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Saigon Restaurant in Santa Barbara

4 (91) 721 Chapala St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, United States

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Location on the map

Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara County, California, US

Phone: +1 805-964-0909
Site: http://saigonsantabarbara.com/

Opening hours

Monday:11 AM–9 PM
Tuesday:11 AM–9 PM
Wednesday:11 AM–9 PM
Thursday:11 AM–9 PM
Friday:11 AM–9 PM
Saturday:11 AM–9 PM
Sunday:11 AM–9 PM

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Total reviews rating 4

91 Reviews for Saigon Restaurant 2024:

Review №1

2022-06-21 02:21:22

Solid flavors and ok portion size. We both had the pho. The special had a nice assortment of different meats. Outdoor dining area is nice. Note that even though it looks like a full service restaurant, you have to order at the counter in back and then they bring the food out to you.

Review №2

2023-09-14 03:37:44

Authentic, tasty 😋.. happy hour 12 to 5 everyday

Review №3

2022-01-25 15:14:33

Best Vegetarian (Vegan) Pho broth ever (garlic and ginger based). The turmeric version is similar with a little kick, and if you get either soup without Tofu, then it is also truly soy-free, delicious, and a good portion. Will definitely be coming back!

Review №4

2019-01-16 10:11:04

Actually very good food. Be warned that the heating seems to be always off so bring a winter coat and maybe a hat. Of the few times I’ve been there they usually forget to bring something out, luckily they are very fast so they can bring it quick. It may honestly just be better to order takeout instead of eating at the restaurant, though the wait staff are very nice.

Review №5

2023-01-27 00:08:24

Salmon curry rice tastes not bad, and there’s many salmon chunks inside

Review №6

2020-09-30 02:51:04

I ordered chicken noodle soup through door dash and they sent me with uncooked meat. I called, the old lady said that I ordered incorrectly. I looked at receipt and it was correct. I told her i ordered correctly and she just argued with me. I went in, instead of apologizing after I showed her she was incorrect, she seemed unapologetic. I told her that she just losta customer for life and she said thats fine like she didnt care. During this time we need to support restaurants that try and care about their customers. This is not the first time they got my order incorrect. No customer service whatsoever. One time I was picking up my lunch and someone complaned about having hair in their food. Today was last day I will be going there. Door dash is refusing to refund me my delivery fee despite it being saigons fault and I had to drive all the way out there to prove they were wrong. Saigon also refusing to refund me because they say its door dashes responsibilty. Please dont patron this restaurant anymore. They dont deserve your loyalty.

Review №7

2022-07-22 13:46:27

Very yummy rice vernacelli noodles salad dish, pleasant outdoor seating. The downside is that both times Ive come, there seemed to be no one behind the counter to get people or to take my order. Had to give up and seat myself, then come back again later. I think they operate on 2 staff members only maybe? One to cook, & one counter/wait staff? But the food is delicious.

Review №8

2022-04-19 01:04:28

Yum!The service is great, the restaurant is super clean and the food is soooo good!I got veggie broth with a side of rice noodles which usually confuses most restaurants, but they didn’t hesitate with my off-menu request. The broth was super flavorful and the noodles were cooked perfectly so that when I got back home(to Carp), they weren’t mushy or overcooked.My partner got the rare beef pho and loved it. He said the broth was really good and the meat and noodles were perfect.It was ready quick and everything was packaged well for a to-go order. Had a great experience and will be going back when I’m in the area.

Review №9

2022-01-29 21:24:09

Their chicken pho tastes like how my mom would make it! When I feel homesick, I love to come here. The atmosphere is very charming, and the food is authentic. I always ask for a second serving of noodles to finish up my broth!

