11/21/06

great for a quick bite to eat after clubbin

by missorenishii

i strongly recommend going here after clubbin in downtown or when you have the munchies in the wee hours of the morn. the food is not spectacular, but when it's 2am and you're hungry and dead tired, food quality wouldn't matter as much. one of the many highlights about this place, besides being a popular joint to grub at and seeing everybody from the same club you just came from, is that there is a fast turnover rate, therefore getting a table requires little wait. big bonus: the service is fast and quick. the only downside, besides being crowded, is that mai's is located in a rather sketchy part of midtown ... so lock your cars and don't lolligag in the streets.*

• Pros: cheap food, fast service
• Cons: crowded, parking, sketchy part of midtown

09/08/09

disgusting

by CityGal222

This place is overpriced and disgusting. they put vietnamese food to shame and should be put out of business. If they weren't open late, they wouldn't have any business.

• Pros: nothing
• Cons: horrible service, food, everything

08/10/09

Perfect remedy

by pattybeef

My boyfriend and I were in Houston and completely hungry at 11:30 Sunday night. We found this place which was open til 3am and it was pretty crowded. The food came quickly and the pork dumpling appetizer was awesome. I got the pho which was close to perfect and my boyfriend got the bo luc lac which flavorful, but had a lot more onions than anything. All and all we were totally satisfied.

• Pros: Clear dumplings with pork, fast service
• Cons: Mmm, not really....

02/23/09

The worst place in town on so many levels

by marymoore2

I with a group of six during a busy time for Mai's and an Asian group came in was immediately sat over us the when a table became available. This was the last and final straw for me. I will never go back to these people. I ordered bean curd with chili and lemon grass a time before that was so salty it was inedible. When I tried to get a remake, the waiter kept arguing with us that it was good and we can not have a remake. I get this dish alot so I know what I'm talking about. Finally, out of frustration I just wanted my money back which they were at first refusing to do. At this point, I'm beginning to get angry and the owner lady threw the money at me and told me to get out. I didn't go back until years later thinking I'll give it another shot and then they're still treating their customers like garbage. Also, I got sick from the pho I had that very night sat Asians over those silly white kids that wanted some late night eats. I have never felt so much disdain over a place as I do this one. Do not eat here because there are many better choices very close by. Les Giverales, Van Loc, Pho Nga...please give these people your business and not some greedy woman who tries to nickel and dime you and her staff.

• Pros: open late
• Cons: food, service

11/29/08

Ain't What It Used to Be

by jpmiller02

It's been awhile since I've been back at Mai's and it will certainly be my last. The highlight of the meal was the wonton soup, which was excellent as always. Unfortunately, the service and food quality have gone downhill. The food was either too spicy or too bland and I became very ill after dining here. I think we saw our waiter no more than three or four times. He never offered refills on water or said anything about having to wait an additional 15 minutes for one of our diner's meals after everyone else's food arrived.

• Pros: Ambience is okay, Parking
• Cons: Service, Food Quality, Value

10/09/08

Salt Toasted Tofu---yummo!

by DollMouth

I used to go to Mai's once a week and order and share a plate of SALT TOASTED TOFU with a friend. Mmmm... delicious! I've in recent couple of years just ordered to-go... they have QUICK service, yummy food and big portions, yum!

08/21/08

Only good when drunk, but what isn't

by azndrag0n16xo

This place is god awful. There are so many other Vietnamese restaurants that have better service, and most important, QUALITY FOOD. This place stays alive cause of the drunken mobs that come in after a night of fun, and I, guilty as charged, am one of them. But the minute you sober up, you realize this place is god awful. Eat here because you have to, not because you want to.

03/02/08

Not good sense to treat customers like you're doing them a favor and put upon by their presence.

by HPooka

I was a regular (2-3x a wk) customer for years. I'll never be back. Some weird inverse proportion that as they've improved/remodeled the place, the service and food quality has gotten steadily worse. I really don't need some snippy wait staff acting as if they're doing me a favor by letting me in the door. The last two times I was there the egg rolls were pretty much inedible. I actually wondered if they were trying to convey something directly to me, but I just read a bunch of other reviews. As a few other reviewers put it, there are plenty of other options close to that location. After hours dining is a nice option, but at least train the staff to keep their crabby, snippy personalities and attitudes on hold for the 3pm crowd. Used to be a really nice, friendly place with good food. Not sure if it's ok to list other options, but they're out there.

12/15/07

Best Pho noodle soup in town!

by melvinhsie

Best Pho noodle soup in town! Very affordable with friendly staff. The beef soup Pho tastes very authentic, costing 6.5 dollars only. Parking may be difficult though.

07/13/07

Horrible food and service!!!!

by rperazza77

I have decided to forever boycott Mai's. Their food is subpar even on its best days, yet I was forced to eat there often because they are the only game in town late in the evening. The service was regularly rude and uncaring. The last straw came when I ordered a grilled chicken plate to go and asked over the phone if the could cut the chicken in slices rather than in one big hunk, a reasonable request seeing as how they do not provide plastic knives with their takeout orders. The lady taking my order flat out refused, stating this is something "they will not do." I cancelled my order, and will never ever return there again. I dont expect to be treated like royalty, but a decent level of of accomodation for a regular patron is not a lot to ask.

• Pros: Open late
• Cons: Everything else

01/01/07

My place! I love Mai's!

by pilotjosh25

At present, this is my favorite place to eat. Sit down quickly, be served promptly, and enjoy the great food at a great price! This is THE PLACE in Houston for Vietnamese/Chinese. Please do yourself a favor and try the spring rolls - both the shrimp and BBQ pork. The Pho Ga is delicious. Everything is great. Also enjoy a iced coffee w/ condensed milk for dessert. Perfect!

• Pros: Delicious food, quick service, open late
• Cons: Parking, homeless people outside