Must-Try 28 Delicious Saigon Dishes

If you ever travel to the land of Saigon, don't miss out on the culinary paradise in this bustling urban area. Especially, you can't forget to mention the top Saigon dishes that are fragrant, enticing, and explosively flavorful, leaving a lasting impression.

Must-Try 28 Delicious Saigon Dishes

1. Beef Noodle Soup (Bun Bo)

In the list of must-try Saigon dishes, one cannot overlook the beef noodle soup. Originally from the poetic land of Hue, beef noodle soup is now familiar to many provinces in the South, especially Ho Chi Minh City. With its main ingredient being beef broth and a hint of shrimp paste, this dish has a distinct flavor that once you try, you'll love forever.

A bowl of nutritious Hue-style beef noodle soup typically includes beef shank, pork knuckle, pork, crab sausage, shrimp cake, and various fresh vegetables. Adding a bit of chili powder, fish sauce, and thinly sliced banana flower to the dish completes its flavor profile, making it endlessly enjoyable.

2. Fermented Fish Noodle Soup (Bun Mam)

Fermented fish noodle soup, a specialty of the Mekong Delta region in Vietnam, is typically made with linh fish or snakehead fish, abundant in the Western region, especially in Trà Vinh and Sóc Trăng provinces.

This simple yet irresistibly flavorful dish consists of a bowl of fermented fish noodle soup accompanied by high-quality ingredients such as roasted pork, shrimp, squid, fish, fish cakes, providing both nutrition and a taste that will make everyone want to indulge repeatedly.

3. Offal Stew (Pha Lau)

When mentioning offal stew, any Saigon local would immediately recall the small blue and red plastic stools set up on the sidewalks. Essentially, offal stew consists of pork offal marinated with flavorful spices, cooked in coconut milk, seasoned to perfection. While it may sound simple, achieving the right balance of flavors is quite challenging. Offal stew is typically served with bread or instant noodles.

4. Sauteed Beef (Bo Ne)

Beef Hotplate (Bo Ne) is a popular and beloved breakfast dish in Saigon. The tender beef, hot and soaked in rich tomato sauce, topped with sunny-side-up eggs, elevates the dish, especially when enjoyed with bread and a side of fresh lettuce. The beef is served hot on a specialized iron skillet, still sizzling, so oil splatters when served. Diners need to 'dodge' the splatters, hence the name 'bo ne.'

5. Beef Stew Noodle Soup (Hu Tieu Bo Kho)

Beef stew noodle soup has become a familiar dish for many Saigonese, enjoyed especially in the mornings. The chewy noodles paired with the flavorful beef stew soup create a distinctive taste, while the tender beef provides an energy boost for the day.

6. Clear Dumplings (Banh Bot Loc)

The clear dumpling, with its translucent white outer layer, filled with minced shrimp and pork, meticulously wrapped in banana leaves. When eating, it must be accompanied by self-made fish sauce. It can be said that this is a dish with a complete blend of color, aroma, and taste, extremely enticing.

7. Goat Hotpot (Lau De)

Goat Hotpot is considered a specialty of Saigon drinking establishments, where fragrant and tender goat meat is cooked with various spices, making the dish more flavorful and aromatic than ever.

8. Shumai

Shumai is not a 'typical' Saigon dish but is actually imported from China, especially with the influx of Chinese immigrants to Saigon. While dumplings typically have ground pork filling, shumai mainly consists of minced meat mixed with whole shrimp, preserving the freshness and texture of the shrimp, providing a delightful chewing experience.

9. Crab Soup/Pig Brain Soup

Initially, when this dish first appeared, you could choose between crab soup or pig brain soup, served with stirred chicken eggs and quail eggs, which were common choices. However, nowadays, you can enjoy various ingredients such as whole shrimp, crab claws, corn, stirred eggs, and duck eggs. When eating, take your time to savor it slowly to avoid getting burnt and to fully appreciate its delicious and nutritious flavors.

10. Coconut and Tamarind

Amidst the scorching heat of Saigon, you can treat yourself to a refreshing glass of Coconut and Tamarind drink. It has a sweet and tangy flavor that's very enjoyable and has gradually become a popular beverage. The preparation method for Coconut and Tamarind drink is simple and easy.

11. Grilled Skewers

Grilled skewers are one of the most beloved dishes among young people in Saigon. Whether it's hot or cold outside, sitting next to a smoky charcoal grill, absorbing the aroma of grilled meat and corn, and chatting with friends while waiting for the meat to cook is an enjoyable evening. In addition to grilling, fried skewers such as fried fish balls and fried beef balls are also favorite Saigon street foods.

12. Fried Rice Flour Cake

True to its name, this dish consists of rice flour cut into rectangular pieces and fried with scallions. When served on a plate, it's topped with a bit of pickled papaya, drizzled with soy sauce, and a touch of chili, creating an irresistible plate of fried rice flour cake. Nowadays, this delicious dish is innovatively topped with various toppings such as eggs, pate, and pork floss to enhance its flavor profile.

13. Stir-fried Corn

Once again, a simple dish that still captivates many food enthusiasts. The golden yellow of corn mixed with the fresh green of scallions, the brick red of dried shrimp, and the harmonious blend of shredded pork create an artistic masterpiece. Truly speaking, it's not an exaggeration because you can 'admire' this masterpiece anywhere, from sidewalk stalls to upscale restaurants. The widespread popularity of this dish is due to its pleasant aroma, appealing to all palates and easy preparation.

