Saigon Alley

I’ve been in Sacramento for about a year, but I haven’t gotten a chance to explore too much with the pandemic. If I had visited Saigon Alley before, this would certainly not have been my first time. The food here is so much fun! They have a happy hour menu with small plate options where prices are reduce if every customer gets an entree or cocktail/mocktail, which means there’s so much variety for everyone. Out of the small plates, the beans and fried mackerel were my favorite. The chicken hearts were great as well, but they did taste a bit gamey. If you came to this Vietnamese restaurant for pho, you won’t go wrong with the Pho Saigon Alley.

Food: I got the pho bo nuong, which comes with pork short ribs. Delicious broth and everything cooked well. Also got the dynamite scallop portion is small, but it is delicious and can be turned into tapas. Garlic noodles are the best thing. Very tasty and garlicky, the noodles were nice and thick, very nice chewy texture. Tofu tacos are surprisingly good. I would like to order it but a very nice vegetarian option and delicious. Flavors were on there. The place itself is very nice and cozy. It gave like a nice chill and a relaxing vibe. The menu was simple and not too overpowering with many options. The service is very nice and respectful. They will check up on you to make sure you are fine and see if we are satisfied with the food. Parking: I went at night, so it's a little okay to find parking. Definition try finding a parking garage, and it is free on weekends.

A young, hip, and stylish Vietnamese restaurant. You’ll be welcomed to loud top 100 music and a somewhat chaotic atmosphere that manages to get the job done albeit with room for improvement. This is probably a one off day but many of the employees were preoccupied with their friends than taking good care of the customers, but I’m going to ignore that in this review. The appetizers were quite good, above average. I’d recommend the dynamite mussels. The Hanoi pho I ordered was really good! The broth was near perfect based on my relative experience of eating at over 100 other pho joints. Honestly was super impressed. The house red wine was meh. Overall, I’d say this is a 4* joint with execution but since the pho broth exceeded my expectations it gets a 5.

+1

I love this place! I come here all the time and I want to share it with everyone! They have a great menu, a lot of vegan choices as well as really good fish! The pork bahn mi tacos are to die for. Indoor and outdoor seating, great service and delicious drinks.

+1

Vitally and Ava are as unbelievable as the food and uniquely brilliant drinks. The mussels (shown) are amoung the very best single bites of food i have ever put in my mouth; I do not say this lightly.

Recommended by a local and was pleasantly pleased. 😀 so much so, we keep coming back! Trevor is amazing at what he does, his cocktails and service is so personable and we enjoy the vibes and music! Go try Pho Queue Up, and the shrimp chips, they’re a treat!

A true gem in Sacramento’s food scene. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, and Hur and the team always make you feel taken care of. The food is consistently delicious every visit, especially the garlic noodles, which are completely addicting. Portions are generous and everything is well executed. Service is excellent even on busy nights. My only complaint is the cocktails. They are tasty but loaded with so much ice that you end up with half a drink, which is frustrating. Overall, a reliably great spot that we keep coming back to.

Amazing friendly and attentive service. Best vegetarian bahn mi I’ve ever tasted. Great drinks. Very impressed with this restaurant.

Best restaurant for Vietnamese food and drinks! Friendly staff and clean environment. Perfect place for a groups or solo lunches! Full bar with fun drinks and in house syrups/extracts. Not your average Asian food place because they have original dishes not seen in other similar restaurants. Great ambiance and lighting.

A fantastic find! The service at this Vietnamese restaurant was top-notch. Our server was not only attentive but also shared interesting insights about the menu. The food was a revelation - the lemongrass chicken was tender and packed with flavor, and the shrimp summer rolls were a refreshing delight. The cozy ambiance with its subtle lighting made it a perfect spot for a relaxing meal with friends.

Truly special dining experience. I only had the 72 hour pho and it was exquisite. Everything else looks amazing. The drinks as well. Don’t miss this place.

The menu is not overwhelming and everything I tried was so good. Definitely recommend! I loved their chicken dumpling the most. Pho was great too. Tofu salt n pepper and spring rolls tasted good 👍🏼 staff were friendly and checked in time to time.

Omg!!! Love love love this place. My favorite food is Pho and hands down they have the best in Sacramento. So flavorful and the amount of meat, broth, and noodles ratio is perfect.

