A Guide to ‘New Vietnamese’ Restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City

Written By Jovel Chan

Thanks to a number of reasons - Vietnam’s 5-million-large overseas diaspora, the arrival of the MICHELIN Guide in 2023, Vietnam’s growing presence internationally and of course, a new wave of Vietnamese chefs reshaping what Vietnamese cuisine means to them through a progressive, global lens, anchored by a deep sanctity for the country’s history, culture and traditions.

The result: ‘New Vietnamese’ cuisine, ‘Mod-Viet’, more affectionately known as ‘Cuisine Mới’, which is fast becoming Saigon’s hottest new trend. Here are 15 restaurants in the city spearheading this new era.

Source: Anan Saigon

Anan Saigon

Anan Saigon is possibly the most popular ‘New Vietnamese’ restaurant in Vietnam or perhaps even the world. Its name translates as ‘eat, eat’ and also houses cocktail bar Nhau Nhau and noodle joint Pot Au Pho, which is apt considering that Franklin's birth mother – and early inspiration (before he was adopted as a refugee from the Vietnam war) – runs a traditional noodle shop in Dalat.

Housed inside a modern Vietnamese building on a street of wet food markets, Anan Saigon stands out, and not just because of its armful of shiny accolades - Saigon’s only MICHELIN one-star, Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants, Vietcetera Restaurant of the Year 2022 and Time World’s 100 Greatest Places 2021. Anan Saigon reflects Chef Peter’s vision of a Vietnam that remains deeply respective of history and traditions yet equally progressive and international in outlook. Uses fresh ingredients sourced from local markets while incorporating French culinary techniques honed during his training at Le Cordon Bleu. 

Source: Nous

Nous

Nous is Vietnam's very first capsule restaurant. Proof that good things can come in small packages, this tiny 8-seater delivers a stunning, imaginative, yet practical menu. Nous highlights the best of Vietnamese produce where it makes sense and puts it to work with other top-quality ingredients such as Dalat Cherry Tomatoes, creating world-class cuisine that gently proves that Vietnamese ingredients are up there with the best of them. Combined with imaginative plating that you can watch being assembled in the open kitchen, this makes Nous top 10 in my books.

Source: Mia Dining

Mia Dining

Mia Dining is a cosy 20-seater named after founder Tan Minh Pham’s (serial barpreneur and founder of well-loved bars ATM Cocktail Bar and Kitchen and TRE Eatery) daughter and helmed by Head Chef Hieu, who brings with him 5-star culinary experience from the likes of The Reverie in Saigon. Here, Chef Hieu borrows influences from Japan so expect familiar Jap favourites such as Tobiko and Japanese onigiri. Flavours are thoughtfully localized and dishes such as a Vietnamese Bouillabaisse with a tinge of Tamarind to mimic the natural sourness often found in seafood-based soups in Vietnam, are served. The menu standout of the evening for me was easily the dry-aged duck breast from Ben Tre, Vietnam - a first for me - served with a local sugarcane glaze and peppery Clausena sauce from Vietnam.

  • Address: 89 Ton That Dam, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, District 1

  • Operating hours: 5 pm to 11 pm

  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090760262510

Source: TRE Dining

TRE Dining

TRE Dining, which recently opened in Saigon’s famous Thao Dien neighbourhood and is named after the ubiquitous bamboo trees of Vietnam, is quietly making its presence felt in the local dining scene.

This newly-minted MICHELIN Select (2023) restaurant is easy to miss if you don’t know where to look but definitely worth seeking out, TRE’s entrance is a slab and gravel pathway through a canopy of bamboo branches and greenery that follows into a sleek and dark stairwell with large mirrors and some small indication of the opulence of the area (and the meal!) that you are about to experience. Here, the focus is on meticulously crafted appetizers and coal-fired main courses. and other dishes include Pig Brain with Pigeon Pot, Chorizo Sauce and Brown Butter with Carrot Confit, which could be decried as gimmickry until you actually try the dish.

