Food & Restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City

The capital city of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), has the most diverse variety of Vietnamese and international dishes in the country. The climbing cost of food, higher wages payable to labourers and increased real estate expenditures have made it more challenging to find a decent bargain; as such, eating out has become expensive with prices of some restaurants going up by 30% year in year out. Land within the central business district is currently valued at around $16,000 per square meter; therefore even a small café can be found on land worth over 1 million dollars. It is getting wealthier and more globalized turning into a difficult place for authentic local cuisine that is affordable.

Local food reflects the impact of French colonization on cooking styles. Bakery shops sell cheap baguettes stuffed with cheese – typically “La Vache Qui Rit” or “Laughing Cow”, luncheon meat with onions or ham— you name it! Beef is used in many traditional dishes including pho varieties as well as regional delicacies like bun bo hue which means Hue beef soup. They are other special foods to taste apart from pho like mentioned before Hue beef soup and banh xeo. In one’s mouth there is nothing tastier than those Vietnamese omelettes that you put fillings such as bamboo shoots plus enoki mushrooms, shrimp or beef if not combined.

It does not take much effort to find local cuisine at an affordable price when you are in Saigon. Banh mi thit (pork sandwiches) go for between 10,000 and 15,000 dongs. Com tam—a plate of rice with grilled pork or other meats which go along with some veggies goes for 18,000 Vietnamese dong.

Budget Restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City

Food stalls are found all over the town, but a good number of them can be found at Ben Thanh market. The same chain is Pho 24 which offers fast food Vietnam (although it is often more than double the price). Although two of the popular fast food chains from overseas such as Lotteria and KFC have been in Vietnam for long while McDonalds has just opened its doors in this city.

The unhygienic nature of street food consumption or eating from hole-in-the-wall restaurants anywhere within Vietnam city is one with no conclusive proof. Street vendors are not only cooks but cashiers as well. Handling cash, they turn notes over using their saliva moistened fingers. When bread is dropped on the dirty floor, it’s picked up and put back together with others. While preparing food, hawkers may cough or sneeze and then cover their mouth with their naked hands before resuming their cooking duties. Foods can contain things that should not be there; for instance, hairs. It is also possible to clean spoons without using any soap at all by dipping them into a basin used for ice cream dishes alone without any detergent added to it. This little dish holds water with which spoons are wiped clean merely by dousing them inside for two or three times waiting for reuse.

When a hole-in-the-wall eatery does not have enough counter space, packaged food gets displayed on the floor. Most floors are nasty and wet too. Floor washing utensils directly in contact with soiled water bodies within eateries One puts old chopsticks and other utensils like bowls into a tub while cleaning tables by tipping out vases full of left-over soup onto these liquid-soaked floors that will need attention later on if they find themselves fallen down on ground below due to untidy waiters probably covering knees with newly washed napkins each evening at closing time when guests had gone home before picking everything up off ground afterwards. Slicing vegetables and meat indoors on the floor, if any of these gets dropped it is collected. Vegetables are put into buckets which have been washed under a tap in the lavatory. These plastic basins may have also served as receptacles for washing out a bathroom or even flushing away the contents of a toilet bowl. Furthermore, they can be stacked up around the loo when not in use.

Nevertheless, street food and hole-in-the-wall meals are flavorsome, captivating, exotic, inventively prepared, and cheap consisting of all elements from food pyramid including sweet; sour; salty; and spicy tastes that make them so popular among locals and tourists alike.

BanhMiBistro, 76 Vo Thi Sau, District 1, directions. Fresh sandwiches, notably the Vietnamese Banh Mi. Fresh bread is made in the store. There are three additional locations in the city.

The Burger Corner, 43 Nguyen Hue St, District 1. Rice and hamburgers. The combo meals are good value.

Cafe India, 250 Bui Vien, District 1. 5-item menu available all day for 25,000 dong (vegetarian) or 50,000 dong with chicken.

Cafe Lam, 175 Bui Vien, District 1. This is a pretty unassuming establishment, although the majority of the patrons are frequent expats. The food is unremarkable, but the prices, quantity, and beverage selections make this restaurant a smart pick. Excellent fruit salad, delicious smoothies, and superb tom yam soup.