14. Fresh Spring Rolls, Beef Pia

In addition to the familiar shrimp and pork fresh spring rolls found across Vietnam, Saigon also offers a dish called 'beef pia' or 'beef pia.' The difference in names is because this isn't a traditional Vietnamese dish but originates from Chaozhou, China. This dish is somewhat similar to fresh spring rolls as it consists of rolled rice paper filled with ingredients and dipped in soy sauce. However, the filling of these two dishes differs slightly.

15. Grilled Rice Paper

Grilled rice paper is a dish with the flavors of Dalat spread in Saigon. As a convenient, easy-to-make snack that's also easy to find, it's always popular on the snack menu of food enthusiasts. Dubbed as 'Vietnamese Pizza' by locals, grilled rice paper has become a favorite among many international visitors. Its crispy and fragrant texture, along with various enticing toppings, makes it a special treat for anyone who tries it.

16. Assorted Ice Cream

Visiting Saigon without indulging in the 'ice cream buffet' would be a missed opportunity. The ice cream here comes in various flavors, each offering a unique experience that leaves diners amazed.

17. Various Shellfish Dishes

Eating shellfish, besides enjoying the delicious and diverse dishes, is about the experience of sitting, chatting with friends, and watching the bustling streets, which embodies the 'shellfish feast culture' of Saigonese. Shellfish come in many varieties, with diverse and unique preparations, catering to the individual tastes of each diner, who can order different flavors and types of shellfish.

18. Dried Beef Salad

Dried beef salad, also known as beef salad as called in the North, is a signature snack of Saigon. The highlight of this salad is the dressing – a tangy, sweet, fragrant mixture of cinnamon-scented herbs and tongue-tingling chili. A dish with just the right balance of spicy, sour, sweet, and salty flavors that's addictive to anyone who tries it.

19. Chicken Fat Rice

When it comes to Saigon's satisfying dishes, you can't overlook Chicken Fat Rice, a legendary dish for fried chicken enthusiasts. Chicken fat rice is typically golden yellow, fragrant, with crispy golden-brown chicken that's irresistibly delicious. Depending on the restaurant, there may be different dipping sauce recipes and accompanying soups for this dish.

20. Fermented Shrimp Paste Vermicelli with Tofu and Vegetables

Fermented shrimp paste vermicelli with tofu and vegetables is a dish that never goes out of style, especially popular among young people. A bowl of this dish includes tofu, boiled meat, fried fermented shrimp paste cakes, vermicelli, and various accompanying vegetables. The essence of this dish lies in the shrimp paste, which is mixed with sugar, tamarind, and chili until the mixture becomes fluffy and foamy. Depending on the region, you can choose to wrap it in rice paper or not, according to individual preferences.

21. Net Coffee

Net coffee has long been a traditional beverage of Saigonese. Starting your day with a cup of net coffee can help you recharge for a hard day's work. Net coffee is usually brewed using a net filter, which enhances its flavor and makes it addictive to coffee enthusiasts.

22. Fried Sticky Rice

Those who have tasted fried sticky rice with meat filling surely cannot forget the crispy exterior enveloping the meat-filled interior, combined with finely chopped vegetables, and a hint of spicy chili sauce. With its unique flavor and preparation, fried sticky rice has become a beloved dish by many.

23. Mixed Fermented Pork

Similar to mixed rice paper salad, mixed fermented pork is also a favorite dish among many diners. Fermented pork is mixed with young mango, star fruit, various herbs, and the highlight of this dish lies in the mixed fermented pork sauce, considered the soul of the dish and addictive to diners.

24. Crab Soup Cake

Soft and chewy soup noodles eaten with sweet and savory crab meat soup, along with various fresh seafood, make everyone who tastes this famous dish fall in love with it. A bowl of crab soup cake comes with a variety of toppings such as crab meat, quail eggs, fish cakes, shrimp, etc. To enhance the deliciousness of the dish, it can be enjoyed with minced chili, lime, and a bit of pepper to elevate the flavor.

25. Duck Bamboo Shoot Vermicelli Soup

A steaming bowl of fragrant vermicelli with sour bamboo shoots, accompanied by duck meat cooked for hours, resulting in tender and flavorful meat. A bowl of sour and spicy duck bamboo shoot vermicelli leaves an unforgettable taste in everyone's memory.

26. Broken Rice

When visiting Saigon and unsure what to eat, you must remember broken rice. An easily found dish in every alley, street corner with various price ranges, from cheap to expensive, allowing you to choose freely.

The 'traditional' broken rice plate with grilled ribs, shredded pork skin, meatloaf, sunny-side-up eggs with a variety of rich side dishes. When eating broken rice, you must add fish sauce, even though the meat is flavorful, without this special condiment, the dish will lack appeal.

27. Offal Congee

One of the heartwarming dishes on rainy days that cannot be missed is offal congee. The congee is hot and tasty, served with various toppings: pork offal, sausage, liver, heart, etc. To enjoy with the congee, you can add bean sprouts, lime, chili, and a bit of pepper to make the offal congee more delicious.

28. Sandwich

A sandwich is one of the popular dishes not only in Saigon but also almost everywhere in the country. The hot, crispy bread, when bitten into, gives us the softness of the meat, of the pâté along with the enticing flavor mixed from various toppings.

According to Mytour

***

Reference: Travel guide Mytour