Review №10

2020-07-27 22:20:54

Unfortunately, both of my recent take-out experiences with this restaurant were unacceptable. I will do my best to describe.Visit 1: Called ahead, was told food would be ready in 15 minutes. Showed up 20 minutes later and food was not ready. Sat and waited over half an hour before our food was ready. Not great.Visit 2: Called ahead, and placed an order for a couple of entrees and some dumplings. We arrive at the restaurant and the woman confirms the order with us twice. We pay and leave.Once we got home we realized that the dumplings were not included in our order, but we were still charged for them. We call the restaurant and they insisted we drive back to pick them up, which we didnt want to do. Instead, I requested a refund for the amount of the dumplings and the woman refused to honor my request. She would not issue a refund for such a small amount and insisted the we come back again.The employee of the restaurant assured us that if we let her know that she made a mistake previously that she would make it up to us by giving us extra food on our next visit. Unfortunately, she didnt ask for our name, or take down any of our information. Not the slightest bit reassuring...This is beyond poor customer service. This restaurant made a mistake, and all it would have taken to smooth it over was a small refund. Instead, they made their point.

Review №11

2022-05-14 07:28:36

Salmon curry with noodle, you’re welcome.Or are you sick? The chicken pho in beef broth.Been coming to Saigon’s various Santa Barbara locations for 15 years, and absolutely love the family that owns/operates and food they make.

Review №12

2022-02-07 21:09:15

Is this looking like a fresh fried rice? And I waited around 30 minutes go getting this.

Review №13

2014-04-16 04:38:47

They could at least get another star if the service there improves! Always wonder why this place seems empty comparing with Fresco and Mandarin Palace in the same shopping area. I always thought Vietnamese people are friendly but our experience this time was the worst. Might try their other 2 locations next time! Last weekend we met with a girlfriend and her girls there-- the food was good as usual, salmon curry, pho, and egg rolls. One of our girls spilled water after sitting down, and as we were trying to clean up after ourselves and apologizing to the waiter-- he didnt seem to care to respond. Later the water glass wasnt filled up so we brought the empty glass over and it never came back with water until we asked another server. The check came at the end and was set on one side of the table, I guess we were too late to pay because he came by to pick up the check and toss it in the middle of the table so we could see it and pay?? Still left a decent tip but might not next time!!! Really dampened our fun time with friends!

Review №14

2014-03-05 04:03:37

I have eaten here several times. I will go back again. I have only ordered the Chicken Curry Rice and Egg rolls. The rice portion was more than enough. The flavor excellent. Food is good. Price is great. The ambiance is also good. I find the service average at best. I ask for water at room temp, no ice. The wait staff seem flustered. I get warm tap water or ice cold water with no ice. What I want is water at room temp or tepid. Dont understand why that is so hard. I will go back and just bring my own water.

Review №15

2018-03-11 04:08:56

Mediocre and and underwhelming. My friend and I were feeling peckish for a quick bite and ordered the spring rolls and papaya salad. The papaya had obviously been sitting in the fridge for too long, contributing to a flaccid and sad salad by its eponymous fruit. About the spring rolls: perhaps its unfair to compare them to the ones Ive had in SE Asia, but they were lacking in filling, and the sauce was too sweet. Furthermore, this was all bit too expensive for the quality of food we received. Perhaps their main dishes are better, but I wont be visiting again anytime soon.

Review №16

2019-10-23 14:52:10

The food was great, though the curry was a bit too salty, unlike my prior visit. The missing star is for the less than perfect service. English communication was more difficult than expected, even for a Vietnamese restaurant. No dessert offered, and too long a wait for the check.

