Sae Wòò - (Near , london)

2 /5 Mina Baron: The staff were really nice and the restaurant was clean but honestly the food was quite bland. I got the tofu and mushroom pho and it wasn’t good - it didn’t taste of anything, the broth had no flavour. We also got the veggie spring rolls which were ok but quite oily and the peanut sauce wasn’t quite what I was expecting. My mum got the prawn vermicelli and she wasn’t a big fan. I would say the pricing is reasonable but sadly would not recommend this restaurant.

1 /5 SW Cool: This is bad. We tried the lunch menu and a prawn salad. The prawns tasted like they’d been frozen for far too long—bland and lifeless. The cucumbers, carrots, and papaya strips were just soaked in vinegar, adding no freshness and leaving a totally not refreshing feel to the dish. The “authentic Vietnamese” dishes weren’t authentic at all. The black bean beef was overly vinegary, and the pork mince was overwhelmed by pickled vegetables. The only saving grace was that they managed to keep the runny egg runny. Service was nothing to note, and overall the experience was disappointing. We won’t be coming back.

5 /5 A C: This is my favorite pho place in London! I absolutely love pho and have it almost every week, and this spot is by far the best. The broth is so rich and flavorful — you can really taste the time and quality ingredients that went into it. I also highly recommend the salt and pepper prawns: super fresh with a perfect bouncy texture. And their juices are freshly pressed, which makes the meal even better. Truly a gem, highly recommended!

1 /5 Ini: *** -1 STAR *** Honestly the nastiest and most stingiest portions of Vietnamese food and RUDEST staff. I wouldnt even call it that, when we walked in the restaurant was empty which I just assumed it was a new place. When we walked in, the waiter did not show us eye contact and came accross very timid? That was really uncomfortable on top of it being empty, there was an awkward silence in the air I ordered 2 egg fried rice to take away, it took less than 5 mins to make, I was better off ordering from the local Chinese and getting better food. The lady bagged our food and we took home, once we got home we was shocked to find 2 slap dash plastic containers of rice, half full. I called back to a man responding to me so quickly and rudely, telling me I ordered "half a portion" I was shocked at his response as thats not what I ordered nor is it on the menus , no apology or sincerity, it was well it is what it is type of attitude. He told me to come back to get a fresh one made and even him telling me didnt sound too convincing. After reading the reviews and finding out the hygiene stickers on the window were from the restaurant before, I realised that this place is just like a leaky ceiling ready to fall down. DONT WASTE YOUR MONEY! Only god knows what that kitchen looks and works like.

1 /5 Ben Kaye: We absolutely love Vietnamese food and consider ourselves pho aficionados. We always check hygiene ratings before dining out and normally only visit restaurants rated four or five by the Food Standards Agency. Sae Woo was too new to have a rating listed online, but we were encouraged to see a “5” displayed on the door. Once inside, however, we realised the certificate actually belonged to the previous occupants — The Real Greek. Displaying someone else’s rating is misleading and, frankly, deceitful. I ordered summer rolls, salt and pepper prawns, and seafood pho. The summer rolls were small but fine. The prawns dish was mostly onions and spring onions, with the prawns served in their shells, making it more effort than enjoyment. The pho broth was overly sweet and lacked the rich, savoury depth that defines authentic Vietnamese pho. On the table, they had bottles of Flying Goose hoisin — my favourite brand. When I poured it, it came out thin and watery. I mentioned this to the waiter, who said they “make their own sauce.” I found this confusing, as it was being served in a branded bottle, which gives a false impression. In reality, it seemed more likely that the sauce had simply been watered down. My vegan partner had the vegetable spring rolls, which weren’t good, and the super green pho with added tofu. The broth was bland, and the tofu had no flavour and an odd texture. The bill was printed in both English and Chinese, which, along with the overall experience, confirmed our impression that this isn’t a genuinely Vietnamese-run restaurant but rather one capitalising on the popularity of Vietnamese cuisine. Overall, the food was disappointing and the hygiene signage issue unacceptable. We won’t be returning and will be alerting the Food Standards Agency to the misleading display of the hygiene rating.