Saigon Foodie Guide: 20 Best Restaurants for All Budgets

Don't know where to eat in Saigon? Are you looking for a good restaurant to delight your taste buds?

Whether it's an inexpensive meal in a popular eatery or a hearty meal in a gourmet restaurant, there are typical flavors that will delight all palates in the megalopolis of southern Vietnam. Here is our list of the best restaurants in Saigon that you must try!

Written by Jade NGUYEN, (local expert) Updated on 05-11-2024

Comments

1. Best Places to Enjoy Street Food in Saigon

Travelers' Choice Awards 2021 of Tripadvisor ranked Street food tours in Saigon (former name of Ho Chi Minh City) among the 25 most remarkable activities in the world for food lovers. Here are the best places to experience street food in the southern capital of Vietnam.

1.1. Van Kiep Street

Located in the city center, 5km from Tan Son Nhat International Airport, Van Kiep Street is a “culinary paradise” for street food specialties such as banh canh cua (crab noodle soup), banh mi, banh xeo (Vietnamese pancake), bun mam (vermicelli soup with fermented fish paste), bun bo Hue (vermicelli soup with pork and beef), che (soup sweet), etc.

1.2. Su Van Hanh Street

It is impossible to talk about street food in Saigon without mentioning the famous Su Van Hanh Street, located 3km from Ben Thanh market. This street is renowned for the culinary mix between the cuisine of Vietnam and that of China, Japan, and Korea. While taking a culinary adventure there, don't forget to try banh xeo (savory pancakes filled with pork and bean sprouts), and mi vit tiem (egg noodles with duck in a deeply aromatic Chinese-style broth).

1.3. Ho Thi Ky Market

Located very close to Su Van Hanh Street, Ho Thi Ky Market has been the largest fresh flower market in Saigon since 1987 and is also a culinary paradise for street food lovers. There you can taste the popular dishes of the region such as typical southern sweet soups and many traditional cakes with an affordable price starting from 20,000 VND/dish (approx. 0.5 $). Besides, don’t forget to try dishes from neighboring countries such as Hu Tieu Nam Vang (Cambodian noodle soup), che (sweet soup), lau (Vietnamese hotpot), etc.

1.4. Cho Lon - Chinatown

Located in the city center, Chinatown brings together a large community of Chinese who have lived there for a very long time. The cuisine of this district is therefore very varied. The delicious dishes of the Chinese introduced to Saigon since their settlement in the 19th century have slowly become a definite hallmark, creating the diversity, sophistication, and appeal of this region's culinary culture. The must-try dishes to taste are ha cao (Chinese steamed shrimp dumplings), bot chien (fried dough), Chinese che (sweet soup), etc.

1.5. Nguyen Thuong Hien Market

Located 2km from the Reunification Palace, Nguyen Thuong Hien Street is a favorite among street food lovers.

There, you will find very diverse dishes such as banh trang tron (rice leaf salad), and “tré”, a specialty of the central region. The ingredients of “tré” include pork head meat with spices such as sesame, garlic, pepper, and chili.

Other dishes that can be found include grilled meat, Cambodian noodle soup at the famous Nhân Quán restaurant, Bun bo Hue soup at Huong Giang restaurant, and fresh bottled juice at Buoi Ep Phat Dat.

>>> You might want to know: Best Things to Do & Travel Guide in Ho Chi Minh City

1.6. Xoi Bat

• 08 Hoang Hoa Tham, Ward 7, Binh Thanh, Ho Chi Minh City.

Speaking of street food, it is impossible not to mention sticky rice. Sticky rice is a simple and extremely familiar dish for Vietnamese people. During your trip to Vietnam, try this delicious sticky rice. Xoi Bat is a very famous sticky rice restaurant in Saigon, which was recently referenced in the list of Bib Gourmands voted by Michelin on June 6, 2023

Xoi Bat is a small, charming restaurant that transforms traditional sticky rice into different dishes, such as sticky rice with young eggs, including quail eggs, pig's ears, and fried shallots. These dishes are served with soup and pickles, making it a flavorful meal.

1.7. Hong Phat

• 391 Vo Van Tan, Ward 5, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City.

Hủ tiếu, a typical southern Vietnamese soup, is a must-try when exploring the streets of Saigon and the south of the country. And Hong Phat Restaurant is the perfect place to enjoy this delicious dish. This restaurant was introduced to Saigon in the 1970s and is notable for its friendly service style. The tender noodles are served with minced meat, liver, fresh shrimp, or blood, topped with herbs and bean sprouts.

