends under the open sky. Consider this also an excellent choice for lunch. Fast and affordable. I rate this place a 4 star overall, withholding a star because it's casual dinning experience although excellent doesn't leave you awestruck. But a solid four would indicate I would definitely return frequently. Give it a try! You won't regret it. :) UPDATE: it just came to me... This place needs one or more of those new interactive tables. Like a giant Microsoft "Surface"... See m.ideum.com/coffee-tables
(4)Connie S.
Order at the counter and your custom bowl of meat, rice or salad, vegetables, sauce and toppings will be delivered to your table. Food is freshly prepared and nicely presented. Try the Vietnamese iced coffee. The interior is crisp and modern. Locally owned and run, the Saigon Bowl cares about customer satisfaction.
(4)Erik S.
Fast and fresh Vietnamese food. The customer service has always been "okay", but any manager interactions I've had were solid. The average cash register attendee never seems too thrilled to be there or take my order. As someone who has worked in the customer service industry since I could work (with food and otherwise) this is a big factor for me. I've admittedly only had pho at Saigon Bowl. The amount of ingredients you get is ample and I feel its well worth the price. The broth itself isn't the best I've had, but that isnt' to say it's bad. A very solid three stars that could be tilted to four if the service was a bit brighter. The location itself and layout are aesthetically pleasing!
(3)Andrew W.
Not very good pho at all. The guy working the register actually steered me away from a few dishes and the ice tea they make in house saying they are not good. Hmmm...fail.
(2)Lianna N.
Saigon Bowl is open on sundays 11-3 (yelp has not updated the hours) I went back this weekend to try different items on the menu. I decided on the pho, since it's new to their menu and really, pho is the best thing to eat on a cold rainy day. I expected it to be similar to the pho I tried at Saigon Surface seeing as both restaurants have the same owner...why would they waste effort on making a new recipe? Indeed, I did find that the pho from the two restaurants were really similar. At first, I was put off by the small veggie plates that came with my pho. Usually, they add more on a big platter. After I garnished my bowl however, I found it to be the perfect amount of basil, cilantro and bean sprouts. We rarely use all the garnish at places where they give a heaping mound, so this was good-no wasting of food. The pho offered here is a beef broth with "combo" meats. Usually combo means flank, tendon, tripe, meatball, and fatty brisket. This bowl contained the flank, fatty brisket and the meatball. I missed my tendon and tripe but perhaps they are easing the american population into it. I would like to see that as an option maybe sometime in the future? The broth itself was ok, it was aromatic and had depth in flavor. It didnt really taste very "msg"-ish which could be good or bad depending on who you are. It was a very clean broth. I thought that that the broth was very good alone to sip but tended to lose a little flavor when eating with the noodle as the flavor got a little washed out. There are always condiments you can add (hoisin and sirracha) but you don't want to add too much and cover the intentional flavors of long cooked deliciousness of the original broth. The regular sized bowl was $8.95 and the large ~$11. A bit on the higher end for pricing but I have been noticing inflation on pho prices around the Omaha metro so perhaps thats a fair price for Omaha. Also similar in price to Saigon surface if I remember correctly. Overall, I liked the pho here and would return to eat it again, along with their rice/vermicelli type bowl dishes.
(4)Erin W.
Pork bowl with vermicelli noodles, stir fried veggies, pickled vegetables, and cucumbers with peanut sauce. The pork was perfectly cooked with crisp little edges but tender insides. Loved the sauce and how it mixed well with the stir-fry vegetables. I am not a huge noodle fan but I did like the texture and taste of these vermicelli when combined with the other ingredients. I'm a sucker for anything pickled, and these were damn good pickled veggies. I still had a few noodles left over in my bowl once I finished off that delicious pork, so next time I plan on asking for it to-go so I can take the leftover noodles home. Saigon Bowl reminds me of a Chipotle for Vietnamese style food, except that they are not just dumping room-temperature stuff in a bowl and charging you $10 for it. My meal came out hot (minus the pickled vegetables and cukes on top) it stayed hot throughout the meal. I didn't mind paying $10 for this meal at all! The service was super quick and friendly; the cashier took the time to explain the process to me and my food came out pretty quickly. I look forward to trying the other protein options!
(4)Brian B.