We’re from Bayarea and passing by from our ski trip. Found this place from Google maps. First impression: Nice ambiance, modern. Nicely decorated bars. Very friendly hosts Food: Surprisingly authentic VN food. We ordered Pho Hanoi, Garlic Noodles, Short Ribs and Fried Green Beans- all have deep flavor and great presentation. The waiting staff was very friendly and helpful as well. We definitely will come back whenever we pass by Sacramento area. I guess only one downside is that it’s a bit difficult to find an available parking nearby.

Order here! Saigon Alley Kitchen is fantastic! What we had: Pork Bahn Mi, chicken Bahn Mi, tofu egg rolls and spring rolls. Fast, great delivery and delicious, quality food. Highly recommend.

Food was great, waiter was very knowledgeable with drink options. Long Thailand was good and had a few other drinks I can’t remember. Would come back again for a date night!

Nice ambiance. Good music. Great food and they always have some kind of special drink for the season or month. Staff is friendly. They can be delayed when they get busy but that's a testament to their good food.

This is one of the best restaurants in Sacramento. Especially for a date night. They offer so many different small plates that you could eat here 2 or 3 times and not try everything. I highly recommend coming during happy hour or on Sunday (all day happy hour) to really try all their food. It is delicious and the bartenders are above and beyond as well.

Update June 2023: Stopped in for dinner with two friends. There was a wait for a table, but some bar seats opened up for us. The waiter who served us was awesome and had a nice personal touch throughout. We each ordered several dishes to create a meal. Everything came out fresh, hot and delicious. The plating was beautiful too. It was nice to see the place full and a good energy vibe throughout. Between COVID and remote work, a lot of the restaurants in the area suffered. This place seems to have managed through it and it was a great night out! Will definitely be back soon.

WONDERFUL DRINKS+WONDERFUL FOOD= WONDERFUL TIME! Oooooh they set you up perfectly with all the sauces needed if you get pho, I was NOT EXPECTING to be so incredibly full but WOW!Pictured is the Pho Bo Nuong for $21 and the Long Thailand which was a nice spin on a Thai tea.

We dropped by here for dinner because we were craving for some Vietnamese food. The atmosphere and decor were excellent. Foods were tasty and yummy, and Happy Hour for the cocktails was a plus! We really enjoyed this restaurant very much!

The weather was perfect for al fresco dining out on L Street. There was a table that fit 7 of us for my sister's birthday dinner. We enjoyed many dishes from the happy hour menu. Note, you must purchase a cocktail or mocktail in order to enjoy the $3, $4, $5 & $6 happy hour menu offerings. Well worth it though. We ordered multiples of our faves such as the Bo Tai Chum (Beef Carpaccio), Pork Skewers, Scallops, Taro Fries & Garlic Noodles to share at the table. The dishes were flavorful & filling. Our server Tyler was entertaining, hospitable & accommodated our group well. The food came out fast too. We were all happy with the service & food. We'll definitely be returning to enjoy more tasty Vietnamese dishes. Curb parking is challenging to find in midtown since it's free these days, but there is a nearby parking garage. Check this spot out if you're in the area. It won't disappoint!

We were seated without a wait, just in time before the kitchen closed too!! We ordered family style and essentially shared all plates ordered. Perfect portions, and ended the night being just the right amount of full - not overly stuffed. This was also my first experience with the broth for the pho being poured into the bowl before me - talk about fancy! Lol. The food did not disappoint, the service did not disappoint and the overall communication was great. They were upfront about the kitchen closing but at the same time we did not feel rushed. 10/10 experience.

By far the best Vietnamese restaurant in Sacramento! The Pho broth is so flavorful and natural. The Papaya Salad is fresh and excellent! The Scallops and short ribs are to die for! Highly recommended. Not to mention the service is impeccable! All the way around an EXCELLENT place. I would give 6 stars if I could! We ate the ribs so fast amd forgot to take pictures 🤣😂😆 Thank you so much!

This place is pretty nice but where here to talk about the food too. Mussels were great but the Saigon pho was fantastic. I remember visiting a few months ago and the beef pho didn’t hit but it was a different story today. Definitely hit the spot with the herbs and other flavors this time. One of the best phos I’ve had in a while! Update: recently had the pho Bo nuong (pho broth with noodles and a side of short rib). Short ribs tasted kinda burnt. Ate at the front of the house on a busy Saturday night without reservation this time and wasn’t a fan. Table space up front is pretty small and I think I got forgot about.

