Saigon Café
3672 Erie Ave, Cincinnati, OH, 45208
Saigon Café Menu
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.
Visit below restaurant in Cincinnati for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Cincinnati for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Cincinnati for healthy meals suggestion.
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
-
Address :
3672 Erie Ave
Cincinnati, OH, 45208 - Phone (513) 871-7999
- Website https://www.saigoncafecincinnati.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 3:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Street, Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online
Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.
Danae B.
Holy Moly, Batman! What a great last minute find! So the huz and I had a meeting that ran a little late and we were in Oakley...we didn't want to go to a fancy dinner but we were starving! Luckily for us, Saigon Cafe exists! And they were open until midnight! This place has it all PLUS waiters(ours was Josh) who are super knowledgeable about the menu. I am a huge fan of edamame, but was surprised to see that they served it sauteed in garlic...UMMMMM...YES PLEASE! It is my new fav way to eat edamame! We weren't really sure about getting sushi, we wanted something warm. The waiter did say that since we were dining in sushi was half-price. WHAT!!!! I couldn't believe it. My husband ended up getting the Saigon fried rice, pretty tasty. I got the Beef Shaking, never has there been a more perfect dish for me! It made me day dream of going to Vietnam to have this made on the street! I can not recommend checking this place out enough! I don't think you will be disappointed!
(5)Minji C.
Authentic pho, possibly best in Cincinnati in my humble (non-vietnamese asian) opinion. Song Long was quite authentic but their pho was too sweet for my taste. Pho here is just perfect and great ambience, close to Ault park. I'm so happy I found this place for my pho fix!
(5)Chris H.
Saigon Cafe' had become a favorite place for the wife and I to grab some sushi and their walleye entree any time we were down in the area over the past few years. Sushi is always 'half-off' and priced reasonably at those prices. We can't speak to the quality of their Vietnamese dishes but the tempura walleye in their house sauce was always a hit. Fast forward to this past Saturday and it seems as if not only have they eliminated their 10% cash discount but their prices have also gone up. If memory serves the walleye was previously $17.95. It is now $22. While the food is still good the price increases have eliminated Saigon Cafe' from our preferred list of dining options. Unfortunately there are places around that are much more reasonable and have similar if not better food.
(3)Esther K.
It's good but nothing extraordinary. Interior is nice.
(3)Anjelica N.
Upgraded a star for decent pho, but I maintain that the rice dish is gross. Additionally, their pad thai was bland. Also, their sushi wasn't so great. Thankfully, their sushi was 30% off if you carry out so I didn't pay full price.
(2)James C.
The sushi is prepared in the authentic style giving it rich and bold tastes. Alex, the owner is very welcoming and always bears a smile.
(4)Maggie B.
More of a 3.5. We only tried the sushi. It was all good but not amazing. The rolls are all half price but they are more on the expensive side to start with. All of the fish was fresh. Sashimi was good quality. The Phoenix and the Campfire are set aflame table side which is very neat to see and it gives an interesting charred flavor. The Saigon was my favorite. All of the other items on the menu looked interesting. We will go back if we are in the area but I don't know if we will go too far out of our way.
(3)Brian K.
Saigon cafe is super awesome. The food is great and they always have drink specials. Last time I went, I got shrimp tempura, dynamite roll, and shaking chicken... Everything was really good. Big bottle of Sapporo was 5 bucks, so like 2.50 a beer. Definitely worth checking out if you're in Hyde park
(5)Lisha J.
I gave 5 stars for the pho here. The beef broth is really good! Their sushi/nigari is not so good. Freshness means a lot to nigari. The salmon roe is not fresh. Egg omelet is made in a wrong way. But the mackerel is good. I tried a lot Japanese restaurants, so I became very picky on sushi/nigari
(5)Lynn N.
I went here on a whim in the middle of negative degree winter weather craving a steaming bowl of pho and it was great! I ordered goi coun thom/spring roll shrimp as an appetizer it came out timely and with authentic hoison/peanut sauce. Then I ordered the lemon grass chicken Pho per the waitress' recommendation. It had really good flavor but I wasn't super excited for the chicken breast schrapnel pieces. It wasn't awful I'm just used to chunkier pieces. The flavor was nice and the service was great. I ended up coming back a couple days later to try the Pho bo/Pho Beef bowl and it was a perfect way to beat the ridiculous winter blues. Even though the only two times I've been here so far I've tried the Pho, the aroma of the other dishes around us was AMAZING. I'll probably definitely become a regular here. They also serve half price sushi...go figure for this area. 10% off your bill if you pay cash.
(5)Sarma S.
I spent 16 dollars for fried rice. Enough said. I don't know how they are still open!!
(1)Thomi M.
I've eaten in before and enjoyed it but I've gotten takeout twice recently and noticed that they are up- charging my bill. I guess they are charging more because I got takeout? Maybe some type of gratuity? This is disappointing and they should say something about this on their website. The entree I ordered today was $13 on the menu but they charged me $16. I'd rather eat in and tip for service instead of paying extra for takeout.
(3)Nicole D.
This place was incredible. Had three sushi rolls - White Scorpion, Bengals TD, and the Crazy Roll. All were fantastic. Half price sushi. The miso soup was very good with excellent flavor and not overbearing. Atmosphere was very pleasant. I love the fact that they leave a nice liter pitcher of water at the table for you so that the waiter doesn't have to disturb you to fill up the glass. Other menu items like fried rice and pho will have to be tried at a later date.
(5)Emily E.
The lemon grass Pho is seriously delicious! ! ! ! Their Banh Mi is legit as well!
(4)Susan L.
3.5 stars that I'll round to 4... I come here somewhat regularly, and the food's pretty decent. I usually get the beef pho. The pho is not the best in town, but it's not bad, and it's much closer to my house than the better pho restaurant in town. So I keep coming back... best pho when adjusted for convenience. I've had some other food here. The sushi rolls are 1/2 price anytime when you eat-in. The full price is much too high here, so do not get the sushi here to go. It's not worth it. When you 1/2 price it, the prices are reasonable and some of the rolls are pretty decent. I usually end up getting the White Scorpion roll. My bf often gets the lemongrass beef dishes... it's ok. They also have 1/2 price bottles of wine. They'll re-cork it for you if you don't finish the bottle so you can take the leftover home. ----------------------------------- Explanation of my rating system - 5*: Epitome of something, the best I've had, would LOVE to go back 4*: Great food and happy to go back regularly, but not the best of the category 3*: Food is fine. I may spontaneously decide to go there based on convenience. But no need to go back either. 2*: If you insist, I guess I'll come along. I'll find something to eat. But I wouldn't have picked it. 1*: No plans to come back. I'll try to talk companions out of going.
(4)Kellan C.
I have to give 4 stars because I always come back. This place is good... It's not the best at any dish it serves, but I'm usually always satisfied with my meal. I've been here 6 times now so here's a list of the things I like and dislike: Like the pho. First time I tried it and I enjoyed it. The miso soup is good. Try the yam yam role and the super California roll. I like half priced bottles of wine and half price sushi all the time (good marketing to do on only dine in so that people buy drinks too!). The service is decent as well. Dislike the edamame- way too small of an amount for five bucks. Sometimes their rolls taste a little too fishy (I've heard the best sushi doesn't taste fishy at all). Surprisingly, the chicken fried rice wasn't that good either, but hey, I can just make that at home. I like coming g here, but I do think know if that's cause I live 5 minutes away or because it's that good? Either way, I will be back again either way!
