10 Delicious Non-Touristy Places to Eat in Ho Chi Minh City
Vietnam is one of my favorite countries, so much so that I’ve been back at least 5 times!
The food, the people, the culture, the nature…if you’ve been to Vietnam, you know what I mean.
And Ho Chi Minh (Saigon) is one of my favorite cities in the world. I get fomo thinking about it because the cultural festivals, parties, and general vibe of the city feed my soul.
When I go, I usually stay in Bình Thạnh and Phú Nhuận, which are districts closer to the airport. I think one reason I’ve fallen so hard for Ho Chi Minh is that I’ve always stayed in these more “local” areas rather than D1.
And because I spend most of my time outside of District 1, I’ve really gotten to know the best non-touristy places to eat in Ho Chi Minh.
My list includes the best places to eat in Ho Chi Minh I’ve been to multiple times, and to this day, can’t get out of my head.
Honestly, writing up this article had me ready to buy a ticket back to Vietnam asap.
Map of the Best Local Places to Eat in Saigon
Since you’re here looking for the best non-touristy places to eat in Ho Chi Minh, this map will make it even easier to save these spots.
You’ll see that many of the best places to eat in Ho Chi Minh aren’t in D1, but in Bình Thạnh and Phú Nhuận. So I encourage you to get some exploring in to see what the city is like in more local areas.
I tend to spend most of my time in these districts, which is why my favorite places to eat are there.
Tip: Save my Ho Chi Minh best eats map to come back to later.
Best Non-Touristy Places to Eat in Ho Chi Minh
Let’s get into the main dish of this post, the best places to eat in Ho Chi Minh I’m certain you haven’t heard of.
We’ll cover a variety of places, from hole-in-the-wall hidden gems to poppin’ restaurants.
And there’s a dish for everyone, including popular must-try Vietnamese dishes like mỳ quảng (central Vietnam noodles) and cơm tấm (broken rice from Saigon).
Quán Cơm Tấm Bà Tám Tiền
District: Border between Bình Thạnh & Gò Vấp
Cơm Tấm (broken rice) is a Southern Vietnamese dish, so if you haven’t tried it, it’s best to try it while you’re in Ho Chi Minh City.
Broken rice is actually the by-product left over after milling rice, and was originally eaten by poor farmers. And because it was cheaper than whole rice, it also grew on with laborers and students
Though it began in rural areas, it made its way to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh), and by the mid-1940s the dish was popular across the city. The grilled pork chop and other additions also appeared then.
Viet Rice Essence has a great history of Cơm Tấm article, which is told much better than I can if you’re interested in the deeper story.
As for Quán Cơm Tấm Bà Tám Tiền, after I tried their cơm tấm sườn nướng (pork rice), I was convinced it was the best I’ve had. What I appreciated most about this pork broken rice was its consistent flavor and texture, never disappointing.
It was also quite busy, so it’s not only proof it’s a local favorite, but also a sign it’s always freshly made.
Since Ho Chi Minh is famous for the dish, you’ll likely find amazing cơm tấm restaurants around the city, but if you happen to be in the area, don’t miss it.
Bánh Mì Heo Múa Lửa
District: Phú Nhuận District
When it comes to bánh mì, I love the ones with grilled meats or pork belly.
The cold-cut and pâté bánh mì just don’t do it for me, though you should still try it, since that’s the original. Bánh Mì Huynh Hoa is a very famous one where the bun is packed to the brim.
At Bánh Mì Heo Múa Lửa, I’ve tried both the chicken and pork, and they always hit the spot. They also don’t skimp on other toppings like cucumber and pickled carrots.
I usually stop at Bánh Mì Heo Múa Lửa when I go to GEEK Hub, a cozy coworking in Ho Chi Minh.
Kim Chi Quán – Heo Quay & Gà Nướng Lu
District: Bình Thạnh, delivery only
Kim Chi Quán serves bánh hỏi heo quay (crispy pork belly noodles) & gà nướng lu (grilled chicken). I also recall they served bánh mì, but I went for the bánh hỏi heo quay.
One of my favorite ways to try new foods in Vietnam is to hop on the Grab app and browse mouth-watering images until something piques my interest. I had seen this dish around, but I only ordered it on Grab for the first time.
I can’t believe it took me 5 different trips in Vietnam to try bánh hỏi heo quay for the first time. It comes with crispy pork belly, thin rice noodles, nước chấm (a dipping sauce), and some herbs.
I ordered from them multiple times and even walked to visit the shop one day. The owners were super sweet people. 10/10. I recommend ordering on Grab, but you can also pick up directly.
