MaMa's Style Ho Chi Minh Review: Authentic Local Eats
Discover MaMa's Style in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Taste authentic Banh Xeo, Bun Cha, and local Vietnamese home-style cooking in a cool, cozy setting.
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Discover MaMa's Style in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Taste authentic Banh Xeo, Bun Cha, and local Vietnamese home-style cooking in a cool, cozy setting.

When traveling to Vietnam, diving into the local food scene is an absolute must. Crispy Banh Xeo, savory Bun Cha, and comforting Vietnamese home-style dishes are essential experiences.
To show my friends the absolute best of local Vietnamese cuisine, we headed straight to MaMa's Style, located in District 1 near the Independence Palace. From the moment you see the storefront, it radiates authentic Vietnamese charm.

📍 MaMa's Style
77 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Ben Thanh, Ho Chi Minh City 700000 Vietnam
Hours:
Daily 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM
MaMa's Style Menu & Ordering



We ordered Banh Xeo, Bun Cha, and Garlic Morning Glory, along with a fresh shrimp and pork salad roll appetizer to kick things off!


They offer a wide variety of drinks, coffee, ice cream, and desserts. Since we had grabbed a refreshing sugarcane juice on our walk over, we skipped the drinks and saved room for some durian ice cream at the end!

They also have a dedicated vegetarian menu, which is great for plant-based travelers.



MaMa's Style spans two floors. The interior is beautifully decorated in traditional Vietnamese style, featuring spacious tables and excellent air conditioning—a perfect refuge from the Ho Chi Minh heat.
Here is a view of our cozy window table from the stairs heading up to the second floor.



The second floor is incredibly spacious with plenty of tables, making it perfect for group gatherings or family dinners.

You can also enjoy a lovely view of the bustling District 1 streets through the large floor-to-ceiling windows.
The Feast: Our Vietnamese Food Experience

Garlic Morning Glory
79,000 VND (~$3)
First up was the Morning Glory, served alongside chili sauce, soy sauce, and fresh Vietnamese chilies.
Just like kimchi is a staple in Korea, stir-fried morning glory (water spinach) is the ultimate side dish across Southeast Asia. It is incredibly addictive!

While they do offer a beef version, we opted for the classic Garlic Morning Glory since we ordered plenty of other mains.
The greens are stir-fried with whole garlic cloves and topped with crispy fried garlic bits, adding a wonderful crunch to every bite.

Banh Xeo and fresh spring rolls! This is what authentic Vietnamese dining is all about—a colorful, abundant spread of local favorites.

Shrimp & Pork Salad Rolls
89,000 VND (~$4)


These rolls are packed with two whole shrimp, fresh herbs, tender pork, and rice vermicelli noodles, all wrapped in delicate rice paper. Dipping them into the savory peanut sauce is pure heaven!

Banh Xeo
139,000 VND (~$5)
My absolute favorite dish! While many travel to Vietnam for pho, I come specifically for the Banh Xeo.

Inside the ultra-crispy, golden crepe is a generous filling of fresh bean sprouts, shrimp, and pork.

You wrap pieces of the crispy crepe and fresh herbs inside dry rice paper (no water dipping needed for this type!), roll it up, and dip.


After a quick demonstration, my friend got the hang of it immediately. Dip it into the sweet and tangy Nuoc Cham sauce for the perfect bite.

Bun Cha
149,000 VND (~$6)
While we were busy devouring the crepe, our Bun Cha arrived. This classic Hanoi-style dish features smoky, grilled pork patties served in a warm dipping sauce alongside rice noodles and fresh greens.

Durian Ice Cream
35,000 VND (~$1)
We finished our meal on a sweet note with durian ice cream. The flavor was wonderfully subtle and creamy—even my friend, who is usually skeptical of durian, absolutely loved it!
Traveler Tip: In Vietnam, most local restaurants charge a small fee for using the wet wipes on the table. At MaMa's Style, this is clearly noted on the menu at 4,000 VND (~$0.25) per wipe, which is incredibly transparent and helpful.
MaMa's Style is perfectly located in District 1 near the Independence Palace, making it incredibly convenient to visit nearby attractions like the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica or the Tan Dinh Pink Church.
With a clean, air-conditioned interior and highly affordable prices, it is the ultimate spot to experience authentic Vietnamese home cooking in Ho Chi Minh City!
Mama's Style is open every day from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM. It is located at '77 Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai' near the Independence Palace in District 1, making it convenient to visit nearby tourist attractions like the Pink Church.
The price of Banh Xeo is 139,000 VND (~$5). You eat it by taking rice paper that doesn't need to be soaked in water, adding the Banh Xeo (which contains bean sprouts, shrimp, and meat) along with various vegetables, rolling it up, and dipping it in chili nuoc mam sauce.
Yes, the two-story restaurant is very comfortable with spacious tables and strong air conditioning. The second floor, in particular, has a large space with plenty of seating, providing an ideal environment for group gatherings.
No, you must pay for the number of wet wipes you use. The price is 4,000 VND (~$0) per wet wipe, and this is clearly stated on the menu.

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