A Foodie's Guide to Saigon: Ho Chi Minh City's 10 Best Restaurants

Vietnam has a rich and ancient culinary tradition, and has developed diverse regional specialities. Ho Chi Minh City (also called Saigon) prides itself as being one of the gastronomical centres of Vietnam: With its many street food vendors and restaurants, the city has in the last decade seen the rise of a more diversified dining scene that goes beyond the traditional Vietnamese staples. We take a new look at some of best restaurants in town.

Flower Pizza | Image Courtesy of Pizza 4P’s
Flower Pizza | Image Courtesy of Pizza 4P’s

The Deck Saigon

The Deck is the only restaurant of its kind to sit on the banks of the Saigon River. 15 minutes away from downtown Saigon, it can be reached by land or by boat (the restaurant can organise for a boat to come and pick up guests from the city centre). Visitors can dine on the elegant and cosy outdoor wooden deck. Over the years, the elegant restaurant has been praised and awarded as one of Asia’s finest restaurants. Executive Chefs Cao Lam Gia and Adrian Scott have designed a menu featuring contemporary pan-Asian fusion cuisine with an emphasis placed on simplicity. The best local and imported produce is sourced, including meat from New Zealand, seafood flown in from Phu Quoc Island and vegetables from Da Lat. Due to its unique location, The Deck is perfect for romantic dinners or for a lavish brunch with family and friends.

La Villa French Restaurant

Tucked-away in a small street in District 2, La Villa French Restaurant is an escape from the noise and buzz of the city. Located in a sumptuous colonial-style villa, the restaurant serves authentic fine French cuisine. Visitors can choose to dine in the refined indoor area or in the calm garden by the pool, surrounded by exotic flowers. Both the chef and staff are extremely welcoming and go the extra mile to create both a peaceful and unforgettable experience. The French chef creates a daily lunch menu using fresh and local ingredients. Dinner offers both a la carte and set menus. To top it off, La Villa has a wide range of French wines available.
Image Courtesy of May Restaurant
Image Courtesy of May Restaurant

May Restaurant

Housed in a beautiful colonial villa, May Restaurant serves Vietnamese food with a twist of French. May came to life when owner Tu Tho, upon returning to her native country after growing up abroad, realised that the flavours of Vietnamese home-cooked food she grew up with were not easily found in Ho Chi Minh City. May Restaurant only uses fresh and locally sourced ingredients and is categorically against MSG. Signature dishes worth trying are the pink duck breast with ginger nuoc mam (fish sauce) and the more classic fried tofu with lemongrass and chilli.

Monsoon Restaurant & Bar Saigon

Strangely enough, Ho Chi Minh City does not have many Southeast Asian restaurants.Monsoon is the only one that serves five authentic regional cuisines – Cambodia, Vietnam,Thailand, Laos and Myanmar. Owned by a Thai national, who has lived and travelled extensively in all five countries, Monsoon was born from a passion to bring to Vietnam the aromas and flavours of each unique gastronomic tradition. The menu is divided by country, it includes an affordable set lunch option, and recently a Thai buffet has become available on Sundays. Aiming to be more than just a restaurant, the venue regularly hosts art exhibitions featuring emerging and established Thai artists, with the desire to create a platform for creative minds from both countries to meet and exchange ideas. Thai cooking class will also be available in the near future. Set in a French colonial villa with a charming courtyard, Monsoon is a multi-sensory experience where food, history and art blend.
Image Courtesy of Pizza 4P’s
Image Courtesy of Pizza 4P’s

Pizza 4P’s

Pizza 4P’s is considered the best pizza in town, even by Italians. This says a lot about the mouth-watering pizzas that this modern and understated establishment serves, as it is not merely an Italian restaurant. Pizza 4P’s offers Japanese-Italian fusion food by respecting both culinary cultures. The technique for preparing the dough and the sauce follows the Neapolitan tradition. They import Italian meats like parma ham, but most importantly they make their own cheeses (including buffalo mozzarella, a rarity in Saigon). Alongside the Italian classics such as margherita, the restaurant serves creative Japanese sashimi pizza, Vietnamese four-flower pizza and teriyaki chicken pizza. Their take on this rustic fare is truly an experience that will not disappoint even the most ardent foodie.