(4)Andrea J.
I have only had the beef pho here, but it is the best I've found in the area. They do call ahead/carry out too which is great when you're wanting a night in. The front patio is cute when the weather is nice!
(5)Samara A.
I LOVE their Pho here..so amazing. They have better hours than the hot spot in OTR, so I tend to come here more often when I have a craving. Lemongrass is a speciality flavor here and the reason I keep coming back. Portions are fantastic and service is pretty quick. Has an all-the-time-1/2 off sushi-menu like many other Asian joints around town, but it does not take away from the quality of the sushi.
(5)Jessie A.
Great food...great service. We had the campfire roll (very cool), Curry Pho, and a chocolate mousse dessert. ..all excellent. We will definitely be back!
(5)Lauren S.
Love their sushi, always 50% off and half priced wine on certain days. I've enjoyed everything I have ever had from here.
(5)Lauren J.
This place easily gets 4 stars from me. The owners are so nice and remember me at this restaurant and at their other business. The inside of the restaurant has gone through some transformations, and Ikea is an obvious stop for decorations, but it is warm and the staff is friendly. Today was frigid outside, so I quickly ran in with a friend. I ordered a tea and we painstakingly decided against the half priced bottle of wine. Apparently Sunday-Wednesday it is half priced. And sushi is half-priced also unless you request takeout. I was a bit annoyed I didn't get a new tea bag on my refill, but I can survive. We ordered the crab Rangoon for an appetizer and they came out hot with perfect dipping sauce. We both ordered large rolls, our favorites are the Big Mouth and the Crazy roll. They run ~$10 when half priced. They also have simpler rolls that are only ~$5 when half priced. Presentation is always prefect, and the rolls were hot and fresh, just to our liking. We are frequent visitors and it's our favorite go-to spot for sushi. Be careful leaving out the back lot though. It appears some cars didn't turn well enough and might have had a back tire run down the stairs!
(4)Caroline W.
This is hands down the best Pho in the city. The broth is absolutely delicious. I am addicted!
(5)Elaine D.
Nice café on Erie. Miso was excellently flavorful. I always ask for extra tofu and greens, and Saigon generously complied. Shared three rolls -- Crazy, Bengals. and White Scorpion. Hard to say which was best as they all hit the sushi spot with bold flavors. Hit the spot!
(4)Devin R.
Great sushi and pho! Waiting staff is great and super friendly. Very reasonably priced and you can't beat half price sushi and wine Sunday through Wednesday. You can get a bottle of cava champaign for like $11! They offer some very unique rolls and the Hyde park roll is absolutely delicious. If you pay in cash they even offer a discount. Great spot anytime, but especially nice to sit on the patio on a nice day.
(4)Esinam G.
Great place for light food and you will feel like you're eating healthy cuisine. First time here in a while and I'm a novice when it comes to Vietnamese. Food tasted great but the Oreo mousse dessert was divine. Great service and peaceful setting for dinner.
(4)Stephanie B.
I went to Saigon Cafe looking for quality Vietnamese food. Did they deliver? Kind of. I ordered the large Rare Beef Pho. The broth was oily but did have decent flavor. My biggest complaint is that this place didn't allow us to enhance the Pho at all... where's my plate of extra cilantro, bean sprouts, and basil? They did provide a little serving tray with hoisin sauce and limes, but it didn't look fresh. It's decent for a little neighborhood restaurant, but it's definitely not the best Pho in Cincinnati.
(3)Lani P.
Just had a great lunch of shrimp pho and beef pho. They were excellent. We also have the chicken lettuce wrap appetizers that were very good as well. Personally, they were a little on the sweet side but spicy. Yummy. I really like their Vietnamese dishes. Superior.
(4)Jenna R.
Can't beat 1/2 price bottles of wine and excellent Pho! Great atmosphere for a date as well as just getting food with friends. Will definitely be back!
(4)Devon C.
I went to Saigon Cafe for dinner with a group of friends. The atmosphere was casual and the service was friendly and fast. The first time I went we ordered a variety of their half-priced sushi. The sushi was decent, I would rate it 3/5. The second time I had their seafood Pho. The Pho is definitely the better option and was pretty solid.
(3)Aaron H.
We used to go here when it was Sake Bomb, and this was are first time since the change. We enjoyed it, and our server John was great with our 11 month old son. We arrived around 6:30 on a Friday night, and sat right down... by about 7:30 the bar area was full of people waiting for tables. They have a huge selection of sushi rolls, all of which are 1/2 price. We recommend the Hyde Park and White Scorpion rolls... the Sunday Morning was OK, small. I ordered the bun tom (shrimp), the vermicelli noodles with lettuce, carrot, bean sprouts, cilantro,cucumber, crushed peanuts, and their homemade vinaigrette. It was very good and soooo fresh, The bun dishes are room temperature noodles, so it you are looking for a hot dish this is not it. The best part is happy hour... it lasts until 7:30 on a Friday! They also offer half price wine on Sunday - Thursdays.
(4)Molly C.
My husband and I eat here all the time - definitely a solid go-to weeknight place with great rolls, apps and great prices on wine. Always lively and service is consistently great.
(4)Bruce P.
Very good Sushi, and excellent Pho, some of the best in the city. What is dumbfounding is why the are watering down the soy sauce in the cute little crocks on the tables. 2nd time in a month we have had to ask for soy packages because the watered down is inedible. Please fix this and it's 4 stars.
(3)Ann L.
Loved everything about our visit. Met at the door by a very welcoming host, seated in a relaxing room with a wall of water streaming down beside our table, joined by friends, and thoroughly enjoyed amazing & delicious food. Tried the Seaweed Salad first...mmmmmm...great flavors to begin with. Then tried the highly recommended "Big Mouth" roll. So glad I did, wow, exquisite! Then we ordered the Lemongrass Chicken. It was savory and so pleasurable. They made sure our glasses were always kept half full (I like this). Loved the real flowers on the tables and the overall atmosphere. Perfect!
(5)Sandra F.
LOVE the sushi! Everytime I come here they always have some kind of special. Half priced sushi or bottle of wine. I got the lettuce wraps with my sushi, and they are really delicious! I would like to try more on the menu. But for now, I am satisfied with this restaurant. The staff is really nice and it is very clean inside.
(4)Lanna L.
