Looking for a mean Margarita cocktail in the middle of District 1? Or a nice place to have dinner with your loved one? Or just craving some guacamole and fajitas before hitting the town with your friends? Sol Kitchen is the place for it all. Try the asada, the amazing ceviche or the crispy seabass, you’ll love it!

Besides the great food, the interior hits all the right spots as well. Situated in a 100 year old French building, the decor oozes a beautiful rustic style. What’s even better, the restaurant has a cool Latin American vibe going on without going all crazy on sombrero’s and cactus plants. Finally!

By the way, many of the Sol Kitchen & Bar employees come from the KOTO training center, so kudos for that!

Looking for other cuisines? Check out these other fantastic dining places!

A ‘Parisian café in Saigon’ has a nice ring to it and when it has great food as well, we like it even more. Ho Chi Minh City has it’s share of burger joints, but not all of them look this nice. And none of them serve crème brûlée as dessert.

This charming cafe is the brother of Café Marcel in Thao Dien and has the same lovely looks. An intimate set up with a hip interior, making it perfect for couples and small groups.

As the name shows, Marcel is known for it’s burgers and they were awarded the ‘Best Burger in Saigon’ title in 2019. Le Signature burger comes with high praise. But there’s a fish burger as well, if you’re not in a red meaty mood and Marcel’s even put a vegan burger on the menu. Plus, did we mention the crème brûlée? 😉

Looking for other cuisines? Check out these other fantastic dining places!

Open 11am – 10pm every day

Inspired by buzzing, vibrant streets throughout Asia, Hem Chill is the latest place to hang out. Situated next to the river, this place is packed with colorful lights, food stalls and pop up bars. Grab the Asian street food of your choice, find yourself a table and enjoy the insta madness. Great for groups.

Looking for something more romantic tonight? Check out these other fantastic dining places!

Lunch! Pranzo, déjeuner, almuerzo or as the Vietnamese say: bữa ăn trưa. Sure, you can pack your lunch in the morning, but why on earth would you?! You can have a great lunch at so many places in Ho Chi Minh City. L’Usine, Au Parc, The Vintage Emporium and Poke Saigon are just drops in the huge yummy Saigon lunch bucket. Here’s a selection of some of the best places to have lunch in Ho Chi Minh. 

Hidden gems of Saigon

One of the reasons to love Saigon is because of the endless hidden gems. The best way to find these is to simply choose your spot and wander around the back streets until you find something that takes you fancy. Our best meals have been at places we would never be able to find again! If you don’t have time to wander and want a guaranteed good meal in D2, head to My Hanoi Kitchen for some guaranteed Vietnamese comfort food or The Green Box for a healthy but very hearty and tasty salad.

Let’s go vegan

Let’s eat vegan in Saigon and let’s do it at the Prem Bistro & Cafe. There’s enough choice to pick your fav seating area: the lovely outdoor terrace, the open-air area and the indoor cozy floor-seating section. Once you’re nice and comfy, have a go at the eggplant rolls, the quinoa & sweet potato burger or the lentil soup.

108eatery in District 2 is going on your list of fav lunch spots in Saigon. The vegan Korean food is delicious, the interior snug and zen and the staff is super friendly. The surroundings are serene and you will be too when sitting in this little gem. Order the vegan burger or the Bibimbap with a home-made kombucha!

More great lunch spots in Ho Chi Minh

Who says a burger can’t be an elegant dish? At Marcel Gourmet Burger, burgers are turned into little pieces of gourmet art and they taste goood. The french fries are just as tasty and crunchy. Add to that a cozy interior and friendly staff and you’re all set.

Do as the Vietnamese do and eat Pho! The famous soup consisting of broth, rice noodles, herbs and meat is considered a healthy and light breakfast in Vietnam. But why not have it for lunch? Exactly, and the place you go to for a great one is Mama Pho.

It’s Cocktail O’Clock: The best bars in Ho Chi Minh

Let’s Explore: Best local tours in Ho Chi Minh City

Travel Fever: A list of must do holiday destinations in the region

Don’t want a miss a Saigon event? Subscribe to our newsletter!

Quince has a popular big sister in Bangkok but will not take long for Quince Vietnam to get his own flock of fans. We tried half the menu, including the smoked eggplant, the artichoke and the steak and loved it all. Enjoying our meal in the slick interior with a view of the open kitchen made it even nicer. And the good news is, the long table in the middle has enough space for all your friends.

Strolling down Dhong Khoi in district 1 and a craving for an Aussie inspired brekkie or brunch? Climb the stairs to level 3 where Godmother serves a stylish and wholesome brunch all day long. Ignore the motorbike honking outside and you’ll find yourself in hip and healthy Sydney. Oh my, how pretty everything looks! They’re quite serious about their coffee as well.