Doner Kebab, 198 Bui Vien St, District 1 (Inside the backpacker area). 23,000 dong.

Dong Ba, 110A Nguyen Du, District 1. This store sells Hue cuisine, which includes Hue beef noodles and traditional banh beo rice cakes.

Dream Cones, 16 Nguyen Thi Nghia St, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1. Ice cream served in a trendy, neon-lit environment with ample white leather seats. Free, unsweetened iced tea is served beside ice cream. 16,000 Vietnamese dong per scoop.

The Khmer Viet Kitchen, 185/14 Pham Ngu Lau, +84 126 5492647. 07:00-23:00. There is a good assortment of spaghetti, sandwiches, burgers, and enchiladas, as well as Vietnamese and Western cuisine. From 40,000 dong (vegetarian 35,000 dong), beer from 20,000 dong.

The Lunch Lady (Nguyen Thi Thanh), 23 Hoang Sa. 11:00-15:00. The renowned Lunch Lady was featured on the show of Anthony Bourdain. Every day, a new noodle dish is served. 30,000 dong.

Pao Restaurant & Cafe, 158 Bui Vien, District 1. Decorations consisting of small musical instruments, traditional clothing, and headwear from the several ethnic groups inhabiting northern Vietnam. Vietnamese cuisine including spring rolls, hot pot, and pho. Fridays and Sundays feature a live performance of Vietnamese instruments. 35,000-60,000 dong.

Pho Bo Vien Quoc Ky, 52 Ngo Duc Ke (near Nguyen Hué, District 1). A nice cheap place for soup. Try the sate version of the usual pho or my, a spicy delicacy.

Pho 19, 19 Nguyen Trai St, District 5. 06:00-11:00. A small space and very cheap place for pho and bo kho. 25,000-30,000 dong.

Pho Quynh, 323 Pham Ngu Lao St, District 1. 24 hours daily. Pho is their specialty. Regularly frequented by locals and by backpackers who happen across it by chance. The second and third floors contain air conditioning. They also serve a respectable banh mi bo kho, which consists of beef stew with carrots and French bread. 40,000 dong.

Pho 24. Clean modern chain found everywhere in Ho Chi Minh City. Excellent beef noodle soup, very cheap. Watch out for the fake Pho 24/24 on Pham Ngu Lao St, which does not belong to the chain and serves terrible and expensive food.

Pho 2000 (3 locations, one sharing space with I Love Burger; one right next to Ben Thanh Market; and one toward the end of Le Thanh Ton St). Former US president Bill Clinton once dined at the restaurant. Offers pho, including a seafood variation, as well as the regular Vietnamese rice dishes and an exceptional vegetarian curry.

Thiện Duyên Bễn Thành (vegetarian restaurant), 174 Calmette (Near the city bus station), +84 8 3914 7453. Well-presented vegetarian food.

Trang, 102/6A Cong Quynh, District 1 (Not far from Pham Ngo Lao). Local food including excellent crab served in a friendly atmosphere.

Tutti Frutti Frozen Yogurt, 15-17 Phan Chu Triuh (Opposite west entrance of Ben Thanh market, near the corner of Nguyen An Ninh). 08:00-22:30. From 40,000 dong, frozen yogurt 25,000 dong/100g.

Mid-range Restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City

Barbecue Garden, 135A Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, Quan 1 (100 m from Ben Thanh Market, behind the General Sciences Library), +84 8 823 3340. A BBQ restaurant that also serves international cuisine. USD5–7.

Bi Saigon, 185/26 Pham Ngu Lao St, District 1 (In an alley just off the main tourist street, Bui Vien). Extensive menu offering Vietnamese, Italian, Mexican, and other cuisines. You can observe your food being prepared because the kitchen is open-concept.

Black Cat, 13 Phan Van Dat, District 1. Fresh and succulent beef patties. The jumbo burger costs $15.

deciBel Lounge, 79/2/5 Phan Ke Binh, Quan 1 (Close to the Jade Emperor Pagoda), +84 8 627 0115. 07:00-24:00. Mediterranean cuisine, Vietnamese breakfast, and a prix fixe lunch menu. Monthly art exhibitions cost between 20,000 and 200,000 dong.

