Sao Nam

I came here because of the high reviews and was really craving authentic Vietnamese food, but unfortunately it was a big letdown. When my sister and I arrived, we were only informed after sitting down that they could only accept cash because their card machine was “down.” They even suggested we walk to the bank across the street to withdraw money, which felt quite unprofessional. As for the food, it was far from Michelin quality. The rice paper on the spring rolls had already dried out when served, and overall the dishes lacked flavor and authenticity. It felt more like a tourist trap than a genuine dining experience, and I regret falling for it. Definitely a one time visit for me, I won’t be coming back. To the owner: You cannot dismiss a customer’s review just because it points out the obvious issues. If I was upset from the start, I wouldn’t have ordered four dishes for two people, I gave your restaurant an honest try, and it was a huge letdown. Your staff failed to mention the cash-only payment when we were welcomed, which is unacceptable. Blaming my disappointment on “not understanding” your card system being down is insulting. I didn’t dislike the food because of the payment issue, I disliked it because it simply wasn’t good. Instead of getting defensive, take responsibility and improve. Stop being emotional and learn to handle criticism like a professional.

Delicious food but quite small serves for the prices. We shared spring rolls - very moorish The prawn & mangosteen is great flavour but seriously 3 prawns in the dish is all. The pancake is a standout dish with tons of superb fresh herbs but again barely any prawns & cut in half at that. The lamb dish was our least favourite. Their lemon & ginger drink is excellent

22 Jun 2025, Sunday, 6pm I ordered Passion Fruit Seabass RM56 and it wasn't as good as yesterday. The sauce is less and more dry. Fish is a little dry, definitely not as good as yesterday. 3 stars for food. I think the food quality varies so it depends on diners luck. Wished the food continues to live up to it's reputation. 22 Jun 2025, Sunday, 12noon I'm back for lunch, can't wait to dry other dishes. I ordered the Squid Salad RM52 with cucumber, carrot, onion, mint, holy basil and Chinese celery in Sao Nam fish sauce. The taste was great but unfortunately some squid pieces were too hard to chew on. My main course is Fish in Dill RM46, boneless salmon marinated in sour rice & turmeric and then grilled. The sauce is indeed very sour. The salmon was too dry, I had to pour all the sauce on the salmon to give it some juice. Both salad and main course were not as good as the previous meal. Dessert is Banana Freeze RM18.80, ripe banana, coconut milk with grated coconut and peanuts. Frozen and served with chocolate topping. I didn't like it, probably too full to enjoy it. Hot Arabica Coffee with sweeten milk RM18.80 tasted great like coffee toffee. Overall, food for today is 3 stars. 21 Jun 2025, Saturday, 6pm This is a restaurant hidden away in a small lane and I would never discover it if I didn't take an evening walk near Jalan Alor where all the tourists are crowded. The place is dim and plays relaxing jazzy music, which I love. I could drink and sit here all night if the place isn't filled. I ordered Arabica hot coffee with milk RM18.80, less sweet, and it was perfect! Strong and memorable without being bitter, like coffee toffee. It tasted great even after it cools like. It was like drinking a sweet coffee toffee dessert. OMG! The Mangosteen and Prawn Salad RM60 is soooooo good! It's bursting with a tangy and sweet taste of the mangosteen, topped with the flavorful chicken slices and dried squid. I love it!! The main course is Passion Fruit Seabass RM56 and again, it tastes exceptional and unforgettable. I didn't have good appetite for the past two weeks due to my cough but this dish makes me feel hungry again. Large serving so definitely enough for the hungry ones. Too bad tomorrow is my last day in KL. I want to come for lunch and dinner! This is my best meal in 5 days! Total bill is RM159.05.

For over 10 years I have been coming to this restaurant and it never disappoints. It is always good to be greeted by Justin who has been working here for many years and is a great host! The menu has lots of different dishes which are originally Vietnamese and some specialties by the chef. One of my all time favourites is the mangosteen salad, only available when the mangosteen is in season. Must try are the starters and the Vietnamese pancake with chicken&shrimp. I do understand the Michelin Recommendation!

The grilled chicken is tender, not overpowering at the first bite but gradually fragrant, making you want to keep eating. The presentation is nice, though it could be enhanced with herbs that pair well with the chicken. The smoothie is rich and thick, but the steel straw provided making it hard to drink. Staff are friendly and helpful. Worth a try. :)

I was looking for Vietnamese restaurants in the area to try. Found this one with highest review ratings. Other than it was a bit dark inside (dinner time) for my old eyes to read the menu, everything else was very good. I've recommended this restaurant to a few friends who traveled to Kuala Lumpur.

