2. Bo kho Ganh - Ganh beef stew
Situated at 029 Block H, Ngo Gia Tu Apartment, Su Van Hanh Street, District 10, this spot serves beef stew, which can be paired with bread, egg noodles, or instant noodles. In Vietnamese, bo kho means beef stew, while ganh refers to a shoulder pole used to transport items, often seen in street vendors who carry baskets of goods balanced on a pole over their shoulders.
Open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., each serving costs from VND50,000 ($2). The signature dish is a beef stew with ribs, brisket, and tendons served in a clay pot, priced at VND110,000 ($4.30).
Photo by Tran Quynh
3. Banh xeo 46A - 46A crispy pancakes
Found at 46A Dinh Cong Trang Street in District 1, this restaurant has specialized in southern-style banh xeo since 1986. The pancakes, measuring 30 - 35 centimeters in diameter, are filled with bean sprouts, shrimp, and pork.
This venue was praised by celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain during his 2008 visit. Each portion costs between VND80,000 - VND120,000 ($3 to $4.70), and the restaurant is open daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Instagram/camilomazo
4. Bun bo Hue 14B
Located at 14B Street 46, District 4, this eatery is listed in Michelin’s Bib Gourmand category for its combination of quality and affordability. It primarily serves office workers who order via delivery apps, with up to 500-600 bowls sold daily.
Each portion costs between VND40,000 - VND65,000 ($1.60 to $2.60), and the restaurant is open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Mervin Lee/MICHELIN Guide Vietnam
5. Oc Oanh - Oanh's snails
Situated at 534 Vinh Khanh Street, District 4, this spot has been serving seafood for nearly 20 years, attracting customers with dishes like grilled scallops with chili salt, salt-roasted crab claws, and lemongrass-steamed clams.
Here, the listed price for most snail dishes starts from VND100,000 ($4) per portion. The salt-roasted crab claws are priced between VND200,000 and VND500,000 ($8 to $19), depending on the portion size. The restaurant is open daily from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Photo by VnExpress/Huynh Nhi
7. Number One Sticky Rice
Located at 15 Nguyen Trung Truc street, about 200-300 meters from Ben Thanh Market’s east gate, this stall evolved from a sticky rice vendor in the late 1950s that initially served only corn sticky rice.
Now offering a variety of sticky rice dishes, a full chicken sticky rice plate costs VND40,000 ($1.60), while corn sticky rice is VND20,000. The eatery is open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Instagram/electer_hide
8. Co Lieng - Miss Lieng
Known for its grilled beef in betel leaf, this restaurant at 321 Vo Van Tan Street in District 3 has been featured in Michelin Selected for two consecutive years. Guests appreciate the beef grilled over charcoal and the anchovy dipping sauce. Each portion costs VND45,000 - VND60,000 ($1.70 to $2.30), and the restaurant is open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Instagram/ctkg_hcmc