Hanoi Oi Bistro, 225/7 Nguyễn Đình Chiểu, Phường 5, District 3. Two-story restaurant serving contemporary and traditional Vietnamese cuisine. The menu features the northern Vietnamese dishes of the restaurant’s owner and chef, Thuy Linh, who is also an experienced member of the renowned band 5DK. Local singers, actresses, celebrities, and foreigners frequent this cafe for its distinctive twist on modern and traditional Vietnamese cuisine, as well as for its ambiance. USD2–25.

Hoa Khai Vegetarian Restaurant, 124 126 Nguyen Cu Trinh St, Cu Trinh Ward, District 1 (About 500 m west of the backpacker area). Vietnamese vegetarian cuisine that is both delicious and served with indifference. Be wary of getting charged for unexpected products, such as the disposable hand towels that are given to you as you sit down without your request. 100,000 dong.

Hoa Mai Coffee, 43-45 Do Quang Dau St (Just off Phan Ngu Lao, between Phan Ngu Lao St and Bui Vien St), +84 8 836 8310. On the second floor, above the restaurant, there is a pleasant bar with a pool table. International cuisine and regional cuisine. Fresh fruit drinks, spring rolls, noodles and spaghetti from Vietnam. USD2–5.

Huong Dong, 68 Huynh Tinh Cua. A modest outdoor restaurant serving predominantly southern-style country cuisine. The name directly translates to “field scent.” It is a venue where families and groups of friends gather to consume large quantities of beer, food, and noise. Field mouse, entire frog, pigeon porridge, and coconut worm are a few of the more bizarre dishes that you may need a few beers to attempt. A whole char-grilled ga ta (free-range chicken prepared in the local tradition) costs 170,000 dong, head and feet included. Other meats and fish are offered for between 50,000 and 80,000 dong. Intriguing English translations of the extensive menu enhance the sense of adventure.

Une Journée à Paris, 234 Le Thanh Ton St (Quan 1, 100 m from Ben Thanh Market.). Authentic French boulangerie, patisserie and salon de thé. French petit dejeuner at 50,000 dong, with egg/bacon 100,000 dong.

Lemongrass, 4 Nguyen Thiep St (Near the Opera House). An extremely tourist-oriented Vietnamese eatery. The daily business lunch costs $3 or more, with weekly specials. Expanded to a second location on the 14th floor of the Palace Hotel Saigon, 10 minutes away from the original location. Same menu, same pricing. USD4–6.

Lion City Cafe & Restaurant, 45 Le Anh Xuan, District 1 (Opposite New World Hotel), +84 8 3823 8371. 07:00-15:00. The largest Singaporean restaurant franchise in Vietnam, with imported products. 100% Singaporean cuisine prepared by a Singaporean chef and proprietor. USD3-8.

Ngoc Suong Marina, 19C Le Quy Don. A restaurant with a focus on seafood. Fish salad and white wine-braised clams.

Papaya by Chi Nghia, 68 Pham Viet Chanh, Binh Thanh District (Near the zoo). A small restaurant that specializes in northern Vietnamese food. Run by a chef/owner with 25 years of Sofitel hotel expertise. The cooking and presentation are impeccable. Clean and beautifully appointed From $2 to $5 and up.

Quan An Ngon, District 1. Two restaurants with the same name operate within a few blocks of each other, one at 160 Pasteur Street and the other (just reopened) opposite from the Reunification Palace on Nam Ky Khoi Nghia. Set in historic French villas with comparable menus of Vietnamese cuisine, including regional specialties served in a large number of independently run food vendors. Both are popular, and both tend to be crowded and require a wait for a table during peak hours. (The name literally translates to “restaurant of delectable dining” The one on Pasteur has dozens of kerosene lamps burning at night for ambience, so if you have asthma or pulmonary concerns, or if you feel you’ve had enough pollution, you should try the other one. Mains beginning at 45,000 dong.

Quan Nuong, 29-31 Ton That Thiep. On the roof over Fanny’s ice cream parlor and the Temple Club is a fantastic, reasonably-priced outdoor BBQ restaurant. Each table has a grill in the middle, and the menu features a range of meats and fish that can be grilled by the diner. Try the fish wrapped in bacon and the cheese wrapped in meat. In addition, they provide a selection of salads and noodle dishes that are primarily of southern origin. It is extremely popular and frequently full by mid-evening.

