The owner is dishonest and it is such a scam. Do NOT bring your own ingredients to this place and ask them to cook. We wanted to bring in raw spotted prawns and called this place to ask about the processing cost. The business owner told us firmly there will be no charge. After we came in with raw prawns and done eating, the owner charged us 20 bucks per pound for processing the ingredients(by just boiling the prawns and not even some fancy way to cook). And keep saying there is no “free service”. Of course we know that, but can you please keep your own words? It is such a fraud. Don’t believe what the owner promises, especially when you want to ask them to process your own ingredients

george change.george change.

This place is legendary, but you have to order the right stuff. Get the Curry Crab, it's one of the best dishes you will ever have. It's going to be messy, but oh so good. Probably enough to share between 3-4 people. Get rice with it and/or get a baguette. We also got some sautees green veggie, also delish. I wouldn't get the other stuff as that is more run-of-the-mill Vietnamese food and if you want that, there are other places which will be better. However if you are looking for a unique dish, you MUST try the curry crab. Must Must. If you are visiting Honolulu , you have to try this once. The place itself is a bit older but go for the Curry Crab, not the ambience.

Laurent YanaiLaurent Yanai

The only reason I rate this place five star is because of the “life-changing” Crab Curry. It will change the way you eat curry forever. You would want this crab curry to take out, have fun with loved one or family, and friends at home in a rainy day. The toasted hot baguette dip in the savory curry sauce with aromatic crab meat cracking is heaven. Don’t forget your beer. And order extra baguettes. There are a thousand ways of curry, I know. But this is one of it you would never want to miss. Rainy day- take out- with hot baguette. Otherwise, they have good bathrooms to wash your hands in the restaurant.

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Featured dishes

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Cha Gio

Spring rolls - deep fried in crispy rolls filled with shrimp, meat and pork; served with lettuce, mint, rice noodles and fish sauce

Goi Cuon

Summer rolls - fresh rolled, non-fried shrimp wrapped in rice paper with lettuce and mint; served with fish sauce

Bi Cuon

Fresh rolled, shredded pork wrapped in rice paper with lettuce and mint; served with fish sauce

Banh Bot Loc

Vietnamese dumpling - steamed light dumplings filled with pork and shrimp; served with fish sauce

Banh Cuon

Look-fun (steamed) rolls - home-made special look-fun rolled with ground pork, mushrooms, long rice, chop sui yam; topped with vietnamese sausage and mint leaves

Reviews of Mai Lan | Fine Vietnamese Cuisine

4.2

(134)

1.0

This place is a SCAM!

I never wrote review for a restaurant, but I believe nobody has to experience what we experienced with this place!

I went there with a group of my friends for dinner. My friends ordered curry crab and some other dishes, but I just wanted to have pho, so I ordered separately. The owner apparently wasn't happy that I did not order something expensive and said "just pho?", then walked away without taking my order.

All my friends' ordered items arrived before my pho, and the waitress was confused why I was not eating. I told them I ordered pho with the owner and was still waiting for my order. The owner really did not take my order! When my pho came, it was a bowl of oil and tasted like MSG! I have tried 20+ Vietnamese restaurants on the island. Their pho is the WORST!

The waitress brought rice and bread to our table which we didn't order. We told the owner that it was a mistake since we did not order. The owner said the rice and bread were part of the dishes, and said we could have more rice and bread if we needed. However, when we received the bill, they charged us extra on the rice and bread. When we questioned him, he was very rude, yelled at us and talked badly about us at the back in Vietnamese language.

Also, throughout the dinner, we witnessed the owner arguing with 2 other tables about their bills. I also looked at some of their google reviews and found some other people had the similar experience with this restaurant!

This place is a SCAM and we do not need this in...

5.0

45w

The restaurant owner, Sam, greeted us with enthusiasm, offering to introduce their signature dishes and making recommendations tailored to our group size. As a food lover, I can confidently say this restaurant is of exceptional quality, easily on par with a Michelin Bib Gourmand level. The curry crab and Tim Rin stir-fried shrimp were some of the best I’ve ever had. The curry sauce had a subtle umami flavor, almost like drinking a rich mushroom soup. The stir-fried shrimp was outstanding, and the accompanying scallions were a perfect complement. Even in the highly competitive Asian food scene, this place would stand out for its unique dishes. If you’re torn between rice and bread, I highly recommend their...