I moved to Cincinnati from southern California a few months ago for grad school and my parents and boyfriend helped me with the move. My mom is Vietnamese so she wanted to make sure I had a good place to fulfill my Vietnamese food cravings so she suggested we go to a Vietnamese restaurant for dinner, we ended up at Saigon Cafe. The restaurant has a nice atmosphere and it's in a great area but immediately a red flag went off for us when we saw that they served sushi as well. We weren't going to make any assumptions about their Vietnamese food though and were all excited to sit down for some Asian food, as we had been eating crappy on the road food for the last 3 days. When we looked over the menu we were surprised that they had banh xeo (Vietnamese crepe) as an appetizer, since many Vietnamese restaurants don't. We ordered that and all got pho. My boyfriend and I got pho tai (beef) and my parents ordered pho dac biet (combo) The banh xeo came out and looked nice but upon cutting into it, we were all confused by the carrots and salmon in it. SALMON? As far as I was concerned, banh xeo always comes with shrimp in it and the menu even said shrimp. I've also never seen carrots in my banh xeo before. Not what we expected but it still tasted okay. The pho came out and as requested, the beef came on the side for my dad so he could put it in himself to cook. My dad always does this, because he likes his beef rare. Unfortunately, the broth wasn't even hot! It barely cooked the beef and it was even rare for my dad's standards. My dad isn't a nagger though and doesn't waste food. Luckily, he didn't get sick. Everyone else reluctantly ate their food. I only ate about 30% of my bowl because I couldn't get past how terrible the broth was. It was so sweet! Which is not how pho should taste. My boyfriend even complained and he's one of the least picky eaters I know. Needless to say, I won't be going back there. Since then, I've found much better Vietnamese food at Cilantro, which is close to campus, as well as my personal favorite, Pho Lang Thang at Findlay. The only reason it's not 1 star (the pho definitely is a 1) is because it was a nice, clean restaurant with good service.
(2)Nancy C.
We went last night on a recommendation from my sister. WOW - that's what I have to say. My husband and I arrived at about 8:00 on a Friday night. Waited a minute while the couple before us were seated. The hostess cheerfully seated us. The restaurant was busy, but I didn't feel like it was loud or chaotic. We are both novices when it comes to Vietnamese food, so we had to take a minute to look through the menu. Our server greeted us with a glass of water with lemon, and we ordered pork spring rolls and an order of Bengal sushi. While we waited for our appetizers, the hostess came to our table and took a complimentary drink order as the restaurant's way of apologizing for the wait. Now, that's what I call service - when the restaurant is more aware of you and your wait/comfort than you are! We did wait a bit, but that kind gesture will get us to come back. Our cocktails were delivered at about the same time as our appetizers. Our Pho was amazing - I ordered beef, and my husband ordered combo (beef, meatball, tripe). I can't wait to go back!
(5)Kim W.
Yet again I find it to be hit-or-miss. Despite the "half price sushi" menu I've learned to stay away from their fish. I've had to send back sashimi because it wasn't fresh - very bad sign. The pho is good, and the noodle dishes are okay. Wish this place would be consistent so I could officially decide whether or not to ever come back!
(3)Lana L.
Discovered the Saigon Restaurant about 6 weeks ago and have made it a regular stop ever since. We have always had great service and the food has been out of this world! My husband has had Pho on two occasions and we are both hooked on the Bun. Their crispy rolls are light and so tasty I have been known to have an extra one as dessert. Highly recommend this place for anyone that appreciates authentic Vietnamese food.
(4)John R.
Review update: recently ordered my normal takeout order of beef pho. Rather disappointed by the recent changes in food quality. One used to get raw vegetables, sprouts, beef, jalapeños, etc. in a box. That way one could make their own soup mix at home. Now they deliver you a soggy, wet, pre-cooked clump of noodles and sprouts together.... no more jalapeño slices or cilantro to add in to the soup. Really disappointing and probably won't go back now due to the change in the take-out quality versus the price that they charge. :(
(2)Layla M.
This little place is right around the corner from my house and it is my go-to for take-out. I normally get the Beef-pho and add vegetables to the soup. The broth is delicious and flavorful. The small soup is definitely enough for a meal and is only about 9 dollars. The appetizers are also delicious. They have good bun as well. On most nights, they have a lot of drink specials. The staff is friendly and the ambiance is also nice and casual. The one thing that I didn't like that much, was the sushi- definitely not the best in town...but it is cheap if you are low on cash :)
(4)Angela C.
Saigon Cafe is a slight hodge-podge of Asian food. While it boasts Vietnamese and sushi, the long menu includes Thai and some stir-fry dishes that I associate more with Chinese food. Not that it's a problem. Things I'm loving: half price sushi pretty much any time when you eat in, which is particularly nice because the specialty rolls are pretty pricey. Half price bottles of wine Sunday-Thursday. Good happy hour drink prices. The food is fresh and tasty. Good service, bordering on too attentive. Lots of good seating space, including an outdoor patio area. Things I'm less enthused about: While the entrees are good, they are probably overpriced by a few dollars, so there's more of an incentive to get half-price sushi. Sushi rice was so-so, though that is sort of balanced by the fact that there is a good amount of fish compared to the rice. Overall, pretty good spot. Probably will throw this in my rotation of sushi or takeout nights. P.S. 10% of your bill if you pay in cash, and there is more parking across Erie in the other lot, so don't be discouraged by the tiny lot adjacent to the restaurant.
(4)Vanessa E.
Was excited to try this place and was really disappointed, They list some authentic style dishes like Bahn Xeo, Bo Tai Chahn and Bo Luc Lac. The Bahn Xeo was ok but the shrimp used was border line salad shrimp. Plus, the lettuce came shredded so I couldn't make the usual lettuce wrap. Bo Luc Lac aka Shaken Beef...ordered it as original seasoning. It cane out basically as a pepper steak stir fry. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't Shaken Beef. Very slow service. He was nice but too busy to really attend to us as he probably would have if he wasn't hosting, waiting, answering phones - heck - probably even cooking and washing dishes! On to finding another good Vietnamese places.
(2)Alex S.
I had never been to this place before, but I was out with a friend searching for a late night meal and I was craving Thai. This spot was open until 11 and so off we went. We actually got there at about 10:50 and we worried they'd throw us out. Nope! The kitchen was still open and they were happy to make us something (we were there to take it and run but we could have stayed if we wanted, which was nice.) This is a mood-lit, slick, chic restaurant. Sushi bar followed by real bar as you walk in and a couple of great dining rooms following that. The food can take a little long to prepare sometimes depending on when you come in but the staff has always been friendly to me and I've never had a real issue. I like Saigon Cafe because of their long menu ... or menus, plural. They have a complete lunch menu, a complete dinner menu and a complete sushi menu. If you're in the mood for something specific, more than likely they'll have it here. The prices can be expensive, about $15 to $20 for an entree, but the food is tasty. I got the normal pad thai and it was delicious. My friend got the Lemongrass Chicken with noodles, which they said was spicy and then she asked for it at a 5, the spiciest it got. Even then it has a burn but not a giant kick to it. If you want it really, really spicy like she did, make sure to ask for it. All in all, a good spot for some Thai food ... especially if it is late and you've got to have it.
(4)Woojin K.
Saigon cafe honestly is not somewhere I would see myself going back to. The sushi is half priced but compared to other half price Sushi spots in town, the sushi is not that fresh and less flavorful. Also it takes way too long for the sushi to get out even when there are not a lot of customers. Also the entrees do not really have a distinct flavor and is just over powered by the sauces. The food served here isn't terrible but is just personally not for me..
