Vibrant Ho Chi Minh City is one of Southeast Asia’s most exciting cities. From high-end dishes to affordable traditional Pho, we discover the best restaurants this vibrant city has to offer.
1.Anan
For more than a century, vendors have sold produce, meat, fish, flowers and countless other goods at Ton That Dam Street Market. Visionary chef Peter Cuong Franklin acquired a historic building overlooking the market and filled it with Saigon-inspired art and ambiance to create Anan, where he serves his upscale interpretations of market classics, with fresh ingredients picked right from the vendors’ stalls. His varied menu will satisfy everyone, including tasting platters to share. Desserts are also not to be missed! Enjoy signature cocktails at the bar and take in the bustling market below.
- Address: 89 Ton That Dam Street, Dist. 1, HCM city
- Opening hours: 17h-23h
- Price: 150 000 – 300 000 VND
- Cooking style: mixed North and South Vietnamese
2. Quan Bui Restaurant
The decoration of Quan Bui is very nice and warm, bringing you a really friendly feeling when you dine.
The food is served in old plates and bowls, which reminds me of a traditional Northern family dinner.
Here you will find both southern and northern Vietnamese specialties.
The cashew chicken here is amazing, as is the fried brown rice which is another must try dish. If you are craving for northern taste, order the delicious dill-grilled fish (Cha ca La Vong), a dish from the northern city of Hai Phong.
Quan Bui has two locations in District 1 and one in District 2.
You can easily find the one closest to you.
- Address: 17A Ngo Van Nam, Dist. 1, HCM city
- Opening hours: from 8h to 23h
- Price: 70 000 – 260 000 VND
- Cooking style: mixed North and South Vietnamese
3. Secret Garden & Restaurant Secret House & Café
Secret Garden and Secret House are managed by the same owner who does a great job in maintaining the high quality level of these two restaurants. Big brother Secret Garden was opened in 2013 and has since been frequently visited by locals and expats in Sai Gon. In the maze of modern buildings in Sai Gon, you will be surprised to find Secret Garden located in a nice and cozy rooftop restaurant in an old building.
The food is excellent combined with a very good atmosphere with open air and colorful lanterns. It’s a bit tricky (and fun) to find. Tell your driver to take the one-way street to Ly Tu Trong, then turn left at the intersection of Pasteur and Ly Tu Trong streets. You’ll find a small alley on the right side of Pasteur, go to the end of the alley, turn left and climb some precarious stairs, keep going up to the top and you’ll find this lovely dining garden.
After five years in business, the owner decided to open Secret House.
This new location is not secret, easier to find, just follow Google Maps.
Secret House places more emphasis on natural and traditional design. They have landscaped almost half of the space to create a real garden with beautiful plants and flowers making it a peaceful place to visit.
Secret Garden
- Adresse: 158 rue Pasteur, Dist. 1, HCMV
- Opening hours: 10h-22h
- Prix: 75 000 – 150 000 VND
- Food style: mixed
Secret House
- Adresse: 55/1 rue Le Thi Hong Gam, Dist. 1, HCMV
- Opening hours: 7h-22h
- Prix: 65 000 – 90 000 VND
- Cooking style: more South Vietnamese dishes
4. Cuc Gach
Cuc Gach est un restaurant qui figure dans la plupart des guides de voyage parmi les 10 meilleurs endroits à Ho Chi Minh-Ville. Il a gagné encore plus de popularité après qu’Anjelina Jolie et Brad Pitt y ont dîné pendant leur visite au Vietnam.
Il est situé dans une ancienne maison coloniale restaurée avec des matériaux recyclés. Le design original, avec ses portes basses, son intérieur de bon goût d’antiquités, sa porcelaine dépareillée et ébréchée, ses plantes et un joli petit étang au milieu de la maison crée un environnement très convivial et intime.
Propriété de l’architecte Tran Binh et de son épouse franco-vietnamienne, Thai Tu, ils ont acquit un manoir colonial abandonné pour le réinventer en une fantasia intérieur-extérieur alliant des détails historiques (armoires antiques; une carte murale des années 1960 à Saigon) et des touches contemporaines (éclairage magnifique; escalier flottant) créant un espace saisissant de romantisme – un royaume flou et fou qui joue avec le sens et le temps, magnétophone à bobines d’époque, cerisier en fleurs dans la cour.
C’est cependant la cuisine qui rend le Cuc Gach Quan remarquable. Dans une cuisine ouverte, les chefs Diep et Chi Bay, envoient un phénoménal thit kho au ventre de porc à la marmite de terre cuite; intensément aromatisé mais pas du tout lourd, il picotera la langue puis fondra dans la bouche.
L’aubergine cuite à l’huile d’oignon vert est délicieusement fumée et tendre. Le tofu artisanal de Diep, fait maison, est légèrement frit avec de la citronnelle, des échalotes et des piments, créant une sauce qui vaut la peine d’être mise en bouteille pour de la contrebande.
- Monday to Sunday: 9h00 – 23h00
- 10 Nguyen Tat Thanh street, Thảo Điền, HCMV
- +842838480144
- Meal service: Lunch, dinner, breakfast
- Atmosphere: Gastronomy, romantic
5. The Deck Saigon
A chic restaurant and bar in Ho Chi Minh City, The Deck Saigon is an excellent choice for sophisticated dining due to its romantic setting, quaint style and excellent Asian cuisine. Located along the Saigon River, the open-air dining room features glass doors, warm lighting, elegant furniture designed by top local designers, and an outdoor wooden deck surrounded by bamboo and a small pond.
Deck Saigon is open all day. This means you can enjoy a Western breakfast of smoothies, eggs Benedict and pancakes. Brunch and lunch are offered, ranging from seared foie gras, Wagyu beef burger and Phu Quoc shrimp rolls.
Deck Saigon also offers a vegetarian and gluten-free menu. Highly recommended dishes include pickled tuna spring rolls, Chinese vegetables stir-fried with udon noodles and miso marinated black cod. Deck Saigon is also equipped with lounge chairs surrounding a well-stocked bar staffed by a team of experienced bartenders. Happy Hour is every day between 4pm and 6pm, where you can enjoy a wide range of champagnes, wines, martinis and unique cocktails such as Pair on the River and The Deck Saigon Mojito.
- Opening hours: Everyday 09:00 – 24:00
- Address: 38 Nguyen U Di Street, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City
- Tel: +84 83 744 6632
Of course there are still other great restaurants all over this great dynamic city. It is quite easy to have a great culinary experience in Saigon because of the wide range of choices.
