Top 21 best food in Ho Chi Minh city

Ho Chi Minh city is one of the two biggest cities in Vietnam. It has a different culture from Hanoi, so it will be fun for you to explore. One of the exciting activities for tourists is to try the best food in Ho Chi Minh.

Ho Chi Minh City has plenty of beautiful tourist destinations as well as delicious food for tourists to enjoy. Check out the best food in Ho Chi Minh as below.

1. Hu Tieu (Noodle soup)

Hu Tieu is a traditional food in Ho Chi Minh which is a mix of different cultures. This dish has been around for a long time with different types. The most popular one is Hu Tieu Chinese style. Then we have Hu Tieu Nam Vang which is a PhnomPenh style one. The Vietnamese version is called Hu Tieu My Tho.

Because Hu Tieu is a very popular food in Ho Chi Minh (similar to Pho in Hanoi), you can find it in every street. It can be noodles soup or just dry noodles. Hu Tieu noodles are egg noodles, which are wheat-based. But some restaurants just use rice noodles. The toppings can be pork, sausage, ribs, etc…

Hu Tieu (Noodle Soup) is a specialist of Ho Chi Minh City

Where to eat

Quan Mi Cat

Address: 62 Truong Dinh, District 1, HCM

Price: $ 1 - $2

Hu Tieu Ca Can

Address: 110 Hung Vuong, District 5, HCM

Price: $ 1.2 - $2

Nam Loi Quan

Address: 43 Ton That Dam, District 1, HCM

Price: $ 3 - $5

2. Banh Beo (Water fern cake)

This dish comes from central Vietnam, but you can find many places in Saigon that sell Banh Beo. They are all served with fish sauce. However, Banh Beo in Ho Chi Minh is quite different from the one in Hue which is made with rice flour and includes minced shrimp and pork as fillings. Banh Beo in Saigon is topped with crunchy pork rinds and toasted shrimp powder. This is a must-try food in Ho Chi Minh for tourists, especially if they don’t have a chance to visit Hue.

Banh Beo (Water fern cake)

Where to eat

Banh Beo Phuong

Address: 664 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, Ward 3, District 3, HCM

Price: $0.8 - $2

Banh Beo Ngoc Tram

Address: 419 Su Van Hanh, Ward 12, District 10, HCM

Price: $1 - $2

Banh Beo Chen D2

Address: No 65, D2 Street, Ward 25, Binh Thanh District, HCM

Price: $0.2- $1

3. Banh Da Xuc Hen (Stir-fried baby clams)

This is the best food in Ho Chi Minh for seafood lovers. The dish has a different yet satisfying taste. Banh da is rice paper crisp with hints of sesame mixed with stir-fried clams is a very yummy snack. The baby clams are fried with lemongrass, Vietnamese coriander, chili, onion, and garlic before being served. This is a very simple dish, but it tastes amazing. You should definitely try it when coming to Saigon.  

Banh Da Xuc Hen ( Stir - fried baby clams) - best choice for who loves seafood

Where to eat

An Nam Quan

Address 1: 59 Nguyen Binh Khiem, Da Kao Ward, District 1, HCM.

Address 2: 51B Tu Xuong, Ward 7, District 3, HCM.

Price: $3 -$5

Hong Hanh

Address: 17A Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, HCM.

Price: $3 -$5

4. Banh Canh Cua (Crab noodle soup)

Noodles in Banh Canh Cua are thicker than the ones you see in any other noodle dish in Vietnam. It is quite similar to Japanese udon and is made with tapioca or rice flour. The crab soup is viscous, making it a decent meal for lunch. You can add chili, green onions, and lemon on top before eating so it will be tastier.

Banh Canh Cua ( Crap noodle soup)

Where to eat 

Kim Long Restaurant

Address: 80/68 Tran Quang Dieu Street, District 3, HCM

Price: $1 -$3

Banh Canh Cua Ut Le

Address: 210 To Hien Thanh Street, District 10, HCM

Price: $1 -$3

Banh Canh Cua Hoang Lan

Address: 484 Vinh Vien, Ward 8, District 10, HCM

Price: $1 -$3

5. Banh Cuon (Rolled cakes)

Banh Cuon is a Northern dish but it is now very popular in Ho Chi Minh. Rice flour is mixed with water, then steamed and filled with wood ear mushrooms and pork. It is rolled and served with a bowl of sauce and Vietnamese ham to be a wonderful breakfast for most Vietnamese. This dish can be filling but absolutely not heavy. You can eat Banh Cuon with herbs and greens on the table.