Mì Phụng Ký
District: Phú Nhuận District
Mì Phụng Ký had me at the very first bite. I was looking for dinner in Phú Nhuận District and smelled a rich aroma drifting from somewhere into the street.
And Mì Phụng Ký has been a Ho Chi Minh tradition of mine ever since.
They serve noodles, wontons, char siu, beef, and more in the most satisfying broths.
The noodles are called hủ tiếu, and I always order hủ tiếu hoành thánh xá xíu (noodles, wontons, char siu).
The menu has lots of options that translation apps struggle to get right, but that’s part of the fun. That said, if you want to try my favorite dish, it’s the hủ tiếu hoành thánh xá xíu.
You may have realized it, but this dish has various cultural influences, particularly from China.
Bún Chả Số 1
District: Bình Thạnh
Bún chả is a favorite of mine, and when I crave it, this is one of the best non-touristy places to eat bún chả in Ho Chi Minh.
When I lived in Bình Thạnh, there weren’t many bún chả options in the area, except for this one. It always seemed quite popular and when I finally tried it, damn it was sooo good.
The portions are filling, the meat is juicy, and the herbs on the side tie it all together perfectly.
If you’re not sure you’ll make it to Bình Thạnh, another highly rated bún chả spot is Bún Chả Hà Nội located in D1.
Mỳ Quảng Bà Mua Chi Nhánh Quận 1
District: D1, two locations
Of all the non-touristy places to eat in Ho Chi Minh, this is one of the best for Central Vietnamese food.
Mỳ Quảng Bà Mua Chi Nhánh serves dishes popular in Hoi An and Da Nang such as mỳ quảng and cao lầu.
Of all Vietnamese dishes, mỳ quảng is my favorite. Whether it’s with fish, beef, chicken, or pork, I don’t care, I just want mỳ quảng.
I found this place while staying in the alleyway where the restaurant is located, and I knew from the first bite that it would be one of my go-to mỳ quảng spots.
In fact, when I’m with friends in Ho Chi Minh who haven’t tried mỳ quảng yet, I always take them here.
Bánh Xèo – Ram Bắp Cô Thuỷ Miền Trung
District: Bình Thạnh
This alleyway bánh xèo became one of my regular, non-touristy places to eat in Ho Chi Minh while I stayed in Bình Thạnh.
Bánh Xèo – Ram Bắp Cô Thuỷ Miền Trung is on the corner, with your usual short tables and stools lining the alleyway.
There are only 4-5 tables, and it can get quite busy at lunch, so I usually go a bit before noon or later, around 4/5 PM.
The bánh xèo itself hits the spot, and I could never get tired of it. A bit oily? Yes, but I don’t think it’s overly oily here.
After at least 10 visits, I was a pro at wrapping my bánh xèo in the rice paper with herbs and green mangoes.
I suggest bringing alcohol wipes because it’s a very hands-on meal, and there is nowhere to wash your hands here.
Kushi Katsu Ebisu Shoten
District: D1, two locations
Kushi Katsu Ebisu Shoten is an Izakaya-style restaurant in Koreatown in D1. It doesn’t fit the non-touristy places to eat in Ho Chi Minh theme so much, but I had to include it because it’s a pretty cool spot.
The menu has sashimi, sushi, yakisoba, BBQ skewers, and all the famous Japanese alcohols.
Everything we had really hit the spot, and the lively setting makes it a great place to start a night out with dinner and drinks.
I’d say it’s one of the best places to eat in Ho Chi Minh City when you want to switch things up from Vietnamese food.
Plus, if you come from a country where sushi is expensive, it’s a great opportunity to “splurge”.
el.saigon
District: Bình Thạnh
El Saigon is one of my favorite non-touristy cafes in Ho Chi Minh for coffee and work.
The coffee is good, and since I don’t like my Vietnamese coffee too sweet, the barista made it with less condensed milk, which I appreciated.
It’s quite a popular cafe for working or studying on your laptop, so it’s fine to stay a few hours.
While Ho Chi Minh has many incredible cafes, the seating isn’t always ideal for working, which is why I love El Saigon.
Phở CÔ HOA
District: Phú Nhuận District
It wouldn’t be a complete list of non-touristy places to eat in Ho Chi Minh without a phở option.
This is one of the first places I ate phở in Ho Chi Minh, and it was an easy choice to keep going back.
The broth is incredible, but I especially appreciated the huge pile of herbs that came with it.
And the owner is so incredibly nice! When the food is good and the owners are kind, it’s a no-brainer to keep coming back.
Save my Favorite Places to Eat in Ho Chi Minh
Don’t forget to bookmark this page and save my Saigon eats maps for your Vietnam trip. I hope you’ve found numerous dishes to try in Saigon and will explore beyond D1, as the city has so much to offer.
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