  • Address: 35 Xuân Thủy, Thảo Điền, Quận 2, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

  • Opening hours: 6 pm to midnight (7 days a week)

  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tredining

Source: Sono

Sono

Sono Grill & Bar, another recent addition to Saigon’s increasingly crowded District 2 restaurant scene, self-identifies as a lifestyle concept where “flavour meets sound.” Sleek, dimly lit with refreshed interiors, Sono’s appearance matches the vibe of the playlist and sets the perfect tone for most occasions from leisurely lunch in groups to intimate date nights and celebrations. Think Bohemian Chic, but in a good way.

Most of the seating is indoors but there are some cozy tables out back as well, divided out by floor-to-ceiling windows. Sono describes its cuisine as a modern charcoal grill, celebrating local Vietnamese ingredients. The menu is impressive in its variety and attention to detail without being overly fancy or pretentious (or pricey). The focus here is definitely using high-quality cuts of meat and fish and letting the proteins do most of the work, while also ensuring that the sides and garnishes carry their weight and support the stars of the show.

  • Address: 215b37 Nguyen Van Huong, Thảo Điền, Quận 2, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

  • Opening hours: 5 pm to 11 pm (7 days a week) and 10:30 am to 2 pm on Wednesdays & Saturdays 

  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sono.saigon

Photo courtesy of A by Tung

A by Tung

Launched in 2021, Å by TUNG is Hoang Tung’s acclaimed Saigon interpretation of T.U.N.G dining in Hanoi. Here, guests are invited to relish in minimalistic Nordic-chic vibes and front-row views of their 20-course menu that pays tribute to Northern Europe where Chef Tung’s passion for culinary blossomed. Known for his constant innovation and creativity (T.U.N.G stands for “Twisted, Unique, Natural and Gastronomique), Chef Hoang Tung is no stranger to Vietnam’s gastronomic dining scene having launched his first restaurant - T.U.N.G Dining in Hanoi in 2018. Since then, T.U.N.G has become synonymous with Vietnam’s culinary scene and earned spots in multiple acclaimed awards like the MICHELIN Guide, 50 Best Discovery and Forbes 30 under 30.

Source: ESTA Saigon

ESTA

This award-winning MICHELIN Select (2023) woodfired restaurant is run by Head Chef Francis Tran and is best known for its modern Asian cuisine bearing licks of char that perfectly balances comfort food and fine dining fare in a dimly-lit room flanked by granite walls that resemble charcoal. At ESTA, there’s also a private dining room, a chef counter where diners can witness all the action and bigger tables for groups.

Hailing from Daklak Province in the Central Highlands, Chef Tran claims his love for the outdoors and knowledge of the country's terroir, plants, and seasons are what inspired him to "discover local ingredients and play with fire” using local ingredients sourced directly from suppliers, farms and fisheries to ensure the freshest ingredients straight from the source. ESTA’s tasting menu (in addition to a mainstay a la carte menu) changes seasonally to embody the different seasons of Vietnam through its array of in-season vegetables, fruits and protein like Dalat cherry tomatoes, sun-ripened stone fruits and exquisite Korean turbot, prepared over an open flame.

Source: Bom

BỜM

Bom is perhaps the most accessible restaurant on the list. In terms of price, creativity and location, BOM hits the nail on the head. Local flavours and ingredients are presented in well-loved forms such as a tataki or tart (the Bo Kho tart with Vietnamese-style braised beef and seasonal vegetables is a must) that make Bom an easy go-to option for the uninitiated looking to colour just a touch outside the lines.

Spanning two floors with a central District 1 location, Bom is housed inside a colonial building and boasts a simple, stripped, industrial-chic interior with cool concrete floors that make this spot perfect for those looking for a casual low-key night out with just a touch of pizzazz.

