Have You Tried All 11 Irresistible Saigon Delicacies?

When you think of Saigon, what leaves a lasting impression? The modern skyscrapers? The vibrant, youthful pace of life? Or simply the culinary paradise tucked into every narrow alley. Mention Saigon, and you can't overlook its tempting and delicious specialties. Let's check how many of these renowned Saigon delights you've experienced with Mytour! 

1. Saigon Broken Rice

When it comes to iconic Saigon delicacies, broken rice is a must-mention. It's available everywhere, from humble street stalls to upscale restaurants. 

A portion of broken rice is often accompanied by various ingredients such as ribs, shredded pork skin, steamed pork cake, sunny-side-up eggs, and more. The most delicious part is the well-marinated and grilled ribs over charcoal. Don't be surprised when this seemingly ordinary dish costs up to a hundred thousand dongs per serving. 

Photo: @hana.foodie

Recommended Saigon Broken Rice Joints:

• Ba Ghien Broken Rice: 84 Dang Van Ngu, Ward 10, Phu Nhuan District
• Nguyen Van Cu Broken Rice: 74 Nguyen Van Cu, District 1
• Hong 35k Broken Rice: 122 Doan Van Bo, Ward 9, District 4
• Bai Rac Broken Rice: 73 Le Van Linh, Ward 13, District 4

2. Phá lấu

Visiting Saigon without trying the dish called 'Phá Lấu' is the biggest regret. Even the name of this Saigon delicacy sparks curiosity, doesn't it? Originally from China, over time, Phá Lấu has become familiar to Saigonese. 

Photo: @coolbe1918

Phá Lấu is made from meat, mainly pork organs. The highlight in a bowl of Phá Lấu is the broth prepared with various spices such as five-spice powder, star anise, cinnamon,… In Saigon, it is cooked in a large pot, and when customers order, it is sliced for easy consumption. Phá Lấu is often enjoyed as a snack or evening treat. 

Must-Try Saigon Hotspots for Phá Lấu:

• Phá Lấu Heaven by Aunt Thảo: 243/29G Tôn Đản Street, Ward 15, District 4
• Phá Lấu Oasis with Aunt Nủi: 243/30 Tôn Đản Street, Ward 15, District 4
• Coconut Infusion Phá Lấu Delight: 161/1/15 Nguyễn Thị Tần, Ward 2, District 8

3. Hủ Tiếu – A Must-Try Saigon Delicacy

While the North has its phở, Saigon boasts the specialty known as hủ tiếu. This dish is a culinary delight at any time of the day, featuring soft and chewy rice noodles that retain their perfect texture.

Undoubtedly, it's a foodie haven with a whopping 1001 ways to transform various hủ tiếu dishes. Each region boasts its unique preparation methods, offering a diverse range from dry hủ tiếu to versions with meat, beef balls, squid, shrimp, and even the famous Nam Vang and Sa Đéc styles. Each dish promises a distinct culinary experience. 

Photo Credit: @lanwiththi

Top Picks for Saigon's Phá Lấu Delights:

• Nam Vang Hủ Tiếu Paradise: 34 Cô Bắc Street, Ward Cầu Ông Lãnh, District 1
• Phượng's Nam Vang Hủ Tiếu Haven: 159 An Dương Vương, District 5
• Bone-In Hủ Tiếu Noodle Delight: 483 Hậu Giang, District 6

Explore more: Spotlight on the 'golden names' of Saigon's hủ tiếu scene

4. Mixed Rice Paper

Aside from main dishes, Saigon is also the 'holy land' of snacks. One standout is the mixed rice paper. While this snack exists in many places, Saigon outshines them all in terms of diversity and the 'divine' sauces.

Photo Credit: @tebefood

Choose rice paper with a balanced thickness, not too soft but not too crispy. The rice paper is typically mixed with various ingredients such as sour mango, quail eggs, scallion oil, tiny shrimp, beef jerky, dried squid, peanuts, coriander, and more. 

