Ho Chi Minh City Food Guide 2026: Top 5 Must-Try Restaurants
Discover Ho Chi Minh City's best eateries in 2026! From authentic Com Tam to crispy Banh Xeo, explore top local and viral spots for an unforgettable culinary journey.
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Discover Ho Chi Minh City's best eateries in 2026! From authentic Com Tam to crispy Banh Xeo, explore top local and viral spots for an unforgettable culinary journey.
Hello, fellow explorers!
It's your travel blogger, Susukkotdari, here! 🌸
Planning a trip to Ho Chi Minh City and wondering what to eat?
This time, during my visit to Ho Chi Minh, I ventured out to explore everything from authentic local eateries frequented by locals to the trendiest hotspots buzzing on social media.
Today, I'm thrilled to introduce my top 5 Ho Chi Minh food spots that I personally tasted and approved, packed with all the local charm and flavor.
With just this one post, you'll conquer Ho Chi Minh's incredible food scene!
Com Tam Nguyen Van Cu
The Ultimate King of Ho Chi Minh's Grilled Pork Rib Rice
On our first day arriving in Ho Chi Minh City from Mui Ne,
we headed to Com Tam Nguyen Van Cu for lunch.
Com Tam (broken rice) is a beloved national dish in Vietnam,
featuring charcoal-grilled pork ribs served over rice.
Com Tam Nguyen Van Cu is renowned for its Com Tam, which has a distinct sticky texture and unique chewiness.
As soon as I stepped out of the Grab, the savory aroma of grilling meat was so enticing that I could find the restaurant by smell alone!
📍Com Tam Nguyen Van Cu - Essential Info
✔️Price: Com Tam Suon (Grilled Pork Chop) 180,000 VND
Fried Egg 10,000 VND
Shredded Pork Skin 10,000 VND
Total: 200,000 VND!
✔️Location: District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, near Ben Thanh Market
✔️Opening Hours: 7 AM - 3 PM
✔️Highlights: Known as the most delicious and most expensive Com Tam spot in Ho Chi Minh City.
✔️Bonus: The menu includes Korean explanations.
Bánh Mì Mẹ Ỉn (Ban Mi Me In)
A Must-Visit for Vietnamese Banh Xeo!
Bánh Mì Mẹ Ỉn is famous for its delicious Banh Xeo.
I went without a reservation, and the place was absolutely buzzing with people! ㅠㅠ
They said there would be an hour-long wait, so after a brief moment of hesitation,
I decided to try the store furthest to the left, and they waved me right in!
It turns out all the shops, except for the one in the middle called 'Cocote??',
are actually part of Bánh Mì Mẹ Ỉn!
I was so lucky to get a seat right away~~
It has been selected as a Michelin-recognized restaurant for three consecutive years.
From the menu, I ordered the Banh Xeo, Bun Cha, Bo Lui,
morning glory, and fried rice, all marked as "MUST TRY".
Everything was incredibly satisfying!
The flavors truly exceeded my expectations, leaving me utterly delighted!
📍Bánh Mì Mẹ Ỉn - Essential Info
✔️Price: Banh Xeo 139,000 VND
Bun Cha 179,000 VND
Bo Lui 259,000 VND
Morning Glory 89,000 VND
Fried Rice 139,000 VND
✔️Location: District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, near Pham Ngu Lao Street
✔️Opening Hours: 10:30 AM - 10:30 PM
✔️Highlights: A traditional Vietnamese food restaurant sought out by both locals and foreigners.
Awarded Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2025.
PHỞ VIỆT NAM (Pho Viet Nam)
A Michelin-Recognized Pho Destination
You can't go to Ho Chi Minh City without savoring some pho!
Among countless pho spots, I chose 'PHỞ VIỆT NAM', which has been recognized with a Michelin Bib Gourmand award.
On my last day in Ho Chi Minh City,
I went there for dinner before heading to the airport.
I was a little concerned about a wait, but thankfully, there were seats available.
This local favorite is famous for its hot stone pot pho, a unique twist on the pho we typically enjoy.
The main dish on the menu is beef pho.
You can have it in a hot stone pot,
or simply in a regular bowl.
I ordered the Wagyu stone pot pho,
and they serve the meat and
the hot stone pot separately.
You add the Wagyu and vegetables to the
boiling broth and enjoy it with the pho
noodles already inside. But seriously,
there's already so much meat in there!
It's incredibly savory and delicious.
The broth is truly deep. I could taste the subtle aroma
of star anise, along with the profound flavor of beef broth.
It wasn't an MSG taste; it was the authentic taste of bones
simmered for a long time! The broth is clear and clean, yet incredibly rich in depth.
📍Pho Vietnam Basic Information
✔️ Prices: Wagyu Stone Pot Pho 145,000 VND
Wagyu Pho 120,000 VND
Rice Bread 3,000 VND
✔️ Location: District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, 66 Tran Quoc Toan
✔️ Opening Hours: 6 AM - 3 AM
(21 hours of operation)
✔️ Features: Selected as a 2025 Michelin Bib Gourmand
The broth is deep and rich
90% locals (a true local favorite, guaranteed!)
