This is a great Vietnamese restaurant in St. Louis. We had a party of eight and they were able to make a reservation and had a nice round table. Service was excellent.
The beef spring roll was quite good. And the seafood we got had a very subtle flavorful sauce.
It looks like number 121 is one of the most popular dishes there and someone in our party got it and really loved it.
The reason we spent so much was that we split a couple bottles of wine and so $30 of our bill was one of the bottles of wine. Prices are pretty reasonable
The free parking lot is right across the street and covered.
Several people from various states, including me from Tx, followed me to this establishment for dinner this evening. Sam our server did a wonderful job handling our 6 top. We enjoyed several items from around the menu. Vegetables were crisp and fresh, broths were rich, and the happy belly smiles surrounded the table.
After all the raving reviews I was soooooo hoping for โ5star with all the frillsโ Vietnamese food. Donโt get me wrong: the food was good, the flavour was good, the service was good, everything was perfectly in order.
At the same time, for me, the food was not exceptional. While good by mid-west standards it was a far cry from the fresh & memorable flavours on every street corner of SE Asia. While there was flavour was there, it had been blunted into a sweeter and fattier direction that, over the years i suspect, Americanised or at least Westernized the dishes. Perhaps the thousands of 5star reviews led to too high expectations, but much of the intrigue of Asia was, for me, missing in the dishes.
The decor also had a standard, strip-mall eatery feel about it, adding to the unexceptional impression.
![4]( "Recensione")
๐๐ Mai Lee: A Flavorful Journey to East-Asian Cuisine ๐ฑ๐ฅข
Rating: 4/5 stars, "Good" - A Vietnamese and Chinese culinary haven tucked away at 8396 MUSICK MEMORIAL DRIVE.
๐ฎ Decor: Understated Simplicity ๐๐ฅก
Walking into Mai Lee, you might feel like someone decided to furnish the restaurant with the most standard of tables, wallpaper, and flooring. It's an unpretentious, no-frills setting where the focus is undoubtedly on the food.
๐โโ๏ธ Service: Unassuming Efficiency ๐๐ฅ
Service here is straightforward - you're greeted, your orders are taken, and beyond that, it's a bit of a solo journey. While it's not the pinnacle of personalized service, it efficiently ensures you're here for one thing: the food.
๐ Food: A Flavorful Delight ๐ถ๏ธ๐ฒ
Mai Lee came highly recommended, especially for their pho and Vietnamese cuisine. And I concur. In a city where genuinely flavorful East-Asian dishes can be a rarity, Mai Lee delivers.
For my culinary vetting, I opted for the Pad Thai. Typically my go-to for assessing an eatery, it exceeded expectations. The Thai-style rice noodles, stir-fried with a medley of beef, chicken, shrimp, and assorted vegetables, topped with peanuts and served with fish sauce, were a symphony of flavors. ๐ค๐
My girlfriend ventured for #60: Bun Xao Rau Cai - vermicelli noodles crowned with a stir-fried mix of vegetables and crushed peanuts bathed in a sate sauce. Both dishes held their own in the realm of taste and authenticity.
๐ Night's Highlight: Meeting a Saint Louis Legend ๐ค๐คฉ
As if the scrumptious food wasn't enough, our evening was elevated by the presence of the fantastic Nikki Glaser, a true Saint Louis treasure. We couldn't resist playfully "Lady and the Tramp"-ing our way through our meal while in the presence of comedy royalty. ๐๐
Mai Lee may not bedazzle you with fancy decor or lavish service, but it's a place where flavor reigns supreme. For those seeking a genuine East-Asian culinary journey in STL, this unassuming gem is worth a visit. With delightful dishes that hit all the right notes, it's an experience that'll leave your taste buds singing. ๐ฅข๐ฒ
If you have more reviews or questions, feel free to ask! ๐๐ด
Mai Lee was an authentic delight to visit. It a bit small but the food is really worth it. They generally don't take reservations but they fit us in comfortably since out party was big. I ordered their special pork stir fry in hot chilli and lemongrasss and it was amazingly delicious. The portion was huge as well. Also recommend their St Paul Sandwich.
adventures with FLY Frances Youngblood
+5
The service was fast and the food was delicious! We had the beef Pho with meatballs, plain beef oho and curried shrimp and potstickers for an appetizer. Get them all! It was all delicious!
Super friendly and fast service. Menu is extensive, with around 200 options so it takes us a while to find what we enjoy. But the food is amazing and always is. We ordered the pad thai, Thai iced tea, and mini shrimp rolls. Everything was fresh and flavorful.
Tried pho bo at different places - this is the best ever!! Delicious soup, friendly staff, quick service. Park around Best Buy, walk 2 min.
Prior to our trip I had done some research on unique St. Louis food the St. Paul Sandwich was the last I needed to check-off. Sooooo worth the wait. I have always loved egg foo young so this was a no brainer. Let me tell you, it did not disappoint! Words are hard to describe it, but itโs like a BLT, but with a delicious egg foo young patty instead of bacon (a BLEFY?). Anyway, if you are in the area order this now! I only wish we had them at home.
Best best eatery if youโre around Brentwood. Service is wonderful as well. We will definitely be back .
This food is authentic and we tried multiple dishes, all of them we loved. I liked their chili oil so much I bought some to go. The service staff was very knowledgeable about the menu and helpful. Will definitely go back many times any time we want Viet food.
Update: visited St. Louis earlier this year 2023 ordering and picking up food from Mai Lee. The salad was delicious as well as the pho!
There is much to be stated about Mai Lee. The food was phenomenal. Having frequented a few Vietnamese restaurants, this one easily tops my list. From appetizers to pho, the meal was absolutely delicious. If I had one complaint, and I do, it was the initial start of services. I easily sat 10-15 minutes before being approached by a waiter. However, after ordering, he was very attentive and consistently informed me when the food would come out. Would I visit again, absolutely (when in St. Louis). Every single bite was delicious, as I type, I'm craving more.
The Bun Bo Hue was delectable. The meat was perfectly tender, and the broth had a light spice. I did ask for some extra spice on the side which gave me the kick level I prefer.
The spring rolls were fresh and packed full of shrimp and pork. The hoisin dipping sauce provided the perfect sound and salty pairing.
The servers were amiable, and we were served quickly.
The location can be easy to miss, tucked into the corner of some parking garages, but it is spacious and inviting inside.
This place is heaven, they serve up the most authentic Vietnamese food in St. Louis. Our server Lan, was awesome!
We got the specials stir-fry lobster dish with ginger sauce and scallion, braised catfish (ca kho tho) and (canh chua ca) sour soup with fish. It comes with with rice and trust me put the braised fish sauce on the rice. Youโll thank me later!
Place was jumpinโ on a sunday night. Had one table in the bar area by the window. It was perfect. great service and not too quick, not too slow. The food is top notch. The egg drop soup to me is among the best! its by a parking garage so ample parking. Price is $$ so pretty good!
Maria del Carmen Marmolejo
+5
I had an amazing experience. When I arrived the place was full of people and the waiting time was 20 min. but it only ended up being like 8 minutes. The service was attentive and friendly. The food was of ultimate quality and all the flavors were just perfect! I would definitely recommend this place and will continue to go there to try more of their fantastic menu. 10 out of 10!
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