Sao Sao serves a diverse selection of authentic Vietnamese cuisine centered on traditional preparations and robust flavor profiles. The menu features classic staples such as aromatic pho broths simmered for extended periods and a variety of fresh spring rolls accompanied by savory dipping sauces. Diners find an extensive array of noodle bowls topped with grilled meats, herbs, and crushed peanuts alongside crispy banh mi sandwiches that reflect authentic culinary techniques. The establishment focuses on providing consistent plates that emphasize balance between salty, sweet, and spicy elements characteristic of Southeast Asian cooking. This space maintains a focused approach to meal preparation that prioritizes ingredient quality and regional authenticity across every dish served. The interior environment facilitates a straightforward dining experience suitable for those seeking reliable, traditional staples within a contemporary setting.
Sao Sao is widely regarded by many diners as a go-to spot for delicious, fresh, and generously portioned Vietnamese cuisine, with the pho and General Sao chicken receiving frequent praise. While many guests enjoy the bright, cute, and cozy atmosphere, finding the staff friendly and the service efficient, experiences can be inconsistent. Some patrons report frustrations regarding cleanliness, long wait times, occasional errors with takeout orders, or a decline in food quality. Despite mixed feedback concerning authenticity and service speed, the restaurant remains a popular choice for many due to its reasonable prices and welcoming environment.
Food was ok. The meat was not very fresh in the pho, almost slimey. We had it delivered & the tops of both our soups' broth containers were off & the broth was delivered partly just... In a bag... It was pretty cold when it arrived.
Sadly, I have to update my review. The quality has really gone down lately, the herbs aren't as fresh as before, & the broth has become greasy & bad-tasting. When we complained, instead of replacing it properly, they just dumped out the old broth & poured the new one on top, leaving bits of bone marrow stuck around the rim.
It also feels like they're understaffed now, service is slower, they forget small things, & I was even charged extra for something that used to be included. It's a shame, because this used to be my favorite pho spot with fresh food, fair prices, & a great ambiance. I truly hope they bring back the quality they once had.
Oct 6, 2025
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Let's give the compliment where is due. The Place looks great, the menu has great potential. The items looked attractive & well thought out. But for us the most important point is the execution/taste of the food. & somewhat the service. We tried the curry chicken. The beef pho, the bun chicken bowl & the chicken vermicelli soupe/pho. Overall the taste of food was very disappointing. - The curry is too acidic, flavour profile not well balanced & not very complexe. We love Asian curries. Have tried 30+ Asian curry restaurant in Canada, & 50+ asians curries around the world. This is one of the worst. - the bun don't have enough authentic sauce/punch of flavour. It was rather blend. - the soups are good enough. Probably the best item out of what we were able to try at the restaurant. But after trying at least 20+ Vietnamese restaurant around Montreal. I would say it's a little below average. Ingredients are fresh. No problem there. The decors are cute. The service was slow, but the servers are nice & came to apologies a few times as they forgot us a few times & spilled hot soupe almost on my toodler. Overall feels this restaurant has potential, but definitely need a few adjustment in term of flavour execution.
I wanted to like this place, I really did. MC pho is my Brossard go-to pho restaurant but it's closed today, I guess it wouldn't hurt if I'd try a new place, Sao Sao was jumping to my face, however it didn't stand up to my expectation...at all. The restaurant is actually well decorated. The server was nice & cute, too. BUT, the spicy beef rice noodles, also known as bun bow hue, were a big miss to me. First of all, the noodles were way too undercooked. When it comes to cook these kind of thick rice noodles , you have to soak them into hot water for a couple of hours ( at least 30 minutes), then you can cook them into perfection, however, I don't think the cook here knows this technique like every other pho restaurants out there. The rice noodles are too hard to chew. Even bending them is difficult. Second, the broth was not even hot, not tasty at all. This lemongrass flavor was missing, due to the lemongrass chunck that they use was sitting in the fridge too long, I assume. & the meat was nearly fresh, for spicy beef soup , I don't expect lots of flavorless prok stew in there. Big disappointment. The curry chicken bowl (p4)was pretty standard. That was the only reason that I rate this place 3 stars. Oh, one last thing, they don't have basil ...
The dining experience at Sao Sao was truly exceptional. From the moment we entered, the welcoming atmosphere & attentive staff made us feel right at home. The menu offered a delightful selection of dishes, each expertly crafted with fresh, high-quality ingredients. Every bite was delightful, & I can't wait to return to Sao Sao to explore more of their delicious creations. Highly recommended indeed!