Source: Nen Light Restaurant

Nén Light Restaurant

Creative, storytelling-tasting menus with a focus on hyper-local Vietnamese ingredients come together. Located at the end of a quiet alley flanked by garish street stalls and tattoo parlours is the elegant Nén Light helmed by Danang-based chef Summer Le, who has long championed Central Vietnam’s cuisine beyond the kitchen counter (Summer is also an avid food blogger and part-time TV host).

Since the opening of Nén in 2017, both Dominique Crenn, the New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern and the like, have dropped by Nén Restaurant to savour Summer’s take on modern Vietnamese food. Since 2022, Summer and her restaurant, have moved to Ho Chi Minh City and Nén has become Nén Light, where her ‘conscious Vietnamese cuisine’ is delivered as a set ‘Sto:ry Menu’, where diners get to choose the number of tales (courses) the server tells you.

adau kitchen

Tucked away behind a blue door on the second floor of an off-the-beaten-path apartment building lies the unassuming adau kitchen helmed by Chef Phuc. Don’t let its furtive location throw you off - this restaurant is as interesting as the path that leads to it.

With a more playful, laidback and local approach to Vietnamese cuisine than other ‘New Vietnamese’ restaurants, you won’t find flashy culinary techniques or jargon weaved into adau’s menu but instead, trendy flavours and ingredients coveted by young Vietnamese presented in unprecedented and unpretentious ways. Without a lick of English used across the restaurant’s social media communications, Adau’s main goal is to appeal to Vietnamese with its twists on local street snacks and reinvention of popular flavours and ingredients.

With a menu that’s sure to raise a few eyebrows, dishes here run the gamut from smoked hamachi with fish sauce jelly and pickled fennel (220k) to Shredded duck tacos with fermented tofu sauce and caramelised onions (75k/piece) and French toasted coffee with homemade coconut cream (110k). There’s a ‘tasting’ menu for couples (880k) and groups of 3 to 4 people (1980k) which you can easily pair with adau’s equally fascinating selection of cocktails.

Photo courtesy of EAST by Ngo Thanh Hoa

EAST by Ngo Thanh Hoa

EAST is the brainchild of MasterChef Vietnam winner Harold Ngo, who founded EAST to mark his 10th anniversary of being crowned Vietnam’s first-ever MasterChef back in 2013. To celebrate this momentous occasion, Chef Harold left Ox Not Only Ox to start EAST - a three-storey restaurant in District 3 with interiors that effortlessly blend modern design with nostalgic Indochine aesthetics. Think rich wooden furnishings, soft, earthy green and beige tones, and vintage artefacts and artful wall murals that pay homage to Vietnam’s cultural heritage.

EAST’s produce-accented menu is split into ‘Salads’, ‘Lite’, ‘Mains’ and ‘Sweets’ which underscores his culinary philosophy of spotlighting fresh, seasonal and local ingredients in cooking, something he adopted during his time in Sydney, Australia. But, if you’re hankering for some meat, we recommend the Marinated beef tongue with soy sauce, apple juice and lotus seed purée (319k), or Grilled pork jowl with lemongrass and Sichuan pepper, mung bean mash and chilli ginger fish sauce (339k). And, for dessert, the ‘Flashback’ (99k), inspired by a popular Vietnamese dessert called ‘Tàu Hũ’ using coconut cream and lime jelly, is not to be missed.

Source: An’s Saigon

An’s Saigon

Tucked away in Thao Dien, District 2 away from the hustle and bustle of Saigon is culinary sanctuary An’s (which means ‘Peace’ in Vietnamese) helmed by the young but highly talented Chef Cuong Nguyen (ex-Sous Chef of Michelin-starred Anan Saigon). Located inside a stunning white villa, An’s is a tranquil escape that boasts a spacious al fresco cafe and a cosy indoor restaurant with comfy sofas and an elegant piano to make you feel like you’re in someone’s home. During the day, An’s is easily my go-to spot for a cup of coffee.