(2)Cacique G.
Food was great, service was great, decor was exceptional; however the entire atmosphere was influenced by a television blaring sports from the bar .
(4)danielle d.
One of my Favorite restaurants in Cincinnati! Staci the GM and Alex the owner are amazing. My favorite server is Sarah. Coming from Chicago & the incredible food & ambiance this place felt like home! I visit almost weekly! The pho is out of this world & sushi is SO fresh & creative! Great for a group dinner, romantic date or a girls night out!! Love the live music, half price sushi and wine on weds & thurs
(5)Amy E.
The idea of this place is promising-- healthy, fresh food. However, I was not impressed with the food at all. The sushi I got was barely edible, and spring rolls were meh. I think I could have made them better at home. I did not actually try the pho, but my friend's pho did not look appetizing at all, and I will not be back to try it.
(2)Ben N.
About a year back the wife and I got really excited when we heard that a Vietnamese restaurant was going to open in the old Sake Bomb spot on Erie. We thought Sake Bomb was sad-sack, and we love Vietnamese food, so we were thinking "huge upgrade." But my heart sank when Saigon Cafe started pre-advertising on local bus benches. "Sushi and cocktails," the signs read. I thought, "Oh boy, here we go again: yet another slick East Side yupscale pan-Asian place." Except with Vietnamese food instead of Thai for the anchor cuisine. And, at least at the beginning, that's pretty much what Saigon Cafe was. It's got a very sleek modern look, and it opened with an attractive young waitstaff (although only one Asian server from what I could tell), a long wine and beer list, an overpriced sushi list that looked like every other one in Hyde Park, and super-crappy pop music (on the night we were there, a mix of Auto-Tuned dance poop and annoying oldies) played too loudly. In other words, a slick scene that already existed in almost identical form at about a half-dozen different pan-Asian restaurants in Hyde Park and Mt. Lookout. Ugh. For us, a major disappointment. I held off reviewing the place in the hopes that things might change for the better. The silver lining was that, for a restaurant that had just opened, the couple of Vietnamese standards we tried were very good. In fact, a bowl of pho was probably the best I've had in the Cincy area: the broth was not terribly rich, but enough so, and more delicate and complex than I've had around here. The wife had nice things to say about the bun (vermicelli bowl), too, pronouncing it better than any she's had locally other than Pho Lang Thang's. But holy crap, this was the most expensive pho and bun we'd ever had: Something like twelve bucks for an ordinary-sized bowl. Went back a couple of weeks later and ordered com suon nuong, but the kitchen overcooked the pork chop into the texture of shoe leather. And we noted that the prices for pho and bun had gotten a couple of dollars more expensive, at maybe $14 for a large. Which was insane. The wife basically said the hell with this place, so for months I didn't get back. My pho obsession got the best of me, though, and I saw on-line that Saigon Cafe and re-juggled the menus again. The prices have come down a couple of bucks, a lunch menu is offered on weekdays, and the menu has expanded to include more Vietnamese options and jettison some other Asian stuff (although not the ubiquitous East-Side sushi). So I went in for lunch one Saturday. I can report that the pho is still quite good, if still too expensive ($9-$12) at night and on weekends. And the meat portion in the soup was slightly skimpy, with the beef overcooked. A warning: the kitchen adds in the basil and sprouts for you, instead serving it on the side as at most Vietnamese places. These developments are encouraging enough that I hope to talk the wife into going back.... UPDATE: I talked the wife into going back. She thought the bun was now subpar. UPDATE #2 (9/13): We've been back a couple of times this year, and Saigon Cafe is now on the upswing again. The food is better than average for Asian restaurants on this side of town, and we've had very professional service. It's still too expensive for what they're serving, though. UPDATE #3 (12/14): Saigon Cafe still isn't doing much to distinguish itself. Cooking the condiments into a bowl of pho is still the practice here, and it is a misstep, depriving the dish of the freshness that ought to characterize it. And the the restaurant still cannot decide what it wants to be: Now there are giant TVs tuned to sports from just about every sightline, which seems to clash with the mellower vibe Saigon Cafe is otherwise trying to attain.
(3)Stephanie P.
I've become obsessed with being able to eat outside (since it's a rarity in Cincinnati) and Saigon Cafe is one of the few places that has not only outdoor seating but outdoor seating with more than three tables. Score! Other than being able to enjoy my food in the great outdoors, Saigon has decent food at a very reasonable price. Their Banh Mi with lemongrass chicken is a good choice. The spiciness level ranges from 1-5 and this is one of the few restaurants that I feel actually follows their levels since the 4 was plenty for a spice lover like myself. The Vietnamese coffee is worth a try since its delicate flavor offers a change of pace from the usual coffee. The service is ok, I've had better, I've had worse. They don't seem like the most competent wait staff but things still get done and taken care of, which is always appreciated. Overall, if you're looking for a nice outdoor area to enjoy Vietnamese food, this is the place for you.
(3)Jen L.
We went in last week for their "half priced" sushi and it was absolutely delicious. Lots of great rolls that were fresh and creative. We ordered the crab rangoon as an appetizer and it was on the greasier side, but I will absolutely be back for the half priced sushi
(4)Jessica M.
I was really impressed with my lunch at Saigon Cafe this past Saturday. In fact, I couldn't wait to go back. The space was bright and cheerful, and the hostess saw us walking up and opened the door. On our first visit, our server was knowledgeable and accommodating -- he said everything could be made vegetarian and even offered an alternative sauce, without fish, for my vegetable bun. When we'd ask for the same on other visits, the server would generally be stumped but would ask and let us know it was okay. I've been several times and enjoyed many things off the menu. Sometimes, though, I didn't know what to expect until it came. I think one time we got 6 spring rolls between my dining partner and me! We ordered two as a starter, which turned out to be two orders of two, and then there was one each on our bun! They just kept coming, but that's not a complaint!
(4)Lizbeth T.
Had a fun evening at Saigon Cafe, but the joint has some work to do if it's going to last. We started with happy hour at the bar. Nice deals on martinis and well drinks, but no deals for the beer and wine drinkers. Bartenders were friendly and attentive, although at times overzealous. When I sit at the bar and tell the bartender that I'm waiting for friends and plan to move to a table for dinner, I don't expect to be asked four times in 30 minutes if I'm ready to order. Three of the four in our party had versions of the bun salad. They were light and delicious, although we had to ask our server to bring sauces to the table. She hadn't offered any. It would be a shame if someone new to Vietnamese cuisine did not realize they could really spice up their salad. The restaurant appeared to be more than adequately staffed, and we never waited long for anything (except cocktails, which the bartenders took a long time to make....could be a problem on a busier night). But servers just didn't seem to be very well-trained. They were not familiar with menu items and did not have much polish in terms of communicating with customers. To sum up, if you're on the East Side, where there really aren't any other choices for Vietnamese, and you do not have high expectations for service, Saigon is decent for a casual meal.
(3)Greg H.
