Ngoc Chau Garden - Restaurant Review

When travelers visit Vietnam, high up their list is a traditional home-cooked Vietnamese food meal. For many travelers and locals who take out their visiting friends, Cuc Gach Quan or Secret Garden are their usual spots. A newcomer to the Vietnamese food scene is Ngoc Chau Garden.

Ngoc Chau Garden, a traditional home cooking Vietnamese food restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City

Set in a slightly more convenient location with no stairs to climb or having to venture out to the outskirts of District 1, Ngoc Chau Garden is a great option for visitors and locals. The food is solid and the service spot on.

Why We Like It

The location. It’s one of my favorite restaurants in the immediate Bitexco Tower area for lunch or dinner. Just a two-minute walk from the tower. The prices are fair and I usually don’t spend more than 150,000 to 200,000 VND ($6.5 to $9 USD) for a lunch or dinner. The staff are friendly and attentive. From a food perspective, it’s no better than its competition (Secret Garden, Mountain Retreat, or Cuc Gach Quan). Though the location and not having to walk up a flight of stairs is a nice convenience that puts it a spot higher in my book.

Tips for a Better Experience

It’s one of my go-to restaurants because of how simple it is to get a reservation online via Foody.vn.The restaurant can get crowded in the evenings. It ranks high on TripAdvisor (#20) and draws a heavy tourist crowd as a result. It’s best to put down a reservation to make sure you’re not waiting in a queue for dinner.

If you’re a local and looking to save an extra bit, look into going to the restaurant during off-peak hours. You’ll get a small discount for the effort.

Need to Know

Location: 116 Hồ Tùng Mậu, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Hours: 09:00 – 23:00

Price: $$

Best sellers: fried squid, thit kho tau

X-factor: Easy to find and accessible location compared to the other home cooking Vietnamese restaurant competition

Online: Facebook