Photos: Daniel Maurer

Less than a month after Quantum Leap closed, its successor, Sao Mai, has opened at 203 First Avenue between 12th and 13th Streets. Ronny Nguyen, the executive chef, told The Local that he opened Saturday.

The chef, who migrated from South Vietnam in 1984, said he was eager to test the East Village waters after five years at Xe Lửa on Mulberry Street. “There are more American people here,” he said. “In Chinatown, there’s a restaurant on every corner. Over here, I don’t see many Vietnamese restaurants.”

As a result of the relative lack of competition, he has drawn up a smaller menu (only 79 items instead of 170!), making sure to include a vegetarian section for Quantum Leap’s old customers. “Over here, people tend to eat more vegetables, with no oil or M.S.G., and organic – that’s the way I’m doing it right now.”

The menu (below) will expand in the coming weeks, and delivery and daily specials will also be added. The hours of operation, from 11 a.m. till 11 p.m. seven days a week, may also expand.

Sao Mai Khai Vi (House Special Platter) – $16

Assortment of spring rolls, barbecue chicken, pork and beef served with lettuce, pickled carrots, mint leaves and dipping sauce.

Cha Gio (Spring Roll) – $5.50
Vietnamese spring roll served with lettuce, mint leaves and dipping sauce.

Gha Gio Chay – (Vegetarian Spring Roll) -$5.50
Vegetable spring roll served with lettuce, mint leaves and dipping sauce.

Goi Cuon (Shrimp Summer Roll) – $5.50
Shrimp, lettuce, mint leaves and vermicelli noodles wrapped in rice paper served with peanut sauce.

Goi Cuon Chay (Vegetarian Summer Roll) – $5.50
Tofu, lettuce, mint leaves and vermicelli noodles wrapped in rice paper, served with peanut sauce.

Nem Nuong Cuon (Grilled Pork Summer Roll) – $5
Grilled pork, lettuce, mint leaves and vermicelli noodles wrapped in rice paper, served with dipping sauce.

Banh Cuon (Steamed Rice Crepe) – $7
Rice pancake wrapped with minced pork and ear mushroom, served with shredded cucumber, bean sprouts and dipping sauce.

Muc Chien Dzon (Crispy Calamari) – $11.50
Calamari dressed with salt and pepper, served with a sweet chili sauce.

Ga Nuong Banh Hoi (Grilled Lemongrass Chicken) – $11.50
Marinated chicken with lemongrass grilled to perfection and served on flat noodle pancakes with lettuce and pickled carrots.

Tom Nuong Khom (Grilled Shrimp Pineapple) – $11.50
Grilled fresh pineapple and jumbo shrimp served with avocado sauce.

Chao Tom (Grilled Shrimp Sugar Cane) – $11.50
Shrimp paste wrapped with sugar cane and served on flat noodle pancakes with lettuce and pickled carrots.

Bo La Lop (Grilled Grapeleaf Beef) – $11.50
Marinated ground beef wrapped in grape leaves and served on flat noodle pancakes with lettuce and pickled carrots.

So Lua Curry (Curry Mussels) – $11.50
Mussels cooked in coconut and lime leaves.

Canh (Soups)
Canh Chua (Spicy Tamarind Soup)
Bean sprouts, tomatoes, mushrooms, pineapple and Vietnamese herbs, served with your choice of the following:
Tom (shrimp) – $9
Ca (salmon) – $9
Ga (chicken) – $8
Cai dau hu (veg. tofu) – $8

Pho (Traditional Noodle Soup
Pho Sao Mai (House Made Noodle) – $9
Brisket, beef eye round, beef ball in traditional beef noodle broth served with bean sprouts, fresh lime, and basil

Pho Tai (Beef Eye Round Noodle) – $8
Beef eye round in a traditional beef noodle broth with bean sprouts, fresh lime, basil and jalapeno

Pho Chin Nam (Beef Brisket Noodle) – $8
Beef brisket in traditional beef noodle broth served with bean sprouts, fresh lime, basil and jalapeno

Pho Bo Vien (Beef Balls Noodle) – $8
Beef ball in traditional beef noodle broth served with bean sprouts, fresh lime, basil and jalapeno

Pho Ga (Chicken Noodle) – $8
Shredded chicken with broccoli, sliced carrots and celery in noodle chicken broth

Pho Do Chay (Mixed Vegetable Noodle) – $8
Mixed vegetables with mushrooms and tofu in vegetable broth served with bean sprouts, fresh lime, basil and jalapeno

Pho Do Bien (Mixed Seafood Noodle) – $9
Shrimp, squid, fish ball, fish cake and crab stick, in noodle broth served with bean sprouts, fresh lime and jalapeno

Mi Xao Dzon (Pan Fried Noodles)
Fried crispy egg noodles topped with vegetables and your choice of the following:
Ga (chicken) – $12
Do Bien (seafood) – $14
Bo (beef) – $14
Dau Hu (tofu) – $12

