Ho Chi Minh City Restaurant Tips by shrimp56

Restaurant Name: Lemongrass

A lovely small three-story restaurant on a street with several good ones including Pho 24 [see next tip] It is considered upscale and touristy, but serves some of the best food in the city.

Favorite Dish: The grilled beef salad with mango [pictured] was rather nice :)

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Theme: Pan-Asian and Pacific Rim
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: (84-8) 822 0496
Address: 4 Nguyen Thiep St.
Directions: Dist. 1
Website: http://www.saigon-tourist.com/en/restaurants/bongsen.htm

Restaurant Name: Pho 24

The signature meal in Vietnam is the noodle soup called "pho". It can be made with beef or chicken. For me the best part are the fresh herbs which you add to what is served to you. This Pho 24 is one of a very popular chain of pho restaurants in HCMC. It is very modern and has AC.


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Theme: Local
Comparison: about average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: 822-6278
Address: 5 Nguyen Thiep
Directions: Dist. 1 -- Across the street from Lemongrass Restaurant

Restaurant Name: Pho 2000

Yup. Bill Clinton ate here. It's right next to the Ben Thanh Market. It is a very busy place so expect to wait during "rush hour"

Favorite Dish: The pho obviously. I thought I was "phoed out", so I ordered curry chicken. BIG mistake. My rating is for the happy campers who had the pho.

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Theme: Local
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: 1-3 Phan Chu Trinh

Restaurant Name: Cafe California

This hotel cafe had excellent food. This was my pho -- very fresh and no complaints. I also had a delicious Indonesian Nasi Goreng there.


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Theme: Other
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 08/839-7777
Address: 242 Tran Binh Trong -- Equatorial Hotel
Directions: Dist. 5
Website: http://www.equatorial.com/hcm/index.html
Other Contact: Hours Daily 06:30 - 24:00

Restaurant Name: Quan Cay Dua / Cafe California

The contrast is between Quan Cay Dua [Coconut Grove] and the dessert buffet at Cafe California at Hotel Equatorial.
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We ate Quan Cay Dua our first evening in Saigon. While they had an English menu no one spoke any English at all. So we had to count down on the English menu, then count the same number of items down on the Vietnamese menu and then point:))))
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It was a very typical big restaurant in Saigon -- with both levels open to the air. The food was decent, but we sure didn't use the ice cubes!!!
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In contrast the delicious dessert buffet at Cafe California.
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The rating is for Quan Cay Dua.


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Theme: Local
Comparison: least expensive
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Directions: For Quan Cay Dua:
From the main entrance of Hotel Equatorial turn left and then left again at the corner. Go about 2-3 blocks -- it will be across the street from you.

Restaurant Name: Restaurant Chateau

While the food here is good, the focus is on the presentation. Each dish is either in the shape of or accompanied by animal or human figures.


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Theme: Pan-Asian and Pacific Rim
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter

Restaurant Name: Restaurant Chateau

As you can see in the photo on the right, the seafood & grapefruit dip was presented in a hollowed-out melon "dressed" to resemble a clown. It was, in fact, the best of the food.
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This restaurant is often included in tours [as it was for our group], but, ironically, I couldn't find the address for it!
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Please note the elegant bird in the dish pictured on the left!


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Theme: Pan-Asian and Pacific Rim
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter

Restaurant Name: Street Food

This was a portable "restaurant outside the main gate of the university. The cooking pot arrived there on one end of the poles the Vietnamese use to carry merchandise and food.


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Theme: Local
Comparison: least expensive
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter

Restaurant Name: Cafe Ca Siem

My young Vietnamese colleague took me to this cafe on a beautiful leafy street near my hotel. We sat in the outside portion and had an excellent conversation with our drinks!


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Theme: Local

Address: Near Hotel Equatorial.