Open 8am til 8 or 9pm every day

Looking for a good place to brunch, lunch or munch? We found it! Cafe Marcel, the sibling of Marcel Gourmet Burger, moved from the city center to the little bubble that we like to call District 2. Great for weekday lunches or weekend brunches. Put us in a hip and bright space, with a menu full of great brunch options and we’re happy. We’re sure you’ll be too. And yes, plenty of Insta ops as well, my friends!

Open 8am – 6pm every day

Tucked away in a compound in district 2, is a healthy heaven for all lunch lovers. The interior is light and bright and so is the menu. All options are vegetarian and many are gluten-free. There’s even a spa with plant-based treatments upstairs. But no socks-in-sandals lovers here! The crowd is hip and the outdoor seating looks like a slice of Ibiza. Delish. If you visit here and love it, check out their sister concepts; Planta and Wild Thyme which are also both vegan/vegetarian and located in D2.

Open 8am-5pm Tuesday – Sunday

Ănăn, which means ‘eat eat’, is situated aside a wet market, in the heart of Saigon. Their Hong Kong chef made an effort here; the street food-inspired dishes are fresh and mouth-watering! We like the shaking beef and banh xeo taco’s, but there are plenty of vegetarian options as well. All the food is meant to be shared, Vietnamese style. Start your evening with gin-tonics enjoying the view from the rooftop bar.

Not in the mood for Vietnamese dishes today? Check out these fantastic dining places!

Bonjour! Looking for some ‘bon’ places to enjoy delish French food? Craving an authentic onion soup, tasty confit de canard or a real crème brûlée? You won’t run out of luck in Saigon, because there are some seriously good restaurants and bistrots for you to check out. We did all the legwork for ya and made a list of the best French restaurants in Ho Chi Minh. Et voilà!

Cocotte

Hidden gem? Great food? Mais oui! Cocotte is one of those places that puts a smile on your face. Authentic French food in a cozy bistrot, we love it! The food exceeds expectations, the wine is beautiful, the interior is super charming and the service a-okay. And a nice side-note, it won’t cost you an arm and a leg. Be sure to put this baby on your must-visit list!
136/11 Le Thanh Ton, Ben Thanh Ward, D1 and inside The Bloq at 19 Tran Ngoc Dien, Thao Dien

Café Marcel

The succes of big brother Marcel Gourmet Burger was an inspiration to set up a little brother, Café Marcel. Breakfast and happy hour is when to go here for delicous brekkies and ‘petite assiettes’ or small plates during happy hour. The place is heaven for foodies and instagram-lovers – be sure to check out this new addition to Saigon’s long list of great eateries!
96 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, D1

Ty Coz

Ty Coz, yet another little French cuisine diamond in Saigon. Don’t be fooled by their no nonsense interior or the fact that their website seems outdated… The chef obviously rather spends his time in the kitchen. We are not complaining since the result is a menu full of delicious food. You can’t go wrong here if you are a fan of true French cuisine.  No need to go to Paris after all! Note that we are not sure if this place has survived lockdown so please do let us know if you get a chance to visit!

178/4 Pasteur, Ben Nghe ward, D1

Chez Ti

We stumbled across this one just before the 2021 lockdown and shared the most delicious beef bourguignon which we then proceeded to have delivered regularly during those never-ending days at home. There’s something very comforting about slow cooked meat in a rich gravy. The owner and chef take an incredible amount of pride in their work and were delighted to see how much we enjoyed their creations. This place also has some great looking breakfast options but we haven’t got round to trying them out. Let us know if you do!

53 Nguyễn Cừ, Thao Dien Ward, District 2

An absolute must try: beef bourguignon from Chez Ti

La Villa

If you want to have a special night, reserve at the exquisite La Villa restaurant in District 2. The different set menus are simply mouthwatering, but if you go ‘à la carte’, you’re in for the same French deliciousness. And we won’t even begin about the wine or cheese… La Villa is a top-notch French restaurant and even though your wallet might protest for a bit, it’s worth it.
14 Ngo Quang Huy St, Thao Dien Ward, District 2

Enjoyed this article? You might also like:

Check out these great cafe’s to have a coffee- and work in

Looking for some new great lunch places? Et voilà!

Here’s your fav event calendar for this aMAYzing month!

This was one of the first restaurants we were introduced to and if you like Japanese cuisine, you have to go! Situated on the top of the AB tower, it’s an impressive place with a stunning  view. It is not inexpensive, but hey, life should be celebrated. Try their excellent California roll, their sashimi and the wagyu skewers. Such a treat!

Side note: As of 17th Feb 2022, Sorae is only open for deliveries. Hopefully in person dining will be possible soon.

Great for lunch, dinner and take out, 4P’s is a restaurant with a mission. They have a strong ethos of ‘from farm to table’ and with all of that delicious produce, they can’t go wrong. We go there because of their pasta, cheese fondue and especially for their crazy pizza’s! Why order a Margherita if you can have a have pizza with teriyaki, zucchini flower or with salmon and miso? Go wild we say! Also at other locations like Ben Tanh, Xuan Thuy and Saigon Centre.

Not in a pasta and pizza mood? Check out these other fantastic dining places!