This is one of my favorite places to eat in Omaha if I'm strapped for time. This food is fast fresh and fantastic every time. The people taking your order are very friendly and the atmosphere is great. The only crazy thing I've ever seen happen is my wife got a REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY HOT pepper on her bowl other than that this place is awesome and we eat here every chance we can.
(5)Nicole C.
I've eaten here in person once, have gotten takeout twice and it keeps me coming back. It's so easy to order online, the form practically walks you through the steps. First, choose a protein or tofu (I've tried shrimp, five spice chicken, and drunken chicken). Then choose rice, salad, noodles or baguette. Pick from steamed or stir fry veggies and then choose from 7 different sauces (they can be sampled in person). The combinations are endless! Of the appetizers, I've tried the egg rolls, crab rangoon and spring rolls. Of these, I like the spring rolls best. The others are good but nothing super special. Most meals are $7-10 per entree and $2-3 per appetizer so it is reasonably priced for takeout. When the food is ready (about 20 minutes) you receive a text and an email receipt. Comes in a bowl with a lid and the portions are just right -- I've never had leftovers.
(4)Will S.
Saigon Bowl offers fresh, fast Vietnamese food in a modern-yet-casual atmosphere. This is a great addition to the Aksarben area. The concept is pretty straightforward. Walk up to the counter and build your own bowl. Start with meat/tofu and then choose either rice, noodles or greens. Then throw in some super-fresh toppings, sauce and any other add-ons you might fancy. If tried three things so far. The lemongrass tofu, five-spice chicken and crispy drunken chicken. First off, really glad for the delicious vegan offerings. I suppose we should expect this thanks to the expansive menus at other family restaurants (Saigon and Saigon Surface). Of the three entrees, however, the drunken chicken was by far my favorite. Huge chunks of crispy meat on a bed of lettuce, piled high with delicious veggies. I definitely enjoyed taking my time with this one. And was stuffed by the time I finished. Not bad for paying just a little over $10 (included an ice tea). There are so many different combos at these build-your-own meal restaurants, so I fear it could be a miss if you order up something that clashes in flavors in textures, especially when it comes to mixing up the sauces. I'm notorious for messing stuff like this up because there are just so many possibilities. Maybe offer a few house bowls that would be a good go-to starting point for first timers?
(4)Windy P.
Great food and atmosphere! I got the caramelized shrimp and noodles and they were fantastic. My date got pork and noodles which were excellent as well. The service was fast , up beat, and friendly. They also have a large pet friendly patio.
(5)Maka J.
I need to qualify this review, too... I know the owners. I've been to Saigon Surface. That being said, when you visit, you will not be disappointed with the food you find at Saigon Bowl. The concept is pretty nifty: You choose your protein. You choose your starch (or not). Then, you get to load your bowl with veggies of your choice. Sauce it (or not), and wait for your order to be brought to you. Simple, right? Don't get it twisted, though. The possibilities are endless!!! I've had the pork and the drunken chicken. The baguette is pretty awesome. Caution, though: You'll pay the same amount for your baguette as you would rice, noodles, vermicelli, etc. Just be sure you want your sandwich. I LOVE the bread, so, it's a no-brainer for me. The food is freshly prepared, and you never get the feeling that your food has been sitting in anything for any extended period of time. This is definitely fresh and made-to-order. Will you wait? Yes, but it's not for long. If you're going there with the expectation that your food will be ready in a flash, you'll be disappointed. Hey, it takes time to cook good food, so put your patient-pants on, and give it a second or two. I've never had to wait more than six or seven minutes - for any part of my meal. Not looking for a big meal? Order their appetizers. They're equally as yummy. I'm a sucker for Spring Rolls - not that fried Egg Roll stuff. I'm talking Spring Rolls - shrimp, pork, fresh veggies, herbs, and vermicelli. Nothing makes my tummy happier than Spring Rolls... Order them. You get a pair for a very reasonable price, and, usually, it's enough to satisfy me until I'm ready for an actual meal... When Blue Planet closed, I was pretty bummed because Omaha had lost a pretty healthy food establishment. Being replaced by Saigon Bowl is a happy result, and I will frequent this place as often as my hubster lets me go. Eat up, Omaha. This place is here for the long-haul, I'm sure of it!
