Top 10 most famous restaurants in District 1, Saigon

District 1, Saigon is well-known for the local and tourists with many shopping centres, theatres, fashion stores, and hundreds of eateries. The most famous and delicious restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City seem to gather in the main district. When you come to District 1, here are the top eating places you need to know.

1. An Nam Quan Restaurant

An Nam Quan
Photo: An Nam Quan

An Nam Quan restaurant is the famous restaurant system selling Central Vietnamese food, typically Da Nang cuisine. An Nam Quan offers diners unique and new dishes with the “strange – delicious – clean – beautiful decoration” criterion. All of these make eaters surprise and find a strange taste and unique decoration in a cozy and luxurious space.

The menu has more than 80 dishes, of which 60% are dishes from Da Nang. An Nam Quan is one of the delicious restaurants in District 1 that you should not miss in Saigon.

The most attractive food in the restaurant is the “chicken on the tray”. Come to An Nam Quan, you will enjoy this special dish. Only on a large tray, there are different kinds of food, including boiled chicken, chicken salad, sticky rice with chicken, all are beautifully ranged and delicious.

In addition, An Nam Quan also serves the rustic dishes of the countryside. It is a dish of salted pork that is quite strange to the Saigoneers but very familiar to the Central people, especially the people of Da Nang. This dish is usually processed on Tet holidays. Although it looks simple, it creates very strange taste by the combination of pork and fish sauce, which is soaked for many days. If you have an opportunity to Saigon, you should bring the whole family here to enjoy the Central flavour.

  • Address 1: 59 Nguyen Binh Khiem, Da Kao Ward, District 1, HCMC.
  • Price: 120,000 – 200,000 VND / person.
  • Phone number: 0283 9326 865.
  • Opening hours: 10:00 am – 11:30pm

2. Quan Bui Restaurant

Many people have conditions to eat more delicious foods, but still want to find the simple or ordinary dishes of Vietnamese families. The drawback for them right now is that most people are busy, they do not have enough time to make such simple things.

Quan Bui Restaurant understands the needs of customers, has learned and developed a menu of traditional dishes of Vietnamese food. Quan Bui restaurant uses natural materials for cooking, say no to colourings, monosodium glutamate and limit the use of sugar in foods.

To ensure the health of customers and service quality is the first thing that Bui restaurant takes priority. The soups and hotpot broths are made from chicken broth. Ingredients of Quan Bui are imported from wholesale markets, and tofu is made by chefs of the restaurant to serve customers.

Quan Bui has good rates, so the guests come to the restaurant most of the time. The eaters here include foreign visitors and local people. Many Japanese customers typically like the style and food of Quan Bui.

If you are fed up with Western food or fast food and want to search for home-made flavours, Bui restaurant is one of the really suitable destinations for you.

  • Address: 17a Ngo Van Nam, Ben Nghe, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
  • Price: 150,000 – 550,000 VND / person.
  • Phone number: 094 175 70 07
  • Opening hours: 9:00 am – 11:00 pm.

3. Cua Khoi Hotpot (Crab hotpot Khoi)

Cua Khoi Hotpot
Cua Khoi Hotpot | Photo: FB Lê Phương Thảo

The artisan of this famous hotpot restaurant is Mr Ton That Khoi. More than two decades working as a chef, his profession, talent and skilful skills have brought the reputation of Cua Khoi Hot Pot to many regions in Vietnam.

Visitors have the opportunity to go to Saigon, and once taste the Crab hotpot of the restaurant, they are impressed. It is because of the rich sour and sweet soup, sweet and greasy crap taste, and fragrant smell. Cua Khoi has a passionate culinary flavour, as an invitation to call the guests returning to Saigon.

The shop space is gentle and quiet like a cool wind from the river to Saigon. The rows of rustic wooden tables are neatly placed on the wooden floor of the coffee colour. The pure white wall makes the space wider, bringing relaxation and comfort for guests to enjoy. Besides, you will receive enthusiastic, considerate and thoughtful service from the staff.

  • Address: 8 Tran Hung Dao, Co Giang Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
  • Price: 800,000 VND / 2 people
  • Phone: 091 986 94 69
  • Opening hours: 3:00 pm – 10:00 pm

>>> You can like to see the modern cafes in Saigon.

4. Pachi Pachi Restaurant

Pachi Pachi restaurant offers you fresh meats that have been marinated with spices and the perfect sauce. The restaurant is famous for its hot grilled dishes with fresh ingredients that are true of Japanese cuisine.

