Guests at Saigon Hemstay always ask us the same question: "Where should we eat tonight?" This is our answer: a list of restaurants and street-food spots in and around District 1, from cheap and legendary to special-occasion dinners.
Travel times are from our house at 196/15 Đề Thám. Restaurants change their hours and sometimes move, so check Google Maps before you head out.
Close to Saigon Hemstay (walking distance)
- 26 Lê Thị Riêng, District 1
Bánh Mì Huỳnh Hoa
≈ 10–15 min walkProbably the most famous bánh mì in Saigon. The sandwiches are huge and packed with cold cuts and pâté. Expect a queue at peak times; it moves fast.
- 323 Phạm Ngũ Lão, District 1
Phở Quỳnh
≈ 5–10 min walkA long-running phở shop in the backpacker area, known for its phở bò kho (beef stew phở). Handy for a late-night bowl.
- 145 Bùi Viện, District 1
Bún Chả 145 Bùi Viện
≈ 5 min walkHanoi-style bún chả and crispy spring rolls right on Bùi Viện. Simple, quick and popular with travellers.
- Alley at 212B Nguyễn Trãi, District 1
Ốc Đào
≈ 10 min walkA much-loved ốc (snail and shellfish) restaurant hidden down an alley. Try the scallops with green onion and the snails in coconut milk.
- 26–28 Thủ Khoa Huân, District 1
Bến Thành Street Food Market
≈ 15 min walkLots of stalls under one roof, so everyone in your group can choose something different. Easy and beginner-friendly.
Legendary local spots (worth a short Grab ride)
- 260C Pasteur, District 3
Phở Hòa Pasteur
≈ 10–15 min by GrabOne of Saigon's best-known phở restaurants, serving rich beef phở since the 1960s. Generous bowls and a classic Saigon setting.
- 413–415 Nguyễn Trãi, District 5
Phở Lệ
≈ 10 min by GrabA local favourite for its sweeter, rich Southern-style broth. Always busy, always fast.
- 84 Đặng Văn Ngữ, Phú Nhuận
Cơm Tấm Ba Ghiền
≈ 20 min by GrabRecognised by the MICHELIN Guide, this cơm tấm shop is famous for its enormous, smoky grilled pork chop. Come hungry.
- 46A Đinh Công Tráng, Tân Định
Bánh Xèo 46A
≈ 15 min by GrabHuge, crispy bánh xèo pancakes cooked over open flames. Combine it with a visit to the pink Tân Định Church nearby.
- 23 Hoàng Sa, Đa Kao
The Lunch Lady (Bún Mắm Nguyễn Thị Thanh)
≈ 15 min by GrabMade famous by Anthony Bourdain. The noodle soup changes daily, so you never know quite what you'll get, and that's the fun.
- 138 Châu Văn Liêm, District 5
Chè Hà Ký
≈ 20 min by GrabA classic Chinatown dessert shop with Chinese-style sweet soups. A perfect stop after exploring Chợ Lớn.
Sit-down Vietnamese restaurants
- 160 Pasteur, District 1
Quán Ăn Ngon
≈ 10 min by GrabStreet-food dishes from all over Vietnam, served in a leafy colonial villa. A huge menu, great for groups and first-timers.
- 158 Pasteur, District 1 (rooftop)
Secret Garden
≈ 10 min by GrabHome-style Vietnamese cooking on a rooftop decorated with lanterns and plants. Climb the stairs of an old apartment building to find it.
- 10 Đặng Tất, Tân Định
Cục Gạch Quán
≈ 15 min by GrabCountryside-style Vietnamese food in a beautifully restored old house filled with antiques. Book ahead for dinner.
- 32 Võ Văn Tần, District 3
Hum Vegetarian
≈ 10 min by GrabElegant vegetarian and vegan Vietnamese cooking in a calm garden setting. A favourite even with meat-eaters.
Special occasions
- 89 Tôn Thất Đạm, District 1
Anan Saigon
≈ 10 min by GrabModern Vietnamese cooking that reimagines street-food classics, in a narrow building next to an old market. Reservations recommended.
- 8 Thủ Khoa Huân, District 1
Pizza 4P's Bến Thành
≈ 15 min walkNot Vietnamese, but a Saigon institution: wood-fired pizza with house-made cheese. Book ahead; it's always full.
Coffee stops
- 27 Ngô Đức Kế, District 1
The Workshop Coffee
≈ 10 min by GrabA spacious industrial-style roastery for specialty coffee and a quiet place to work.
Cộng Cà Phê
Several branches in District 1A retro, army-green café chain. Order the coconut coffee smoothie (cốt dừa cà phê).
- 42 Nguyễn Huệ, District 1
The Café Apartment
≈ 10 min by GrabDozens of tiny cafés stacked in one building, many with balconies over Nguyễn Huệ Walking Street.
Whatever you're craving, you're never far from a great meal at Saigon Hemstay. Message us through Airbnb during your stay and we'll happily point you to our latest favourites. New to Vietnamese food? Start with our Ho Chi Minh City food guide.
Stay at Saigon Hemstay
Saigon Hemstay is a boutique 4-bedroom townhouse in a quiet alley in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Every room has its own ensuite bathroom, air conditioning and a smart TV. Book a single room or all four. See the rooms or explore the neighbourhood.