Banh Cuon ( Rolled Cake) is often eaten in breakfast by Vietnamese people

Where to eat

Banh Cuon Tay Ho 1

Address: 127 Dinh Tien Hoang Street, District 1, HCM

Price: $2.5 -$3

Hai Nam Restaurant

Address: 11A Cao Thang Street, District 3, HCM

Price: $1.8 -$2

Xuan Huong Restaurant

Address: No 1 Song Da Street, Tan Binh District, HCM

Price: $2 -$3

Song Moc Restaurant

Address: 107 Vuon Chuoi, District 3, HCM

Price: $1 -$3

6. Banh Xeo (Sizzling rice crepes)

Banh Xeo is rice crepes fried in a sizzling pan, filled with bean sprouts, shrimp, and minced pork. It is wrapped in rice paper with greens and herbs, then dipped in fish sauce. There are many restaurants that serve this food in Ho Chi Minh. 

Banh Xeo (Sizzling rice crepes)

Where to eat

Banh Xeo Du

Address: 274 Nguyen Van Dau Street, Binh Thanh District, HCM

Price: $1 -$5

Banh Xeo Ba Hai

Address: 64 Nguyen Trong Tuyen Street, Phu Nhuan District, HCM

Price: $1.5 -$3

Banh Xeo Quang Ngai

Address: 46A Dinh Cong Trang Street, Tan Dinh Ward, District 1, HCM

Price: $1 -$3

7. Banh Tam Bi (Tapioca noodles)

Banh tam bi is tapioca noodles in the shape of silkworms, filled with a pork meatball, some pork sausage, pickled vegetables, and coconut sauce. This is delicious food in Ho Chi Minh that can barely be found anywhere else. This dish comes from the Mekong Delta area and it is gelatinous, so it is ideal for people who love consistencies in food.

Banh Tam Bi (Tapioca Noodles)

Where to eat

Quan Sadec

Address: 154 Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street, District 1, HCM

Price: $1 -$2

Banh Tam Bi Dong Thap

Address: 183 Su Van Hanh, Ward 2, District 10, HCM

Price: $1 -$2

Banh Tam Bi Bac Lieu

Address: 457 Hai Ba Trung, Ward 8, District 3, HCM

Price: $1 -$2

8. Bot Chien (Rice flour cakes)

This dish is greasy as it consists of rice flour, whipped eggs, and green onions. They will be fried until crispy and served with rice vinegar, soy sauce, and pickled papaya. The dish is very popular with Southern people so it is easy to find a restaurant that serves it.

Bot Chien (Rice Flour Cakes)

Where to eat

Bot Chien Dat Thanh

Address: 277 Vo Van Tan Street, District 3, HCM

Price: $1 -$1.5

Bot Chien Van Thanh

Address: 185 Vo Van Tan, Ward 5, District 3, HCM

Price: $1 -$2

Bot Chien Pate

Address: 877 Hoang Sa, Ward 11, District 3, HCM 

Price: $1 -$2

9. Bun Bo Hue (Hue beef noodles soup)

This is a very popular dish across Vietnam. So there is no surprise that you can find it as one of the best foods in Ho Chi Minh. Bun Bo Hue originated from Hue- a central Vietnam’s city. It has a strong broth and is full of meat. Similar to any noodles dish in Vietnam, it is served with greens including bean sprouts and banana flowers.

You can try Bun Bo Hue ( Hue beef noodles soup) in Ho Chi Minh City if you don't have time to visit Hue

Where to eat

Bun Bo Hue Dong Ba

Address: 110A Nguyen Du, District 1, HCM

Price: $2 -$3

Ut Hung Restaurant

Address: No 113 Ba Huyen Thanh Quan, District 3, HCM

Price: $1.5 -$3

Ngu Binh Restaurant

Address:  No 82 Cu Xa Nguyen Van Troi, Phu Nhuan District, HCM

Price: $2 -$3

Quan 31

Address: No 31 Mac Dinh Chi Street, District 1, HCM

Price: $2 -$3

10. Bun Mam (Noodle soup with fermented fish broth)

When people know the ingredients that are used for Bun Mam, they might not want to try it, even Vietnamese from the North. However, when you dare to eat this type of noodle, you know that the fermented fish broth is actually sweet. This is definitely the best food in Ho Chi Minh for those who want a food adventure as they can try a very unique taste. In fact, Southern people are in love with this food, so why don’t you give it a try?

Bun Mam (Noodle soup with fermented fish broth)

Where to eat

Bun Mam Dac San

Address: 22 Phan Boi Chau Street, District 1, HCM

Price: $1 -$3

Bun Mam 444

Address: 375 Le Quang Dinh, Ward 5, Binh Thanh District, HCM 

Price: $1 -$3

Bun Mam Sai Gon Xua

Address: 76 Pham Van Hai, Ward 1, Tan Binh District, HCM

Price: $1 -$3

11. Bun Moc (Pork balls noodles)

Bun moc is a simple yet tasty dish with savory pork and mushroom broth. A full bowl of Bun moc includes broth, thin rice noodles, some slices of Vietnamese pork bologna, thin pork meat, and pork balls. Although there is a lot of meat, the food is quite light. When it is served, there are fried shallots and fresh cilantro as toppings. This is actually a very safe dish to eat, especially when you are afraid of trying some strange ingredients in a new country.

