What are the most popular Vietnamese Street Food in Saigon and where to find them? In this blog, you may find 05 popular Street food dishes in Vietnam’s most bustling city.
Food plays a big part in Vietnamese culture. In fact, almost every aspect of social and family life revolves around either producing or sharing a tasty meal from North to South. Especially is street food in Saigon. Here are 05 Vietnamese Street food that will give you a perfect introduction to the best street eats in Vietnam:
1. Pho (Noodle soup) – Number 1 Vietnamese street food of all time
Pho is known as a traditional dish of Vietnamese cuisine. The main ingredient seem quite simple with noodle, broth and thinly sliced beef or chicken. However, when tasting, you will experience a journey through many complexed flavors. The secret is in the quality of each ingredient. Broth must be cooked in many hours with difference spices rather than just the bones, fresh and well selected cut of meat, the soft but yet a bit chewy of fresh noodle. It’s cheap and simple, but yet, considered one of the best dishes in the authentic culinary of Vietnam.
Where to find:
- Saigon Pho 39 – Address: 39 Đông Du, Bến Nghé Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. (Map link)
Open hours: 8.30am.00 – 1.00 am (the next day)
Prices: from 90,000 VND (~$4) for a bowl - Phở Phú Vương – Address: 120 Nguyễn Thái Bình, Nguyễn Thái Bình Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. (Map link)
Open hours: 6.00 am – 9.30 pm
Prices: from 80,000 (~ $3.5) for a bowl
2. Bun cha (Grilled pork with rice vermicelli)
Bun Cha is a Vietnamese street food dish with vermicelli, grilled pork ball on charcoal and bowl of salty sweet and sour sauce. Dishes originating from northern Vietnam. It has the similarity to grilled meat vermicelli in Central and South, but the fish sauce has a lighter taste.
Where to find:
- Bún chả Phố Cổ – Address: 225 Phan Xích Long, Ward 2, Phú Nhuận District, Ho Chi Minh City (Map link)
Open hours: 7.00 am – 9.30 pm – great for any meal
Prices: from 55,000 VND ($2.4) per portion - Bún Chả 145 – Address: 145 Bùi Viện, Phạm Ngũ Lão Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City (Map link)
Open hours: 10.30 am – 9.00 pm – great for any lunch and dinner
Prices: from 60,000 VND ($2.6) per portion
3. Com Tam (Vietnamese broken rice)
Broken rice or cơm tấm is considered the most iconic Saigon street food. The word “cơm” refers to “cooked rice” while “tấm” means “broken rice grains”. Due to transportation, harvesting or milling, a “whole rice grain” was damaged and broken into small pieces, but the quality remains the same. Broken rice when cooked gives a softer texture than the perfect grain. It also absorbs flavors easily.
Traditionally, a plate of com tam will be accompanied with grilled pork chops, shredded pork, vegetables and a small bowl of dipping fish sauce. On top of it, the whole dish is dressed with a spoon of scallion oil for extra flavor. The dish is favored by locals for the tastiness, quick, and budget friendly.
Where to find:
- Cơm Tấm Mộc – Address: 85 Lý Tự Trọng, Bến Thành Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City (Map link)
Open hours: 10.00 am – 9.30 pm
Prices: 70,000 – 100,000 VND ($3- $4.3) per portion - Cơm Tấm Phúc Lộc Thọ – Address: 236 Đinh Tiên Hoàng, Đa Kao Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City (Map link) There are many other restaurants of this chain in different districts. Check their website for the most convenient one.
Open hours: 6.00 am – 10.00 pm
Prices: 40,000 – 65,000 VND ($1.7 – $2.8) per portion - Cơm Tấm Ba Ghiền – Address: 84 Đặng Văn Ngữ, Ward 10, Phú Nhuận District, Ho Chi Minh City (Map link). The restaurant is a bit far from city center, but it’s quite popular and must-try among locals.
Open hours: 7.30 am – 8.30 pm
Prices: 40,000 – 70,000 VND ($1.7- $4.3) per portion
4. Banh Xeo (Vietnamese crispy rice pancake/crêpe)
The name of Bánh xèo is quite interesting. “Xèo” refers to the sizzling sound it makes when you cook the pancake batter. Its name loosely means “sizzling cake”. If you have chance to see the cooking process, the moment when the batter hit the hot pan is when it makes its most iconic sound.
What this dish offer is an irresistible crispiness, yet delicate, golden brown crust. And the inside of the bánh xèo is filled with delicious ingredient such as pork, shrimp, and sprinklings of mung bean, onions and bean sprouts. Cutting the Banh Xeo into smaller pieces, put on a rice paper wrap along with all kinds of fresh herbs, dipping in the sauce, this is how you savor the rich and amazing taste of this simple yet delicious dish.
Where to find:
- Banh Xeo Long Huy – Address: 21 Trương Định, Ward 6, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City (Map link).
Open hours: to be updated
Prices: around 165,000 VND ($7) per portion for 2 persons - Banh Xeo Dinh Cong Trang – Address: 46 Đinh Công Tráng, Tân Định Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City (Map link).
Open hours: 10.00 am – 1.30 pm & 4.00 pm – 8.30 pm
Prices: around 110,000 – 180,000 VND ($4.8 – $7.8) per portion for 2 persons
5. Cafe Sua Da (Vietnamese iced coffee with condensed milk)
Ice milk coffee is a popular drink in Vietnam traditionally made from blended coffee with sweetened condensed milk and put ice in a glass. Vietnamese-style iced milk coffee includes roasted or pre-mixed roasted coffee and sweetened condensed milk.
Where to find:
- You can easy to find in Bui Vien Street or Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street or Notre Dame Cathedral areas.
- Or refer here
6. Banh Mi – The “anywhere” street food of Vietnam
“That’s a symphony in a sandwich” is how Anthony Bourdain described the most famous Vietnamese sandwich called the Banh Mì.
Banh mi is a small crunchy French baguette, filled with a myriad of combinations of meats, vegetables, and sauces. The locals believe that Saigon or Ho Chi Minh City is where the banh mi sandwich was first created. One bite of banh mi will take you on a journey of various flavors that are well combined by the secret recipe of each shop owner.
This sandwich is not only famous by the taste but also the flexibility in consuming. It’s suitable for all kind of meals and for everyone. With its reputation, Banh mi is considered to be the essence of Vietnamese street food.
The word Banh mi was added to the Oxford English Dictionary on 24 March 2011.
Where to find:
- Banh mi Nhu Lan – Address: 68 Hàm Nghi, Bến Nghé, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City (Map link)
Open hours: 06.00 am – 10.00 pm
Prices: ~30,000 VND ($1.30) - Banh mi Sau Minh – Address: 170 Võ Văn Tần, Ward 5, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City (Map link)
Open hours: 24 hours
Prices: 15,000 – 30,000 VND ($0.7-$1.40) - Banh mi Huynh Hoa – Address: 26 Lê Thị Riêng, Phạm Ngũ Lão Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City (Map link)
Open hours: 06.00 am – 09.00 pm
Prices: 62,000 VND ($2.7) - Banh mi Hoa Ma – Address: 53 Cao Thắng, Ward 3, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City (Map link)
Open hours: 06.00 am – 11.00 am
Prices: 40,000 – 60,000 VND ($1.7 – $ 2.6)