Discover the Culinary Delights of Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City has an incredibly exciting dining scene, thanks in part to entrepreneurial Vietnamese, a sizeable expatriate community bringing flavors from around the world, and Vietnamese who have returned from abroad to fuse cuisines from their childhood and adopted homes.

Best Cheap Eats

Banh Mi Huynh Hoa

Prepare to queue up for one of the meatiest banh mi sandwiches in town. The French-style baguettes here are slathered with homemade mayo and sauce, then stuffed with Vietnamese cold cuts, pate, and pickled vegetables. They’ll set you back nearly US$2 a piece, but local and international fans assure that these filling sandwiches are worth every penny.

Pho Hung

Since opening in 2006, Pho Hung has become one of the city’s best-known pho restaurants, celebrated for its large, extra-meaty bowls of noodle soup. Both beef and chicken versions are available, a rarity as the broth is slow-cooked using either beef or chicken bones, with tons of options including concentrated broth or egg yolks cracked into your bowl.

Secret Garden

Venture down an alleyway and up the stairs of a slightly grungy apartment building to reach this rooftop space, featuring an impressive menu of authentic Vietnamese food, often better known as home-cooked dishes. The tapas-sized servings are perfect for sharing and exploring new flavors.

Ben Thanh Street Food Market

If you are hesitant about trying street food sold on the streets, the Ben Thanh Street Food Market is a reassuring place to start. With lots of covered seating and a friendly vibe, around two dozen stalls just a block away from the iconic market serve everything from classic Vietnamese summer rolls and grilled pork with rice to Korean BBQ and pork carnitas tacos.

Best High-End Dining

Jardin des Sens

Located in a repurposed heritage building downtown, the menu of this elegant restaurant featuring French and Mediterranean flavors shares some dishes with the original three Michelin-starred restaurant of the same name in Montpellier, France, owned by the Pourcel brothers. While a five-course meal costs about US$100, the three-course lunch is a bargain at just over US$30.

Quince Eatery

If you enjoy meat cooked over an open fire, Quince is the place for you. The kitchen team works in impressive concert in the open kitchen, controlling the wood fires and ovens to create standout meat-centered dishes such as Iberico pork chops and Omaha prime sirloin. Executive chef Julien Perraudin is renowned for experimenting with unique flavor combinations, ensuring each visit is a new experience.

Blanc Restaurant

Blanc delights both the palate and the mind, requiring diners to use Vietnamese sign language to communicate with hearing-impaired staff. The menu features a twist on Vietnamese classics with premium ingredients like Wagyu beef pho and pan-seared scallops. A la carte options are reasonably priced, but splurge on the US$35 set menu for an excellent dining experience served with compassion.

Top Vegan and Vegetarian Options

Hum Lounge & Restaurant

Even non-vegetarians will enjoy a meal at this spacious restaurant near the Saigon riverfront. Fresh local fruits and vegetables are elegantly presented in dishes inspired by Vietnamese flavors, including delicious winged bean salad and king oyster mushrooms with green apple sauce. A more intimate option is available at Hum Vegetarian Cafe & Restaurant.

Nhà Hàng Chay Nấm

Now known as Nhã Hàng Chay Nấm, this restaurant serves vegetarian versions of Vietnam’s most beloved dishes, including hearty mushroom curry, braised shiitake, and refreshing salads made with tropical ingredients like young jackfruit and banana blossom.

Royal Rice & Bun Bar

While the menu includes meat options, Royal Rice & Bun Bar is extremely environmentally, vegetarian, and vegan-friendly. Fresh rice vermicelli noodles are made on-site, with vibrant additions like beetroot and pandan juice, while tofu and fresh vegetables feature prominently in dishes such as vegetarian pho and vegan brown rice bowls.

Best Views

Shri Restaurant & Lounge

Perched 23 stories above Ho Chi Minh City, Shri boasts both a stylish indoor dining room and an outdoor rooftop terrace. Their Spanish tapas tasting menu and seafood paella receive rave reviews. Don’t miss their cocktails inspired by various Ho Chi Minh City neighborhoods and the hidden whiskey bar behind a sliding bookcase.

The Deck

A 15-minute trip to District 2 is worth it for views by the Saigon River. The Deck’s menu features upscale comfort food favorites like tuna carpaccio in mojito dressing and crispy-fried salt & pepper Phu Quoc squid, making it popular with expats and affluent locals, especially during weekend brunches. Enjoy the stunning river views or arrive by speedboat at the restaurant’s jetty.

Rice Field

Climbing up the stairs to Rice Field is an experience in itself. With its red lanterns and exposed brick walls, the interior resembles a Hong Kong speakeasy, but the outdoor terrace features rows of rice plants against the Ho Chi Minh City skyline. The extensive menu presents home-cooked Vietnamese favorites from all over the country.

Best Vietnamese Fusion

Pizza 4P’s

Founded by two Japanese friends, Pizza 4P’s has a devoted following for its wood-fired pizzas and pastas, often featuring its own artisanal cheese. They creatively incorporate local flavors into their dishes, exemplified by the vegan lotus pizza and the Bun Dau pizza, a unique twist on a street food favorite.

Anan

Meaning “eat, eat”, Anan elevates Vietnamese cuisine with premium ingredients and modern cooking techniques. Their pho noodle soup with wagyu in a clear, consommé-like broth and Vietnamese sizzling pancakes reimagined as beef tacos showcase their innovative approach. The roast duck Dalat pizza is also a must-try.

Ralf’s Artisan Gelato

The German husband-Vietnamese wife team behind Ralf’s crafts artisanal, Italian-style gelato using premium, natural ingredients without preservatives. Made from scratch daily in small batches, Ralf’s plays with Vietnamese flavors, evident in their fish sauce gelato and “pho bo” (beef noodle soup) sorbet.

Best Atmosphere

Nha Hang Ngon

Almost always bustling with both locals and visitors, Nha Hang Ngon means “Delicious Restaurant.” Housed in a beautiful ochre-colored villa with both indoor and outdoor seating, its extensive menu showcases dishes from across Vietnam, complemented by a selection of Japanese favorites. Guests can observe dishes being prepared at individual street food-like stations.

Propaganda

A charming bistro offering modern takes on Vietnamese street food, Propaganda combines a vibrant atmosphere with lush views over a park near the Notre Dame Cathedral. Its interior boasts murals of vintage propaganda posters, while the fresh, healthy menu features dishes like summer rolls filled with chicken and avocado.

Vintage Emporium

Dine at Vintage Emporium in District 2 for a posh, cozy setting reminiscent of a friend’s living room. Gleaming hardwood floors and vintage tiles create an inviting atmosphere, perfect for leisurely meals. Brunch favorites include Moroccan poached eggs and healthy options like organic brown rice bowls.

Temple Club

Once a guest house for the Hindu temple across the street, Temple Club pays homage to Old Saigon with exposed brick walls, intimate dining spaces, and a stunning antique-filled lounge. The extensive menu serves traditional Vietnamese dishes like pork braised in a clay pot and Hanoi-style pan-fried fish, all set within an Indochine-glam atmosphere.