Review №17

2020-05-27 01:24:08

Terrible service. I called because I was missing 3/5 items on My order. The owner raised her voice and continuously spoke over me. At that point I would have rather had a refund because I was afraid of what the cooks may have done with my food, the way she acted.In this time of COVID, Americans have done their best not to exclude ANYONE. This virus has put all of us on an equal plane for the most part because we are all going through a tough time because of the virus.Remember that.Humble yourselves. Every small shop, owner, big business and, more so, small business needs the support.Stop acting entitled. You’re no longer on that playing field. Stop being stingy and most of all rude. I need my fried rice as much as you need my service❤️. Much love. I hope you all flourish but I hope you all are humbled as well. 👍🏽

Review №18

2017-04-28 14:11:39

This place is great. I come here all the time and always leave full and happy. It is never super packed so you can enjoy a nice meal without having to listen to someone elses conversation.I love the rare beef combination rice noodle soup (#65), it is huge and costs $10. My other favorite is their curry rice noodle soup because it has a mild curry flavor versus being overwhelmed with strong curry and is more of a chowder than soup, just spice it how you like and it is consistently delicious.This is seriously one of my favorite restaurants in town and Ive lived here most of my life. The only reason Im rating them is to help the business, it truly is a locals spot and I hope it does not become overcrowded with tourists.

Review №19

2016-07-30 04:39:33

OMG, tonight was the worst experience EVER! Used to love this place, but horrible experience. I called to place a to go order, and the lady was snappy (I was very polite the whole time) and she said 20 mins. I showed up 25 mins later, and nothing was made. The waiter went back to check and came back saying they wouldnt make.it until he could show proof I paid (not making this up!). I waited another 10 minutes and then finally got my food. When I got home the brown rice was hard as a rock and you could tell the dish was rushed and sloppy. Sorry, but thats the last time I eat here. The service from the owner (lady) has steadily gotten worse, I used to eat here all the time, but not anymore.

Review №20

2016-03-25 07:52:04

I eat at Saigon often, but todays dining experience there left my friend and I feeling uncomfortable about the way the staff treated us. My friend only wanted the spring roll appetizer while I was a little hungrier and ordered the turmeric noodle soup along with a side of shrimp spring rolls. The waitress we had looked at my friend in surprise and continued to ask her why she did not want anything else to the point where my friend felt like she was being pressured to order more.When my order came, the waitress asked whether we wanted to share the soup that I had ordered so that she can get more spoons and bowls. I told her that my friend would not have any of the soup, and she seemed offended and repeated what I said back to me in a mocking tone of voice, which made it seem like she was trying to guilt me for not trying to make my friend order/eat more.

Review №21

2022-06-22 18:02:39

Ive eaten here several times. It is clean and convenient with lots of parking! The food is delicious and its convenient when I shop on that end at the strip mall.

Review №22

2021-03-22 05:06:02

So I got Shrimp Fried Rice and all of the shrimps were under cooked and tasted like dish water. I feel so bad for leaving a review like this because the girl who took my order was super nice and friendly but Im just so shocked by the quality of the food.

Review №23

2022-02-17 22:06:03

Only one size pho but very good 👍 Their fish sauce is very tasty. Pricey but you can either share or take home for another meal.

Review №24

2018-12-20 05:04:30

Got our take out order wrong.We challenged it when we noticed the incorrect meal description on our receipt but were assured that (the receipt) was a mistake. We didnt check the food we were given until we got home .Food was dumped as not able to eat due to allergies.Really annoyed.

Review №25

2014-12-16 23:25:17

The food and flavor is some of the best Vietnamese in town.That said, the service is absolutely abysmal, for example today we were sat and ignored for nearly 20 minutes, food arrived at about an hour in. A coworker had ordered tea, that finally after prompting twice arrived after we were nearly done eating. The high-school level servers clearly couldnt care less about visitors. So not a lunch destination unless you can take 2 hour lunches. If its raining, the floor will be slippery so watch out.

Review №26

2019-01-06 05:09:40

I dont mean to Laos up their business, they have perfectly good food, but the service is horrendous. Based on that Im surprised Sai isnt long gon. Service has always been bad here, but last time was the last straw I could not get the servers attention, the entree was late and I told her the service had been poor. She argued with me and told me cant you see how busy I am as I noted she had two tables with two people to serve. Im using my noodle and going to their other location DT.

