Top 10 Must-Eat Restaurants In Ho Chi Minh City

You won’t believe what you’re missing out on here. We’ll confess, it’s a bit of a trek to get here, but the journey is just as enjoyable. The light brown sign is located across the street from Saigon Center. A winding alleyway with numerous staircases must be traversed. It’s worth the effort for the delicious food, intriguing decor, and stunning views.

Tourists have been flocking to Mountain Retreat in recent years. If you’re hoping to dine at dinnertime on a weekend, give the restaurant a call to make a reservation in advance. It was on TripAdvisor that we found this eatery, and we’re delighted we did.

The savory sizzling pancakes, banh xeo, and goi cuon are must-tries (fresh spring rolls). To cool off after climbing five flights of stairs in the Vietnamese heat, they also provide the tastiest mocktails and juices. Enjoy the view from the balcony by requesting a seat there!

Price Range:

You can get fresh spring rolls for 75 VND or fried prawns with coconut milk for 115 VND as a sharing dish.

Open times:

10 am – 9:30 pm daily

There are so many great things about Bun Cha 145, but it’s hard to pick just one: the delicious food, the reasonable prices, or the convenient location! It’s too good to be true! The backpacker district, right in the heart of the city, is where you’ll find it. The owner is extremely welcoming, and the restaurant is small and immaculate.

Even if you don’t understand a word of Vietnamese, placing an order is a breeze. An English translation of the checklist is provided. You can add extra noodles and vegetables by checking the appropriate boxes when placing your order.

Bun Cha, a Hanoi-style rice noodle dish with grilled pork meatballs, is the restaurant’s signature dish. Fish sauce, pickled vegetables, sugar, and vinegar give the broth a salty, sweet, and sour flavor. To enhance the flavor of your meal, there is a side of herbs and chili.

The syrupy sweetness of the passion fruit drink goes so well with the savory dishes. To top it all off, you only have to pay 75k VND ($3.80 USD) for the drink, noodle dish, and spring rolls.

If there’s a line out the door, don’t be put off. If you’re lucky, you’ll be seated within 10 to 15 minutes of your arrival. One of Saigon’s best and most reasonably priced restaurants is well worth the wait.

Price Range:

• Bun cha (main dish) costs 35k VND (pork rice noodles)
• 15k VND for nem ran as a side dish (fried spring rolls)

Open times:

Monday – Friday 12:30 pm – 8 pm

Saturday – Sunday 11:30 pm – 8 pm

The hip Ho Tung Mau Street has a hidden lane that leads to Rice Field, which is just a short walk from Bitexco Tower. Take your pick between a lantern- and wood-furnished interior or a rooftop vantage point.

At lunch, we had no trouble getting a seat, but weekends can be packed, so making a reservation is recommended.

Try the goi cuon (pork and prawn spring rolls) and banh khot (spicy noodle soup) (mini rice pancakes with shrimp). We haven’t forgotten about those with a sweet tooth! Try banh chuoi nuong if you haven’t already (Vietnamese banana cake).

Price Range:

Goi cuon and charsiu pork are among the most popular shared dishes in the 85 to 95k price range.

Open times:

7 am – 10 pm daily

This vibrant, colorful eatery, with its yellow walls, has a great vibe. Hoi An (my favorite city in the world) has a lot in common with this location, as anyone who has been there can attest.

Visiting Ben Thanh markets is a necessity in Ho Chi Minh City, and this location is just a short walk away. If you’ve been shopping for a while, you’re probably hungry, so come on down for some food.

It’s hard to go wrong with any of the traditional street fare options. Pick get a couple appetizers and spread them out. Consider trying banh dap thit nuong, a Vietnamese pizza served over sesame rice, the next time you’re in Vietnam. For 35k – 40k VND, customers can also get their pick of a few desserts.

Price Range:

• Noodles fried with meat are 95k VND for the main course.
• Banh mi xiu mai (Vietnamese shumai) for 75k VND is a side dish.

Open times:

10:30 am – 10:30 pm daily

The Secret Garden Restaurant, one of the city’s most renowned eateries, is conveniently located near the Independence Palace. Take the alleyway to the left of the Thuc coffee shop. It’s tucked away in an alleyway with a few other restaurants. Outside the alleyway, there is a little, yellow sign that is easy to overlook.

At night, the rooftop restaurant is magically illuminated with string lights and lanterns. It’s a short walk up a few flights of stairs, like many of the city’s rooftop restaurants. Seem astounded by the setting’s aesthetics and panorama.

Authentic Vietnamese cuisine is served at Secret Garden. There’s a lot to choose from when it comes to Vietnamese cuisine, but the most popular is Com chien hai san (fried shrimp and rice) and Goi rau muong bo (beef and morning glory salad). Keep yourself hydrated with a glass of watermelon juice.

However, the main meals are reasonably priced and generously portioned at this eatery. The younger generation looks to be a regular at this establishment for a beer or two before a night out on the town.