Kim Trail

Truly special dining experience. I only had the 72 hour pho and it was exquisite. Everything else looks amazing. The drinks as well. Don’t miss this place.

Ady

The menu is not overwhelming and everything I tried was so good. Definitely recommend! I loved their chicken dumpling the most. Pho was great too. Tofu salt n pepper and spring rolls tasted good 👍🏼 staff were friendly and checked in time to time.

Travel 4 The Sol

Omg!!! Love love love this place. My favorite food is Pho and hands down they have the best in Sacramento. So flavorful and the amount of meat, broth, and noodles ratio is perfect.

Mai Vang

Food was great, waiter was very knowledgeable with drink options. Long Thailand was good and had a few other drinks I can’t remember. Would come back again for a date night!

Tom

We’re from Bayarea and passing by from our ski trip. Found this place from Google maps. First impression: Nice ambiance, modern. Nicely decorated bars. Very friendly hosts Food: Surprisingly authentic VN food. We ordered Pho Hanoi, Garlic Noodles, Short Ribs and Fried Green Beans- all have deep flavor and great presentation. The waiting staff was very friendly and helpful as well. We definitely will come back whenever we pass by Sacramento area. I guess only one downside is that it’s a bit difficult to find an available parking nearby.

Krysta Beck

Nice ambiance. Good music. Great food and they always have some kind of special drink for the season or month. Staff is friendly. They can be delayed when they get busy but that's a testament to their good food.

Bonnie Gagnon

Order here! Saigon Alley Kitchen is fantastic! What we had: Pork Bahn Mi, chicken Bahn Mi, tofu egg rolls and spring rolls. Fast, great delivery and delicious, quality food. Highly recommend.

Alexander Christensen

This is one of the best restaurants in Sacramento. Especially for a date night. They offer so many different small plates that you could eat here 2 or 3 times and not try everything. I highly recommend coming during happy hour or on Sunday (all day happy hour) to really try all their food. It is delicious and the bartenders are above and beyond as well.

Tevister

Update June 2023: Stopped in for dinner with two friends. There was a wait for a table, but some bar seats opened up for us. The waiter who served us was awesome and had a nice personal touch throughout. We each ordered several dishes to create a meal. Everything came out fresh, hot and delicious. The plating was beautiful too. It was nice to see the place full and a good energy vibe throughout. Between COVID and remote work, a lot of the restaurants in the area suffered. This place seems to have managed through it and it was a great night out! Will definitely be back soon.

Kevin

WONDERFUL DRINKS+WONDERFUL FOOD= WONDERFUL TIME! Oooooh they set you up perfectly with all the sauces needed if you get pho, I was NOT EXPECTING to be so incredibly full but WOW!Pictured is the Pho Bo Nuong for $21 and the Long Thailand which was a nice spin on a Thai tea.

Jeff Hung

We dropped by here for dinner because we were craving for some Vietnamese food. The atmosphere and decor were excellent. Foods were tasty and yummy, and Happy Hour for the cocktails was a plus! We really enjoyed this restaurant very much!

My Kristy Nong

The weather was perfect for al fresco dining out on L Street. There was a table that fit 7 of us for my sister's birthday dinner. We enjoyed many dishes from the happy hour menu. Note, you must purchase a cocktail or mocktail in order to enjoy the $3, $4, $5 & $6 happy hour menu offerings. Well worth it though. We ordered multiples of our faves such as the Bo Tai Chum (Beef Carpaccio), Pork Skewers, Scallops, Taro Fries & Garlic Noodles to share at the table. The dishes were flavorful & filling. Our server Tyler was entertaining, hospitable & accommodated our group well. The food came out fast too. We were all happy with the service & food. We'll definitely be returning to enjoy more tasty Vietnamese dishes. Curb parking is challenging to find in midtown since it's free these days, but there is a nearby parking garage. Check this spot out if you're in the area. It won't disappoint!

Marissa Duenas

We were seated without a wait, just in time before the kitchen closed too!! We ordered family style and essentially shared all plates ordered. Perfect portions, and ended the night being just the right amount of full - not overly stuffed. This was also my first experience with the broth for the pho being poured into the bowl before me - talk about fancy! Lol. The food did not disappoint, the service did not disappoint and the overall communication was great. They were upfront about the kitchen closing but at the same time we did not feel rushed. 10/10 experience.

