Sao

S Sara Hss 270 reviews · Local Guide 24 July 2026

We had a wonderful experience at Sao. We sat at the bar, and the staff were incredibly friendly and welcoming. Every dish we ordered was absolutely delicious, and we really enjoyed the atmosphere. We were especially excited to try the salmon crudo, but unfortunately they had already sold out. The chef happened to overhear us talking about it and very kindly prepared a small plate for us on the house so we could still try it. It was such a thoughtful and unexpected gesture that made an already great experience even better. His kindness truly made our night and made the evening so memorable. We loved the food, but even more than that, we loved the people and the genuine hospitality we experienced. It’s clear that everyone there truly cares about their guests. We will definitely be back and can’t wait for our next visit!

M MsNguyen 273 reviews · Local Guide 5 June 2026

We had such a great dinner at Sao! We went with friends and were able to try more food. Everything was perfect! Food: EXCELLENT. The flavor was solid. Each dish was unique and tasty. The papaya salad was fresh, the cutlet had the perfect crunch, the oysters were one of the best in the city, the chirasi bowl was to die for, steak was perfect, hoe cake was great, and the crab noodles was excellent to wrap up the night. Recommended to get a side of rice for your steak and to clean up the crab sauce. Drink: EXCELLENT. The special margarita was my favorite. Service: EXCELLENT. We were well taken care of since we stepped into the restaurant. Atmosphere: EXCELLENT. The vibe was intimate and non-pretentious. Highly recommended!!! They do have seats at the bar. So check in anyway if you are around the area.

C CrispyChristoff 138 reviews · Local Guide 23 May 2026

We like to consider ourselves NYC foodies and have adopted Philly as NYC adjacent. The food scene is incredible, full stop, no caveats. Sao did not disappoint!!! Everything we ate was incredible, except for the olives we got with our martinis. Its rare for a restaurant to hit that hard, that clear across the board. The Chirashi Bowl, thr Hoe cake, the beef skewer, curry crab noodles, the chicken cutlet... EV-ER-Y THING. Service was chill and attentive, and the vibe was the same, chill local spot serving up bangers... good luck getting a resy, keep trying, work the eeffort! Next stop Mawn!

B Blissful Cat 16 reviews · Local Guide 23 May 2026

After logging onto OpenTable at 11:59 am, I won a coveted spot at SAO for a late night dinner. While I am a huge seafood person, my partner is not, however, he made the trek with me to at 8:45 PM on a weeknight. Trust me when I say, it was so worth it! Our waiter, who I wish I remembered his name, was so genuinely nice and attentive. We both ordered drinks - I, the Silk Scarf and my boyfriend the LoveCity pilsner (love supporting a local Philly business!) We started with the Scallop Crudo which was absolutely divine - the apples complimented the ponzu in a beautiful way. We followed this with the Hoe Cake, Mawn Cutlet, and Spicy Crab Noodles. The Hoe Cake was one of the best things I have ever tried in my life - truly melts in your mouth. The Cutlet and Crab Noodles were the perfect mains - quantity that is well worth the price and amazing flavor. I want to also add that the waiter found out it was my boyfriend’s birthday a few days prior. Because we ordered the tirimisu, he followed it up with the best matcha I have ever had accompanied with birthday candles. (I have no idea if matchas on the menu, but I’m telling you if it is you need to order it) He then brought us glasses of wine completely complimentary. While the food was otherworldly, kindness like this make me want to come back again and again and again and again. Thank you for making our dinner date a wonderful one (and proving that you can bring a non seafood lover to a heavy seafood spot and convert him!)

D David Mack 345 reviews · Local Guide 30 April 2026

I’m not sure where to begin this review because we had such an amazing time at Sao. The fight for a reservation is worth it, simple as that. The oysters were delicious and the accompanying sauces were delightful. The tuna crudo tasted like the tuna I’ve had in Japan, so fresh and tasty. We tried the soft shell whole shrimp and I have always been hesitant to eat shrimp with eyes but this has changed my mind, they were so crisp. The hoe cake was such a surprise of sweet and savory and a must have for all diners. For the main course we had the Mawn cutlet which is a perfectly cooked piece of chicken with mild toppings. The crab curry pasta was such a rich and well developed dish, it was sooooo good and I am craving it writing this review. We really enjoyed this meal and the cannolis were a great desert to end the meal. I highly recommend this restaurant if you enjoy premium seafood and appreciate Asian cuisine. Good luck getting a reservation and finding parking.