To create the magical allure of this dish, the flavorful and special sauce plays a crucial role. In addition to the traditional sauce, some places also experiment with tamarind or delicious avocado sauce. 

Recommended mixed rice paper spots to try:

• Chú Viên's Mixed Rice Paper: 38 Nguyễn Thượng Hiền, Ward 5, District 3
• Aunt Hồng's Rice Paper: 25 Street No. 11, Ward 4, District 4
• Aunt Năm's Mixed Rice Paper: 58 Lê Thị Hồng, Ward 17, Gò Vấp District

5. Savory Sticky Rice

While in Hanoi, sticky rice dishes are often simple and somewhat 'light,' Saigon's savory sticky rice captivates with an overwhelming array of toppings. Explore Saigon's savory sticky rice stalls and be amazed by toppings like sunny-side-up eggs, barbecued pork, Chinese sausage, savory shredded pork, pork skin floss, and fried chicken. 

Photo Credit: @lanwiththi

What adds allure to this Saigon delicacy is the sauce. Some places use scallion oil, while others craft a unique meat sauce. Each tender and fragrant grain of sticky rice, combined with various accompaniments and flavorful sauce, promises a satisfying and warming experience. 

Must-Try Delicious Sticky Rice Spots:

• Chicken and Chinese Sausage Sticky Rice at Bà Chiểu Market: 318/1 Bùi Hữu Nghĩa, Bình Thạnh District
• 'Corpse House' Sticky Rice: 405 Trần Phú, District 5
• Minh Tâm Sticky Rice: 325/22s Bạch Đằng, Bình Thạnh District

6. Bánh Canh

In the list of Saigon's famous must-try dishes, bánh canh takes a prominent place. Throughout the city, you'll find numerous stalls offering various versions of bánh canh along the streets and sidewalks. The combination of different ingredients with bánh canh results in irresistible dishes, including fish cake bánh canh, crab bánh canh, and snakehead fish bánh canh. 

Photo Credit: @lanwiththi

Despite being a soup dish, the standout feature of bánh canh is its rich and hearty broth, not at all watery. The bánh canh noodles, made from tapioca flour, are delightfully chewy. You can enjoy bánh canh for breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack, or a satisfying dinner. And the best part? A bowl of bánh canh is affordable, starting at just 20k VND. 

Top Recommendations for Famous Bánh Canh Spots:

• Bánh Canh Cua 87: 87 Trần Khắc Chân Street, District 1
• O Nhớ Snakehead Fish Bánh Canh: 158 A4 Street, K300 Area, Ward 12, Tan Binh District
• Beef Ball Bánh Canh: 29 Nguyễn Văn Nguyễn Street, Tan Dinh, District 1

7. Snails – Saigon's Famous Delicacy

What to eat in the evening in Saigon? If you're in the culinary paradise of Saigon and don't treat your palate to some delectable snails, you'll surely regret it. Unlike the North, Saigon's snail dishes are incredibly diverse, and their preparation methods are somewhat unique. 

Photo Credit: @tebefood

For instance, a single type of snail can be transformed into various tasty dishes such as steamed snails, stir-fried snails with corn, or snails stir-fried with tamarind sauce. Moreover, most snail stalls in Saigon also offer a variety of seafood like scallops, clams, finger snails, crabs, and squid. These snail spots are usually found along the sidewalks and offer budget-friendly prices. 

Recommended Snail Spots in Saigon: 

• Snail Nhu: 650/4/29D Dien Bien Phu, Ward 11, District 10
• Snail Dao: Alley 212B Nguyen Trai, District 1
• Snail Aunt Tham: 450/28C Duong Ba Trac, Ward 1, District 8

Don't Miss Out: 10 Popular Saigon Snail Spots Loved by the Youth

8. Fried Flour Cake

Although just a snack, fried flour cake always holds a special place in the list of Saigon's famous delights. This dish is truly unique to the city. 

