Hai Phong — Restaurant in Kaipātiki

Absolutely appalled by the service, quality of food and the overall attitude of the FOH and the chefs. DO NOT COME HERE. This is my second time visiting the restaurant and my first experience was mild compared to the treatment I received today. Firstly, after our orders were taken, another group joined and ordered. For some odd reason, they got their orders first than us. It appeared they were friendly with the staff members there (could be my assumption). Then one of the noodle order's soup had zero flavour, just plain hot water and we took it back. Once it came back, it then had flavour (could be some odd mistake but ok). Thirdly, our other order had egg noodles, they were all clumped up, undercooked and just unpleasant to eat. We called the female worker who came and said "oh, I am unsure what's going on, the chef is quite angry today" (odd commentary to be made, not sure how chef feeling angry should be related to the quality of the food served), we re-ordered the same dish but with rice noodle and everything seemed as it should've been from the beginning. The male FOH who delivered the order and said "second time" and gave us a 'raised one eyebrow' look. You could say it's my assumption but I took it as an attitude. Not even once, did the chef or anyone come to apologize. Then one by one, chefs walked out of the kitchen and gave our table a judgemental look. We left majority of our food unfinished, the second remade noodles were half eaten as we had lost our appetite. Towards the payment, one of the chef that glared at us continued to look at us. We asked if he was alright, he looked startled and said it's all good (probably didn't expect us to talk to him). The FOH girl staff apologized for the egg noodle. I asked if the quality of the food is bad because the chef was angry, she said she doesn't know but he is upset and pointed that the guy sitting outside is the chef and the owner of the restaurant. I stated that the quality of the food should not be a reflection of the chef's personal emotions. We are paying customers and we are not happy with the service or the food and will be leaving an honest google review. She just shrugged and said ok. We walked out, the owner glared back at us which I find it absolutely ridiculous. The total cost of the food was $74 for 4 people. I do not recommend this...

I just had the worst experience among all the restaurants I've visited on the shore today. I made a phone order including spring rolls and on the phone I confirmed specifically if it was fresh spring roll as my family didn't like fried ones. The waitress confirmed on the phone so I placed the order. After picking up and got home, we found out it was fried spring rolls. We were frustrated and I called the restaurant and told the waitress about the misplaced order. She said they didn't have fresh ones and I said I have confirmed on the phone to place an order of fresh spring rolls. Then she started trying to find excuses like she had confirmed with me that it contains pork. I told her it's not about its contains but how fresh spring rolls became fried ones and if they didn't do fresh ones why she didn't tell me on the phone. She then said maybe my volume was too low blah blah but offered me for return. When I was in the restaurant for return, there was a middle-aged man (not sure if he was the chef or owner) behind the counter. When this waitress came to give the refund they started an argument about whether to give me the refund or not. The waitress said in Cantonese "he misplaced the order himself" thinking that I couldn't understand Cantonese. I wouldn't want to argue with them anymore and just wanted to leave with the refund. This middle-aged man kept staring at me as if I have done something terribly wrong. Yes it's true that I got a refund, but I'm not a very tolerant person. If someone from a restaurant kept staring at me for their own mistake or communication problem, they're asking for a bad review. Be careful when you eat here cause you will have all the drama if you place an order and something went wrong in the middle. I'll never return to this restaurant. Luckily, its food is not as nice as some other Vietnamese restaurants so It won't be a big...

There was a time when this place hit like a symphony—sharp, balanced, no false notes. The kind of pho that hugs your insides without asking too many questions. The grilled pork? Smoky, tender, unapologetically rich. The broth? Fire and comfort, dancing in the same bowl. It was the kind of meal you didn’t just eat—you remembered.

Now? Still good. Still worthy. But something’s shifted.

The pork has picked up a tang that wasn’t there before—subtle, but distracting. The chili sauce, once gloriously unforgiving, now pulls its punches. And the shrimp pho, my dad’s sacred go-to, seems a little shy on shrimp these days. Even the lemon wedge—a small thing—arrives sometimes firm, dry, like it had second thoughts about joining the party.

To their credit, the prices have stayed grounded while the world goes mad with inflation. I respect that. But here’s the thing: I’d rather pay a couple bucks more and get back the flavor bombs and generosity that made this place stand out in the first place. And I know I’m not alone. This place gets packed for a reason.

It’s still one of my regular spots. My dad orders the shrimp pho like it’s religion. I stick with the grilled pork ribs and egg noodles, maybe throw in some spring rolls if the mood’s right. A little Sriracha, some fresh chili, and suddenly the broth sings again. The spring rolls? Crispy, bright, honest—though my old man thinks they could dial down the crunch.

In the end, it’s still comfort in a bowl. Still better than most. I just miss the version of this place that didn’t hold back. Bring that back—and you’ve got...