Check out their sibling restaurant, Secret House, which is located just over a kilometer away in the Nguyen Thai Binh neighborhood. Because it’s not as widely recognized, it’s less crowded.

Price Range:

• For the main course, try the 115k VND Com Chien Hai San (fried shellfish over rice) or the 95k VND Bo Xao ot Xanh (beef with bell peppers).
• Cha gio (fried spring rolls) costs 95k VND as a side dish.

Open times:

11 am – 10 pm daily

It’s a Vietnamese cuisine called Bun bo nam bo, and it’s made up of 21 ingredients. Rice noodles, a broth, and herbs accompany the marinated beef stir-fry. Lemongrass is a prominent flavor in this dish.

In Hanoi, there are a few locations, and this one just opened in Ho Chi Minh City a short time ago. The restaurant is just a few blocks from the Dan Sinh market, which is known for its collection of military relics. You can be sure it’ll be a hit with the locals because it’s so popular. A prominent feature of Vietnamese restaurants is the use of plastic tables and chairs, which enhances the experience.

You can have a starter, main dish, and a drink for just over $4 USD in a combo, making it a great value for your money. If you still have room for dessert, you can order a mango, tapioca pearl, and coconut milk concoction for 120k VND.

Price Range:

• Bun bo nam bo costs 60k Vietnamese Dong (stir-fry beef and rice noodles)
• Nem ran costs 30k VND for a side dish (fried spring rolls)

Open times:

Monday – Thursday 7:30 am – 9 pm

Friday 7:30 am – 10 pm

Saturday – Sunday 8:30 am – 10 pm

The Royal Saigon Restaurant, which is also on backpacker street and only a few minutes’ walk from Bun Cha 145, is likewise in a convenient position. There’s a lot of room for people to sit even if the establishment appears little from the outside.

Welcome to Vietnam is a must-buy platter that includes some of the most popular street delicacies in Vietnam.

The must-eat list:

• Fried spring rolls
• Fresh spring rolls
• Fried wontons
• Grilled minced pork skewers
• Quail egg, seafood, and rice balls.

The price for two persons is merely 135k VND, and you receive a wide variety of options. As a snack, many gather here to share this platter and a beer with each other.

Banh khot, a Vietnamese pancake filled with shrimp and cashews, is one of the most popular meals on the menu.

Price Range:

• Bun bo (beef noodles) costs 90k Vietnamese Dong.
• Goi cuon costs 40k VND as a side dish.

Open times:

10:30 am – 10:30 pm daily

You’ll find it on one of the city’s most popular retail streets. Den Long‘s entrance is adorned with brightly colored lanterns, making it easy to find. From the street, you can view the restaurant’s several stories of lanterns, which can be seen from the street as well. It’s a beautiful sight at night.

It’s hard to go wrong with the lemongrass chicken at 75k VND and the mango salad at 85k VND. Com dua (coconut rice) is also available for 95k VND, therefore don’t miss out on this dish.

Price Range:

• You can choose between a 95k VND dish of coconut rice and a 115k VND dish of beef speciality.
• Cuon chay (vegetable spring roll) costs 85k VND for a side dish.

Open times:

11 am – 10 pm daily

The monument to King Hung and the Galaxy Nguyen Du movie theater are both within a few blocks of Cycle Resto.

There is a warm and inviting environment as soon as you step inside the restaurant. Guests who have traveled to Vietnam have left their names on the walls.

For 160k VND per person, you can eat with your family. Many popular Vietnamese foods can be sampled in this way.

The combo comes with the following:

• Deep-fried spring roll
• Green melon soup with shrimp
• Stir-fried vegetables with pork
• Stewed snakehead fish in a clay pot
• Fried chicken with lemongrass
• Steamed rice
• Egg coffee

It’s a great perk of Cyclo Resto to take a culinary class so that you can recreate these delicacies at home when you get back. The class costs 750k VND per person, and private classes can be arranged for a premium. On the way to the market, students get to choose their own ingredients, make their own dishes, and enjoy refreshments. A total of four Vietnamese dishes will be prepared for you.

Price Range:

In addition to the egg coffee, each diner will be served a selection of Vietnamese foods.

Open times:

11 am – 10 pm daily

The War Remnants Museum is just a few blocks away from this restaurant. You’ll immediately feel at ease as soon as you walk through the door because of the use of natural materials like wood, plants, and a water feature.

For 130k VND, you can’t go wrong with the pineapple fried rice. This dish is truly Thai, but Hum Vegetarian does a fantastic job with it. Order xoi xoai (mango sticky rice) for 110k VND as a sweet treat. It’s a favorite amongst many Vietnamese diners and visitors alike.

Although this eatery is a bit more expensive than the others, the cuisine here is excellent and the ambiance is relaxing. As a vegetarian, I can’t recommend this restaurant highly enough.