The catching-eye dishes here attracts diners with the sweet taste of food. Meat materials at Pachi Pachi restaurant are imported from the US, to ensure to bring the best quality ingredients to customers. The restaurant has different types of beef, waiting for your family to enjoy it. The meat is carefully marinated, you just need to add a little aromatic onion, and bake it up to be ready to taste.

Another dish is also nice to try, that is satay squid. The dishes made from squid are always nutritious and delicious. Grilled satay squid has a specific aroma, very suitable for tasting with a local beer. 

With a reasonable price, cozy space, Pachi Pachi is a perfect choice for a group or family party.

  • Address: 52 Mac Dinh Chi, Dakao Ward, District 1, HCM, Vietnam
  • Price: 50,000 – 220,000 VND per person
  • Phone number: 028 6295 9294
  • Opening hours: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm, and 5:00 pm – 11:00 pm.

5. Kimchi Kimchi Restaurant

kimchi kimchi
Kimchi Kimchi Restaurant | Photo: FB Ha Vu

Korean culinary culture increasingly attracts many young people to experience unique and interesting dishes, bringing the unique features of the famous Kim Chi country.

It is not difficult to find a place to enjoy Korean food in HCM. But to have a perfect location full of culture and quintessence of Korean cuisine, harmonious in space, Kimchi Kimchi restaurant chain is the right choice for you. In addition to delicious food, Kimchi Kimchi’s attraction is probably in the well-invested space and enthusiastic staff, giving comfort to customers.

The architecture seems to be taken care of in every detail, telling the typical culture. Youthful, elegant and cozy design is the first feeling when you enter here. You will have well care about the nice food when you come to this restaurant.

  • Address: 83 Nguyen Thai Hoc, Cau Ong Lanh Ward, District 1, HCMC.
  • Price: 49,000 – 329,000 VND per dish.
  • Phone: 028 38 376 684.
  • Opening hours: 10:00 am – 10:00 pm.

6. Beefsteak Hai Con Bo Restaurant

As a leading brand of steak selling American beef in Vietnam, the system of Beefsteak Hai Con Bo (Two Cows Beefsteak) brings a delicious and quality meal to customers. With the advantage of beautiful locations, Two Cows Beefsteak help diners not only have a delicious meal but also enjoy a beautiful and cozy space.

Safety is the priority in the restaurant. All dishes are produced and preserved in a closed process, and the additives are quality and expensive products. With the sole goal of ensuring the food quality to serve guests is the success of the restaurant.

With 100% US beef, Beefsteak Two Cows ensures to give eaters the freshest pieces of beef, imported directly from the US. This place is the first restaurant certified by the American Beef Association (USMEF) as the first Vietnamese restaurant to process all dishes from 100% American beef. Thus, beef is preserved and processed according to a strict management process from the kitchen to the table, ensuring to retain the full nutritional value and savour of the dish.

Two Cows Beefsteak prepares typical flavours of beef dishes, which are served with fresh vegetables, tubers, fruits from reputable leading distributors. In addition, the cozy and romantic space helps you have great experiences with your family, relatives, friends and colleagues.

  • Address 1: 85 Nguyen Cu Trinh, P. Nguyen Cu Trinh, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
  • Price: 65,000 – 110,000 VND per person.
  • Phone number: 028 6659 0909
  • Opening hours: 6:30 am – 10:00 pm.

7. Lau Mam Ba Du Restaurant

Lau Mam Ba Du
Photo: Lau Mam Ba Du

Lau Mam Ba Du (Ba Du fish-sauce hotpot) restaurant has launched and developed the typical flavour of fish-sauce hotpot. You can taste the hotpot in a warming place, that is great for a family reunion, where you can feel the taste of the countryside in Mekong Delta.

Besides the famous fish-sauce hotpot, the restaurant also develops more traditional dishes such as crab hotpot, seafood hotpot and many grilled dishes.

The most special thing in the Ba Du Hot Pot Restaurant is the “Clean Vegetable Buffet for free” program. The guests can eat a vegetable as much as they like. It is because hotpot connoisseurs will know how delicious vegetables affect the hotpot, so using free clean vegetables is one of the things that helps the restaurant attract more customers.

In Saigon, Ba Du Hot Pot is not the oldest place to serve the special hotpot dishes of Mekong Delta, nor is it the most luxurious place to serve meals. But Lau Mam Ba Du has the most dedicated service, and the place brings the standard taste of fish-sauce hotpot.

  • Address: 19 Tran Khac Chan, Tan Dinh Ward, District 1, HCMC
  • Price: 160,000 – 264,000 VND per dish.
  • Phone number: 1900 9499.
  • Opening hours: 10:00 am – 11:00pm.