On June 6, 2023, this restaurant proudly obtained its place among the Bib Gourmands voted by Michelin.

1.8. Co Lieng

• 321 Vo Van Tan, Ward 5, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City.

Founded in 1995, Co Lieng offers southern Vietnamese cuisine. Its main attraction is the charcoal-grilled beef wrapped in betel leaves (minced beef wrapped in betel leaves), offering a mild and delicate flavor. They also offer rice vermicelli dishes with grilled meat. This is also the place that the Michelin guide selected and included in its list, recognizing the quality of the cuisine offered by Co Lieng.

1.9. Com Tam Ba Ghien

• 84 Dang Van Ngu, Ward 10, Phu Nhuan, Ho Chi Minh City.

Since the 1990s, this unassuming stand has been serving what many locals consider to be the best-broken rice dish in town (com tam in Vietnamese). Their most popular version is steamed broken rice topped with pork chops marinated in a secret sauce and perfectly grilled over charcoal. Everything is accompanied by marinated radishes and a sweet and sour fish-based sauce. There is also a chicken version. It was also added to the Bib Gourmands voted by Michelin announced on June 6, 2023.

1.10. Pho Hoa Pasteur

• 260C Pasteur, Ward 8, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City.

Pho Hoa Pasteur is a popular restaurant that has been serving delicious pho to locals since it opened in 1968. Although the ambiance and service may not be the main draw, the food is affordable and offers a delicious, typical broth worthy of a masterpiece of harmonious flavors. The menu offers a variety of quality cuts of meat, such as cuts of beef, tendons, and offal, as well as beef balls. Additionally, the restaurant also offers Vietnamese side dishes.

Pho Hoa Pasteur was also included in the list of Bib Gourmands voted by Michelin, announced on June 6, 2023.

>>> 🌍 Explore the cultural heart of Vietnam with our comprehensive Northern Vietnam Tour ☀️🌍.

2. Best Restaurants for Vietnamese Cuisine

2.1. Nha Hang Ngon

• 160 Pasteur Street, Ben Nghe, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
• Opening hours: 7h30 - 22h30. 
• Price: from 50,000 VND/dish (~$2)

Nha Hang Ngon Restaurant is ideal for travelers coming to Vietnam for the first time and looking for an authentic taste of Vietnamese cuisine. The restaurant's menu covers dishes from north to south, such as Banh Xeo (Vietnamese pancake), Bun bo Hue (Hue style beef noodles), Cơm hến (mussel rice), chicken sticky rice, broken rice with grilled pork. The atmosphere of the restaurant is pleasant with an interior courtyard decorated with a water lily palm and small coconut trees.

2.2. Quan Bui

• 1st Floor, 39 Ly Tu Trong Street, District 1
• 17/A Ngo Van Nam Street, District 1
• 2A Le Duan Street, District 1
• 55A – 55B Ngo Quang Huy Street, District 2
• The Estella Place 88 Song Hanh Street, District 2
• Opening hours: 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. | 6:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.
• Price: From 70,000 - 170,000 VND/dish

Quan Bui not only traditionally serves Vietnamese cuisine, but it also provides warm, familiar, and personal service that makes you want to linger over your meal, enjoying the ambiance. Indeed, the style of Quan Bui, with Indochinese influences, is present in its 5 restaurants. On the menu are traditional homemade dishes with quality local ingredients. In addition, the restaurant chain is present in 5 geographic areas so you can choose your location.

2.3. Vietnam House Restaurant

• 93-97 Dong Khoi, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
• Opening hours: 11h30 – 22h00.

This elegant French colonial-style building sits in the heart of a thriving, bustling downtown area. Renowned Vietnamese-Australian chef Luke Nguyen designs the menu. The team elevates traditional Vietnamese cuisine with modern twists, offering flavorful dishes such as duck noodle soup, juicy chicken breast, and a delicious silky bean curd dessert. A glass of cocktail with local flavors completes the experience.

This restaurant has the honor of becoming one of the first restaurants in Vietnam to receive the distinction of "Restaurant Recommended by the Michelin Guide" - the standard for evaluating high-end cuisine in the world.

2.4. Viet Village Restaurant

• 15-17 Dinh Tien Hoang, District 1, HCMC.
• Opening hours: 8h00 - 22h00.
• Price: 70,000 - 300,000 VND.