(4)Kelly C.
I was traveling for work and called up Yelp to look for a good lunch place. SOO glad I did. Not too long ago, I lived and worked near Little Vietnam in Chicago and miss the delicious authentic food available there, and this place was REALLY close. I got the pork and stir-fry vegetables over vermicelli, and it was absolutely delicious. I seriously contemplated getting a second order once I was done. One suggestion I have is to offer some suggestions based on dishes that the people who work there especially enjoy, or different set menu options for people who might be a little overwhelmed by the choices and not know what would be good together. But I'm guessing everything there is really good. I wish they were a chain that was everywhere.
(5)Kayla S.
I love Saigon Bowl. I live right down the street so I go pretty frequently. I like that everything is made to order and all of the portions are reasonable.. Well, except the Pho, it's humongous! My favorites are the Spring Rolls and the Crispy Drunken Chicken. I had the 18 Hour Short Ribs tonight though and was very happy with my meal. The staff is really exceptional. I have received nothing less than outstanding service every time I have gone. They also have a great patio, which is a big plus. If you haven't tried it already you definitely should!
(4)Jason B.
Good, fresh, healthy (maybe?) food, fast, at decent prices. What else do you want?
(4)Quynh B.
I am a big fan of this place!! The service is excellent and the food is pretty good!! I love their concept with Vietnamese food! It's almost like a chipotle except much better quality and decently priced! I ordered the lemongrass tofu with vermicelli noodles. I really liked it!! I always commend business owners who put a fresh spin on Asian cuisine without changing the actual dish into something Americanized. Too bad I can't take this place home with me to San Diego, but I'll definitely come back before I go home.
(5)Nel P.
We're a fan of their other branch (Saigon Surface) in the Old Market area so we decided to try their fast food version on this recently opened branch. My wife and I both ordered their vermicelli bowls. The food was great and the prices were reasonable. Portions were a little on the smaller side compared to what we're used to, but was still reasonable for the budget conscious. They don't have Pho bowls yet, but will be on the menu soon.
(4)Mike W.
Very impressed with this little place. Rather comfortable environment and even better are the comfortable prices. You have several possible combinations of meats to go with steamed or fried rice, noodles, salad or bread. Several choices on sauce and veggies as well. You can eat there or get your order to go. Each time I've ordered here I've been able to get two meals out of it! Make sure that you ask for extra sauce though. They go light on the sauce but will give you more if you simply ask for it. My one knock thus far are the egg rolls. They just simply aren't that good. This place is a must visit though!
(4)Big B.
I'm very impressed with Saigon Bowl! The menu is super deconstructed for the western mindset which leaves the confusion out. You get to choose the 'protein', the staples (rice, noodles), the veggies, the sauces and the toppings. You can have multiple combinations and they are wonderful. The manager and the lone waitstaff are awesome people. Very clean and efficient. I can see it being my next go-to Asian food place. 5 stars!
(5)Bryce H.
An order at the counter affair. I sorta prefer the weird homeliness of a traditional Vietnamese restaurant, but the employees all seemed very nice here at least. I got the rare beef pho, which is usually the first thing I try at a new Vietnamese place. It holds up well with a lot of other restaurants around town, although it wasn't mind blowing. The meat seemed of high quality and they even had beef brisket in there which was a unique and flavorful contribution. I was sad to not see any tendon or tripe in there though. I will definitely be back to try their mix and match bowls which looked tasty from what I saw the other patrons being served.
(4)Fly_Gu Y.
Saigon Bowl is my #2 spot in Omaha for hot and piping pho. The wait staff can sometimes be slow but the food always arrive hot and fresh. The dark wood decor is pleasing to the eye and best of all, the bathrooms are always clean.
(4)Mike J.
It's pretty good. Not amazing but if your craving pho and your in the area its def a good quick stop
(3)Kyle O.
