Ever since fusion cuisine started trending, Asian cuisine and specifically Vietnamese cuisine has been significantly spiced up. New renditions bring surprising twists to familiar dishes, but keeping it harmonious is the key and not many places can strike that balance well.
To celebrate the artisans behind such diverse culinary experiences, Vietcetera has kickstarted Vietnam Restaurant Week 2022. It’s also a time for us to try out new flavors or revisit familiar ones, with special deals from the event.
Here are 9 dining spots in Saigon that specialize in Vietnamese and Asian cuisines.
Ăn Ăn Sài Gòn
Ăn Ăn Sài Gòn is the love child of traditional and modern cuisines. The restaurant is located at the heart of District 1, under the reign of Chef Peter Cường Franklin who has made a name for himself both in Vietnam and internationally.
Here you will find familiar Vietnamese dishes with new touches, such as bánh xèo taco, truffle phở, and the star of the show Đà Lạt pizza, inspired by the chef’s hometown. This fusion is essentially the reason behind Ăn Ăn Sài Gòn’s latest win — the Restaurant of the Year at the 2022 Bánh Mì Awards.
Customers come here not only for a unique culinary cuisine but also for the lovely view of the sunset with a cocktail in hand. Make sure to come in a little early to enjoy Happy Hour perks.
When, where and how to reach them:
Address: 89 Tôn Thất Đạm, Bến Nghé Ward, District 1.
Phone: 090 479 29 20.
Opening hours: 17:00-23:00, Mondays off.
Madam Kew
The secret behind the impressive flavors at Madam Kew is Chef Bao La. Well-known for his vegetarian dishes, this time he’s here to work some of his magic on a more wide-ranging menu.
Madam Kew’s menu is inspired by flamboyant Chinese cuisine with layers of flavors, boosted by sensible décor. Here you can find zha leung (fried dough rice noodle rolls), mapo tofu and eggplant, and then round up the experience with some ice cream for dessert. The stars of the menu at Madam Kew are undoubtedly Szechuan noodles with wagyu beef and Iberico char siu.
A dinner date with friends or loved ones at Madam Kew would be even more exciting with their signature cocktails, mixed by the same hands that received the Bar of the Year award at Bánh Mì Awards 2022. Don’t miss out on the live performances by talented musicians and DJs here.
When, where and how to reach them:
Address: 37Bis Ký Con, Nguyễn Thái Bình Ward, District 1.
Phone: 028 3821 8661.
Opening hours: 17:30-01:00.
Yazawa Sài Gòn
Yazawa impresses straight from the start with their industrial cement facade right on the busy and pricey Điện Biên Phủ street, no need for any colorful signs. Once you’re in, you’ll be embraced by an elegant and relaxed vibe, thanks to its minimalist interior design.
Yazawa’s keywords are definitely classy and professional. The space here pays a strong tribute to Japan with bamboo branches, stone and wooden walls, teppan, and sake bottles, earning them the well-deserved Design of the Year award at Bánh Mì Awards 2022.
Yazawa has an exquisite Japanese grill menu using Japanese Black Wagyu A5. Besides their three stapled omakase options, Yazawa also premieres many seasonal and festival dishes throughout the year.
When, where and how to reach them:
Address: 219 Điện Biên Phủ, Ward 6, District 3.
Phone: 028 6275 4129.
Opening hours: 17:00-00:00 (last order 22:45).
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Laang Restaurant
The restaurant’s name is inspired by the phrase “lặng yên,” which means “still and calm among the chaos.” Laang Restaurant translates that sense of tranquility in every detail — from their décor to the level of service they provide.
Laang is the perfect spot for family get-togethers as well as date nights. While its sister restaurant Quán Bụi lets you enjoy real Vietnamese and homemade food, Laang takes a more classy and unique route.
When, where and how to reach them:
Address: 22 Đặng Hữu Phố, Thảo Điền, District 2.
Phone: 028 6650 4344.
Opening hours: 07:00-23:00.
Quán Bụi
Saigon is where traditional values meet Western architectural splendor. Quán Bụi is a culinary hotspot that houses what Saigon offers.
The décor at Quán Bụi strums the nostalgic chords with lacquer artworks. Their menu consists of Vietnamese dishes for guests to share and design their own culinary experience.
To enjoy with family or friends, you could choose amongst sensibly presented rolls such as cuốn diếp tôm thịt (romaine lettuce rolls with pork and shrimp) or cuốn ram (a variety of spring rolls). Sườn ram (shallow braised ribs) is another star on the menu, best savored with a bowl of canh chua (sour soup) to balance out the meal. Whether you’re traveling or a local craving homely flavors, Quán Bụi will surely satisfy you. Don’t miss their signature cocktails, definitely worth a try!