Bun Moc ( Pork balls noodles) with full of meat

Where to eat

Bun Moc Thanh Mai

Address: 14 Truong Dinh Street, District 1, HCM

Price: $1 -$2

Bun Moc Nga

Address: 49B Duong So 2, District 11, HCM

Price: $1 -$2

Bun Moc Phuong

Address: 54 Ba Hat, Ward 9, District 10, HCM

Price: $1 -$2

Bun Moc Rom Map

Address:  459 Vo Van Tan, Ward 5, District 3, HCM

Price: $1 -$3

12. Bun Rieu Cua (Crab and tomato noodle soup)

Bun Rieu Cua is a type of seafood noodles, but it is not fishy. The broth is crab-based and tomato-based. The dish consists of vermicelli noodles, topped with crab meat, pork, tofu, tomatoes, and blood jelly. It is served with a bunch of fresh greens including bean sprouts.

Bun Rieu Cua ( Crab and tomato noodle soup) is seafood noodles

Where to eat

Bun Rieu Ben Thanh 

Address: 16-18 Phan Boi Chau Street, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, HCM

Price: $1.5 -$3

Bun Rieu Bay

Address: 183 Hau Giang, Ward 5, District 6, HCM

Price: $1.5 -$3

Bun Rieu Vuon Chuoi

Address: 417 Vinh Vien, District 10, HCM

Price: $1.5 -$3 

Bun Rieu Ong Tien

Address: 96 Phan Dinh Phung, Ward 17, Phu Nhuan District, HCM 

Price: $1.5 -$3

13. Bun Cha Ha Noi

If you miss a chance to enjoy authentic Bun Cha in Hanoi, you can still find the taste in Saigon. Bun Cha is grilled pork patties and thin slices of pork belly served in a bowl with sweet sauce, papaya, carrot, and garlic. There is always a plate of rice noodles and a basket of fresh herbs next to it. There are some restaurants that serve this food in Ho Chi Minh.

Bun Cha is one of the specialist of Vietnam

Where to eat

Quan Anh Hong

Address: 34A Mac Dinh Chi, District 1, HCM

Price: $2 -$3

Bun Cha 145

Address: 145 Bui Vien, Pham Ngu Lao Ward, District 1, HCM

Price: $2 -$3

Bun Cha Ha Noi 26

Address: 9c2 Thai Van Lung, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, HCM 

Price: $1.5 -$3

14. Bun Thit Nuong Cha Gio

This is not just the best food in Ho Chi Minh, but it is loved across the country. It consists of rice vermicelli noodles, grilled boneless pork, a crispy pork spring roll, lettuce, and herbs. It is served with sweet fish sauce and chili. The dish is very delicious and filling.

Bun Thit Nuong Cha Gio

Where to eat

Chi Thong

Address: 195 Co Giang, District 1, HCM

Price: $1.5 -$3

Bun Thit Nuong Chi Tuyen

Address: 175C Co Giang, District 1, HCM

Price: $1.5 -$3

Bun Thit Nuong Nguyen Trung Truc

Address: 1 Nguyen Trung Truc, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, HCM

Price: $1.8 -$3

Bun Cha Gio

Address:  626 Ba Hat, Ward 6, District 10, HCM

Price: $1 -$3

15. Canh Chua (Sour Soup)

Canh Chua is a sweet and sour soup that includes rice paddy herb, pineapple, fish, and tomatoes. It is not a popular street food in Ho Chi Minh, but it is delicious and often served in restaurants specializing in fish or Vietnamese meals. People would order a bowl of rice to eat with sour soup to make it a proper meal.

Canh Chua ( Sour Soup) 

Where to eat

Quan Com So 7

Address: 3 Nguyen Van Trang, District 1, HCM

Price: $0.5 -$3

Minh Duc

Address: 100 Ton That Tung, District 1, HCM

Price: $1 -$3

Chi Hoa Vietnamese Cuisine

Address: 31A Le Thanh Ton, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, HCM

Price: $2 -$3

16. Canh Kho Qua (Pork stuffed bitter melon soup)

Bitter melon can be hard to eat, but there are dishes made of it that can be delicious. One of them is Canh Kho Qua. The bitter melon is boiled to reduce bitterness, then it is stuffed with minced pork and wood ear mushrooms and served with clear broth. This food in Ho Chi Minh brings you a new taste of bitter melon. 