Em Vee

By far the best Vietnamese restaurant in Sacramento! The Pho broth is so flavorful and natural. The Papaya Salad is fresh and excellent! The Scallops and short ribs are to die for! Highly recommended. Not to mention the service is impeccable! All the way around an EXCELLENT place. I would give 6 stars if I could! We ate the ribs so fast amd forgot to take pictures 🤣😂😆 Thank you so much!

Johnny Cuestas

This place is pretty nice but where here to talk about the food too. Mussels were great but the Saigon pho was fantastic. I remember visiting a few months ago and the beef pho didn’t hit but it was a different story today. Definitely hit the spot with the herbs and other flavors this time. One of the best phos I’ve had in a while! Update: recently had the pho Bo nuong (pho broth with noodles and a side of short rib). Short ribs tasted kinda burnt. Ate at the front of the house on a busy Saturday night without reservation this time and wasn’t a fan. Table space up front is pretty small and I think I got forgot about.

Hailey C

I love this place! I come here all the time and I want to share it with everyone! They have a great menu, a lot of vegan choices as well as really good fish! The pork bahn mi tacos are to die for. Indoor and outdoor seating, great service and delicious drinks.

Dining alone, I was instantly made comfortable by the kind staff. They explained the dishes and suggested a perfect bowl of chicken pho along with icedc Vietnamese coffee. Everything was fresh, fragrant, and satisfying. The cozy décor and soft music made me feel like I’d found a little hidden gem while traveling.

This Vietnamese restaurant in Midtown Sacramento left me genuinely impressed. The broth in the pho tasted carefully layered, full of depth without feeling heavy, and the herbs were incredibly fresh. The staff maintained a warm balance between attentiveness and giving space, creating a relaxed dining experience. It felt like a place where food is prepared with intention rather than routine.

Ramona Panis

Dining alone, I was instantly made comfortable by the kind staff. They explained the dishes and suggested a perfect bowl of chicken pho along with icedc Vietnamese coffee. Everything was fresh, fragrant, and satisfying. The cozy décor and soft music made me feel like I’d found a little hidden gem while traveling.

Surprisingly enjoyed my date night here. I initially had hesitation trying this place due to fears of nonauthenticity; I've eaten a lot of good vietnamese food. Surprisingly, I enjoyed the food I got. In the spirit of ăn nhậu, which means food you eat while drinking alcohol, I loved the experience here. Where they really shine are their drinks. Jackfruit smoothie (spiked) was delicious. And the other drink was great as well. [And most importantly, presented well!! Given that the drinks around around $15 a pop] The tapas are okay. It's not the best vietnamese food I've had in my life but I was surprised to find a wide range menu like betal leaf beef (so good!!), garlic noodles (they were gracious enough to remake it without parmesan for me), and the classic spring roll. I'm excited to try the pho xlb next time and other fusion type foods. I think if you're looking to try new types of vietnamese food outside of pho, its a fun experience. My only gripe with food presentation was that a dish was presented with a big chip on it...which I don't think should be a thing at this price point. The service was amazing and the Midtown vibes are awesome here. Music is a little loud inside the restaurant but the fairy lights outside are nice.

First time here. Sat at bar. Very good and attentive service. Food was above average. Drinks were great. I think the way that the food is bring to table and presented could be a bit more sophisticated, but this may be an issue faced by all restaurants during pandemic. Will definitely try again.

Recommend gin sang cocktail and soft shell lettuce wraps. Salt and pepper shrimp is good as well. Dynamite muscles had a little too much sauce and cheese for our taste.

This our first time at a pho spot in Sacramento. The vibe inside this place was nice! There was a wait time to be seated but they did offer my party to sit at the bar area that had no wait time which was cool! We ordered our pho and the Edamame! The Edamame was a hit for us! It was really good! A good balance in flavor. Then the Pho came out and they have a unique way of serving. They bring you the bowl and then they pour you the broth at your seat which I thought was pretty cool. The pho and drinks were on the pricey side but with the ambience of the restaurant and location in midtown I can see why it’s a bit pricey. Overall I recommend this spot!

Modern and contemporary restaurant. Service was excellent here. Our servers were quick, attentive, and courteous. Saigon Alley's take on American and Vietnamese fusion is amazing and new. My Pho was good, it wasn't the best but it's good. The meat was tender and amazing. The broth is alright. The Billy Banh Mi was delicious! I would come back just for that! Overall, be prepared taste a real fusion of two cultures with different takes on a variety of dishes. I highly recommend trying out this place. A very solid 4 out 5 stars.

