Saigon is a city renowned for its incredibly diverse culinary culture, and if you’re unsure about where to find delicious, nutritious, and affordable food, we’d like to introduce you to some well-known, long-standing eateries below.
1 Pho Dau
Pho Dau
Food Quality: 4.0/5 (Google Rating)
Address: 288 M1, Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, Ward 8, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City
Opening Hours: 5:00 AM – 1:00 PM (Usually crowded at 8:00 AM)
Price Range: VND 65,000 – 77,000
Phone Number: 02838465866
Facebook: Pho Dau
Delivery: Available (Shopee Food)
Menu: Pho tai, pho ve, pho nam, pho du thu, etc.
Signature Dish: Pho ve (around VND 90,000)
Pros: Delicious food, uses fresh and safe ingredients.
Cons: Prices are on the higher side.
Pho Dau’s signature dish
Pho Dau is located in District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, and is also known as Pho Cu Xa 288 due to the name of the alley it’s situated in. Interestingly, the restaurant is also referred to as Pho Cay Trung Ca (Egg Tree Noodle Soup) because there used to be an egg tree in front of the restaurant. Nowadays, it is commonly called Pho Dau, which is also the name of the original owner.
The founder of this pho restaurant was a woman from Nam Dinh who migrated to Saigon in the mid-1950s. Although it’s unclear if she had any connection to the famous Giao Cu pho village, she definitely mastered the art of northern-style pho cooking. Pho Dau boasts a distinctive Nam Dinh pho style, with the only difference being the smaller noodle size compared to the original recipe.
The restaurant adheres to the rules of northern-style pho, including simmering beef bones, seasoning with fish sauce instead of soy sauce, using only green onion and cilantro as herbs, and avoiding the use of cinnamon, star anise, and cloves—except for a hint of black cardamom.
Saigonese people also seem to favor the authentic northern pho flavor, which might explain why the restaurant has remained popular among locals for decades.
2 Che Hien Khanh
Che Hien Khanh
Food Quality: 4.5/5 (Google Rating)
Address: 718 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, Ward 1, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City
Opening Hours: 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM (Usually crowded at 8:00 PM)
Price Range: VND 10,000 – 33,000
Phone Number: 02838326493
Delivery: Available (Shopee Food)
Menu: Che thach thap cam, che thach sen nhan, che dau xanh la, sam bo luong, etc.
Signature Dish: Che thach thap cam (around VND 31,500)
Pros: Delicious che, diverse menu
Cons: Limited seating space
Che Hien Khanh’s signature dish
Che Hien Khanh is located at 718 Nguyen Dinh Chieu and has left a lasting impression on customers with its nostalgic hand-painted signboard. The words “Hien Khanh” are hand-drawn, evoking memories of a bygone era. For the past 60 years, Che Hien Khanh has become a well-known che destination in Saigon.
Ms. Nguyet Minh shared that “Hien Khanh” is the name of a village in Nam Dinh, the hometown of the shop’s first two owners, Mr. Nguyen Quy Quyen and Mr. Tran Nghe. In the South, naming the che shop after their village was a way to honor their roots and convey a sense of nostalgia. Initially, the shop only sold two types of che: white jelly and , but they have since expanded their menu.
All the accompaniments in the che are made in-house, resulting in a delicate sweetness that has attracted the attention of various media outlets and international press.
Che Hien Khanh first opened in the Da Kao area (District 1). During a prolonged heatwave, Mr. Nguyen Quy Quyen, Ms. Minh’s father, and his relative decided to open the shop to meet the demand for cooling treats. In 1965, Mr. Quyen opened another branch at his residence on Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street. Eventually, the Da Kao shop ceased operations, leaving only the current location.
3 Hu Tieu Mi Thap Cam
Hu Tieu Mi Thap Cam
Food Quality: 4.2/5 (Google Rating)
Address: 62 Truong Dinh, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Opening Hours: 6:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Price Range: VND 25,000 – 27,000
Phone Number: 02838272108
Delivery: Not available
Menu: Hu tieu mi thap cam kho, mi kho thap cam, hu tieu mi thap cam nuoc, mi thap cam nuoc, hoanh thanh nuoc, etc.
Signature Dish: Hu tieu mi thap cam kho (around VND 25,000)
Pros: Delicious hu tieu noodles, affordable prices
Cons: The shop doesn’t have a clear name, which can be confusing.
Hu Tieu Mi Thap Cam’s signature dish
Hu Tieu Mi Thap Cam is located near the intersection of Truong Dinh and Ly Tu Trong streets in District 1, featuring a simple and unassuming setting.
Their special dipping sauce is a blend of , , and , resulting in a slightly sour, salty, and mildly spicy flavor. Many patrons enjoy adding chili paste to enhance the aroma and richness of the broth.
The shop mainly offers two types of noodles: and mi cat nac xuong, each prepared in two contrasting styles: dry and soupy, chewy and soft.
As the server explains, “chewy hu tieu is made with hu tieu noodles, while soft hu tieu is made with pho noodles.” Regardless of whether you opt for dry or soupy noodles, each serving comes with a bowl of soup for a more complete dining experience.
4 Pho Mien Ga Ky Dong
Pho Mien Ga Ky Dong
Food Quality: 4.1/5 (Google Rating)
Address: 14/5 Bis Ky Dong, Ward 9, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City
Opening Hours: 5:00 AM – 10:30 PM (Usually crowded at 7:00 PM)
Price Range: VND 30,000 – 70,000
Phone Number: 02838435630
Delivery: Available (Shopee Food)
Menu: Mien ga lon, mien long trung non, mien ga xe to thuong, mien khong, pho ga xe to thuong, pho ga lon, etc.
Signature Dish: Mien long trung non (around VND 70,000)
Pros: Delicious mien ga, diverse menu options
Cons: Prices are on the higher side
Pho Mien Ga Ky Dong’s signature dish
Located on Ky Dong Street in District 3, this restaurant is just over 100 meters down the alley at number 14, with a signboard displaying “Pho Mien Ga Ky Dong” hanging on the wall. The open kitchen setup allows customers to witness the food preparation, instilling a sense of confidence in the quality and freshness of the dishes. This area is divided into two sections: one for preparing pho, slicing chicken, and other tasks, and the other for cooking.
The restaurant uses 100% free-range chicken to ensure the meat is always fresh, tender, and naturally sweet without any unpleasant odor. The chicken skin is deep-fried to a golden crisp, creating a delightful crunch and an explosion of flavor when paired with a sprinkle of salt and pepper.
Their menu is extensive, featuring various dishes such as noodles, ,, hu tieu ga, goi ga, trang trung, and more. The mien noodles in the chicken noodle soup are delightfully soft and chewy, emitting a pleasant aroma without turning mushy.
We hope that these long-standing, renowned eateries we’ve introduced will provide you with some delicious options for your next meal.
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