VIETNOMNOMNOM

An Café (formerly An & Brother Café) is a hidden gem in District 2's Thao Dien Ward. A cafe-restaurant combination, An Café serves high-quality, traditional Vietnamese food, and a wide array of drink options. The garden atmosphere is quaint and relaxing, and the staff is friendly and proactive. The restaurant underwent a substantial renovation in 2016, allowing for more indoor and outdoor seating, and live music on certain evenings. Highly recommend the coconut prawn salad.

Eaters at Chị Hoa can expect traditional, quality Vietnamese cuisine at a reasonable price with top-notch quality service. The restaurant also contains a shop on the ground floor, which sells tasty Vietnamese treats and snacks (great for gifts). The fresh juice selection is diverse and creative. 

Cục Gạch Quán prides itself on serving a true homecooked Vietnamese meal and dining experience. The menu is truly endless, and Vietnomnomnom recommends that you allow the server to suggest dishes based on you and your guests' tastes. Dishes are small and served tapas style, perfect for sharing, but also allowing you to order a diverse spread. The atmosphere is lovely - an architectural masterpiece, perfect for guests, business dinners, or romantic evenings. Prices are mid-range. Recommend sitting on the second floor to the left of the top of the stairs. 

Started by the owners of Kujuz Cafe, the Fish Sauce is a Vietnamese cafe-restaurant combination specializing in home-cooked dishes, many from central Vietnam. The restaurant gives its guests a nice rooftop view, situated on top of the OCB Bank, and the decor is artistic and modern with similar characteristics as the Kujuz Cafes (colorful windows and shutters).  The food is simple, authentic, high-quality, and affordable with specialties such as Bánh Đập and Sườn Nướng nước mắm. 

Hoa Tuc makes the top 10 list for its combination of quality Vietnamese fare and top-notch cooking class. The restaurant is nestled back in a corner (with the Refinery, Blanchy Street, Beirut, and El Gaucho) in a courtyard with a lively and fun atmosphere. Prices are high, likely explained by the substantial portions and trendy location.  

This restaurant-cafe combination offers some of the best Vietnamese food in Saigon with high quality ingredients, signature dishes, and beautiful presentation. The owner's aunt is the head chef, and cooks Southern style home cooked Vietnamese dishes (with her own twist). The menu includes an impressive variety of drinks, juices, smoothies, and food dishes, all affordable. Highly recommend the restaurant's signature fish dish (ask the server). The aunty slow cooks the fish over charcoal for 48 hours, and the bones melt in your mouth. Also a specialty - the com Chay (crispy rice) is prepared like a pancake, maximizing all the crisp! Moreover, the restaurant has a beautiful and relaxing ambiance, and multiple floors for those wanting to rent a room for private events.

Mountain Retreat is a rooftop garden restaurant, serving quality traditional Vietnamese fare, with good customer service and a lovely ambiance. Prices are affordable, and the location is central and convenient. 

Noir is a dining-in-the-dark experience, with two menu options - Vietnamese or Western (Vietnomnomnom recommends the Vietnamese menu). Guests are greeted with a welcome drink, and then allowed to choose the style of menu (though the specifics of the meal remain a mystery). The quality and creativity of food is impressive, the customer service is exceptional (best in the city, actually), and the ambiance is beautiful and mysterious. This is a must-do, unique experience for all locals and visitors. 

Quán 13, also known as Restaurant 13, has two locations, one in District 1 (unimpressive) and the other in District 2 (incredible). The District 2 location is situated on the river with a beautiful, breezy atmosphere. Food is quality Vietnamese fare at reasonable prices. 

Vietnomnomnom's absolute favorite restaurant in all of Saigon. The rooftop garden atmosphere is engulfed with lanterns and greenery, and allows for a nice view and breeze of the city. The food is incredible - perfectly cooked and flavored, not too much fish sauce or sugar, and filled with fresh herbs and seasonings. Dishes are served small tapas style, which allows the eater to try a variety of dishes without over-ordering. And even better, customer service is impeccable. Be sure to order the stuffed snails and the crispy sticky rice appetizers.

SH Garden serves quality Vietnamese fare including their own special creations. The atmosphere and location, a rooftop garden overlooking Nguyen Hue Street and the People's House, creates a lively and special ambiance, great for visitors or even a romantic evening out.  In Saigon-terms, the prices are a bit high, but the portions are large and great for sharing. Recommend ordering the SH Garden Tofu, the soft-shell crab, and the jackfruit salad.