Ho Chi Minh City's Weekend Delights: 7 Homestyle Vietnamese Eateries

In Ho Chi Minh City, restaurants recreating the authentic flavors of Vietnamese homestyle cooking from across the country are attracting many, offering pure Vietnamese dishes in nostalgic settings. Seven eateries recommended by local guides were selected based on their years of operation, recognition by the Michelin Guide, or positive reviews on travel consulting platforms. Quán Bụi Heritage, located at 16 Trần Cao Vân Street, offers dishes spanning all three regions, including Southern-style fried spring rolls with rice noodles, Central-style braised fish with crispy rice, and Northern-style pork and tamarind soup. Its three-story space is inspired by Indochinese architecture and the memories of Saigon in the 1990s. Mặn Mòi, Bến Nghé is situated on the third floor of the Saigon Telecommunication Building, a structure over 100 years old in the city center. From the restaurant, diners can overlook Notre Dame Cathedral and Nguyễn Văn Bình Bookstore Street. The menu features signature dishes from the North, Central, and South, categorized into salads, soups, main courses, clay pot dishes, grilled items, hot pots, and desserts. The interior evokes memories of old homes with floral wallpaper, bamboo baskets, and wooden furniture, along with many familiar household items. SON - Bếp Nhà Đãi Khách, on Nguyễn Trung Trực Street, serves over 100 Vietnamese dishes inspired by the three regions' homestyle meals. It combines family heirloom recipes with traditional charcoal-fired cooking techniques, using homemade vinegars, pickles, and seasoned oils. Notable dishes include grilled chicken with ô thum fruit, wind-dried duck, king prawns braised in coconut milk, snakehead fish roe in clay pot, and the Mekong Delta's cù lao hot pot. The restaurant has received a 5-star rating on TripAdvisor. Nhà Tú, a family-style eatery on Võ Văn Tần Street, has been operating for seven years and has been consecutively listed in the Michelin Guide's Bib Gourmand (good food at a reasonable price) for three years since 2023. The menu focuses on familiar home-cooked flavors, with highlights such as snails stuffed with meat, kho quẹt (a savory and sweet braised dish), oyster omelets, stir-fried pork intestines with sour mustard greens, and oyster and milk hot pot. It is a popular spot for many Korean and Japanese tourists and is often fully booked during lunchtime. Rice Field - Homecooked Vietnamese Cuisine at 75-77 Hồ Tùng Mậu Street has been selected for the Michelin Selected list for three consecutive years. The restaurant is designed to resemble a traditional tiled-roof house with a courtyard featuring rice paddies, bamboo, and banana trees, evoking a Vietnamese countryside scene in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City. The menu offers dishes from all three regions, and diners can choose à la carte or opt for traditional family meal sets. It is also a destination for many international tourists seeking to experience a Vietnamese family meal. Cẩm Thị, located on Hồ Hảo Hớn Street, recreates the ambiance of a three-room traditional house with a garden, a small lotus pond, and old items like water jars, ceramic pots, and oil lamps. The eatery serves about 40 dishes with flavors from the three regions, ranging from thịt kho tàu (caramelized pork belly) and bitter melon stuffed with meat to bánh bèo and bánh xèo. Prices range from 20,000 to 100,000 VND per dish, making it easy for customers to choose for family meals or weekend gatherings. Đào Liễu, which began as a small eatery in Da Lat before relocating to Ho Chi Minh City, is situated in a small alley on Huỳnh Tịnh Của Street. Located on the top floor of an old house, it has a small space with about seven tables and a mat-covered seating area. The menu is inspired by the cultures of the three regions, featuring three set meals named after traditional Vietnamese performing arts – Chèo, Tuồng, and Cải lương – representing Northern, Central, and Southern cuisine, alongside à la carte options. Due to limited seating, reservations are recommended. Information Source: VnExpress