Prices are also reasonable
Nha Hang Ngon (NHÀ HÀNG NGON)
Fusion Vietnamese Home-style Cooking
For those who want to truly savor a variety
of Vietnamese dishes... Nha Hang Ngon is
the perfect place. You can experience a diverse range
of Vietnamese cuisine all in one spot.
The ambiance is extraordinary right from the entrance.
It's decorated in a traditional Vietnamese house style,
with a beautiful garden. It's so exotic, you might even wonder, "Is this really Ho Chi Minh City?"
Inside, several buildings are arranged around
a spacious garden. There are outdoor and indoor seating areas,
but I chose indoors because of the air conditioning!
We ordered Banh Xeo, Bun Cha Gio, Cha Ca La Vong, and Fried Rice.
The menu is so extensive that
it was hard to choose, so we just went with some easy favorites!
To be honest, the prices are a bit on the higher side.
It's quite expensive for Ho Chi Minh City standards.
Locals in Ho Chi Minh City often come here for birthday parties
or gatherings, I heard. Given the atmosphere, it's definitely a perfect spot for special occasions.
📍Nha Hang Ngon Basic Information
✔️ Prices: Banh Xeo 150,000 VND
Fried Rice 190,000 VND
Cha Ca La Vong 240,000 VND
Bun Cha Gio 130,000 VND
✔️ Location: District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, 160 Pasteur Street
✔️ Opening Hours: 7 AM - 10:30 PM
✔️ Features: A fancy restaurant with stunning interior design
Great ambiance, perfect for a date
Open kitchen inspires confidence
Reservations are recommended
Chai Village (Chài Village)
Unlimited Lobster Heaven
I'll share the story of Chai Village through a previous post.
If you go to Ho Chi Minh City and don't visit Chai Village,
that's absolutely not allowed, haha!
It's the highlight of any trip to Ho Chi Minh City~
Practical Tips for Your Ho Chi Minh Restaurant Tour
I've compiled some insights from my 3-day Ho Chi Minh City food tour.
📍 Ho Chi Minh City Food Tour Itinerary
✔️ Day 1: Com Tam Nguyen Van Cu (Lunch)
→ Banh Mi Me In (Dinner)
✔️ Day 2: Mekong Delta Tour → Chai Village (Dinner)
✔️ Day 3: Nha Hang Ngon (Lunch) → Pho Viet Nam (Dinner)
District 1 in Ho Chi Minh City is very walkable,
so following this route, I didn't waste any time getting around
and moved very efficiently!
📍 What to Pack
✅️ Cash (Vietnamese Dong) - Most places are cash-only.
✅️ Google Maps - Essential for navigation!
✅️ Wet Wipes - Grab some if you're concerned about hygiene.
✅️ Comfortable Shoes - You'll be doing a lot of walking!
📍 Good to Know Before You Go
✔️ There's no tipping culture in Vietnam.
✔️ Always buy bottled water.
✔️ Be cautious with drinks that contain ice.
✔️ Street food is delicious, but
make sure to check for hygiene!
If you're planning a trip to Ho Chi Minh City,
I highly recommend visiting these 5 spots.
You won't regret it! Dive into the delicious food
and immerse yourself in the charm of Ho Chi Minh City!
I'll definitely be revisiting these 5 places
on my next trip to Ho Chi Minh City.
Actually, I already want to go back!~
📍 Com Tam Nguyen Van Cu
74 Nguyễn Văn Cừ, Phường Nguyễn Cư Trinh, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
📍 Nha Hang Ngon
160 Pasteur, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
📍 Chai Village
Saigon Garden Building, 99 Nguyễn Huệ, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
📍 Pho Viet Nam
14 Phạm Hồng Thái, Phường Bến Thành, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
📍 Banh Mi Me In - Vietnamese Banh Mi Shop
136/13 Lê Thánh Tôn, Phường Bến Thành, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 70000, Vietnam
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#ComTam #BanhMi #Pho #ChaiVillage #UnlimitedLobster #NhaHangNgon
#PhoVietNam #VietnamTravel #HoChiMinhRecommendations #AffordableEats #MichelinGuideEats
#HoChiMinhHotspots
Com Tam Suon is ~$124, and adding a fried egg (~$7) and shredded pork skin (~$7) brings the total to ~$138. This restaurant is known as the most delicious and expensive Com Tam spot in Ho Chi Minh City.
The waiting time at 'Banh Mi Main' can be as long as an hour. If you're lucky, you can try going to the leftmost store. All stores, except for 'Cocote' in the middle, are 'Banh Mi Main' stores.
The Wagyu stone pot pho comes with the meat and stone pot served separately. You should put the Wagyu and vegetables into the boiling broth and eat it with the pho noodles inside.
'Nha Hang Ngon' is quite expensive compared to the general cost of living in Ho Chi Minh City. It's a high-end restaurant with a pleasant atmosphere in the style of a traditional Vietnamese house, and locals often visit for special occasions like birthday parties or gatherings.
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