Shri Restaurant & Lounge

Worth a visit for the stunning view alone, Shri Restaurant & Lounge is located on top of the Center Tower. Its floor-to-ceiling windows offer an incomparable view of Saigon’s skyline from nearly every table at the restaurant. Frangipani trees, water features, and the general open-air feel make for a perfect place to relax after a long day exploring the city. The modern design juxtaposes perfectly with the contemporary home-cooked Europeandishes with a twist of Asian flavours. Executive Chef Mr. Vinh Ton That has recently joined the team, adding his international fine dining expertise, gained working in Sydney and Hanoi. The venue also features a spacious lounge and bar where some of the best cocktails in town are served. Prices are quite high compared to local eateries, so it is best for special occasions.

Skewers Restaurant

Award-winning restaurant Skewers is a long-lasting presence in the dining scene of Ho Chi Minh City. Opened in 2000 by self-taught chef Tristan Ngo, Skewers serves down-to-earth Mediterranean food for those in need of a break from local flavours. The rich menu is unpretentious yet delicious, focusing on the quality and texture of the ingredients, which reflects the Mediterranean tradition. As its name suggests, the excellent food at this chic bistro does indeed come on skewers. A range of dishes are barbequed in an open-air kitchen ─ the lamb kabobs are sensational. Favourites include the classic moussaka and baked Moroccan sea bass, as well as creative options such as vodka-flamed beef tenderloin dipped in honey, on skewers.

Trinh Restaurant & Café

Although Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have their own, distinct culinary traditions, Hue is considered to be the capital of Vietnamese traditional food. Hue’s dishes are strongly influenced by the last royal dynasty in Vietnam. Trinh Restaurant specialises in Hue’s delicacies that have been passed on through the family’s generations. Among the most popular fares are bún bò Huế (spicy beef noodles) and bánh khoái (open-flour pancake filled with pork, shrimps and vegetables). The lovely decorated restaurant has a homey, warm and elegant appeal. Popular among locals, the tucked-away restaurant is both a journey through one of the best national cuisines, and a perfect spot to mingle with locals and experience the buzz of an authentic café away from the tourist areas.

Cuc Gach Quan

Cuc Gach Quan ticks all the boxes: good ambience, authentic and comprehensive Vietnamese food, and friendly, non-intrusive service, all wrapped up in a historical building. Ten minutes from the city centre, and tucked away in an unpretentious small street, Cuc Gach Quan is located in a restored French colonial house. The architecture and the exquisite interior feature furniture and ornaments commonly associated with traditional Vietnamese houses (trees, ponds, bamboo and wood finishing). The menu is a ‘book’ presenting a wide range of national dishes. This is an anomaly in the Vietnamese restaurant scene where establishments normally focus on regional or just a few dishes. Nonetheless, Cuc Gach relies on a strong and deeply rooted home-made culinary tradition. The knowledgeable staff can advise first-time travellers in selecting the best combination of dishes.

Quan Bui

The original Quan Bui was located on the outskirt of District 1, but due to its popularity among locals and adventurous tourists, the owners decided to open a new spot right in centre of the city. The menu has been expanded and the interior has been upgraded compared to the original small eatery. What has not changed is the authenticity of the traditional food served. The number of Vietnamese people that regularly dine at Quan Bui proves this. The interiors recall the old-world style, with French mosaic tiles, old-fashioned hotpots and wooden furniture. For someone that wants to experience the dynamics and customs of local dining away from the street, Quan Bui is the place to go.
By Silvia Buonpadre, from Theculturetrip.com
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