Eating in typical Vietnamese restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City can be very cheap or pricey depending on what you’re looking for.
A Bit Upmarket & Pricey
Mandarin
11a Ngo Van Nam Tel: 824-6141, HCMC
Top notch Vietnamese restaurant serving up traditional dishes in elegant surroundings.
Hoi An
11 Le Thanh Ton, D1 Tel: 823 7694, HCMC
Run by the same people as the Mandarine this is another elegant restaurant specialising in cuisine from Hue.
Nam Phan
64 Le Thanh Ton, D1 Tel: 829 2757, HCMC
Superb restaurant in a peaceful setting with a magnificent selection of local dishes and extensive wine list.
An Vien
178a Hai Ba Trung, D1 Tel: 824 3877, HCMC
Another classy joint with excellent Vietnamese cuisine in luxurious surroundings.
Lemon Grass
4 Nguyen Thiep, Tel: 822 0496, HCMC
Without a doubt one of Ho Chi Minh City’s finest restaurants serving fine Vietnamese dishes to the accompaniment of live traditional background music.
Trinh
41/5 Pham Ngoc Thach, D3 Tel: 829 7437, HCMC
This café/restaurant is a popular hang out of HCMC’s ‘beautiful people’. Lovely open courtyard setting.
Mid-Range Restaurants
Tib
187 Hai Ba Trung, D1 Tel: 829 7242, HCMC
Very popular choice serving up typical dishes from Hue in beautiful surroundings. Personal recommendation!
Chi Nghia
53 Thu Khoa Huan, D1 Tel: 823 5563, HCMC
With a decor of Old Saigon this place serves up great quality local dishes at very reasonable prices.
Com Nieu Sai Gon
6b Tu Xuong, D3 Tel: , HCMC
Popular with locals and tourists alike with a sometimes raucous atmosphere.
121 Restaurant
121 Vo Van Tan, D3 Tel: , HCMC
Great selection of grilled and smoked meats at this lesser known gem of a restaurant.
Au Pagolac 1
19 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, D1 Tel: 910 4405, HCMC
Fantastic selection of beef dishes created in imaginative ways. Heaven for non-vegetarians!
Cay Gon
12 Ngo Van Nam, D1 Tel: , HCMC
Popular locals joint serving up typical Vietnamese food with plenty Saigon Beer to wash it down with.
Gio Restaurant
33 Nguyen U Di, Thao Dien, D2 Tel: , HCMC
Relaxing locale near the river offering mainly light dishes. Oysters and deer are two of the menu’s novelties.
Hong Hai
54 Pham Ngoc Thach, D3 Tel: 829-2977, HCMC
Excellent seafood restaurant with dishes prepared in the style of Nha Trang such as coconut steamed prawns.
Lang Nuong
223 Nguyen Trong Tuyen, Phu Nhuan Tel: 844 1513, HCMC
Another great beef restaurant with the option of a seven course beef menu. Seafood and wild game are also very popular.
Liberty
80 Dong Khoi, D1 Tel: 829 9820, HCMC
Well established city centre restaurant offering a fine array of Vietnamese and Chinese dishes.
Pho Ca
31 Nguyen Trai, D1 Tel: 914 0108, HCMC
Good choice for their flagship dish of fish noodle soup. Great steaks courtesy of imported Aussie beef.
Song Ngu
70 Suong Nguyet Anh Tel: 832 5017, HCMC
Lovely setting where you can enjoy excellent fish dishes whilst listening to traditional Vietnamese music.
Cheap Eats in HCMC
Nam Giao
136/15 Le Thanh Ton, D1 Tel: 825 0261, HCMC
Great little place near Ben Thanh market which specialises in dishes from the Hue region.
Banh Cuon La
96 Ham Nghi, D1 Tel: 913 8033, HCMC
Great place to try wet rice paper rolls filled with your choice of meat and vegetable. Order ‘banh cuon’ from the menu.
Bun Cha Ha Noi
140 Vo Thi Sau, Q3 Tel: , HCMC
Here you’re served pancakes then left to fill them as you please with a selection of pork, bacon, lettuce, herbs and spices. Popular for breakfast.
Luong Son
31 Ly Tu Trong, D1 Tel: , HCMC
Popular with foreigners keen on its wide range of cheap dishes including popular meat options such as bo tung xeo (marinated beef strips).
Mi Keo Soi Trung Hoa
82 Le Thanh Ton, D1 Tel: 827 4407, HCMC
A cheap and popular joint serving filling local dishes.
Pho 24
5 Nguyen Thiep, D1 Tel: , HCMC
This chain restaurant is a great choice for beef noodles and has air conditioned premises at various city locations.
Quan Thu Thuy
26 Cach Mang Thang Tham, D3 Tel: 930 4132, HCMC
Another Hue style menu where you can get top notch barbecued meat dishes with rice paper rolls (nem nuong) at bargain prices.
Wrap & Roll
62 Hai Ba Trung, D1 Tel: 823 4030, HCMC
Fabulous do it yourself filled pancake restaurant. Choose from a selection of beef, fish, pork and shrimp for your filling or get them to make it for you.
International Restaurants in HCMC
The following restaurants are ones with an international flavour. However, there are just so many that I’ve included a random selection of interesting options but bear in mind that this is by no means a definitive guide.
Al Fresco’s
27 Dong Du, D1 Tel: 822 7317, HCMC
International cuisine with an Australian theme including great Aussie beef ribs and barbecue dishes.