My girlfriend and I set out for Cumin, but they were closed, and we came upon Saigon Cafe on the next block by accident. I'm so glad we did! This tastefully decorated and cozy restaurant served up some incredible Vietnamese dishes. Famished after a day of painting and errands, we started with two appetizers - vegetarian crepe and Vietnamese sandwich. The crepe was cooked perfectly - thin, light, with crispy edges. The tofu was awesome, lightly fried, with some nice veggies and sauce complementing the dish. The crepe covered a whole plate, but was light enough not to fill you up. The sandwich, served on a small grilled baguette, was incredible. The chicken was well seasoned, the cilantro and bean spouts added fresh tastes and texture. I spiced my half up with the freshly sliced jalapeno peppers. My entree was "shaken beef," whose fresh ingredients--noodles, thin slice tenderloin, shaved carrots, sauce, etc.--were served side by side in a large bowl for mixing. It was a real fresh tasting, light dish. My partner ordered the (meal-sized) seafood soup, which was accompanied by four dishes containing three different sauces to flavor the soup, and another dish of sliced limes. The soup was intensely flavorful, and probably the better of the two entrees. Next visit, I will definitely order one of the soups (there are over a half dozen varieties). Our waiter was excellent. He patiently answered our questions, and spoke to us as if we were his only customers. He knew the menu very well. There's a good drink menu, and my light, crisp Tsingtao (Chinese beer) and her sparking white wine went so well with the dishes. I can't wait to go back!
(4)Kennie G.
I was unfamiliar with this place until this year's Asian Food Festival, and I have to say I was a bit disappointed. I ordered chicken fried rice and it was very dry. I don't know if that means it was overcooked or if it was sitting out and dried out, but it was not good eats. Now, the flavor of the rice was pretty good, but it was overshadowed by the fact that the rice was dry. I had to add more soy sauce than I would like to moisten it to make it a little more palatable. Even though I'm giving Saigon Cafe 2 stars, I would go back. It could have just been an off day. Everyone else was satisfied with their food. If I do go back, I'll be ordering something different.
(2)Chenney C.
Typically, Vietnamese restaurants do not have good sushi. Or sushi spots do not have good Vietnamese food. For once in this city - this restaurant does a blend of both really well. For only spending $30 - I got two appetizers (seaweed salad and spring rolls - both EXCELLENT) and then (3) sushi rolls. I highly, highly recommend the "Big Mouth" roll. It's mouth-watering amazing. And if you don't like sushi, then get something off their Vietnamese menu like the Pad Thai or Bun. Both great as well. And if you don't like either - don't come here, duh!
(4)Monika N.
My husband and I were very excited to see a new Vietnamese restaurant open up within two miles of our house and had meant to try it for several months. One late night after an evening of drinking at Haps we decided we needed some food and noticed that Saigon Cafe was still open and offering half price sushi. We sat on the patio and ordered several of the regular rolls as well as the chicken bahn mi appetizer. We were pleasantly surprised with the quality of the sushi and the low price. We didn't even try any of their specialty rolls the first time. So when we were craving sushi a few days ago we quickly realized Saigon Cafe was the place to go. We were starving and wanted a quick meal before working on some home repairs. We walked in and were quickly seated. I wish I remember our waitresses name because I want to praise her for her quick and efficient service. All I remember is that she had teal-blue streaks in her hair. A testament to how amazing the service was: we spent a total of 35 minutes at the restaurant. We could have stayed longer - it's not that we felt rushed - we just wanted to get home to work on the house. And our waitress made it so. This time we tried a couple specialty rolls as well as a couple new regular rolls. Again the sushi was absolutely delicious and very reasonably priced. From what I can tell the sushi is always half-priced as long as you eat in. And unlike other sushi restaurants, Saigon Cafe doesn't jack up their prices so that the half-price is more like regular price. It's dangerous that this place is so close to our house... I know that my sushi craving can be satisfied at any time. I can guarantee you that we will be returning many times to sample the remainder of the menu!
(5)Sheila M.
I can't believe it -- authentic pho in Cincinnati! Caveats: There's only one option for beef pho on the menu (rare steak); a small bowl is $9; the bean sprouts, meat, and green onions are already added into the broth by the kitchen; and there was about half the beef and noodles in the bowl compared to what I'm used to. Nevertheless, I feel that the most important part of a bowl of pho is the taste and FINALLY this place hit the nail on the head. Next time I really want pho I will head over here...a craving is a craving! Oh yeah, and according to my dining companions, everything else here is supposedly good too :)
(4)Adolfo N.
Ok, my experience of this joint is as a night cap to an evening of drinking. Mind you, not 2 AM raging drinking, but, hey, that was a good night, let's finish with some grub. their half price sushi specials are pretty comprehensive, wifey and I had 4 basic rolls and a a decent banh-mi for about 20 bucks. There was a guy playing acoustic music outside which adds a nice layer of kick backness to the joint, definitely an upgrade over Sake bomb, the previous business. Haven't tried their other dishes, but for sure have a late night snack spot on my list.
(4)Suz M.
The BF and I were shopping and, as usual, he had a craving for Pho. We were driving around Hyde Park trying to decide where to go when I spotted an ad on a bus stop bench for "Healthy Vietnamese" at Saigon Cafe. I said, let's try it. We were both so happy we did. Since out first visit, we've been back several times. We can't tell you how the other food is, but the BF will tell you they have really good Pho. I will tell you that they have wonderful bun. If you don't know what bun is, you need to try it. It's a cold noodle Vietnamese dish served with fresh vegetables and a dressing (tofu or meat, too). I got the tofu bun, which the server asked whether it could be made with fish sauce or vegan. I opted for the vegan, which only changes the dressing/sauce you get served. The bun was very good and left me wanting it again (in fact, I've since learned to make it myself.) If you like sushi, they have half price sushi all the time (of course, if it's half price all the time, then it's not really half price...is it?) However, their prices seem to be reasonable anyway--at least on what we ordered--and the portions are good sized. We also had great service, with our server remembering us the second time we came back. It's hard to find good Vietnamese food in Cincinnati, but Saigon Cafe is definitely one place that delivers. We definitely want to go back (again) when the weather is nice, since you can bring your dog to dine with you on the patio. UPDATE: The restaurant has been remodeled a bit and the lower dining room entrance is now to the right of the door instead of after the bar; it also looks like they made the bar bigger. Tammy is a fantastic server and remembered us, even though it had been a while since we'd been there. The previous time we visited, the food was not as good as before, so I don't know if they were just having an off day in the kitchen or what. This most recent visit redeemed them. I wasn't really looking forward to eating there, but the BF had is Pho craving again. Even though I think it's a little pricey for lunch (weekday lunch menu is less expensive) the food was good. We got the usual, chicken Pho for the BF and vegetable bun for me. My only complaint with the menu is that they actually have very few vegetarian dishes listed. In fact, besides the bun, I only noticed a couple of vegetarian appetizers. Not really what I expect in any kind of Asian restaurant.
(4)Amber C.
The service was fantastic. We visited on a Friday night and our family of four loved it. We ordered sushi, bun, and pho. My sushi was great, but I'm still adjusting to eating cold or room temperature noodles (bun). My family will be back!!
(4)Manu M.