Canh Kho Qua ( Pork stuffed bitter melon soup)

Where to eat 

Com Tam Tu Quy

Address: Tan Dinh Market, Nguyen Huu Cau street, District 3, HCM

Price: $1 -$3

Che Trang

Address: 54 Lao Tu, District 5, HCM

Price: $1 -$3

17. Com Tam (Broken rice)

Com tam is a famous street food in Ho Chi Minh. It is a bowl of broken rice to eat with different cooked dishes such as BBQ ribs, stewed pork, braised catfish, fried chicken, pork belly, and many more. The dish is so popular today, but it was a kind of dish that was made for poor people to reduce the price as the rice is broken. Today, the menu for Com Tam is diverse to serve tourists and locals. Although you can find Com Tam in other cities and provinces, Sai Gon is still the best place to enjoy the original taste of Com Tam.

Com Tam ( Broken Rice) is very popular in Ho Chi Minh City

Where to eat

Com Tam Thu Thao

Address: 459 - 461 Le Dai Hanh, District 11, HCM

Price: $2 -$3

Com Tam Phuc Loc Tho

Address: 223 Nguyen Thi Thap, Tan Phu District, HCM

Price: $2 -$5

Com Tam Ba Ha

Address: 389 Hung Phu, District 8, HCM

Price: $1 -$3

18. Che Chuoi (Sweet banana soup)

Che Chuoi is a popular dessert in the South with banana and tapioca in coconut cream, added with sesame and crushed peanuts as toppings. This is a different style of Che without mung bean or black bean. It can be found at street stalls and some Che shops. This dish is a delicious treat for everyone.

Che Chuoi ( Sweet Banana Soup) - a popular desert in the South

Where to eat

Che Khanh Vy

Address: 032, Block H, Sư Vạn Hạnh Street, District 10

Price: $0.5 -$1

Che My

Address: 121 Nguyen Van Dau, Binh Thanh District

Price: $0.5 -$2

Che Ong Map

Address: 241 Vo Van Tan, District 3, HCM

Price: $0.5 -$3

Che 75

Address: 75-77 Tran Huy Lieu, Phu Nhuan District

Price: $1 -$3

19. Com Suon (Rice and grilled pork chop)

Com Suon is a very popular food in Ho Chi Minh. The dish includes rice and grilled pork chop topped with fried green onions and crispy pork rind. It comes with pickled vegetables and a small bowl of broth. You can order a fried egg to make it a more filling dish. 

Com Suon ( Rice and grilled pork chop)

Where to eat

Com Suon Tu Map

Address 1: 812 Su Van Hanh, Ward 12, District 10, HCM

Address 2: 89-91 Dong Den, Ward 12, Tan Binh District, HCM

Price: $2 -$3

Com Ba Ghien

Address: 84 Dang Van Ngu, Ward 10, Phu Nhuan District, HCM

Price: $2 -$3

Com Nguyen Van Cu

Address: 167 Nguyen Van Cu, Ward 2, District 5, HCM

Price: $1.5 -$3

20. Cuon Diep

As a vegetarian, you will be in love with Cuon Diep. It is rolled mustard leaves filled with vermicelli noodles, chopped mushrooms, and tofu. The dish is served with a sweet peanut sauce. It is a light dish and can bring you a new taste of Saigon food. 

Cuon Diep is suitable for vegetarians

Where to eat

Tib Chay

Address: 11 Tran Nhat Duat, District 1, HCM

Price: $1 -$2

Saigon Vegan

Address: 378/3 Vo Van Tan, Ward 5, District 3, HCM

Price: $1 -$3

21. Pho Bo (Beef Pho)

Pho originated from the North, so a lot of restaurants in Saigon serve Northern Pho. However, there is a Southern-style Pho that you must try when you are in Ho Chi Minh. The broth of Saigon noodles is sweeter and has fewer spices. Some people prefer the Northern style of Pho as it is more savory. Pho Bo in Ho Chi Minh consists of noodles, beef, served with bean sprouts and greens. 

Pho Bo ( Beef Pho ) is the best choice if you want to find out about Vietnamese food

Where to eat

Pho Phuong

Address: 25 Hoang Sa Street, District 1, HCM

Price: $1.5 -$3

Pho Thanh Binh

18 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, District 1, HCM

Price: $1.5 -$3

Pho Le

303-305 Vo Van Tan Street, District 3, HCM

Price: $1.5 -$2

The food in Ho Chi Minh reflects its culture and lifestyle. If you are willing to travel to this city, do not hesitate to try those delicious dishes.

Pham Vy

(Image sources: Internet)