Do Bien (Seafood and Shellfish)
Ca Nuong (Barbecue Fish) – $24
Whole red snapper marinated with the chef’s special barbecue sauce grilled to perfection

Ca Chien Chanh (Crispy Fried Fish) – $24
Whole red snapper with a ginger lime sauce served with pickled carrots, cucumbers and tomatoes

Tom Hum Ram Muoi (Salt and Pepper Lobster) – $24
Whole lobster sauteed with salt and pepper

Tom Hum Xao Mi (Lobster Noodle) – $26
Lobster, bell pepper, onion, ginger sauteed in a black bean sauce with lo mein noodle

Cua Lot Chien Bo (Crispy Soft Shell Crabs) – $16
Soft shell crabs on a watercress salad served with tomatoes and tamarind sauce

Tom Ram Mam (Shrimp Lemongrass) – $16
Jumbo shrimp sauteed with bell peppers, onions, ginger and a lemongrass sauce

Tom Dong Co (Shrimp Mushroom) – $16
Shrimp, black mushroom and tomatoes sauteed in a traditional Vietnamese sauce

Tom Mang Tay (Shrimp Asparagus) – $16
Fresh asparagus stir-fried with shrimp in a traditional Vietnamese sauce

Tom Ram Muoi (Crispy Shrimp) – $16
Fried crispy jumbo shrimp dressed with salt and pepper and served with iceberg lettuce and an avocado dipping sauce

Bo (Beef)
Bo Luc Lac (Beef Cubes) – $15
Flank steak cut into cubes, prepared with the chef’s special sauce, served with iceberg lettuce

Bo Sa Ot (Beef Lemongrass) – $15
Beef, bell peppers and onions stir-fried in a chili lemongrass sauce

Bo Cary (Beef Curry) – $15
Slice flank steak sauteed in a spicy curry sauce served with onion and zucchini

Heo (Pork
Suon Heo Nuong (Grilled Pork Chops) – $12
Marinated sliced pork chops grilled golden brown and served with iceberg lettuce and tomatoes.

Heo Dong Co (Pork and Mushroom) – $12
Black mushroom stir-fried with pork in a traditional Vietnamese sauce

Ga (Chicken)
Ga Dong Co (Chicken Mushroom) – $12
Black mushroom stir-fried with chicken in a traditional Vietnamese sauce

Ga Cary (Chicken Curry) – $12
Chicken and potatoes stir-fried in a coconut curry sauce

Ga Sa On (Chicken Lemongrass) – $12
Chicken sauteed with chili and lemongrass sauce

Ga Nuong Sa (Grilled Chicken) – $12
Chicken marinated with the chef’s special barbecue sauce, served with iceberg lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers

Banh Mi (Vietnamese Sandwiches)
Served from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Banh Mi Dac Biet (House Special Combo) – $6

Banh Mi Ga Nuong (Grilled Chicken) – $6

Banh Mi Thit Nuong (Grilled Sliced Pork) – $6

Banh Mi Pho Pho (Vietnamese Sandwich) – $7

Banh Mi Chay (Vegetarian) – $6

Banh Mi Dau Hu (Tofu) – $6

Rau Cai (Vegetable)
Thap Cam Xao Chay (Tofu w/Mixed Vegetable) – $10.50
Tofu with mixed vegetables and your choice of sauce
A. Curry sauce
B. Chili lemongrass sauce
C. Garlic sauce
D. Traditional Vietnamese sauce

Dong Co Xao Cai (Black Mushroom w/Vegetable) – $11.50
Black mushroom with mixed vegetables in a traditional Vietnamese sauce

Nam Tuoi Xao Cai (Fresh Mushroom w/Vegetable) – $10.50
Fresh mushroom with vegetables sauteed in a traditional Vietnamese sauce

Dau Hu Mang Tay (Tofu Asparagus) – $10.50
Tofu and asparagus sauteed in a vegetable soy sauce

Dau Hu Sa Ot (Tofu Lemongrass) – $10.50
Fried tofu sauteed in a chili lemongrass sauce

Dau Hu Chien (Stuffed Tofu) – $10.50
Crispy tofu stuffed with lemongrass, onion, bell peppers served in a sweet chili sauce

Rau Muon Xao Toi (Water Spinach and Garlic Sauce) – $11.50
Fresh water spinach sauteed in garlic sauce

Cai Ro Xao Toi (Chinese Broccoli and Garlic Sauce) – $10.50
Fresh Chinese broccoli sauteed in garlic sauce

Mang Tay Toi (Asparagus Garlic Sauce) – $10.50
Fresh asparagus sauteed in garlic sauce

Dau Que Toi (String Bean Garlic Sauce) – $10.50
Fresh string beans sauteed in garlic sauce