The best place to enjoy the exquisite flavors of Vietnamese cuisine in Ho Chi Minh City (or Saigon) where most of the specialties from all regions of the country can be found. The warm climate and the fresh light flavors of local cuisine are a perfect pair that make you feel the best when tasting foods in the city. The following is some of my advice on eating in this city.
Table of Contents
1. 3T Restaurant, Saigon
Address: 2nd floor, 29-31 Ton That Thiep Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
Opening hours: 17:00 – 23:00.
Prices: 50,000 – 300,000 VND.
TripAdvisor: 3T Restaurant
3T Restaurant is one of the most popular classic open-air Vietnamese barbecue restaurants. Meat and seafood which can be cooked by yourself at your table are what you find here. The restaurant is always busy, noisy and fun with a lot of customers.
2. Banh Xeo 46A
Address: 46A Dinh Cong Trang Street, Tan Dinh Ward, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City.
Opening hours: 9:30 – 14:00; 16:00 – 21:00.
Prices: 55,000 – 320,000 VND.
Banh Xeo 46A is one of the best-known eateries to eat Vietnamese pancake (Banh xeo). Vietnamese pancake is a flavorful crepe from rice flour which wraps shrimp, pork, bean sprouts. Banh Xeo at this place is famous for thin and crispy wrap, sweet and sour fish sauce dip, fresh vegetables and herbs. Besides, you can also enjoy chicken wings, fried squid and beers at a low price.
3. Ben Thanh Market food stalls
Address: Ben Thanh Market, Le Loi Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
Opening hours: 5:00 – 23:59 (Ben Thanh day and night market).
Ben Thanh Market is the right choice for whom wants an overview of Vietnamese cuisine, especially soups such as Pho, Beef noodle soup, Clear rice noodle… You will eat authentic dishes at reasonable prices. Do not forget enjoying Vietnamese sweet soup when you come to the market. If you go there during the day, find the food stalls inside the market. If you go to eat at night, it would be an array of food stalls outside the main market complex.
4. Co Tam Kitchen Restaurant
Address: 71 Ho Tung Mau Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
Opening hours: 9:00 – 22:00.
Prices: 35,000 – 220,000 VND.
The redecorated cozy spot Co Tam Kitchen Restaurant serves local favorites in a rustic shop house with fresh flowers and exposed brick. The food is delicious and the atmosphere is good. You will also have a chance to see Bitexco Financial Tower because the restaurant is near this modern building.
5. Com Nieu Restaurant
Address: 59 Ho Xuan Huong Street, Ward 6, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City; Opening hours: 10:00 – 22:00.
27 Tu Xuong Street, Ward 7, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City; Opening hours: 6:00 – 22:00.
Prices: 150,000 – 500,000 VND.
Website: https://www.comnieusaigon.com.vn
TripAdvisor: Com Nieu Sai Gon
The signature dish of this restaurant is steamed rice cooked in clay pots. However, other traditional Vietnamese foods are also served there. The flavor is good and so is the service. The architecture is beautiful and it’s worth a visit.
6. Crab Restaurant on Dinh Tien Hoang Street
Address: 94 Dinh Tien Hoang Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Opening hours: 10:00 – 23:00.
Prices: 50,000 – 260,000 VND.
It’s all crab dishes here – with steamed rice, fried rice, noodles. The chosen carefully fresh crabs are a plus of the restaurant. Wonderful foods in a venue completely oblivious. The taste has unchanged in a decade. I highly recommend this restaurant.
7. Cuc Gach Quan
Address: 10 Dang Tat Street, Tan Dinh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Opening hours: 9:00 – 23:00.
Prices: 110,000 – 330,000 VND.
Website: http://www.cucgachquan.com.vn/en
TripAdvisor: Cuc Gach Quan
Cuc Gach Quan serves traditional Vietnamese foods, which are original and authentic. Space is warm to enjoy a Vietnamese family meal with Fried tofu in tomato sauce, boiled okra, simmered pork. The restaurant has been visited by Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.
8. Dong Pho Restaurant
Address: 57 Ho Xuan Huong Street, Ward 6, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City
Opening hours: 8:00 – 14:00; 17:00 – 21:30.
Prices: 89,000 – 330,000 VND.
Website: http://www.dongphorestaurant.com
TripAdvisor: Dong Pho Restaurant
Dong Pho Restaurant is a favorite local eatery specializing in Hue cuisine. The restaurant is located at a lovely French villa setting in District 3. And the unique Hue style dishes are delicious.
9. Hoa Tuc Restaurant
Address: 74/7 Hai Ba Trung, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Opening hours: 11:00 – 22:30.
Prices: 50,000 – 330,000 VND.
Website: http://www.hoatuc.com/wordpress
TripAdvisor: Hoa Tuc Restaurant
Hoa Tuc means opium flower in Vietnamese and is located in a former French colonial opium factory. It’s one of the most beautiful restaurants in Ho Chi Minh city with a deco-style interior and a large outdoor garden. Hoa Tuc serves Vietnamese foods and is usually busy at dinner so book a table as soon as possible.
10. Ngon Restaurant (Quan An Ngon), Saigon
Address: 160 Pasteur Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Opening hours: 10:00 – 23:15.
Prices: from 80,000 VND.
TripAdvisor: Quan An Ngon
Ngon means delicious in Vietnam. Good price and good food are reasons why you should be here to enjoy tasty classic Vietnamese dishes. It’s packed every day with locals and tourists tasting traditional foods from small stalls which replicate the country’s street fare in the past.
If you’re really feeling adventurous why not try our unique Scooter Saigon Tour while you sit on the back of a scooter with our expert drivers and eat at the best local street food stalls and discover hard-to-find gems that most tourists would miss? We have many choices for you to book a motorbike tour in Saigon:
Eating Saigon is a great thing to do on your trip. A Saigon Food Tour is a great choice to immerse into the city life, enjoy all the exotic foods with your tour guides as friends.