La Sen Restaurant (Nha Hang La Sen), 30 Ba Huyen Thanh Quan, Phuong 6, Quan 3 (In the centre of district 3), +84 8 930 6682. 09:30-23:00. This restaurant serves cuisine from the regions of Hue, Saigon, and Hanoi. Friendly service, full air conditioning, 2 floors, and space for around 100 people.

Spice, 27c Le Quy Don in Quan 3. The city’s largest and most frequented Thai restaurant. As it is outside of the tourist region, it is predominantly populated by local Vietnamese and expatriates. Two Thai chefs produce authentic Thai cuisine. Fresh food is supplied within minutes. Tom yam gung and papaya salad, shrimp with a spicy kick; Thai cuisine fused with other cuisines. Over 200 seats, air-conditioned, al fresco, or Thai-style floor mats. There is delivery to all districts. Top floor BBQ.

Sushi Bar (Four locations: corner of Le Thanh Ton and Ton Duc Thang in Q1, about six blocks northeast of the Opera House; on a large alley full of restaurants off Ton Duc Thang by the river and near the Legend Hotel; on the food-court floor of Zen Plaza on Nguyen Trai; and in the Saigon Court apartment building on Nguyen Dinh Chieu.). Probably the most affordable sushi in Saigon. They provide a greater and more varied selection than the average sushi restaurant at half the price. Draft Tiger beer is 24,000 dong. During peak dining hours, you can anticipate a wait due to the restaurant’s popularity.

Wrap and Roll, 62 Hai Ba Trung. An expanding chain. Wrapped Vietnamese fusion cuisine in a contemporary minimalist environment. Examine the treats. The price of beer and a meal should be less than USD10.

Splurge Restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City

Au Lac do Brazil, 238 Pasteur (Between Dien Bien Phu and Vo Thi Sau.). To demonstrate that Saigon has everything, there is a Brazilian-style churrascaria with live Latin music Tuesday through Saturday. In addition, they have opened a second location in Sky Garden II, Phu My Hung, District 7. It is typically larger, less crowded, and has superior service. USD30+ each person.

Co Ngu (On Pasteur just before Dien Bien Phu, Quan 1). Fine Vietnamese and Asian fusion cuisine served in a villa with indoor and outdoor seating. Favored by business groups. Prices are more than normal for Saigon, but the value is better than in the tourist district.

The Deck Saigon, 38 Nguyen U Di, Thao Dien, An Phu, District 2 (15 min from the centre of Saigon), +84 8 3744 6632. The only upscale restaurant on the riverbanks. Contemporary fusion food prepared with local ingredients.

La Habana, 6 Cao Ba Quat, Quan 1 (Two blocks northeast of the Hyatt and opera house). Outstanding Spanish and Cuban cuisine, featuring a big selection of tapas. Moreover, it is one of the few locations in Vietnam that serves truly excellent cocktails.

La Hosteria (On Le Thanh Ton a few blocks east of the Hilton). A fine Italian restaurant featuring pasta dishes priced between 125,000 and 150,000 dong and entrees priced at 150,000 or more.

Huy Long Vien, 99 Nguyen Du (Across from the Reunification Palace).Chinese food, including dim sum and Peking Duck. Large with a theme of ancient China.

Pomodoro’s (On Hai Ba Trung, a block from the Hilton and around the corner from the Sheraton and Caravelle Hotels). Decent little Italian eatery. Their specialty is delicious lasagna; the pizzas are a little oily. Dinner for about $50 that includes two starters, beverages, a 0.5-liter carafe of wine, a main course, and desserts, but with subpar service.

Tân Nam, 60-62 Dong Du, Quan 1 (A few doors from Sheraton Saigon). Open-air on the main floor, air conditioning on the higher floors. Around USD10 per person for somewhat costly and subpar cuisine, but they will store your motorcycle while you eat and explore the waterfront.

Temple Club, 29-31 Ton That Thiep, Q.1 (First floor, with an ice cream parlour below). Ambiance from the 1930s with distinct bars, restaurants, and lounge areas. Although the food is decent, most visitors come to take in the scene.