The standout experience is undoubtedly the intimate 10-seater Chef’s Counter that features seasonally-changing menus (from 1,9 mil per person) that not only showcase the best ingredients of the season but also weave together a story. At An’s, expect simple yet expertly crafted dishes that tell of Chef Cuong’s deep sanctity and understanding of each ingredient’s flavour, texture and unique characteristics. A personal favourite of mine at An’s is the Burrata and Dalat tomato salad with Iberico ham 75%, candied nuts and mixed herbs vinaigrette (250k) and Sapa peach with figs and fermented honey vinaigrette (250k), which is derived from a honey-soaked peach jar, and finished with creamy Stracciatella cheese and Vietnamese mint.

Source: Mùa Craft Sake

Mùa Craft Sake

Mùa Craft Sake is Vietnam’s first and only craft sake taproom featuring Japanese-Vietnamese tapas like Okonomiyaki Banh Xieo (110k) and Banh Mi Katsu Sando (120k). The menu is separated into different sections - ‘Raw & Vegetable’, ‘Stir-fry and fry’, and ‘Grill and skewers’, and combines the best of Japanese izakaya eateries with Vietnamese ‘nhau’ culture. The result is a one-of-a-kind food experience but beyond food, there’s so much more to Mùa.

By partnering with an award-winning Japanese sake brewery called Heiwa Shuzou, Mùa Craft Sake seeks to merge Japanese excellence with Vietnamese flavours. For one, only Vietnamese rice is selected for the sake making process, with the resulting sake having fruity notes of apple, guava, and melon. Their sake is then paired with a menu crafted by Chef Tru, who lived and worked in Japan and holds a deep-seated appreciation for the country and its cuisine.

  • Address: 7 Le Ngo Cat Street, Vo Thi Sau Ward, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City

  • Opening hours: Sunday - Thursday: 5 pm to 11 pm, Friday - Saturday: 5 pm to midnight

  • Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/muasake.vn

Source: Lavelle Library

Lavelle Library

Combining her Vietnamese ancestry with her tenure at Park Hyatt Paris - Vendôme, Chef Thao Na is celebrated as one of the most talented chefs in Vietnam, successfully bringing a fresh and friendly vision of French Dining to Ho Chi Minh City. At Lavelle Library, guests can enjoy Chef Thao Na’s flirty twist on French classics such as her renowned Beef Tartare, playfully served with “taco” crisps; or her Signature Lavelle Onion Soup whimsically served in the layers of a freshly baked onion. When in the mood for more Vietnamese-forward flavours, guests indulge in Chef Thao Na’s locally inspired dishes. Inclusive of her original “Don” Bouillon and her aromatic Spiced Free-Range Chicken served in a delicately hand-crafted basket.

At Lavelle, art plays an important role and is the only venue in Vietnam where one can bask in the works of the world's most celebrated artists - Salvador Dalí, Banksy, Andy Warhol, Lê Phổ, Vũ Cao Đàm and more. Rotating exhibitions feature art in all forms – paintings, film, dance, and music – presented under two labels: Legendary Series and Imaginary Series. The former celebrates works from world-renowned creatives (including unseen images and a private audience with Pulitzer-prize-winning photographer Nick Ut). The latter showcases the work of young artists, both Vietnamese and foreign.

Source: Mien Saigon

Mien Saigon

Nestled in District 1, this minimalist Zen restaurant is designed to evoke a sense of calm and mindfulness, with clean lines, natural textures, and a soft palette of earthy grey tones interspersed with Bonsai trees. But, before you mistake Mien Saigon for being Japanese (you won’t be the first), Mien coins itself as an ‘Asian-French restaurant’, which comes as no surprise seeing Chef Thao Na (Lavelle Library) was behind Mien’s debut menu (July 2023). The result: an Asian-accented menu - Grilled fish (LaVong style), Kombujime, yuzu vinaigrette, corn sticky rice and the like - that marries the precision and refinement of French cooking techniques as well as the occasional quintessential French class - foie gras, beef tartare, crab bouillon. So if you’re a fan of both, you’re in for a treat.

Jovel Chan
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