This is one of the few restaurants that are open till late night. Out from the movie theater at 10:00 night, when you are looking for a place for nice comforting dinner, Saigon cafe comes to my mind. They have a very cheerful team. The food is excellent. We tried the Cab rangoon, Assorted Vegetables with Shrimp stirfry and Vegetable fried rice. I highly recommend this with all my sensitive stomach.
(4)Todd L.
I have experienced a lot of authentic Vietnamese food. I throughly enjoy authentic Pho. I recently relocated to Cincinnati and have been searching for great tasting Pho. I saw this place on yelp and decided to give it a try. When I entered the establishment, I was greeted by a nice lady and I decided to sit at the bar. I ordered their Spring Rolls (which seemed to be the same as Basil Rolls). The roll was good, but not great. It was a little small and skimpy on the ingredients. I then ordered the large bowl of combo pho. This was the rare beef, brisket, and tripe. The pho came very quickly and was piping hot. The restaurant does not furnish a typical salad (basil, sprouts, jalapenos, and lime). If you ask, the server will bring. My server stated most people don't eat it and they quit furnishing it. They only put a little in the pho. (Well if you don't eat it, you don't like traditional pho). They had all the typical sauces. The pho broth was very good. The only issue with the bowl was very little rice noodles and meat. It was very expensive compared to what you received ($12.00 for large). I am accustomed to paying $8.00 for a large at Pho Da Loi in Atlanta. (By the way it gets 5 stars). I ordered a Iced Vietnamese coffee. It was average. They did not put enough coffee grounds to make it very strong like traditional Vietnamese coffee. I am not sure I will return. It was not horrible, but not great either. I left a little disappointed.
(2)Carlee T.
One of my favorite new places in Cincinnati. Delicious, authentic, and very good Vietnamese food, with great drink specials. We love the bahn mi sandwich, spring rolls, pho, ban salads, and the shaking lemongrass beef. Yum! I've missed Vietnamese food (I'm originally from Seattle), and am really happy to finally have a place nearby. I'm sad to see the poor reviews below - we have had nothing but great service the two times we have gone, but that was on a Tuesday and a Wednesday, so maybe it is different when they are busy. But I would whole-heartedly recommend this place to anyone I know. Check it out yourself!
(5)Chester L.
$5 for one of the best Dirty Martinis I have had in Cincinnati, and half-price sushi puts Saigon Cafe on my top 10 list. We found the service to be excellent (our waiter Tim was both attentive and engaging) and the food quite tasty. Although I think the Pho is better at the Vietnamese Place at Findlay market, it still offered me the comfortable, warm broth that I love. Make sure you try the seaweed salad and the crepe app!
(4)Sanjay P.
We love it! Half price sushis are great and they also have half price wines. Service is just right - we get cared for without being pestered. Sushi is good - my wife is a Sushi lover and she approves. Good selection of vietnamese fare as well. There is patio seating. All in all a great dining experience
(5)Aya R.
Uh, yeah. The one star for the waitress. She tended to our every need and was very friendly. I went expecting good pho, but didn't get it. My boyfriend and I walked in and, I'm guessing the guy who was supposed to be the maitre 'd was sitting in the waiting area. I didn't even know he worked there until he said. "Guess I should get you a server..." Bad vibe from there on. I had the goi con and the combination beef pho.The pho was interesting. The noodles were all clumped together and the broth didn't taste like anything. I had the small pho for 9.00. It was not worth the 9.00 at all. I could have gotten two bowls at Pho Lang Thang or Cilantro!! There were hardly any beef pieces, and whatever I had was very bland. The goi con was old, because the wrapper was tough and chewy. The portion was not worth the 5.00... :/ No fresh basil, or bean sprouts, or the usual platter of soup additions. The waitress was kind enough to ask about jalapenos, but that's about it. Very disappointing and dead on a Sunday night. There was an extensive alcohol list... I expect a few people to be having some drinks there? Had a very mixed atmosphere. Called "Saigon Cafe", but their Vietnamese food wasn't very good. I expected better. :/ I really tried, but it was WAY TOO expensive for something that isn't very good at all!
(1)Jessica S.
This is our 'go-to' sushi place. It helps that we live just around the corner, but we also love to sit at the bar and banter with the bartenders, GM, owner, and sushi chefs. It's a friendly place with good food to boot! I have had just about every single sushi roll and a handful of their entrees and am rarely disappointed. While the "half-price sushi" seems like a great deal, the prices on the menu are a bit inflated and it makes prices right on par with pretty much all other spots in HP/Mt Lookout. A definite must try!
(4)Richard H.
Went for dinner 4/24/2012. I walk into most restaurants (and write my reviews) with an idea of where I am going and the type of environment, service, food I am going to get. That being said, I DID NOT go into Saigon Cafe expecting (or expecting to order) a traditional Vietnamese food. Honestly, I had heard that they had a great cocktail and sushi happy hour. We ordered, Edamame, Veggie lettuce wrap (stir fried diced tofu, carrot, mushroom, pine nuts light brown sauce), 2 Avocado rolls, a Hyde Park Roll (spicy tuna, cucumber, masago, scallions, topped w avocado, wasabi sauce, cruch), Sunrise Roll (tuna, yellowtail, cilantro, cucumber, avocado, jalapeno, green onion, tobiko, crunch, spicy sauce). I also enjoyed a Sapporo and a Kirin but heard rave reviews from the "Lychee in the Sky" martini and coconut mojito drinkers. In summary, the food and beverages were just as good as other Hyde Park Asian eateries, and at a fraction of the cost (1/2 priced sushi from 5-7:30 and discounted alcoholic beverages). The server was very attentive with water and other drinks. The ambiance was adequate but nothing special. Go to Saigon if this is what you are looking for and from the other reviews go somewhere else for traditional Vietnamese fare.
(4)Marie E.
Off to a good start. We had the calamari which was just okay. My husband and I split the Mi Xao Don which was very tasty. The shrimp were cooked perfectly. It has been a very long time since I have had shrimp cooked that well. We also split the Big Mouth which was also very good but took at least three bites to finish (hence the name) which is just a touch too big for my liking. Would still order again. The space is still coming together and the lighting is a little off but these are all small things that should fall into place as the restaurant finds it's personality. Certainly worth a try.
(3)Jeni S.
Sunday through Thursday is half priced wine and sushi, which is AWESOME. I came in with a party of seven and we ordered multiple appetizers and sushi rolls, all of which were great. The spring rolls and Vietnamese sandwich were delish, the seaweed salad and the ginger salad are wonderful. I don't normally like sushi and am not a huge fan of this type of food, but i loved it. our server was also very good. I definitely recommend this place- especially when you get a half priced bottle on the weekdays!
(4)David T.
Finally, a Vietnamese place in Hyde Park. Everything we had was fresh and tasty. Not the fanciest of places, but if you are looking for banh mi or pho in Hyde Park, you should definitely stop by.
(4)Patti Z.
We sat outside, it was very loud. The service was great, much better than the food. I had the fried rice combo and my husband had the stir fry with cashews. BLAND is all I can say. We did start with a 1/2 price sushi roll that was tasty. If your looking for good sushi I say go; but you may want to skip the entree.