Fast-Casual dining has been on the rise thanks to places like Chipotle or Noodles & Co. Sometimes you want something fast that's not a) a greasy gut bomb destroyer b) shipped in frozen from a Tallahasee processing plant c) both of the above. Saigon Bowl hits that need harder than anything else in this city. It's so good. It's so freaking good, I can barely handle it sometimes. I order my usual and have to resist the urge to crawl through the little window into the kitchen and pull my pork straight from the pan into my greedy little mouth (Yes, I have a usual, I eat here so damn much that I often don't have to say my order because they know what I'm getting ahead of time. It's nice and reflects well on their service.) Basically, when you come here you get top-tier Vietnamese food with AAA-quality ingredients (the veggies are so fresh you could sample their crisp sound for a sweet hip-hop beat!), at a speed that is convenient to people who just want to get home, slam some tofu and keep on marathoning Gilmore Girls. The interior of the restaurant itself is nice too. Cool light fixtures and cleanly designed furniture keep the place hip and modern but who cares, they could have orange and brown shag carpet for all I care, their food is that good! This is my favorite restaurant to open in Omaha in years. If you don't go here you're only doing yourself a disservice. Disclaimer: Not my favorite pho in Omaha but still really good. A bit heavy on basil. I knocked off a star for this but had internally rated this place 11-stars so they're still technically at 5.
(5)Kyle T.
We've been here a handful of times and it's been consistently good. Keep in mind that everything's made to order so it may take a little more time than other places if you're getting carry out. Never tried their online ordering; maybe that's faster. Worth a visit if you're looking for a healthier option in the Aksarben area.
(4)Gigi N.
Definitely was surprised about how good it was for an americanized asian food. I had the rice bowl with grilled pork. The pork was perfectly seasoned. To make it more flavorful, it needs a bit of fat on the meat. I was skeptical about the blended fish sauce, but it was yummy! It reminds me of a Vietnamese dish called com tam. I'd go back and try the ribs.
(4)Lindsay B.
Absolutely amazing! I have tried the tofu and shrimp bowls and they are so good. The food is super fresh, nutritious, and tastes amazing! I visit weekly!
(5)Becca L.
I love this place! The food is always hot and fresh and quickly made. Everything I've had in the menu has been really good. I've started calling this place the Vietnamese chipotle, because you have so many proteins and toppings to choose from.
(4)Teagues C.
This place is solidly really good. I get the drunken chicken noodle bowl with the hot sauce and vinegarette and its delicious! The hours are kinda weird and they forgot my crab rangoon once for takeout, but I don't harbor resentment.
(5)Shaunita J.
Went here with a few colleagues a few weeks ago. I like their other place, Saigon Surface, so I was curious about this. I actually tried to go about a month ago, but it was during the time in the middle of hte day they were closed (check the times on the website!). Like other reviewers have said, it has a little bit of a Qdoba/Chipotle feel to it. Menu is limited, but, I liked what I had. Two of the three of us in the group had tofu as our protein, but they have other options. I like the serving sizes here, a good tofu to rice ratio--I got full, and felt like I didn't have too much of anything left over. The place itself is in the old Blue Planet spot, and it seems like they modernized it a bit, but didn't change it up too much. Things were clean, sleek-looking. The staff at the counter was friendly and someone walked around the dining room and cleared off our trays while we were still sitting. Will definitely try again, perhaps trying a different combo of tofu and sauce. Price for a bowl and a drink was less than $10, I believe.
(4)Moira R.
I love the concept of this place. First, the restaurant itself is very bright and modern. When you enter you order at the counter. You choose your meat (or meat substitute), base (rice, salad, etc.), your veggies, your sauce(s), and any toppings you want. My husband and I visited late on a Friday night and decided to split a bowl. We were promptly greeted by a friendly woman who explained the process to us and answered our questions while we waited in line. We decided to go with the five spice chicken, fried rice, stir fried vegetables, the soy vinegarette and peanut sauce, and all the toppings (bean sprouts, jalapeno, cucumbers, pickled vegetables, shallots, herbs, peanuts, and a lime). For $8 you get a decent amount of food and everything was tasty. The chicken had great flavor and there was a nice serving of it. The only downside to the meal was the jalapenos - there were two small slices (both of which I ate) and they were without a doubt the spiciest things I have ever eaten. I spent 15 minutes over the kitchen sink non-stop gargling milk - and I love spicy food! Obviously there isn't a lot a restaurant can do to screen this, though, as heat levels naturally vary in peppers, but I will probably be skipping them next time because I am still a little scarred from the experience. All the same, there will be a next time! This is a great addition to Aksarben Village.
