Mai's

The owners said they will reopen Mai's. Not sure if in the same location or close by. More to follow... Pros: Food Cons: Closed more

Mai's burned down today. Not sure if/when it will reopen. Color me sad; I loved this place. Best spring rolls in Houston. Alas... Cons: burned down more

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 more

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.... more

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 more

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 more

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! more

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. more

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. more

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. more

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 more

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 more

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 more

This is the place to go after hitting a night downtown. They are open until late and its always clean. The food is always excellent! Cons: May get to growded more

I have eaten at Mai's on and off for 7 years. Every time I went the food was great, but service was HORRIBLE! Well, I decided to give it another try Sat night because my friend really wanted to go. I prepared myself for horrible service, a dirty restaurant, and low par food. Was I surprised! Wow, they have really improved! The service was quick and even a little overly friendly. And the food was awesome! Very fresh and seasoned/marinated (whatever!) to a tee! I had the shrimp spring rolls and the vermicelli with eggrolls. Very delicious!\r \r I don't know if they have a new manager and/or owner, or they just finally got the picture after many bad reviews. Whatever it is, keep it up! I will actually return this time! Pros: Cheap, Friendly Service, Food Delivered Quickly Cons: Parking, Ambience, Small Restaurant more

I am Vietnamese and I cannot believe that anyone can call the food they serve up here anywhere near real or authentic. Maybe once upon a time the restaurant opened with good intentions of serving great Vietnamese food, but all I can say about it in present day is that the food tastes like it's been cooked before hand and we're being served re-heated leftovers. They are unbelievably overpriced for Vietnamese food.\r \r The vermicelli noodles in the vermicelli bowls are broken and a pile of mush. The grilled pork is dry and cold. I feel like I'm eating beef jerky.\r \r The egg rolls are overpriced because they're like miniature in size. The outside egg roll wrapper is too thick and if you don't eat it instantly, it'll feel like you're chewing on a piece of rubber.\r \r The spring rolls don't taste fresh and the meat inside is dry. Dry meat seems to be a general theme of this place.\r \r The bo luc lac is almost beef-less because all you get for the high price you pay is the vegetables that are sauteed with it.\r \r I think the only decent thing there is the wonton soup, even then, they put way to much junk in the soup.\r \r I think the only reason why this place is still around is because it's an alternative to the usual IHOP or Denny's after a night of going out. Other than that, it really doesn't offer any perks. Pros: Open late Cons: Expensive, Poor-man's Vietnamese food, Poor food quality more

We have been loyal patrons at Mai's for about 5 years now, and beginning with a young lady who speaks really good english (I think she's the owners daughter), she has made our experiences worse and worse. She charges for ANYTHING, you can spend 1,000 a month there and still get charged for ice. Not only that, but we pick up food almost everyday for lunch, and this manager charges us at least a dollar more than normal, I asked when I went in this last time, why isn't my bill 14.65 like normal, instead she charged me 15.75 because she claims that she writes the menus and 1.95 for iced tea is the price.....and I come back to work and look at the drink section on the menu and the iced tea says it cost 1.35. There is something very fishy going on there at Mais (no pun intended). I wish that girl would go back to school and learn how to manage a resturaunt and keep her loyal customers happy! unfortunatly we won't be cgoing back, but no bid deal because their chicken is dry everytime and burnt in the spring rolls, maybe a new cook and new manager would be a great idea to keep up the good name! ohh well, I would go elseware, there are alot of places open as late as they are not far from there. Cons: management is horrible, check the prices and write them down, or you will get overcharged more

The waitress would not help me. I had to order what the guys next to me bought.\r She took the order and rushed off before I could order a drink of tea.\r No one brought me water, tea or checked back.\r The food wasn't eexpensive but comparable to lots of others.\r I had heard that this place used to be good but the attitude and food has gone downhill. Pros: Food Cons: Service more

Fast initial service, almost courteous, and I have to admit their Pho is one of my favorites in town. Served with fresh cilantro & mint, the broth has a deep flavor, with a good amount of paper-thin beef (served on the side upon request). Excellent egg rolls are chunky, chewy and crispy. No cabbage filler here. Bowl of vermicelli topped with charbroiled pork & crispy onions rocks! Bathrooms are *barely* acceptable. Pros: Pho, inexpensive, fresh Cons: No smiles, filthy bathrooms more

This restaurant is one of my favorite places in houston for Vietnamese! Any time of day, you will find a huge variety of people here which makes it very very welcoming. The restaurant interior could use a little work, but it is still perfectly clean and plenty comfortable. I have never had anything there that I didn't enjoy! If I'm not in the mood to experiment I'll rely on some of my favorites: sweet fried sticky rice, garlic shrimp, clear dumplings w/ pork, or tofu w/ asparagus. If you need help with unfamiliar menu items, ask the staff. They are usually very helpful and happy to guide you. Go and enjoy! more