Saigon City — Restaurant in Albuquerque

THE MOST ROTTEN PLACE IN ALBUQUERQUE My wife, toddler and elderly mother went to Saigon City. The place is so awful and their treatment of customers is so atrocious that I at first thought we were secretly being filmed on a candid camera type show to film our reactions for the amusement of an at-home audience. While many reviewers have noted the bait-and-switch false pricing the restaurant engages in, I note that the tiny portions cost 50% more than every other Vietnamese restaurant we have eaten at in ABQ. But far worse is the attitude of the bespectacled waitress they have serving customers. I have no desire to mince words. She’s simply a rotten human being and takes out her own rottenness on the customers. Save yourself the negative experience unless you get some perverse satisfaction of suffering the verbal equivalent of being spat on by those running the restaurant. We first asked about the difference between two nearly identical appearing pho bowls on the menu. Her response was a very flippant bark, “I don’t know, just try them.” This raised our eyebrows but we kept our mouths shut. I then asked whether the veggie pho I wanted to order could be made with steamed tofu rather than fried tofu as I have a health condition which prevents me from having anything fried at the moment. A man from the kitchen happened to come out and she asked him. He said they would have to open a fresh pack of tofu and weren’t willing to. I thought this was rather unaccommodating but kept my thoughts to myself. Instead, I ordered some veggie spring rolls without the tofu at all since it too had fried tofu in it and they were too cheap to open a measly pack of tofu and too dumb to offer to charge us extra for doing so (we would have paid to do it). My wife and mother ordered veggie pho as per the menu which was to include the fried tofu for them. When their dishes arrived, however, there was no tofu in them at all. The waitress told us, “well I told the kitchen, it’s not my fault.” We asked for the missing tofu to be provided in a small bowl but the waitress rudely exclaimed, “no, they already put extra vegetables in that soup so you don’t get any tofu.” I was surprised to hear both the content and the tone of her response. Remember, this is the order that they screwed up and failed to include the subject ingredient in and which she acknowledged they botched. I then said to her, “you know, I have to tell you that your restaurant is very unaccommodating.” Her reply was even more shocking. She barked, “this is a family run business and they don’t care about the customers!” I literally couldn’t believe my ears. We finished our meal and my mother said she could not just sit there any longer and not tell the waitress how poor her attitude was so my mother finally spoke up and told the waitress that she was reducing the revenues for the business as we would have ordered more items if not for her poor attitude. Again the waitress’s response was a stunner, “good, less work for me then”. I responded “less tips too”. She began shouting, “you think you can change whatever you want? We don’t accommodate!” It was just a surreal experience. I wrote the word “ZERO” in all capitals where it indicated for a tip when paying. It hard to believe this woman is just a poor hire. I believe she family member of the family that runs this rotten establishment which, in the restaurant’s own words, “doesn’t care about their customers”, as there is no way it is conceivable to me that anybody would retain a third-party employee that is so utterly obnoxious and disrespectful. I would encourage a local news station or some YouTuber to go in undercover and film how badly Saigon City Vietnamese restaurant in Albuquerque treats its patrons. Saigon City is a complete and utter embarrassment to the city of Albuquerque, and it should...

EDIT After reading other people's reviews, I'm not surprised this happened to us and maybe we just got lucky up until it did happen. Lady with glasses (owner) who is usually always there is who we dealt with.

We used to wonder why this restaurant is always empty, but now it makes sense. Our experience below.

My wife and I used to go here often, until we ordered our usual B12 and my wife's meal had a small piece of metal in it which she found while chewing, it was like a thick piece of wire, similar to a paper clip in size but much tougher than a paper clip. We didn't want to make a stink of it since we liked this place, but thought we'd let the restaurant owner know. When we brought it to her attention she immediately denied our claim and went on defense, insinuating that we are lying for no reason, even though we gave her the piece of metal on the napkin that she supplied us with, same napkin that my wife spit out he food while chewing on the metal.

We were regulars at that point, so there's no funny business on our end but the fact that we brought it to her attention and she denied it up and down while raising her voice causing a scene in her own restaurant, all while not giving my wife an apology at the very least left us pretty bummed to be honest, since we enjoyed the food here. Based on principle and rude interaction, this place is on our blacklist now, I don't care how good the food is, if you act like that you need a reality check.

If you eat here, at the very least double check your food unless you enjoy chewing on metal wire, and if something is wrong with your food, be prepared for an altercation due to the straight up rude owner that doesn't like customers letting her know something is wrong.

We would have kept eating here if she had simply had some tact with us like we approached her with, but she got unruly and caused a scene. No thanks ma'am.

Also check out other people's reviews here...

HOW IN THE WORLD??? Does this place get such a high rating??? I'm SPEECHLESS!!!😱😱. Ahh.. Where too begin?? Firstly, based upon such "Rave" reviews, I was EXCITED, for this new dining experience! However; This was not the case😞😞. Upon entering this establishment; there was a very.. Off putting sensation, like... What do you want?, What are you doing here??😕 Was not asked where my Husband and I wanted to be seated. Was not asked, How many in your party??!!! Was not greeted at the door, as other customers were!! This establishment had only, maybe, Seven people; seated. And may I add everyone, had plates of their meals.. In front of them. But I Digress... After, What I believe; was the "Owner" YELLED at us, in not too sit at a "Six Top.."!!! And I Quote: SHE SAID.. "YOU GO.. YOU GO!! "Sit somewhere else!!" I should have RED FLAGGED IT THEN!! But, I thought... Everybody has a bad day. I could go on , and on.. About, the HORRIBLE FOOD. TERRIBLE SlOW SERVICE!! And Lack of CUSTOMER SERVICE!! Dumplings.. COOOLD!! EGG ROLL.. GREASY!!! And Tasted Old!! EVERY OTHER TABLE, HAD A BOTTLE OF, WHAT I BELIEVE, WAS.. DUCK SAUCE!! We asked for lots of lemon got one slice of lime!! Never checked on us for water, asked if we wanted to order, anything else!!! This is... UNACCEPTABLE!!!! TENDON AND TRIPE IN MY"PHO" HARD AS A BULLET!! And Practically.. Non-Existent!!! AS WELL AS , THE MEATBALLS ARE CUT INTO QUARTERS!!!!! 😂😂😂😂What a Joke!! Looks nothing. Nothing!! Like the Picture!!! Lastly, BUT CERTAINLY.. Least. The CHICKEN WAS BURNT!! And HARDER THAN A ROCK!! And OLLLLLD!!!!!!!👻I. Showed my "Server" I banged the chicken, against the plate... I almost BROKE IT!!! My husband, Chipped his tooth!! I asked for, either, a refund or fresh chicken.. I was told no!! YOU EAT WHAT YOU GET!! They don't CATER to Native Americans!!! Most Likely.. Everyone. Else.. (IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN!!) STAY...