(4)John P.
Saigon bowl is a restaurant where you pick a dish and customize it as you see fit. Sort of like the Chipotle for Asian food. However, unlike Chipotle or Huhut, where not matter what you do your dish ends up tasting the same, your hooves at Saigon bowl matter! The key is making an educated guess what would taste good together and then STICKING TO YOUR PLAN. Do not just throw everything in a vermicelli bowl and think it's going to be okay (especially those cooked veggies). The food, when chosen correctly, is tasty and well priced. There really aren't that many options, so if you chose wrong once I'd encourage you to give it another try, you'll probably find a winner. The success or failure of your dish is on you, I know you'll do well. Good luck.
(4)Andrew B.
Actually I really hope this place does well. The quality of the food is really good. The Menu is a little difficult but they help you with it. The menu gives you as many different variations as you want of one dish. My wife is a vegetarian so she can eat here very easily which we can't say for most places. It's next to Jimmy D's so I hope it does well.
(5)Melissa T.
One of my favorite places to eat. The food is great and the staff are friendly. I usually order thr pork with rice and steamed vegetables. You also can order online, which is convenient.
(5)Amy W.
Spicy. Fresh. You pick what you want, from the meat, veggies and sauce. Everything mixes in the bowl to make a unique taste explosion. Service is great, the restaurant is clean. You will probably give up your usual Asian place once you try Saigon Bowl.
(5)Sasha S.
I would love to give this place a 5 based on the food. HOWEVER- there have been multiple times that we have gone to eat there after our work outs that end from 8-8:20 and the front door will be locked with the workers including the manager counting money cleaning whatever- inside not acknowledging us or responding to us knocking on their door. It says it closes at 9:00. So unfortunate because they have lost a lot of clients from our gym because of this.
(2)Brad R.
Great service. Amazing food. Reasonable price. SPOTLESS kitchen and dining room. I can't get enough of this place.
(5)Sue Y.
Who would've thought I'd fine this little, trendy, place in Nebraska? ...and that I'd actually LIKE it? Got the drunken chicken bowl with jasmine rice and toppings. I've eaten Vietnamese food my whole life and really thought that I'd be disappointed but wasn't. It may not be what I'm accustomed to as being "authentic" but it's good and fresh. Would definitely recommend! Oh, and the service was great!
(4)Steve B.
Good food at a reasonable price, but the interior is a little to plain, a little decoration would put the finishing touch on this place!
(4)Anthony Y.
Great food prepared freshly and promptly. I enjoy their grilled pork, 18 hr short ribs and the drunken chicken. I only wish I could customize which steamed veggies i get in my dish.
(5)Mike B.
Great menu. You can make your dinner as healthy as you want it to be. Tofu with noodles and steamed veggies is great. People at the counter are courteous and the space is pleasant. Great place for a quick, delicious meal. I hope it does well!
(5)Nick T.
Personally I'm against Yelp (moreso since I cook at a restaurant), and pretty much stopped writing reviews, but I feel like Saigon Bowl is worth this write-up. Being Vietnamese and from Hawaii, I'm constantly craving Vietnamese food. Surprisingly I haven't tried any Vietnamese food in Omaha over the last 3+ years, until last week when I went to Saigon Bowl. The Pho was a no-brainer. Got the regular size, and it came with tai, bo vien, and chin (rare steak, beef meatballs, and brisket). Broth was good--tasted like Pho and got the job done, but wasn't outstanding or anything special. Average portion size for the price. Only gripe is the "herb" platter. Came with a tiny wilted stem of Thai basil, with a leaf or two being close to black instead of green. Had to dig around under a mountain of cilantro for a skinny wilted saw leaf (culantro). Even though I realize that it may be hard to obtain those herbs in Omaha (doubt it though w/ the Asian Markets and Sysco's/Loffredo's services), I think there could be a lot more improvement in that area. Came back tonight to get a bowl. Five spice chicken on fried rice w/ stir fry veggies, lime wedge, and herbs. Absolutely delicious! Chicken was great--not dry, great flavor. Stir fried veggies (onions, broccoli, bok choy, carrots) worked really well with the bowl. Every mouthful was flavorful and delicious, even those with mostly rice. I wish I had tasted the fried rice before I added the lime b/c I feel like there was some nuoc mam added to it (which made it so delicious). Only knock once again is the herbs--couldn't find any besides a few cilantro leaves. I'm used to heaping mounds of shredded lettuce and basil on my rice/vermicelli Vietnamese entrees. Regardless, I really liked the bowl and can't wait to return to try other proteins. FOH Staff have all been helpful with greeting customers, doing the whole "Have you been here before" spiel and giving recommendations. Kitchen looks to be pretty clean. Overall, 4 stars. Give me a decent sprig of basil and two saw tooth leaves with my pho and with my bowls, and it'll be a no-brainer 5 star restaurant given the regional context/circumstances. EDIT: Asian Market on 76th and Dodge sells bags of fresh Thai Basil and Culantro for $2 or less each. Enough in each bag for at least 10 bowls, even after picking out any wilted/blacked leaves.