When, where and how to reach them:
Address:
- Quán Bụi – Original: 9 Ngô Văn Năm, Bến Nghé Ward, District 1 – 028 3829 1515
- Quán Bụi – Garden: 55A – 55B Ngô Quang Huy, Thảo Điền, District 2 – 028 3898 9088
- Quán Bụi – Express: Empire City – Tilia Residences, no. 04 on D11 street, District 2 – 0815 958 338
- Quán Bụi – Kitchen: The Estella Place – 88 Song Hành, An Phú Ward, District 2 – 0987 327 104
Opening hours:
- Quán Bụi – Original; 07:00-23:00 (Happy Hour: 14:00-18:00)
- Quán Bụi – Garden: 07:30-23:00
- Quán Bụi – Express: 07:00-22:00
- Quán Bụi – Kitchen: 07:00-22:00
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Đu Đủ Xanh
Entering Đu Đủ Xanh vegan spot is like drifting back in time to Vietnam’s golden age, complete with wood-carved parallel sentences and artisanal wooden cabinets. Tables and chairs are arranged comfortably to create a laid-back atmosphere for savoring both the food and the space.
Even the toughest critics would enjoy the à la carte choices here for a hearty vegan meal. We recommend first-timers to try their shirataki noodle bowl, artichoke tart, stir-fried termite mushroom with betel leaves, and last but not least, their papaya salad.
If you’re with a group or having a family dinner, hotpot is a good choice for sharing. From fermented tofu to miso-based broths, the flavorful hotpot and abundance of dipping items will surely keep you coming back.
When, where and how to reach them:
Address: 178A Hai Bà Trưng, Đa Kao Ward, District 1.
Phone: 028 3824 3877.
Opening hours: 11:-14:30 and 17:00-22:00.
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Ngọc Sương Seafood & Bar
What started from a local seafood kitchen in Cam Ranh, Ngọc Sương has come a long way and is now the standard for seafood restaurants in Vietnam. According to Chef Quoc Vinh at Ngọc Sương Seafood & Bar, the key ingredient to the restaurant’s unique flavors is familial love, and that’s also part of their DNA.
Chef Quoc Vinh has colored the Ngoc Suong family’s traditional seafood recipes with some newer shades. His journey in the States has helped him elevate simple seafood dishes to complex culinary experiences.
Ngọc Sương aims to serve not just a simply delicious meal but a sensuous culinary adventure. At Ngọc Sương Seafood & Bar, Chef Vinh will take you through an integrated journey of eat-drink-play.
When, where and how to reach them:
Address: 8 Nguyễn Siêu, Bến Nghé Ward, District 1.
Phone: 0888 599 399.
Opening hours: 10:00-23:30.
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Propaganda Bistro
Propaganda Bistro strikes passersby right from the name to the colorful mural. Their menu embraces the spirit of “something new every day.”
Here you can discover four different types of menu: seasonal, breakfast set, discovery, and à la carte. For their seasonal menu, they offer the most recent edition being the Tet menu. As for their breakfast set menu, you can have bánh mì, broken rice, or phở. Their discovery menu is a four-course meal to be accompanied by three types of wine and green tea. Fourth and last, their à la carte menu has a variety of choices from drinking snacks to hearty rice and noodle dishes.
To go with the extensive food menu, Propaganda Bistro serves an impressive range of beer from artisanal to staple brand names. Oh, and don’t forget to check out their wine choices.
When, where and how to reach them:
Address: 21 Hàn Thuyên, Bến Nghé Ward, District 1.
Phone: 028 3822 9048.
Opening hours: 07:30-22:30. Fri, Sat: 07:30-23:00.
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Baozi
How to elevate an ordinary dish to a culinary experience is a real challenge for any restaurant, but Baozi has mastered this style since the first branch opened in Saigon six years ago.
Widely thought to be a Taiwanese restaurant, since their menu has quite a few Taiwanese snacks with a special focus on buns, Baozi is a fusion restaurant combining traditional cuisines from various cultures for a more modern and creative take.
Baozi’s famous bao buns – both sweet and savory editions – are prepared with care and sure to fill you up with the hearty proportion of one to two buns per serving. You also would not want to miss out on their signature snacks such as seaweed salad and shrimp scotch eggs.
When, where and how to reach them:
Address:
- 165 Nguyễn Thái Học, Phạm Ngũ Lão Ward, District 1 – 028 7306 6088
- 106 Hai Bà Trưng, Đa Kao Ward, District 1 – 028 7309 4094
- 79 Hồ Tùng Mậu, Bến Nghé Ward, District 1 – 028 3620 8978
Opening hours:
- Nguyễn Thái Học branch: 10:00-00:00. Fri, Sat, Sun: 10:00-01:00.
- Hai Bà Trưng branch: 10:30-22:30.
- Hồ Tùng Mậu branch: 10:00-23:30.
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Vietnam Restaurant Week 2022 runs from 5 to 13 March 2022 in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, presented by Vietcetera and Mastercard. With a special restaurant map, you can explore over 50 venues, earn program stickers, and get access to exclusive menus for a week-long dining experience showcasing Vietnam’s best of the best.
Special thanks to all sponsors of Vietnam Restaurant Week 2022: Mastercard, Diageo (owner of Johnnie Walker and Tanqueray), Lighthouse Group Indochina (exclusive distributor of Peroni and Super Bock), Good Food, Nestlé (exclusive distributor of San Pellegrino and Acqua Panna), Kamereo and Lacàph.
During the course of Vietnam Restaurant Week 2022, Mastercard cardholders enjoy the privilege of an exclusive 15% discount for all menus.