8. Pho Ngoc Restaurant

Pho Ngoc Restaurant sells a delicious bowl of pho at an affordable price. This place is not a real reastaurant because its location in the small alley.

However, the restaurant also looks clean, specializing in serving delicious pho with good service. Pho Ngoc Restaurant has a Southern flavour, famous for more than 30 years in Saigon, located on Ho Hao Hon Street (near the junction of Vo Van Kiet). This restaurant is one of the oldest noodle shop in Saigon that almost everyone knows.

Over the past 30 years, the flavour of Pho Ngoc (or Pho on Ho Hao Hon street) has remained the same taste. Its broth is rich with many different types of cows cooked. When eating pho, the guests add more vegetables. With an affordable price, you will have a full meal. 

Each strand of pho is tough but not hard. And the owner has a sweet northern voice serving very friendly. And the shop always considers customers to be king.

  • Address: 30 Ho Hao Hon, Cau Kho ward, District 1, HCM.
  • Price: 50,000 – 60,000 VND / bowl.
  • Phone number: 0908 370 060
  • Opening hours: 5:00 am – 10:30 am.

9. Bun Dau Co Khan (Ms Khan Tofu vermicelli)

Bun Dau Co Khan
Bun Dau Co Khan | @ lu_peu

Ms Khan Taufo Vermicelli is a small restaurant located in the alley in the centre of Saigon. A set of vermicelli here includes raw vegetables, fried tofu, boiled meat, spring rolls and shrimp sauce. Some vegetables come from Hanoi on a daily basis to serve the business.

The unique menu has only Bun Dau Mam Tom (Tofu vermicelli with shrimp sauce). The food here carries the savour of Hanoi style. The Taufu is fried skillfully. The rich taste of shrimp paste and a slight aroma of vegetables combine with fragrant boiled pork, all mix together to become the unique flavour that makes many people fascinated.

The process of boiling meat is the most difficult. To make the boiled meat have the proper softness, the chef has to watch the fire temperature regularly to know when is suitable to put the meat into the water. 

You will not only eat the standard tofu noodle with shrimp sauce but also served very thoughtfully and enthusiastically.

  • Address: 102/26 Cong Quynh, Pham Ngu Lao Ward, District 1, HCMC
  • Price: 60,000 – 110,000 VND per dish.
  • Phone number: 028 3837 7309.
  • Opening hours: 10:00 am – 10:00.

10. Quan Ganh Restaurant

Quan Ganh restaurant was born with ideas from pairs of baskets full of memories of childhood and grandmother’s love. Located in the city centre of Saigon, it is an ideal stop for those who want to find a little peaceful and warm atmosphere of the countryside. This is also a favourite lunch spot of the officers, because of the cozy and casual space.

This restaurant is also the right place for parties with large and luxurious space. Ganh restaurant is one of the first restaurants to bring Nha Trang cuisine to Ho Chi Minh City. With a menu of around100 delicious dishes of Nha Trang, the owner upgrades them to become luxurious menus but still retains the unique flavour that is unique.

Meat pie and sour spring rolls that are a famous specialty in Ninh Hoa, Khanh Hoa are one of the best seller delicacies in Quan Ganh Restaurant. With nice scents and home-made recipes, the sour rolls and pork rolls have no preservatives and are carefully cooked. So, come to Quan Ganh, you are the peace in mind to try safe food.

  • Address 1: 91 Hai Ba Trung, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, HCMC.
  • Price: 55,000 – 450,000 VND / item.
  • Phone number: 028 66 820 692
  • Opening hours: 9:00 am – 11:00 pm

What to take away:

Above are the famous restaurants in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. They serve nice local food in Saigon and exotic dishes from other places because this city gather culture from different regions. 

However, if you are not familiar with Asia and Vietnamese food and fishy taste of the fish sauce, you should not go to Bun Dau Co Khan (Ms Khan Taufo vermicelli) and Lau Mam Ba Du Restaurant. 

If you like Vietnamese flavour only, you may go to the Quan Ganh, Quan Bui, and An Nam Quan Restaurants. And, Ho Hao Han Pho only serves noodle soup.

Cua Khoi Hotpot (crab hotpot Khoi) is a destination for people who like to enjoy seafood.

And, the other restaurants carry foreign style, but still good food and service. Beefsteak Hai Con Bo Restaurant sells beef from the US. Pachi Pachi Restaurant has the influence of US and Japanese style. Kimchi Kimchi Restaurant brings Korean flavour.

We hope you can choose one of a suitable restaurant for your family and relatives.