Sen Saigon — Restaurant in New York

AMAZING place. A must visit restaurant. My Vietnamese husband has missed some of his favorites since going vegan a few years ago, and this place really allowed him to relive some of his favorite dishes. The banh mi with ham is mindblowing. Truly. We loved it so much we took an extra one to take back home to Philly. When we got home we were kicking ourselves for not ordering three more. It is that good. The perfect sandwich. It is very complex in texture and flavors - layers upon layers that work harmoniously. There is mild sweetness from the pickled carrots, a wonderful herby and fresh punch with every bite, umami and decadence from multiple layers of mock meat/pate, a little heat (you can ask for not spicy or mild spicy if you prefer that)...incredible. Great filling to bread ratio, crusty bread that holds up well and is also soft. I especially loved the flan. Really silky and smooth, like silken tofu, but tastes purely like custard. The caramel was caramelized just the right amount. Reminded me of my mom's flan. The pho is great too. Tasty, addictive broth. They are very generous with toppings and herbs - in an age where restaurants are always cutting corners, I really appreciate this. I've never had non-vegan bun hue so I don't know what it's supposed to taste like, but my husband really liked it. It's his favorite Vietnamese dish. To me, it was really nicely aromatic and I loved the toppings (the carrot was surprisingly delicious!). I did feel like maybe it lacked some umami and richness, but I also tried it after the banh mi and probably didn't have a cleansed palette. The staff are incredibly polite and helpful. One of them (I think the owner) made sure to secure our food to go very well because she knew we'd be traveling a long way. I’m also in awe that it was the most affordable meal we had on our food tourism weekend in nyc, but in our top two meals! Come here with your friends, family or SO! You're going to keep coming back - I...

I visited Sen Saigon after seeing many positive reviews but found my experience didn’t quite match the hype.

I went on a weekday for lunch and ordered the bún chả giò (vermicelli with spring roll). The spring rolls were dry and fell apart immediately, and the tofu had a tough, dry texture that was difficult to chew—though I'm not a vegan, so perhaps this is the expectation for vegan food. The Vietnamese coffee with oat milk was decent, but it lacked the bold, robust coffee flavor I’m used to in other Vietnamese coffee. Also, they don’t offer ice with any drinks, so if you prefer your beverages very cold, this may be disappointing.

The restaurant is small with a pleasant atmosphere. However, my experience was soured when a staff member suddenly rushed over as I was gathering my coat and bags to leave. She pointed to the trash bin beside me and said, “The trash is right there,” as if assuming I wasn’t going to clean up—even though I had every intention of doing so and was still in the middle of zipping up my coat. She then just walked away. This felt unnecessarily curt, especially since I had already tipped 18% at what is essentially a counter-service spot (definitely regretting it now).

Additionally, the meal was quite pricey—nearly $30 for a bun bowl, iced coffee, tax, and tip. While some menu items sound interesting, I’m not sure I’ll...

Just wow! Whether you're vegan or not, the food here is absolutely outstanding. Every dish is made fresh and the ingredients are top-notch.

The Vegan Ham Bánh Mì is the sandwich to get—its flavors are nothing short of dynamic. Pro tip: If you're not ordering pho with your sandwich, do yourself a favor and get a side of broth for dipping—it takes the experience to the next level.

The Vegan Sausage Summer Roll is extraordinary. Personally, I love dipping it in fish sauce instead of peanut sauce for that perfect balance of flavors. The filling is out of this world. I could eat it multiple times a day and never get tired of it.

The Pho Sen is outstanding. If you're in the mood for something spicy, the Bún Huế is a fantastic choice.

Every dish is not only flavorful but leaves you feeling light and satisfied after a hearty meal. Do yourself a favor and visit Pho Sen—you’ll love the vibrant flavors and the way you...