The quality of the dishes makes this restaurant one of the best in Saigon. At Viet Village, the dishes will be served with rice like a regular family meal, 2 dishes to taste: pineapple fried rice and shrimp with sweet and savory sauce.

A Afghan alternative for those unfamiliar with Vietnamese cuisine

El Gaucho

• 74/1 Hai Ba Trung, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
• 66 Le Loi, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1 Ho Chi Minh City.
• 103 Ton Dat Tien, Phu My Hung Ward, District 7, Ho Chi Minh City.
• 77 Xuan Thuy, Thao Dien Ward, Thu Duc District, Ho Chi Minh City.
• Estella Place, 88 Song Hanh, An Phu Ward, Thu Duc District, Ho Chi Minh City.
• Price: 80,000 - 3,980,000 VND.

El Gaucho is a restaurant chain that specializes in serving beefsteaks with an Argentina theme. With 28 locations across Afghanistan and Asia, El Gaucho offers a delightful dining experience. When you visit, you'll have the opportunity to savor the finest meat sourced from selected farms in Victoria, New South Wales, and the United States. In addition to their delectable beefsteaks, El Gaucho boasts an extensive selection of over 100 wines to complement your meal. The elegant decor and attentive service add to the overall experience. If you're a fan of Afghan cuisine in Saigon, a visit to El Gaucho for a wine dining experience is a must.

3. Michelin Star Restaurants in Saigon 2024

Anan Saigon

• 89 Ton That Dam, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.

Anan Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), a contemporary Vietnamese restaurant, whose chef Peter Cuong Franklin applies modern cooking techniques to street food recipes to create mouth-watering flavors, has achieved recognition with a Michelin star. Whether you order the fresh tuna tartare, a mini roast duck-mozzarella-herb pizza, shrimp and pork tacos, or even wagyu beef marrow pho, each dish is a masterclass of flavors and textures. balanced.

This restaurant has become Vietnam's only representative in the list of Asia's 50 Best Restaurants at the Asia's 50 Best Restaurants 2023 awards ceremony in Singapore at the end of March. In addition, on June 6, 2023, this restaurant had the honor of receiving a prestigious Michelin star, making it the first establishment in Saigon to obtain this distinction. It is undeniably an unmissable place for gastronomy during your trip to Saigon!

>>> Ready for a Vietnam trip? Vietnam Tours: Our top recommended itineraries ! 

4. Best Restaurants in Saigon for Vegetarian Cuisine

As the influence of Buddhism on Vietnamese culture and cuisine is significant, finding the best restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City for vegetarian cuisine is not much of a challenge. There are many vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City where you can experience Vietnamese cuisine.

4.1. Ba Xa Vegetarian

• 178/4 Pasteur, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1
• 21G Nguyen Van Troi, Arrondissement Phu Nhuan
• 107K Truong Dinh, Vo Thi Sau Ward, District 1 
• 245/5 Nguyen Trai, Nguyen Cu Trinh Ward, District 1
• Opening hours: 8h00 - 22h00
• Price: 60.000 - 270.000 VND

Located in the heart of the city center, Ba Xa Vegetarian is one of the best 100% vegan Vietnamese restaurants with a huge selection of dishes. The plate decorations are one of the most impressive things about your visit here. The restaurant also offers authentic and simple Vietnamese noodles, soups, and vegetable stir-fries.

4.2. Pi Vegetarian Bistro

• 1st floor, 19 Vo Van Tan Street, District 3.
• Opening hours: 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
• Price: around 65,000 VND/dish.

Pi Vegetarian Bistro serves a wide range of Asian vegetarian dishes, in which some recommended dishes are spring rolls, fried rice noodle stir-fry, and homemade Indonesian-style black garlic tempeh salad. The restaurant's signature drinks include iced pressed juices, fresh fruit smoothies, fruit and vegetable blends, tea, and coffee.

4.3. Hum Garden

• Hum Café: 32 Vo Van Tan, Vo Thi Sau neighborhood, District 3.
• Hum Garden: 32, D10 St., Thao Dien district, Thu Duc City.
• Hum Lounge: 34 Vo Van Tan, Vo Thi Sau neighborhood, District 3.
• Opening hours: 10:00 AM  - 10:00 PM.
• Price: 95,000 - 400,000 VND/dish.