L’en Tete, 1st floor, 139 Nguyen Thai Binh, Quan 1 (At the junction with Calmette). 17:00-24:00. Excellent French restaurant in a neighborhood not often known for fine dining. really suitable for a relaxed meal. 150,000-450,000 dong.

ZanZBar Restaurant & Bar, 41 Dong Du St (Diagonally opposite Sheraton Hotel). A diverse group of native Vietnamese, local expats, and tourists were present. a variety of cocktails and wines by the glass. The illuminated columns at night add to the atmosphere well.

Urban Kitchen + Bar (urban kitchen bar restaurant ho chi minh city saigon), 18 Ngo Van Nam, District 1 (At the beginning of Le Thanh Ton Street you will take the first left on to Ngo Van Nam Street. The street splits off into two and the restaurant is located on the left side.), +84 8 6250 6363. 11:00 – late. A great addition to the gastronomic scene in HCMC, delivering delectable American and international food. The two-story building’s sophisticated industrial design makes you feel as though you’re not in Vietnam. At night, the restaurant transforms into a bar, and the bartenders pour delicious cocktails from the amber-lit rock bar. Additionally, DJs spin hip hop on Friday and Saturday nights. Brunch favorites are served beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

Halal food

D’Nyonya Penang Restaurant, 58 Dong Du St, District 1 (Beside the Mosque and Sheraton Hotel), +84 8 6678 6044. Malaysian owned, authentic Malaysian cuisine and Vietnamese menu.

Four Season Restaurant, 2 Thi Sach St, District 1, +84 8 825 7186.Vietnamese and Malaysian cuisine.

Halal@Saigon, 31 Đông Du, District 1 (Opposite the Indian Jamia Mosque, near Sheraton Hotel), +84 8 3824 6823 (Vietnamese), +84 8 38274602(English), fax: +84 8 38274603, e-mail: info@halalsaigon.com. 10:00-22:00.Vietnamese, Malaysian, and vegetarian dishes made according to halal standards. There are numerous Malaysian mainstays on the menu and the restaurant is owned by a Malaysian, but the cuisine is predominantly Vietnamese, with a wide variety of dishes from all around the country.

Lion City Cafe and Restaurant, 45 Le Anh Xuan, District 1 (Near Ben Thanh market opposite New World hotel), +84 8 3823 8371. Daily, 19:00-03:00. Certified halal, serves halal food on 2nd floor.

Pro Döner Kebab, 169 De Tham, Pham Ngu Lao Ward, District 1, +84 8 2200 5959. Turkish place with good service serving real doner kebabs, halal style.

Vietnam Halal (Muslim Food Restaurant), 14 Pham Hong Thai, P. Ben Thanh, Quan 1 (Near Ben Thanh Market), +84 8 3822 0252. Malaysian cuisine and Vietnamese food.

Cafe Bars in Ho Chi Minh City

Vietnam is the second-largest exporter of coffee in the world, behind Brazil, and cà phê is a national favorite. It is a haven for coffee-loving tourists. The local style is robust and sweet; the essential terms are sa (sweetened condensed milk), á (ice), and nóng (hot, pronounced “nowm”). Cà phê á is a strong, sweet iced coffee, whereas cà phê sa á is the same beverage with condensed milk. Cà phê (sa) nóng is brewed fresh at the table in a little metal contraption placed over a cup; simply remove it when it has cooled sufficiently to touch (and hence drink). Prices range between 10,000 and 20,000 dong for local-style coffee.

Since ice may or may not be manufactured with pure water, visitors should avoid it; yet, long-term locals frequently drink ice from reputable cafes and restaurants.

Espresso, cappuccino, and American-style filter coffee are now commonly available in the tourist zone, with prices often ranging from two to eight times that of the local type. If a restaurant uses UHT milk as opposed to condensed milk, you will be able to distinguish it as superior.

Bobby Brewery Coffee, Bui Vien St. Nice place with good beverages. Used to show movies on 2nd and 3rd floor. Now reopened as La Cantina.

Cafe 5 Sao, Pham Ngoc Thach (Near the Turtle Pond). Plays loud techno music. Attractive, but pretentious crowd.