SAO NAM earns its mention in the Michelin Guide for good reason. The starters are truly outstanding—each one a treat for the taste buds and absolutely worth ordering. In fact, we highly recommend focusing on the appetizers; who even needs mains when the small plates are this good? A reservation is a smart idea, as the place is popular. We were fortunate to get a table right away, but it’s not guaranteed. The restaurant tends to attract many tourists, while there are fewer locals, yet it remains a highly recommendable spot. If you’re seeking a memorable dining experience with exceptional starters, Congkak should be at the top of your list.

Been visiting Vietnam for the past twenty+ years for work. Funny to say : this place reminds me of the food i had in Vietnam - that is, it is not a Malaysian or tweaked version for tourists. This is as good as one can get without visiting Vietnam. Two of us ordered the following for sharing : 1) prawn fresh spring rolls - oh this was so fresh and wonderful. The sauce that came with it was so good, we kept it to go with our rice 2) fish fillet in caramelized sauce - this claypot dish was so well prepared, it brought back memory of us eating Cha Ca in Hanoi somehow 3) boiled okra in tomato puree sauce - this dish was so simple and fresh, when eaten with the puree sauce, it was mind bending 4) a bowl of rice to eat with the above dishes. It came in a nice coconut bowl Less I forget, the fresh lime juice with ginger was a killer. Please give it a try. As we didnt make any reservation, we sat outside in the little garden. We were the first to be sitted there. Within 10-15 mins, all tables outside were taken by walk-in customers Highly recommended

Food was absolutely delicious. Service was rather fast. Staff were friendly. The little outdoor area where they had set the tables was beautiful. We ordered the spring roll and the beef salad and both had lots of fresh herbs in there and were so fresh.

Located at tengkat tong shin, parking can be a hassle sometimes. The restaurant has a very warm feeling and the decor inside is quite classy. It is ashame that on my visit there's no mangosteen and prawn salad since it is not mangosteen season. Thankfully the prawn salad was a hit though I didn't fancy the mint in it. Their beef pho was good with the beef slices being cooked just right in the soup. When the beef came soaking in the soup, I was afraid that it might be overcooked. What surprised me was the lemongrass chicken noodle salad tasted really really delicious. Under all the noodles, there's a bunch if veggies to mix in with the noodle and chicken. Definitely quite a healthy meal option.

This is my pick for the best Vietnamese in KL. It's location is not great and can be hard to get to and find but its just around the corner from Changkat Bukit Bintang. During rush hours it's really a pain to try to get here in a car so I recommend coming for their lunch specials or waiting until traffic eases up. The lunch deal that have is great. They picked five of their most popular dishes and make them available for RM 20 and they include a nice appetizer of two spring rolls and a fresh chicken salad. I come here for lunch if I'm ever near Chungkat at lunch time. For dinner there is a great full menu at very reasonable prices. You can't go wrong with their fresh prawn spring rolls. They are my favorite. I also really give props to the staff at Sao Nam. They are very helpful and able to deal with any special situations. A rare luxury on this quasi backpacker street.

For a while I had been wanting to check this place out and I'm glad I finally did because it was impressively awesome. I am a huge fan of Vietnamese and this place delivers on it's fresh and vibrant cuisine. Everyone at our table was raving about how great their dish was and how equally tasty the cocktails were too! The fresh shrimp spring rolls were easily the best I have ever had, full of flavour and fresh herbs and veges with an amazing hoisin dipping sauce to pair. For my main dish I had my favorite Vietnamese dish 'bun' which is a concoction of vermicelli, salad veges, lemongrass chicken and a sweet and spicy dressing. The standout dish was the vegetarian claypot - mushrooms in a creamy herb sauce with rice - it was amazing! The restaurant itself is very cool with Vietnamese art adorning the walls, candle light, lots of greenery and floral arrangements. Staff were also fantastic and I love that they dress in traditional clothes. I will definitely be returning soon to try more of the menu.

(This is probably closer to 4.5 stars to me.)  Sao Nam's food serves dishes with outstanding flavors.  It's also a very pretty restaurant that made me think of wine "caves" in Europe, with the colors and materials.  And the staff is friendly and patient.  But let me go back to the outstanding flavors!  The appetizers (regular and fried spring rolls) and the entrees (beef pho, in my case) were amazing -- rich flavors, even with simple-seeming ingredients.  I look forward to returning, although I will have difficulty ordering one of the other entrees I heard friends raving about when I know the pho is so excellent.