Photo Credit: @candykun107

Fried flour cake is simply made from rice flour molded into small pieces. During preparation, it's enhanced with eggs and spring onions. The outer layer is crispy, while the inside maintains a certain softness. Often enjoyed with pickles and dipped in fish sauce to avoid overwhelming flavors. With prices starting at just 10k VND per serving, you can savor this renowned Saigon delicacy. 

Recommended Fried Flour Cake Spots in Saigon: 

• Dat Thanh Fried Flour Cake: 277 Võ Văn Tần, Ward 5, District 3
• A Binh Fried Flour Cake: 28 Street 18, Ward 8, Gò Vấp
• Nguyen Kim Stall: 187 Nguyen Kim, Ward 7, District 10

9. Banh Mi

It's no coincidence that banh mi is among the world's best dishes. Fun fact, banh mi is the birthplace of the famous bread. Therefore, the preparation here is somewhat more special than elsewhere. 

Saigon's banh mi stimulates the taste buds with a variety of toppings such as Vietnamese sausage, eggs, pate, char siu, shredded pork, and more. To enhance the flavor, a rich sauce is added. A loaded banh mi will undoubtedly leave you fully satisfied! 

Photo Credit: @hetmydiscovery

Recommended Banh Mi Spots in Saigon: 

• Huynh Hoa Bread: 26 Le Thi Rieng, Ward Pham Ngu Lao, District 1
• Bay Ho Bread: 19 Huynh Khuong Ninh, Ward Da Kao, District 1
• Hoa Ma Pan Bread: 53 Cao Thang, District 3

10. Crab Soup

Crab soup is a Saigon delicacy loved by many. For just 20k, you can enjoy a bowl that is both high-quality and deliciously affordable. A typical bowl of crab soup includes various ingredients such as crab meat, quail eggs, and chicken. To enhance its allure, many places also add Northern-style scrambled eggs or pig intestines. 

A steaming bowl of soup, accompanied by fresh coriander, ground pepper, and a hint of chili powder for added enticing aroma, is hard to resist. 

Photo Credit: @trangnhimtron

Recommended crab soup spots in Saigon:

• Hanh Crab Soup: 517 Su Van Hanh, District 10
• Cua Soup at Duc Ba Cathedral: 86 Nguyen Du, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1
• Hồ Thi Kỷ Market Crab Soup: 68/4 Ho Thi Ky, District 10

11. Goat Hotpot – A Saigon delicacy adored by food enthusiasts 

Another delightful dish Mytour wants to introduce to you is goat hotpot. There are numerous eateries, from casual street vendors to upscale restaurants, serving this 'heavenly' hotpot. 

Photo Credit: @trangpinkyy

Một bí quyết giúp món lẩu dê thêm phần ngon hơn chính là lựa chọn thịt dê “đi bộ” giúp thịt tăng thêm phần chắc và thơm. Sau khi làm sạch, thịt dê được ướp cùng với lá hương nhu (một số nơi ướp cùng với lá cúc tần) để tăng thêm hương vị đậm đà. Nước dùng của lẩu dê ngọt thơm từ xương, ăn thêm cùng với các loại rau chắc chắn sẽ khiến bạn nhớ mãi. 

Gợi ý các quán lẩu dê ngon ở Sài Gòn: 

• Lẩu dê Trương Định: 105 Trương Định, Phường 6, Quận 3
• Lẩu dê Lam Sơn: 31 Yên Thế, Phường 2, Quận Tân Bình
• Lẩu dê Bảy Hồng: Hẻm 141 Trần Quang Khải, Phường Tân Định, Quận 1

Thử điểm danh xem bạn đã thưởng thức được bao nhiêu món ngon Sài Gòn mà Mytour gợi ý ở bên trên rồi. Nếu bạn biết món ngon nào khác, hãy gợi ý ngay cho Mytour nhé! 

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