Amigo Grill
55 Nguyen Hue, D1 Tel: 829 0437, HCMC
Another fine meat lovers haunt with quality imported Australian beef. Some good seafood dishes also on the menu.
Au Lac Do Brazil
238 Pasteur, D3 Tel: 820 7157, HCMC
Upmarket Brazilian barbecue restaurant with cholesterol packed meat dishes and superb caipirinhos.
Bourbon Street
123 Le Loi, D1 Tel: 914 2184, HCMC
Good American-style restaurant with happy hour in the late afternoon and famous for its buffalo wings.
Arab Kebab Shop
98 Thai Van Lung, D1 Tel: 827 9867, HCMC
Popular kebab take-away joint with the ex-pat crowd. They have another locale at 115 Bui Vien near many of the backpacker hostels.
Cafe Central An Dong
Fl 4, Windsor Plaza Hotel, 18 An Duong Vuong, D5 Tel: 833 6688, HCMC
Superb buffet with over 150 dishes from all over the world at surprisingly low prices.
California Burritos
17 Phan Van Dat, D1; 175/19 Pham Ngu Lao, D1 Tel: 822 6178, HCMC
Good Tex-Mex style restuarant with fabulous burritos with all the trimmings and margaritas.
Texas Bar BQ
206 Pasteur, D3 Tel: 825 1142, HCMC
Another American joint serving fabulous Tex-Mex style food. Try the ribs in barbecue sauce.
California Pizza Works
25b Tran Cao Van, D1 Tel: 827 9682, HCMC
Great pizzas and the possibility to select all the ingredients yourself.
Cappuccino
258 De Tham, D1 Tel: 837 1467, HCMC
Well established Italian restaurant with quality pizza and pasta dishes.
Chi’s Cafe
210B De Tham, D1; 40/27 Bui Vien, D1 Tel: 836 7057, HCMC
Ex-pats frequent this place so they can enjoy western breakfasts and simple fare including baked potatoes and sandwiches.
Good Morning Vietnam
197 De Tham, D1 Tel: 837 1894, HCMC
Well known Italian restaurant where the Italian chef produces great pizza and pasta dishes. Several branches around.
Juice
49 Mac Thi Buoi, D1 Tel: 829 6900, HCMC
Great deli style restaurant where you can enjoy meat pie with mash and gravy or go for the nice salads with quiche.
La Habana
6 Cao Ba Quat, D1 Tel: 829 5180, HCMC
Interesting Spanish/Cuban establishment serving free tapas with drinks including Cuban cocktails such as mojito.
Luna d’Autunno
102 Suong Nguyet Anh, D1 Tel: , HCMC
Delicious pizzas are cooked in a wood-fired oven and the pasta dishes are good. Great value.
Margherita
175/1 Pham Ngu Lao, D1 Tel: 837 0760, HCMC
Expats love this joint thanks to the wide selection of local and Western dishes on offer at bargain prices.
Mogambo
20Bis Thi Sach, D1 Tel: 825 1311, HCMC
One of the best spots in town for beefburgers. Good steaks also.
Pepperoni’s
111 Bui Vien, D1 Tel: 920 4989, HCMC
Fine choice for a range of burgers, pizzas and pasta dishes.
Riverside Cafe
Renaissance Riverside, 8-15 Ton Duc Thang, D1 Tel: 822 0033, HCMC
Fabulous buffets in this upmarket location near the Saigon river with a fine selection of dishes from the East and West.
Signature
Level 23, Sheraton Hotel, 88 Dong Khoi, D1 Tel: 827 2828, HCMC
If you’re looking for top notch Western cuisine with superb views over the city this five star establishment is worth a look.
Square One
Park Hyatt Saigon, 2 Lam Son Square, D1 Tel: 520 2359, HCMC
Another top notch dining experience with a choice of local and Western dishes to choose from. The lunchtime fixed menu is a bargain.
Velvet & Jack’s
38 Huynh Khuong Ninh, D1 Tel: 820 9702, HCMC
One of the best places in HCMC for steaks.
French Restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City
Au Manoir de Khai
251 Dien Bien Phu, D3 Tel: 930 3394, HCMC
Five star French restaurant housed in an elegant villa. Reckoned to be the best French restaurant in HCMC.
Top of the Town
25th Floor, 18 An Duong Vuong, D5 Tel: 833 6688, HCMC
Great views over the city from the dining room where Raphael Miloux, a Michelin three star chef, serves up Modern French cuisine.
L’en tete
1st Floor, 139 Nguyen Thai Binh, D1 Tel: 0903 188091, HCMC
Good selection of traditional French dishes as well as an interesting range of more international choices.
Augustin
10 Nguyen Thiep, Tel: 829 2941, HCMC
Rated by many local ex-pats as the best budget French restaurant in town with great bistro style meals.
La Fourchette
9 Ngo Duc Ke, D1 Tel: 829 8143, HCMC
Well known French restaurant which has a reputation for solid French cuisine at reasonable prices.
La Nicoise
42 Ngo Duc Ke, D1 Tel: 822 8613, HCMC
Nice little café/restaurant serving French dishes and fine baguettes to locals and French residents alike.
Le Cordon Bleu
18-20 Ngo Van Nam, D1 Tel: 825 6298, HCMC
Good choice for a French lunch when a fixed menu is popular with up market diners.
Le Jardin
31 Thai Van Lung, D1 Tel: 825 8465, HCMC
Popular little bistro amongst French expats thanks to the great French fare at very reasonable prices served up in a nice garden area.