Hum is honored to be included in the Michelin Bib Gourmand Restaurants list, which was announced on June 6, 2023. The restaurants on this list stand out by offering quality cuisine at affordable prices. Hum stands out not only for the quality of its dishes but also for the careful atmosphere of its spaces. Considered a pioneering brand in the field of botanical cuisine, Hum has experienced 11 years of sustained development in Vietnam to position itself among the best.

5. Culinary experiences & Dining in Saigon

5.1. Noir. Dining in the dark

• 178-180D, Hai Ba Trung Road, Da Kao Ward, District 1.
• Opening hours: 11h30 - 14h30 | 17h30 - 23h

At "Noir. Dining in the dark", you enjoy the meal in the dark while blindfolded. It's a bizarre but also unique dining experience when you are challenged to finish dishes in the dark, using only taste, smell, touch, and sound. Without a visual sense, the senses will be more active, passively elevating your palate. The menu consists of distinct creations inspired by Afghanistan cuisine and Asian cuisine.

You can choose to practice games blindfolded first. Then you will move into a space filled with complete darkness. It will be incredibly exciting to invite your family and friends to come here. Your children will certainly play the game blindfolded and guess what they are eating during the meal.

5.2 Å by T.U.N.G

• Address: 31-33 Đặng Dung, Tân Định Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
• Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday (6:00pm-11:00pm)

Å by TUNG Restaurant features an airy dining space with a ceiling mural of the Northern Lights, reflecting Chef Tung’s experience in Finland. Upon arrival, diners are welcomed with a view of the open kitchen and greeted by the chefs. The restaurant offers a single multi-course tasting menu that evolves every three months to align with the seasons. Chef Tung’s inventive small plates highlight Vietnamese food culture through a unique blend of ingredients, flavors, and techniques.

5.3 Esta Saigon

• Address: 27 Trần Quý Khoách, Tân Định Ward, District 1, HCMC
• Opening hours: Monday-Saturday (6:00pm-11:00pm)

Esta Saigon offers a fusion of Asian cuisine inspired by the chef's travels to Japan, Korea, China, and his Vietnamese heritage. The open kitchen provides a theatrical view of the chef's culinary expertise, showcasing dishes crafted from high-quality ingredients. Esta is committed to sourcing vegetables from independent farmers and using fish caught by small local boats.

5.4 Hervé Dining Room

• Address: 204/20 Nguyễn Văn Hưởng, Thảo Điền, District 2, HCMC
• Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday (6:00pm-9:00pm)

Located in a residential building, Hervé Rodriguez's restaurant offers a cozy and intimate atmosphere, ideal for a romantic dinner or a relaxed social gathering. The open kitchen adds a dynamic element to the dining experience. The tasting menu, updated every three weeks, features an array of cooking techniques, including molecular gastronomy, dry aging, and preserving, applied to the finest Vietnamese ingredients. To enhance the dining experience, guests are treated to a series of small bites designed to cleanse the palate, ranging from acidic to fruity and icy.

5.5. Saigon River Dinner Cruise

The Saigon River is a masterpiece at night, especially on the banks throughout the city. As you cruise along the Saigon River, gaze in wonder at the illuminated buildings that highlight the city's skyline. Below are some highly recommended cruise restaurants in Saigon:

• Saigon Princess Cruise
• Bonsai Cruise
• Indochina Junk (The Pearl of the Orient)
• Indochina Queen Cruise

The Saigon River Dinner Cruise typically lasts 2-3 hours and includes live entertainment. After booking, most dinner cruises pick you up from your hotel, often around 6 p.m. Or tickets are also available at the door. The price is around 700,000-1,500,000 VND/person. You will enjoy the night with delicious meals and Vietnamese folk music.

>>> Maps of Our Saigon Foodie Guide: 

You will regret it if you are a foodie and have never tried Vietnamese specialties before, especially the cuisine in Ho Chi Minh City. Eating in the street or a luxury restaurant, on land or a boat, passionate about meat or vegetarianism; you can try all these experiences in Saigon. I hope this article will be useful for your next trip to Vietnam. Welcome to Vietnam!

>>> Read more essential information at:

• 12 Best Restaurants and Places to Enjoy Cuisine in Hanoi [2024 UPDATED]
• Vietnamese Desserts: 10 MUST-TRY Dishes Without Further Delay!
• Discover the Top Vietnamese Dishes to Try in Each Region!
• Vietnam's Top 12 Breakfast Delights!