(2)Jen B.
Came on a Tuesday night for a relaxing meal on the patio. Met all my expectations. Had delicious sashimi appetizer, seaweed salad, and a really unique roll - campfire roll. Don't know what folks are complaining about, this place is terrific!
(4)Julianne K.
My husband and I tried Saigon Cafe for dinner a couple weeks ago. Overall, it was a good experience. We started off with one of their sushi rolls since they are all half price. The sushi was decent. I can't remember exactly which roll we tried but I do remember thinking that even at half price, the roll was quite skimpy. I am partial to Dancing Wasabi though when it comes to sushi and I would still say their stuff is better but I would be willing to try more of Saigon Cafe's sushi. I had the beef Pho which was good. I enjoyed it and would certainly order it again. It was flavorful enough and came with all of the sides that one typically adds to Pho. My husband had the shaking pork which he enjoyed as well (though first time our waitress came out, she brought him the chicken). It had a really nice spicy/sweet sauce on the side that brought out the flavors of the dish nicely. That particular night, they were offering many drink specials and I feel like that will continue. I had a lychee martini (I think it was $5) and it was delicious. I really was pleased with their cocktail menu and would even go back just for happy hour. The restaurant is relatively new and it's evident they are still working out some kinks but they have a large menu selection, the food we had was good as were the drinks. We will definitely be back.
(3)J M.
Servers were attentive, but the food was just okay. They are trying really hard, but I hope they can improve upon the pad thai. Camp Fire sushi was excellent and the half price sushi is also really good deal. I'll try again soon to see if the pad thai has improved.
(3)Nick M.
This was my first visit, but my friend that ate with me eats here all the time. I was not impressed. I did try the sushi, but I have come to the conclusion that I just do not like sushi. I have tried it at several places and it is just not for me...so this has nothing to do with the restaurant. My friend ate hers and loved it! So since the sushi didn't work out, I order the chicken pad thai. I did not really care for it. It is much better at the Teak in Mt. Adams or Wild Ginger in Oakley. The servers were great and the management and sushi chefs greeted us when we got there and thanked us for visiting before we left. Overall...great service...food meh.
(2)Mike C.
My buddy and I went here looking for a big bowl of pho. To me, pho is comfort food. It's good when you're hung over. It's also good on a cold day. Unfortunately, Saigon Cafe failed to deliver. I had the combo pho, which includes well done steak, tripe, and meatballs. $13 for a bowl of this is waaay over-priced. All the Vietnamese places that I've been to recently have all had a larger bowl of pho, with more meat and more noodles for about $9. They also only gave us a very small amount of bean sprouts to share for both of our phos. Their broth also wasn't very flavorful, which is pretty much the kiss of death for a bowl of pho. The only redeeming feature was that they have half-priced sushi right now since they just opened. We had the White Scorpion roll and some kinda Crunch roll, which were both pretty tasty. They were large rolls, and for about $6.50 were a pretty good deal. The service when we went was also pretty good. I would probably come back more for the half-priced sushi (while it lasts) than for the pho at this point.
(2)Christine M.
Goodnight Saigon. I hate to have such dismal hopes for a new restaurant that actually has pretty tasty food, but the service alone will sink this pho-licious ship. Perhaps we should have waiting longer to go with a large group. Perhaps I should have known our server may not be on his A-game when I witnessed him complaining about having to take our table before the rest of our party arrived. Perhaps, once we waited 45 minutes for our check, were asked for our order a second time because there was "something wrong with the computer", and were handed two different completely wrong checks, we should have gotten up and left. All the while, our server was completely melting down. He got downright rude with someone who just honestly wanted to know where his check was, and hijacked peoples' credit cards for upwards of 30+ minutes before bringing them back with the wrong checks. Slowly but surely, the buttons of his black shirt were coming undone, and the last time we saw him, black shirt-tails flapping in the breeze, he was accusing one of our table-mates of dining and dashing on their check. They didn't. They paid the bill they were given after waiting 45 minutes. If that's not what they ordered, how much longer were they supposed to wait, and whose fault is that? I never want to go back here again, and that bums me out, since the food was quite tasty. My husband and I split the house special spring roll with chilled roast pork. Delicious! Fresh and tasty, with a nice chili vinegar sauce for dipping. I got the pho with roast pork, while husband enjoyed Mi Xao noodles with roast pork. Both were delightful. I would eat all of these things again. Other people were also very happy with their food, appetizers, and sushi. If not for the absolutely horrible service, I could see myself eating here regularly. The only reason we ever got out of there was that we, as the last two couples of the group, got up and took matters into our own hands. We found someone else who could ring our order into the computer, print us checks, and let us leave. Why nobody was helping our server was beyond me. It was 100% clear from the beginning that he wasn't up to the task. What happened to the person who came and took our orders a second time so that they could be re-rung into the computer? Never saw her again. And the person who I presume was the owner/manager never stopped by our table, never said a word, and seemed oblivious to the difficulties we had experienced as he bid us goodnight on our way out the door. If you have nowhere else to be, and you can handle completely jacked up customer service, you'll be rewarded with good food. If you don't want to tell people to send a search party to find you if you're not seen in 3 hours, you may want to skip it. Good luck, Saigon cafe. UPDATE: We've since gotten our credit card bill from that time period and we were billed twice--once for the correct amount, and once for the wrong bill that they tried to give us 2 different times.I'm not even sure how they managed to bill us the 2nd time since we never gave them our card with the wrong bill. At this point, I'm very, very sure we're never going back.
(2)Myco N.
#NAME?
(4)michael r.
3.5 stars. A nice experience. I was in town from Los Angeles, and was suspect when my family wanted to take me to a "sushi" place on a Sunday in Ohio (as I have several world class sushi spots within five miles from my house). Place is warmly decorated-- somewhere between a dive and a bistro. Clean and rather large-- waitress was sweet and the service was decent. Sushi prices are high, but I guess they're half price all the time, so the prices were actually very reasonable. Tried a bunch of the specialty rolls, and they were small and just okay (remember where I live); however, had the lemongrass pho, and I have to say it was very good. Full bar, friendly service, decent food-- a nice find for the area. I'd definitely go back the next time I'm in town and have another big bowl of pho!
(4)Jillian F.
So the last time I was at Saigon Cafe it was Nov 2011....So I felt the need to revise my first review also the space has been remodeled and I believe has new owners. Saturday afternoon I lunched with 7 other ladies and lots of wine! Our waitress Gina was very attentive and handled our large, rowdy party quite well. We started with some edamame, Vietnamese Crepe (banh xeo) and popcorn chicken. I was pleasantly surprised by the of lightly tempura chicken appetizer, totally unexpected. The crepe was perfectly cooked and delicious. Next we moved onto the sushi: the special rolls were heavenly roll & I forget the name, probably b/c it was unique (had small lemon slices on top, but not my fave. As for the heavenly roll, it speaks for itself...amazing! We also shared a spicy tuna and the Hyde Park roll. My friend Steph ordered the ginger walleye, she shared a few bites of the tasty fish. This is something I probably would not order from the menu, but definitely planning on ordering my own plate next time! The fish was accompanied with steamed mushrooms, snow peas, and celery and a serving of steamed white rice. I highly recommend Saigon Cafe....I've been craving it since the weekend. Looks like I will be returning very soon for some half price sushi and wine!
