banh mi so

the tiny dining room of this friendly local is decorated with framed photos and packed with knick-knacks and house plants.

the menu is short and concise and yet replete with various authentic vietnamese dishes - spring rolls, pho soup, charbroiled beef/pork and vermicelli, stir-fry with curry coconut milk and lemongrass. keep an eye out for specials on the whiteboard, too.

i sampled the spawn curry, tom xao xa curry. flavorsome, the deceptively mild heat got gradually unveiled after a few bites of juicy prawns in the clinging paste of curry and coconut milk. but the interaction between the sweetness and fierceness was overpowering and nullified some other flavors such as the herbs, scallion freshness and the aftertaste of rice. the pho soup was great: fragrant tasty broth and decent amount of herbs and peppers to go with it.

the service was amazing.

with most dishes priced around 9 and perhaps no alcohol licence, this place seems particularly successful in doing a brisk trade as a takeaway joint, so we (the only customers in the room) surmised after witnessing four pickups during the course of our lunch.

authentic vietnamese

one of my favorite restaurants in dutchtown. fresh, delicious vegetables, excellent seasoning, fresh herbs grown on site! and a little private room for small groups. this place is family run, small and intimate. eat local, eat small!

vietnamese cuisine divinely prepared!. the flavors dance on your tongue! banh mi so #1-saigon gourmet has been on the stl food scene for twenty years, and the quality of the food has only improved with time. farm-fresh and high-quality ingredients are prepared simply but oh-so-well to create layers of flavor and texture in a true celebration of vietnamese cuisine at this hidden gem of a restaurant. and yes, the vietnamese spring rolls are divinely delicious; try the special grilled marinated pork if it’s available and the chicken or shrimp spring rolls are worthy choices, too. the bahn mi sandwiches are fabulous—my husband indulged in the banh mi dat biet (signature triple crown pork sandwich with seasoned pork, specialty ham, pork slices, and pate) while i enjoyed the banh mi xiu mai (signature pork meatball sandwich). and, yes, it is worth the extra $1.50 to double up on the meat! the soups are also wonderful, my husband and i shared the special spicy beef soup that was on the daily specials board and we were not disappointed by the pops of hot, sour, salty, and sweet flavors that are layered throughout the bowl.
don’t be afraid to try anything on the menu – your mouth and stomach will thank you when you’ve enjoyed the variety.

great food and family run. hands down best vietnamese restaurant in st. louis. love the curry shrimp and the beef noodle soup. service is exceptional - always quick and friendly.

awesome food with fantastic service. #14 is my favorite, but don't forget to ask about the vegitarian items.


-----07 oct, 2011-----

not a secret. ok hands down the best vietnamese place in st louis. ingredients grown on site, fantastic menu and service like no other! we will be back!

best food ever. i had to create an account for my experience at this place. first the man who served me and my friends may have been the nicest man ever. secondly for the price the food was as good as i have ever had. i am a foodie, and this was amazing. i had a2 on the menu, i don't want to write it down wrong, and it was so good! it was shrimp with a yellow style curry. yum! the spring rolls are to die for, especially the veggie ones!

a+++

awful. period. what these restaurants want to pass off as "authentic" is ridiculous. very insulted at what they served. com thit nuong was fried bologna on plain white rice. unbelievable.

you won't be disappointed - it's hard to go wrong with the menu and the waitstaff/owners are really nice.

left still hungry. food here is alright but the portion sizes are too small. meat is cut way to thin and very few pieces. entrees are even way too small to be appetizer portions. not quite worth the price.

if they had a love it i would click it a million times! the summer rolls are amazing, so are the vermicelli bowls! i wish i lived closer!!

...they certainly exceeded our expectations, stuffed with vermicelli, loads of fresh mint, and shrimp. the tofu dish also pleasantly surprised us, both of us noting that when thinly sliced and seasoned well, tofu lacks that blah flavor we often associate with it.

best spring rolls!. love the vegi spring rolls here. as if you didn't already know. you must try their menu. there is something for everyone. but i wouldn't recommend bringing a party here. its a mom and pop place. call before. they are slow on service.

the best asian food i've ever had. by a lot. i very rarely like a restaurant to this degree. incredible food. not the best neighborhood or building, but definately worth it.

very good food but plan on a long wait for the meal. it takes so long to prepare a meal (30 mins) that the owners recommend calling in your order before arriving at the restaurant. really!