Located at a crossroads of trade and with over 300 years of history, Ho Chi Minh City (still called Saigon by the Vietnamese) is not only known as Vietnam’s leading economic center.
It is also the meeting point for the best culinary flavors of southern Vietnam. Tasting Saigon’s typical dishes is like exploring its small streets, where stalls serve simple yet fresh and delicious meals.
In this article, we present five typical dishes that you can find all over Saigon and that we highly recommend you try during your visit to the city.
Com Tam Saigon
Cơm tấm is an inexpensive and very popular dish in southern Vietnam, especially among workers and schoolchildren. Its main ingredient is broken rice (tấm), a type of rice that is cheaper to produce.
Cơm tấm Saigon is probably the name you’ll see most when taking your first steps in the city. Restaurants serving this dish are everywhere! Served on a plate, it consists of broken rice (cơm tấm) accompanied by grilled pork ribs, an omelette, shredded pork skin, and fried eggs. Everything is seasoned with a sauce made from nuoc mam, a little sugar, garlic, and lime juice.
Originally, the people of Saigon ate it for breakfast. Today, however, you can easily find it in many restaurants at any time of the day.
Here are the addresses we recommend:
- Com Tam Thu Thao: 459 Le Dai Hanh, district 11
- Com Tam Ba Ghien: 84 Dang Van Ngu, district Phu Nhuan
- Com Tam Nguyen Van Cu: 167 Nguyen Van Cu, district 5
A cơm tấm costs around 35,000 to 55,000 VND (about 1.5 to 2 USD).
Com Tam, Saigon dishes, Vietnam. Photo credit: Parfum d’Automne
Hu Tieu Saigon
This soup is believed to have Chinese and Cambodian origins but became especially popular in southern Vietnam. Hủ Tiếu has thus become Saigon’s signature soup, much like Phở is for Hanoi.
Served in a large bowl, hủ tiếu consists of a clear pork-bone broth, rice noodles, pork, shrimp, and quail eggs. Like phở, hủ tiếu refers specifically to the type of rice noodle used in this southern Vietnamese dish. The rice, of course, comes from the Mekong Delta, and the noodles are thinner than those used in phở. As with phở, spices and condiments play an essential role in the recipe, but for hủ tiếu, a touch of sweetness is added—a flavor indispensable to southern Vietnamese tastes!
Here are the addresses we recommend:
- Hu tieu go Pham Van Hai: 154/56 Pham Van Hai, Tan Binh district
- Hu tieu go 18: 18 Ly Thai To, district 3
- Hu tieu xua: 476 Le Quang Dinh, district Binh Thanh
The price of a Hu Tieu is about 30 000 VND (1.20 USD).
Hieu Tieu Saigon, Vietnam. Photo credit: Mathieu Arnaudet
Bánh mỳ: Vietnamese sandwich
The Vietnamese sandwich you’ll find on every street corner!
It consists of a wheat-flour baguette filled with various ingredients such as pork meatballs, roasted pork, Vietnamese pâté, coriander, carrot, cucumber, mayonnaise, and chili. The recipes vary depending on the vendor, and their secrets make each version unique.
Don’t forget that bánh mì, the Vietnamese sandwich, is one of travelers’ favorite dishes!
Here are the addresses we recommend:
- Banh my Huynh Hoa: 29 Le Thi Rieng, district 1
- Banh my Saigon: 165 Cong Quynh, district 1
- Banh my co Diep: 238 Vo Thanh Trang, district Tan Binh
A bánh mì costs around 20,000 VND (about 90 cents).
Le banh Mi, vietnamese sandwich. Photo credit: Parfum d’Automne
Bun Thit Nuong
Bún thịt nướng is a hearty dish from Saigon! It consists of fresh rice noodles, grilled barbecued pork, lettuce, coriander, cucumber slices, bean sprouts, carrots, basil, peanuts, and mint. Don’t forget to drizzle it with the sauce made from nước mắm, sugar, lime, and garlic for the full flavor.
Here are the addresses we recommend:
- Chi Thong: 195 Co Giang, district 1
- Bun Thit nuong Hai Dang: 145 Chan Hung, district Tan Binh
- Bun Thit Nuong co Ba: 287/67 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, district 3
A Bun Thit Nuong costs around 40 000 VND (1.7 euros)
Bun Thi Nuong, Saigon dishes, Vietnam. Photo credit: Parfum d’Automne
Banh Xeo
Bánh xèo is a stuffed savory pancake filled with ingredients such as pork, shrimp, onions, bean sprouts, and mushrooms. When eating it, you can wrap pieces in lettuce leaves, mint, or coriander. Don’t forget to dip them in the sauce made from nước mắm, sugar, lime, and a touch of chili.
Here are the addresses we recommend:
- Quan Muoi Xiem: 54 Nguyen Van Troi, district Phu Nhuan
- Quan 46A: Dinh Cong Trang, district 1.
- Quan Thanh Phuong: 31 Hoang Hoa Tham, district Tan Binh
A Bánh xèo costs around 50 000 VND (1.9 euros)
Banh Xeo, Saigon/Ho Chi Minh Ville dishes. Photo credit: Parfum d’Automne
You now know the 5 must-try dishes of Saigon!
All that’s left is for us to wish you… ENJOY YOUR MEAL!