+4

Great food, drinks, atmosphere and service. This place gets busy during the evening so expect to wait before getting seated. We ordered the pho, chicken rice plate, taco appetizer and fried squid and all were delicious. The pho broth lacks the traditional flavors you would find at a typical Vietnamese restaurant but rather this pho has a more 'clean' taste like a diluted version of the traditional pho. The chicken rice plate was delicious, large serving size and great flavors. Appetizers were decent nothing special, I recommend getting them during happy hour.

+4

This is my second time visiting Saigon, and the food here is consistently good. My go-to dish is the Saigon Pho, which I’ve only had once, but I’m a fan of the beef broth they use—it's flavorful and rich. The first time I visited, I tried the Pho Bo Nuong and was a bit disappointed because the short ribs were a little tough. The appetizers, like the summer rolls and taro fries, are also tasty. The atmosphere is lovely, and the space has a great vibe. I’d definitely recommend Saigon if you’re looking for a reliable spot to eat. The staff is always friendly and welcoming, which adds to the overall experience.

The atmosphere was very nice, laid back, chill spot to hangout, grab some drinks, and eat. Service was decent and food came out quickly. Other than the tiny piece of hair in my food, everything was good. Could've been a slight oversight or whatever but no real complaints here. The beef short ribs were a little sweet, the tuna carpaccio, and pho were a little salty. But as always, a beer or cocktail fixes that.

Went with a friend for a late lunch on a weekend and they seat us upstairs, it wasn't bad but the place felt a little dark compared to the downstairs part of the restaurant which was very sunny with open windows, we both got the tofu pho which was amazing for a vegetarian option, the presentation was nice and the tofu stayed crispy in the broth, we both where very full and happy and had to take the rest to-go.

Leo Vaaj

The atmosphere was very nice, laid back, chill spot to hangout, grab some drinks, and eat. Service was decent and food came out quickly. Other than the tiny piece of hair in my food, everything was good. Could've been a slight oversight or whatever but no real complaints here. The beef short ribs were a little sweet, the tuna carpaccio, and pho were a little salty. But as always, a beer or cocktail fixes that.

Anjika Sinha

Went with a friend for a late lunch on a weekend and they seat us upstairs, it wasn't bad but the place felt a little dark compared to the downstairs part of the restaurant which was very sunny with open windows, we both got the tofu pho which was amazing for a vegetarian option, the presentation was nice and the tofu stayed crispy in the broth, we both where very full and happy and had to take the rest to-go.

Soup is pretty fresh, flavorful. The grilled meat pho was a little oily for me and had a slight burnt flavor but everything else that I’ve tried including the spicy lemongrass beef pho has been good. Their mango jasmine green tea is the best!!

Yassaman Niknam

Soup is pretty fresh, flavorful. The grilled meat pho was a little oily for me and had a slight burnt flavor but everything else that I’ve tried including the spicy lemongrass beef pho has been good. Their mango jasmine green tea is the best!!

Food here used to be better. Not sure if they're understaffed or what but my table ordered the sugarcane shrimp, mussels, fries and wings. The shrimp came out super fast and it was dried and did not taste fresh. Everything else was good though. Maybe we just came on an off day. The drinks are good but a little on the expensive kind.

Overall, I give this place a 3/5 stars. The location and restaurant itself is cute; however, I had to take away a couple stars for 1) the food and 2) the service. First and foremost, I didn’t find the food as great as it was before. I ordered the beef rice plate and the meat was a little overcooked and really fatty, so I wasn’t able to enjoy this meal to it’s full potential because of it. Although, everything else on the plate was appetizing. Great sized portion for a fair price. When it came down to their customer service, it was a bit hard to flag down our waiter for more water and our check; I understood that it was quite a busy day so I don’t want to say the customer service was terrible, but it would have been nice to be checked up on every once in awhile as they did for they tables around us. For the most part, it was a decent experience! Maybe try chicken or pork instead of the beef.

The food here was ok at best. We got the garlic noodles, the taro fries and the tofu pho. The best dish was the garlic noodles, they were simple and tasty. The pho was sadly the worst it just had so many bad flavors mixed it. But the reason I am not going back is because the service was horrible. They were friendly but not helpful, like when they brought it the garlic noodles but didn't give us any utensils, not helpful.