Review №27

2015-12-27 08:34:18

Surprisingly overlooked Vietnamese restaurant with several locations in Santa Barbara. The dining room is inexpertly decorated, and the service is variable, but the food is fresh and flavorful and healthy and joyful. So much sprouts, basil, and cilantro. Lemonade and young coconut are your go-to drinks.

Review №28

2022-07-24 07:07:03

Delicious, real delicious. Revival.

Review №29

2017-05-16 17:03:56

Best Vietnamese food in Santa Barbara, in my opinion. Some of the dishes are kinda costly, but the pho, bun, and great curries are inexpensive. And large portions: I usually take half my dish home for lunch the next day. In the past service was spotty, but our last visit was very efficient and friendly.

Review №30

2018-04-04 01:32:22

Definitely not authentic. Never had Phoe like this place. Over priced. $12 for regular Pho? Shrimp fried rice $15, ain not removed? Taste horrible. No where near compare to bigger city Pho.

Review №31

2017-10-13 23:22:28

This place has pretty good Vietnamese food--for Santa Barbara. Coming from San Jose (where its impossible not to stumble into an eatery run by Vietnamese grandparents) I cant say the food is excellent or savory enough. However since there are few options here, this is a good choice.

Review №32

2012-11-05 02:57:47

I have eaten here many times. I find it to be one of the best and most affordable restaurants in the area. In fact, I will be eating there tonight. You cant beat Saigon for good cheap eats. It is simply wonderful.

Review №33

2019-07-21 04:37:50

The best was the spring rolls.

Review №34

2016-10-30 23:05:06

The staff is not worth a damn rude we almost walked out and the couple next to us did leave. I feel terrible but Im compelled to speak to the owners about several issues we had at our visit but I honestly cant wait to get out of here and we havent even gotten our food hopefully the chef does a better job than the rest of the employees here...

Review №35

2021-11-18 22:31:59

Always amazing!! They have a new Vegetarian menu. With soy chicken and Beef. Definitely recommend trying it out.

Review №36

2016-03-11 01:35:31

Phenomenal curry. Great wine. Great prices. Super healthy. Ive been back 3 times in 2 weeks since I discovered this place. Highly recommend!

Review №37

2022-02-13 06:04:45

The Saigon Restaurant in Santa Barbara has a good selection of Vietnamese dishes. I had the Orange shrimp which was very good.

Review №38

2015-11-17 08:58:25

Its okay in a pinch. The broth isnt too fragrant, the noodles are stuck together and dont offer fresh noodles. Kinda a disappointment when compared to places in Westminster.

Review №39

2022-10-11 14:21:42

Bring back the ducky curry w/rice noodles.It was your best dish a the old location

Review №40

2019-04-11 23:35:07

Great selection of typical menu items and a good variety of pho. Seating is plentiful and not cramped. Free parking is right outside the door.

Review №41

2015-01-03 21:52:00

Its a very clean restaurant. The service is good. The food is very delicious even though I live in OC and I loved to come to eat here when I came through this area.

Review №42

2018-03-16 18:45:26

We got sweet and sour pork and chicken curry. Pork and chicken were well cooked, but flavors werent very exciting.

Review №43

2017-12-18 03:21:29

Pho is only decent and the portions were small for the price. Also they cooked the heck out of the beef for my rare beef pho, why?

Review №44

2022-11-03 03:30:52

Daughter likes it so tried it with good portions and prices.

Review №45

2022-12-09 08:24:29

Lovely soup and noodles. Good service and tea was delicious.

Review №46

2022-04-17 20:18:13

The food was too greasy and salty. The price is high for the portion size and quality.

Review №47

2013-08-05 06:51:27

Excellent tofu pho for $9.00. While I cannot comment on portions of anything else since this is all we had, I can say the pho portions were certainly sufficient.

Review №48

2017-07-06 20:08:22

Didnt take notes when ordering, so forgot our order. and charge 18% tips for the party over 5,.even the service was not good at all.