Cafe Napoly, Pham Ngoc Thach (Near the Turtle Pond). The design is reminiscent of Roman ruins (they meant “Naples”), but the cuisine is typical of a high-end Vietnamese cafe: coffee, fruit drinks, ice cream, and a modest selection of egg and rice dishes. The piped music is pleasant, not too loud throughout the day (albeit louder at night), and the pricing are reasonable. Front terrace, air-conditioned section on the ground floor, and evening lounge-bar on the second story. Next door to the noisier, trendier, and perhaps more ostentatious Cafe Nam Sao.

Cafe Saigon, 57 Nguyen Du St (Opposite to Immaculate Conception Cathedral Basilica), +84 9378 66066. Italian coffee, foods, free Wi-Fi, relaxing & modern music.

Chao Ba Ca Phe (Granny’s Coffee), TK49/5 Nguyen Canh Chan, Q1 (Walk down Nguyen Canh Chan from the junction with Tran Hung Dao and take a left down the alleyway where the fruit salad restaurant is). This place has a really authentic and wonderful cafe sua da served by the famous “grandma” for about 8,000 dong. A little tricky to find.

Chot Nho Café, 189 Nguyen Van Troi, Phu Nhuan District (10 min by taxi from city centre). Reasonable prices, good menu. Free Wi-Fi.

La Fenêtre Soleil, 44 Ly Tu Trong (A small entrance up to the 2nd floor, near the corner of Ly Tu Trong and Pasteur). Save the world from pint size caramel lattes. Brave the decrepit stairway and enter an oasis.

Fresco Coffee, 121 Le Loi St, +84 838 211 009. Free Wi-Fi, play hill song music.

Givral Café, Dong Khoi (Opposite Continental Hotel). In the French tradition, with fresh pastries, collared waiters and elaborate portions of ice cream. Well-located, but over 20,000 dong for the simplest cup.

Hideaway Café, 41/1 Pham Ngoc Thach, Q.3. As its name implies, this place is hidden away and a good place to read, or have a quiet conversation or meal. Decent Western menu, although slightly pricey.

M-Comic, 99B Vo Thi Sau A. A rather hard to find coffee shop. Upstairs is like a bedroom with a couple of beds. Arrive early if you want to occupy one. It has large selection of magazine and comic books to chose from. Only serves Vietnamese drinks, and the staff only speak a little English. Free Wi-Fi. 11,000-30,000 dong.

Old Saigon Coffee, 2nd floor, 63 Dong Du St, District 1 (Opposite the Sheraton). Reminiscent of HCMC in the past. It has a great view to Dong Khoi St. All the drinks and foods are typical Saigon. The staff are quite decent.

Poppy Café, 217 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, District 3. Modern lounge café where the specialty is fruit-topped natural frozen yogurt. The only café in HCMC that serves this refreshing healthy treat. Creative fruit smoothies and light Vietnamese and Western fare. Flat-screen TVs, and English-speaking staff.

Regina Coffee, 84 Nguyen Du St, District 1. Vietnamese coffee or cappuccini. They have a skilled Japanese espresso master who knows how to brew coffee. French mixed with Asian design with brick walls. It is marketed towards tourists and all proceeds go to the church around the corner.

Sozo, Pham Ngu Lao. All proceeds benefit needy Vietnamese families. Good drinks, friendly staff, but their cookies could be better if they were baked in a real oven.

Trung Nguyen (Two convenient outlets are on the east side of Nguyen Hue right before the People’s Committee Hall, and the corner of Thu Khoa Huan and Ly Tu Trong). The Vietnamese equivalent of Starbucks, but with significantly superior coffee. They have locations across the city, but their presence in the core of the tourist zone is limited. There are other kinds, including the infamous weasel coffee (cà phê chn), which is prepared from coffee beans collected from civet dung; however, a brief Google search regarding the living conditions of the civets may deter some from sampling.

Window 4 Cafe (Near the Reunification Palace). This appears to be the site of Vietnam’s fashion slaves and the place to be seen. The ambience is pretentious (not ideal for people who like to relax), but the coffee is excellent and the menu is pretty tasty. The location is always crowded.