Ho Chi Minh City Restaurant Tips by iclee

Pho 24: Quick pho stop

This is a popular chain serving the regular pho variety like beef pho with flank and tripe. I usually ask locals about their fave choice of local restos and quite a handful suggested Pho24. It is easy to spot, just look for the green logo stating Pho24. From the various outlets I spotted, it seems their set up and decor is not standard for all outlets. I can say the same thing for their cleanliness level. Their pricing is the same for all branches though.

A bowl of beef flank with tripe is VND38,000 (U$1 = VNDong 17,700). Rice veggie roll is V18,000. The roll is eaten by wrapping them in lettuce leaves with rice noodles and dipped in the sweet/sour sauce.

Try their fresh watermelon shake.

This is not the type of restaurant where you hang out after eating so we scrammed and went to a coffee shop after dinner.

Favorite Dish: Veggie roll and soursop shake. Fresh!!!!

Am not a big fan of beef so I might try the seafood next time.

Address: 5 Nguyen Thiep St., Dist.1, HCMC

Comparison: least expensive

Directions: Nearest Sheraton is at Nguyen Thiep st across Lemongrass restaurant.

Phone: 84-8.8226278

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 3

Theme: Local

Givral Cafe: Old style pastries in HCMC Givral Review

Givral offers meals, cakes, pastries plus a wonderful spot for people watching. You'll find the historic Hotel Continental Saigon, Opera House and a stone's throw away from most of the 5star hotels in D1.

After reading the feedback for good pastries in HCMC, I was expecting a lot from Givral. Sadly, their selection of pastries was more bread than flaky pastry. I bought four creme filled buns, custard buns (VND29,000 or PHP85 each; U$1 = VND17,700), to stave off midnight hunger pangs. The cakes reminded me of the time butter cream was the rage in bakeshops in my country 10 years ago. Nowadays, everything is all about fondant cakes or ganache in my place. After paying PHP85 for a piece of bread, my mind is suddenly craving the PHP85 per piece Belgian Chocolate Ensaymada of Bizu in Manila.

I went there twice and found the door open. I decided to close it because the aircon was more warm than cool. Without explanation, they opened the door again. So next time, I suggest summer clothing but the downside is they do not have a separate smoking section so second hand smoke is trapped within the shop. Naturally, there were flies because of open door.

I wish they will graduate to become a proper French Patisserie. :)

Favorite Dish: Strawberry banana smoothie is fresh and not too sweet.

Address: 169 Dong Khoi St.

Comparison: least expensive

Directions: Across Hotel Continental Saigon and adjacent to the Opera House.

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 3

Theme: Coffeehouse

Food Land at Diamond Plaza: Feast for two @ U$15

Japanese ramen, Thai sate, American burgers, and Vietnamese pho; they are all available under one roof at Diamond Plaza (beside Notre Dame Cathedral). I was initially confused with their ordering system. Some outlets provide number stands after you have paid while others just tell you to go back to their outlet after five minutes. That is something very common in Asia, everything is five minutes. :)

Anyway, I ordered sticky rice in banana leaf with grilled beef roll, rice noodles salad with fried spring roll (that came with sticky rice with sweetened coconut creme dessert), bbq pork with fried rice, seafood soup, thai ruamit (sweetened water chestnut with assorted jello in coconut creme) and thai iced tea (iced tea with condensed milk) for VND256,000 or U$14.50 (U$1 = VND17,700). I really cant believe we were able to finish all of it. Must be the toil of walking around on 32 degrees weather. The serving size was adequate and the taste was ok for food court variety.

It's ok to bring in your own bottle of water as most restaurants allow it without any cover charge. Do come early as the place becomes full quickly.

I will go back to this joint for cheap quick fix meals. :)

Favorite Dish: Sticky rice with grilled beef roll. :) Yum

Address: 34 Le Duan Blvd ,Ben Nghe ward, Dist 1, Ho Chi Min

Comparison: least expensive

Directions: Beside Notre Dame Cathedral. 3F

Other Contact: diamond@hcm.vnn.vn

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 5

Theme: Fast Food

Centro Cafe: Trendy Italian food in a clubby setting

Lam Son Square beside the Opera House is home to a couple of nice restaurants. We were craving for Italian food and decided to give Centro a try. Decor was very trendy with a sunken lounge area filled with cubes and sofas while the right side features sleek Italian chairs. The air was devoid of the usual dinner chatter so I liked the peace and quiet it offered.

We opted for pasta and antipasti plus drinks. My Salmon Ravioli with Creme sauce was an assault to the palate after days of eating pho for lunch. The sauvignon blanc paired with it intensified the salmon's flavor. I would have preferred it with less sauce though. Hubby ate the Chicken with spinach and was equally satisfied. The coffee was strong and flavorful. I would have loved dessert but after eating the Seafood Crostini, too, I was too full. The crostini would even be better with Italian dressing or Blue Cheese. For VND433000 (U$1 = VND17,700), it was ok for a biz dinner.

The free-wifi-place looks like it converts to a club after dinner. You'll find Dragon Court (chinese), Lion Brewery and the Caravelle Hotel beside it.

Favorite Dish: Seafood Crostini

Address: Centro Café. 11-13 Lam Son Square District 1. Ho C

Comparison: more expensive than average

Directions: Beside Caravelle Hotel (along Dong Khoi) in D1.