Review №49

2018-12-23 00:55:17

We stopped for a bowl of Pho. Excellent flavor in both the vegetarian and beef varieties. Friendly servers.

Review №50

2015-03-22 02:18:48

Great place, always has a table open with no waiting, love the tofu curry. Very nice waitstaff and awesome coffee too!

Review №51

2018-10-20 02:18:09

Saigon is by far one of the best restaurants Ive ever been to you cant beat the food that comes out of this place theyll make whatever you want even if they dont have it on the menu best ever

Review №52

2015-11-30 01:28:49

Huge selection of food . It all looks good. Somehow doesnt taste good. +Terrible service . dirty plates .

Review №53

2017-03-03 19:22:57

Love this place! Some of the best Vietnamese Ive ever had. Staff are always super friendly and the owners are amazing

Review №54

2019-09-05 03:46:08

Food great. When you need veggies or hot soup. Curries delicious.

Review №55

2021-03-08 03:37:00

The girl in the front was rude and ignored me every chance she could. I had to wait 45 minutes for my food.

Review №56

2021-05-23 20:24:22

Great place everything was great and if ur craving pho soap this place is the spot.

Review №57

2019-01-25 08:18:21

Good tastes of home far away

Review №58

2018-11-01 20:09:13

Love the fresh and healthy food here. Beautiful decor as well.

Review №59

2018-12-15 06:57:19

This place doesnt suck but there are definitely better places. Nice prices.Its alright

Review №60

2022-04-25 20:47:07

Very decent Vietnamese restaurant! And thats rare!

Review №61

2019-08-21 20:08:03

Good food! I go there because its also fast

Review №62

2022-08-06 23:30:32

Something happened to this place. The pho sucks now.

Review №63

2022-06-19 02:17:40

I like the fried rice and pho chicken

Review №64

2021-10-12 21:18:47

Excellent non-meat options and fantastic friendly service.

Review №65

2018-11-13 01:42:16

Really good food. I really liked the curry

Review №66

2020-07-30 19:41:40

Nice location and friendly staff, quickly received food.

Review №67

2016-10-31 22:32:07

Good food with a price thats a tad too high.

Review №68

2022-10-01 21:07:40

Closed / Out of business (10/1/2022)

Review №69

2018-11-04 21:09:44

Great Udon noodle stir fry with veggies!

Review №70

2019-07-31 15:25:23

Good food I will come back

Review №71

2022-04-12 15:26:04

Friendly staff and authentic food

Review №72

2017-07-09 04:22:07

Great food - chicken curry.

Review №73

2016-05-13 02:30:46

Always good. Love this place

Review №74

2017-01-26 01:36:36

The vermicelli with beef and shrimp is to die for!

Review №75

2021-03-12 04:40:44

Great pho

Review №76

2019-11-03 21:43:26

Great quality food.

Review №77

2019-02-21 04:41:34

Great food and selection

Review №78

2019-03-22 23:17:19

Sea food plates are off the hook!

Review №79

2017-07-13 01:53:04

Overpriced, food is questionable

Review №80

2019-01-24 01:09:12

#healthy #delish

Review №81

2018-10-29 02:37:00

Great food.

Review №82

2019-03-28 04:24:59

A whole lot of noodles!

Review №83

2017-06-21 03:31:50

Always good!

Review №84

2019-07-07 21:08:44

I will be back!

Review №85

2019-09-13 05:20:46

McDonalds is McDonalds is McDonalds....

Review №86

2022-02-12 23:22:51

Food delicious

Review №87

2019-05-27 08:16:02

Great place

Review №88

2023-06-06 20:23:18

Very delicious and served quickly

Review №89

2021-08-09 00:32:28

Excellent service and delicious food mmmmm.....

Review №90

2022-07-25 21:34:10

Place!

Review №91

2020-12-08 18:00:26

Super, as its name says, very comfortable place