Omai

Critics' Pick

158 Ninth Ave., New York, NY 10011 40.744409 -74.002791
nr. 19th St. See Map | Subway Directions Hopstop Popup
work212-633-0550 Send to Phone

Cuisine: Vietnamese
Price Range:
$$
Key to Prices and ratings
Upscale

Almost Perfect

Exceptional

Generally Excellent

Very Good

Good

Cheap Eats

Best in Category

Excellent

Delicious

Very Good

Noteworthy
Very Expensive

Expensive

Moderate

Cheap
Reader Rating:
7.9 out of 10
|
10 Reviews | Write a Review

Photo by Robert K. Chin

Map Rate & Review

Official Website

omainyc.com

Hours

Daily, noon-2:30pm and 5:30pm-10pm

Nearby Subway Stops

A, C, E at 14th St.; L at Eighth Ave.; 1 at 18th St.

Prices

$11-$21

Payment Methods

American Express, MasterCard, Visa

Special Features

Delivery
Dine at the Bar
Prix-Fixe
Take-Out

Alcohol

Full Bar

Reservations

Recommended

Delivery Area

14th St. to 34th St., Fifth Ave. to Eleventh Ave.

Profile

The sleek successor to Nam in Tribeca shares its precursor’s understatedly stylish aesthetic, not to mention most of its menu. It’s possible to find cheaper Vietnamese food, but none sparked with such consistently fresh, clean flavors and served in such casually chic environs. We seldom pass up the lemongrass-crusted tofu, but the diced monkfish and peanuts on a rice cracker, and the five-spiced baby back ribs, are both eminently worthwhile. The skill of the kitchen is most apparent in the selection of rolls, noticeably lighter and more delicate than most of the rice-paper-wrapped competition. — Rob Patronite and Robin Raisfeld

Food:	5

Service:	7

Décor:	8

Value:	5

We just returned from a BRIEF dinner at this underwhelming spot in Chelsea. Brief because the few starters we tried did not inspire us to order more. Textbook cha gio (spring rolls) were crispy and served with fresh lettuce, mint and coriander but the 'spicy' beef salad lacked the kick to jumpstart our appetites. The banh xeo, however, was the most disappointing - far from the crunchy overstuffed versions at Banh Xeo in Saigon/HCMC, the limp pancake had a meager filling of shrimp and chicken bits. All this and a beer for $46. Shame because it's a convenient 10 min walk away, but the next stop for us: Chinatown.

Omai