(4)Trisha E.
We love this place. Ricky, the sushi chef, is one of the best in town. (For all of you Beluga fans, Ricky was one of the chefs there.) They have a great selection of unique sushi but, if that isn't your thing, there are many other choices including a sea bass that is heavenly! Their retail wine night specials make this a cheap place for a quick week night bite. Service isn't always fast but that's okay; the food is worth the wait.
(4)Jeff S.
Love this place! Laid back service, VERY food-allergy aware, and great food. Head over to Hyde Park East and enjoy!
(5)Jim F.
Had a great lunch. I enjoyed Chicken Pho and my wife had the Lemongrass chicken Pho. Both were tasty.
(4)Judy O.
Hadn't been in a while and don't know why. Service was terrific (thank you Andrew for researching non-gluton options for our friend) and food was excellent. Highly recommend crepe with chicken and shrimp and others loved the squid appetizer. Enjoyed leisurely drinks and dinner and can't wait to return! Meals were extremely reasonable, especially with 1/2 price sushi. It's locally owned which is always a nice thing to know and support.
(5)Peter B.
Saigon Cafe is a terrific neighborhood sushi joint. They advertise 1/2 price rolls and wine bottle all the time (begging the question, why not just publish the discounted price as the actual price). Sushi is rolled by the entrance at the sushi bar. Don't forget to look at the hot menu. The whole bass with ginger sauce is simply outstanding. The price is rice and the food quality is terrific. I'm a fan!
(4)Elizabeth W.
Finally checked this place out on a Saturday night with a group of friends. We opted to sit outside, where most of the action was on this pleasant evening. They have a large interior and when winter comes, I'm sure it will be full. I got sushi, like always, but had bites of the stir fries. Most of the food was pretty good and fresh, although the uni was a little old and fishy for my taste. We were hoping to try a appetizer, but our waiter messed up our order. Which brings me to the problem with this place. The feel of the space is upscale but the waitstaff is very informal if not bordering on unprofessional. Our waiter told us not to order the pad thai because it's not very good there. I appreciated the honesty, but then he forgot our appetizer and each of our meals came out about 10-15 minutes apart and our cold sake was room temperature. And then the waiter at the table behind us went ahead and sat down to have a drink with the party. The manager was in-house, but didn't seem concerned about these things, spending most of his night by the bar grumbling about the poor showing at his restaurant. The food was definitely passable and I'll eat here again, but if it hopes to make it with the Hyde Park crowd, the game is going to have to be stepped up.
(3)Michelle L.
We may or may not be there at least once a week. We may or may not order ~5 entrees because they're all so good. We may or may not have started to choose saigon cafe over chipotle as our sunday night go-to (eek. i never thought i'd say no to chipotle). but in all seriousness, i'm a huge fan of saigon cafe because of a few simple reasons: - extremely reasonable prices. like all asian restaurants in cincinnati, the sushi is half off if you dine-in. also like many asian restaurants in cincinnati, it covers the gammat of asian cuisine, from chinese to thai to vietnamese and to japanese. it actually does each fairly well (we dabble across all of them in our 5-entree-dinners). - good food, fast. The ambiance is great for lounging around (sushi bar, sports bar, "waterfall" room, live music, etc, all under one roof), or if you're in for a quick meal, they'll get you out of there quickly as well. the food is always spot-on. I love the vietnamese omelet, their entire vermicelli offering, and all rolls that i've tried (though that's been limited to the Kapa Skin and Steamed Lobster rolls). Their Banh-mi is good, but i have to say that it's not the most authentic that I've had. Still, a delicious sandwich. - friendly, down to earth service. We've asked to be reseated and then reseated again, asked to have our orders come out in odd arrangements, asked countless questions about nearly every item on the menu, and asked the host to take a drink with us. despite all of our pesky questions, the service has been friendly, down-to-earth, and amicable. Also, pay cash & get 10% discount. Don't forget that takeout sushi is not 50%! Additional parking on the side street. yes, i come here too often.
(5)Jonathan K.
Excellent Cha Gio and good beef Pho. Been there 3 times, first time the day after they opened, and the food is consistantly good and well presented. Service improved since first visit, but then the staff was new. Now staff is very friendly andbhelpful but not in the way. Enjoyed it.
(4)Laksh K.
I have been fairly disappointed with the state of Vietnamese food in Cincinnati. Its not given a lot of importance and I see a need to 'neuter the authenticity' of these dishes to attract business (Similar to several Indian restaurants) However, upon my friend's recommendation, I went to Saigon Café and was surprised with how great it looked. I went ahead with the Bánh mì (1 Chicken and 1 Pork. Spice scale: 5 w/ extra chili sauce on the side. I know, How am I still alive?) as it came highly recommended from my friend who tried it the day before and was willing to have it with me again. So I thought I'd order these 'French influenced-Vietnamese sandwiches' to go and try them out and order the Pho the next time as that's what I usually order at Vietnamese restaurants. How was the sandwich ? It simply blew my mind. These sandwiches are crazy good. Its almost unfair that they don't have this listed in front of their menu (Its hidden in the appetizer section) I am definitely trying their Pho the next time I visit as they just blew my concerns away regarding their Vietnamese food preparations. WAIT ! There's More!! its only $5, although, I have to admit, I did feel like they could have added some more meat in my sandwiches, but hey, It was for only $5 and its really presentable and delicious. so Try it!! Highly recommended if you wanted to try a new kind of sandwich in town. Let me know if you end up ordering it, and hopefully, enjoying it :) I have attached a picture of it. Hopefully you can see it somewhere on the Saigon Café Yelp page or you can find the link below: yelp.com/biz_photos/saig…
(5)Elizabeth B.
I'm all about Saigon Cafe in a pinch. The pho tastes great and is a good enough substitute for when you don't feel like going downtown and dealing with the parking at Findlay Market. The sushi is always half price, and if it wasn't, I wouldn't bother. Some of the rolls have so little fish that there's no wonder you're paying $9 for the roll instead of $18. Service tends to be pretty slow, although everyone I've ever had is still friendly. They leave carafes of water on the table, which is essential considering how rarely your waiter comes to check on you. This is a place I keep coming to based on convenience and lack of other pho options in the immediate area. Stick to the simple sushi rolls, as the more specialized (AKA pricey) ones aren't up to par with all the sushi restaurants in the area.
(3)Peter B.
Had a late sushi dinner last evening around 9 PM. Most everything was half-off, so it was very inexpensive! Sushi was also very solid. We were very pleased with how quick the service was. I would definitely go back!
(4)Kelly C.
Food is excellent, service is terrible. It takes 1-2 hours to eat here every time, even when the place is empty. Each time I needed something my server held up the "just wait" finger like I was in her preschooler. Ummmmmm.... There is no one else here what could you possibly need to go do? You're making me feel sad.
(2)