Phone: (08) 3827-5946

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 4

Theme: Italian

Restaurant 13: Dining by the river in D2

A small driveway leads to a very informal veranda by the river with the small garden. Catered by a slew of waiters wearing white polos, black pants and slippers. You'll see the constant passing of barges containing a variety of stuff from sand to chemicals.

We ordered what looked like shrimp toasts on leaves, thai hot pot, chicken with veggies, steamed rice for VND253,000 (U$1 = VND17,700; or U$7/person) for 2 people. I took a sample of big leaves, rolled 1 shrimp toast plus the shredded veggies and dipped it in the sauce. I found the taste of the leaf too sappy and proceeded to just eat the shrimp toast and sauce. The rest of the food tasted ok but I do not see myself going back to this restaurant for the view nor the service. They kept removing the dishes even if they were not totally consumed. One even moved my soup bowl while I was still eating from it. Truly horrific! There was no use complaining because they just smiled and walked away. I went as far as saying "No, stay away!" and they insisted on "helping".

Favorite Dish: The soup of the thai hot pot was very good.

Address: District 2

Comparison: less expensive than average

Directions: By the riverside.

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 2

Theme: Local

La Fourchette: Simple but well tended French nook

Small hole in the wall with about 10 tables that is well tended. The French decor fuses with the veal, rabbit, sea bream, escargot and rib eye filled menu. The ribeye was cooked perfectly but I would like more veggies as sidings. The sea bream crusted with salsa is very flavorful and went well with the house white wine.

There is a small bar area where you can wait for tables to be vacant.

I recom this restaurant for small intimate dinners because the area is small and feels a bit congested for groups. Our table was beside a big guy who gabbed on the phone the whole night and it became irritating to me.

They have ever changing menus so check out what is the fresh catch or lunch special. The serving size was just right for 1 person so don't intend to share not unless the other person is on a diet.

Favorite Dish: Sea bream crusted with salsa.

Address: 9 Ngo Duc Ke, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietna

Comparison: more expensive than average

Directions: About 100 meters away from Renaissance Riverside Hotel.

Phone: (84-8) 829 8143

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 4

Theme: French

Website: http://www.elephantguide.com/fourchette/

The Lounge, Sheraton Hotel: Classy but simple lounge

Live piano music playing, ample area for smokers/non-smokers, soft ethnic music playing on the lobby area, gracious and well-mannered guest attendants. This is The Lounge area of Sheraton Hotel.

This is one of our half-way place when got tired of our rooms. Listening to the live piano music being played by the tuxedoed trio while swigging my Baileys plus Amaretto slice.

Favorite Dish: The Amaretto slice that I cant seem to finish. :)

Address: Lobby of Sheraton Hotel

Comparison: more expensive than average

Directions: Infront of the reception desk of Sheraton Hotel

Phone: (84)(8) 38272828

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 4

Theme: Coffeehouse

Website: http://www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton/search/hotel_detail.html?propertyID=1449

Cafe XCream: Cool chill out music club

We were invited to have after-dinner coffee by a bunch of yuppies to this place and I am glad we joined them. The place has a clubby feel to it but with a twist....the place serves ice cream concoctions with flair. New Zealand Natural flavors are easily accessed here.

Pounding music, that I heard can be mixed to your requests, fills the whole building. Soft lounge chairs, a pool table, an alfresco area, a video wall and free wifi completes the scene.

Of course, I ordered two scoops of Boysenberry Dream (VND49,000) while my hubby ordered something coffee based. Yum!

We will go back to this place and recommending this to any music lover.

International credit cards accepted. :)

Favorite Dish: Boysenberry Dream

Address: 53X Pasteur St., Ben Nghe ward, Dictrict 1, Ho Chi

Comparison: about average

Directions: Right on the corner of Pasteur – Huynh Thuc Khang crossroads

Phone: (08) 39142142

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 4

Theme: Ice Cream

Website: http://www.vnnavi.com/restaurants/xcafe/en_index.html

Angel in us Coffee shop - Lottemart: Subpar coffee shop

My hubby ordered Iced Capuccino VND55,000 or $3 (U$1 = VND17700) in this standard looking cafe attached to the Lottemart in D7. Pricing was kinda high but maybe adapted to the expat community in D7. What was funny is that the coffee shop was so warm due to not working aircon. The staff did not seem to mind the warmth nor did they make any excuse to their customers about the temp of their shop.

One caucasian looking fellow entered, all sweaty from walking outside and ordered an Iced Capuccino, too. He asked why it was hot in the shop and the shopkeepers responded "Yes, yes, you have Iced Capuccino". To his frustration, which we also share, he just sat on one of the chairs with his order.

Favorite Dish: None

Address: Lottemart, D7

Comparison: more expensive than average

Directions: Inside the Lottemart at D7

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 2

Theme: Coffeehouse

Nathalie's: Good Thai food

Authentic thai noodle cart infront of resto enticed me to try this outlet.

The catfish salad was fresh, crunchy and not fishy at all. We also ordered the chicken with cashew and tom yum kung with a round of thai iced tea. The flavor of all the ordered dish were authentic and fresh however, the service was totally deficient. We needed to ask for stuff like bigger plates, serving spoons, and iced water. The lady food server gave the requests but managed to scorn each time. Maybe I should place this in the Warning section too.

Party of 4 adults with total bill of VND425,000 (U$1 = VND17,700) or PHP1,250 or U$24.

Favorite Dish: Catfish salad with separate green mango dip.

Address: District 7, HCMC

Comparison: about average

Directions: Near Saigon South International School, D7, HCMC

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 3

Theme: Pan-Asian and Pacific Rim