(4)Bangchen W.
Relatively expensive but food is delicious! Tried the18-hour short ribs, pineapple fried rice, and grilled pork. They are all great!
(5)Eva L.
This is a great addition to the neighborhood! The food is fast, fresh, and flavorful. Upon finishing a meal, you feel healthy and satisfied. We love the lemongrass tofu and the grilled pork, both with the house Vietnamese dipping sauce. And now they have Pho! Just in time for the cooler weather. We hope this place is very successful!
(4)Chris S.
My wife and I went in the day the opened. The didn't have Pho yet :o( but said it was coming soon. the order process was a bit awkward as the little paper the had you use actually didn't have desert on it at all. they said that they would fix that asap. The girl behind the counter was very friendly, but obviously new at taking orders - it was the first day after all. I got the brazed beef with vegies and couple of sauces. not bad taste like pot roast. But my wife got the BBQ beef or something and it was awesome. She loved it and I loved it. The people were friendly the food takes like 10 min to come out. it's not very expensive, and I saw someone say the portions were small? I'm a 6ft 2in 400lbs man and even though I wasn't overly full like I try to get. One bowl and a couple of bites of my wife's was enough the get me comfortably full. I mean I could eat 2 bowls, but one really was enough. though i did have 4 crab rangoon also my wife ate two and they were excellent! I could have eaten 20 of them if it were a buffet I probably would have. I guess what I'm saying is take the word of a fat man even though this place is kinda healthy it's good and filling. I will defiantly be back... and i may have to check out Saigon Surface if the food is as good and more of it... Just saying!!!!
(5)Sophie C.
I had caramelized shrimp and noodle, and it was healthy and tasty! You can pick the protein, grain and veggie which is pretty much like chipotle. Of course this is the asian version.
(4)Sarah P.
I am so excited about this place! As a regular at their Saigon Surface I made sure I Made it there on the first day! Ordered the shrimp with jasmine rice, grilled veggies, sriracha sauce blend with bean sprouts and a lime wedge. Delish! Ask for extra sauce and help yourself to the drinks. My kind of place. Hoping they will have their veggie pho. Anxiously awaiting...
(4)Adam T.
Day #2 being open. Not bad at all. Big portions and good balance between the carb and everything else. The space is a little weird, but the food is good. Tasty not-as-fast food.
(4)Donovan C.
I tried the Combination Pho with Rare Beef, Beef Brisket and Meatballs out of curiosity. So many places are "trying" to do Pho these days and very few of them are doing it well. I was skeptical, but my skepticism was unfounded. It was very tasty and the ingredients were super fresh. I will definitely have this item again!
(4)Erin S.
Pleasantly surprised! I wasn't a Vietnamese food fan, but this was exceptional. Freshly cooked food, great veggies, clean atmosphere, and friendly staff. I went as a guest of someone with little expectations and am excited to know of this place now. Give it a try, it's worth it. I heard UNO Hockey team orders meals every Monday from them I think that's awesome....that's a pretty good endorsement.
(4)Kelly W.
Been here twice and have enjoyed it both times 5 spice chicken is delicious! Ingredients are fresh and staff friendly! I was not a huge fan of their spring rolls but they weren't terrible! Their Vietnamese coffee I would not get again but the create your bowl s have been everything I wanted both times! Need to try the pho still!
(4)