When visiting a new place, one of the hardest things I have to do is researching, debating, and agreeing on a places to eat — I know, the struggles. The deciding process often pushes my partner and I to the verge of a nuclear war. The tension heightens if we’re visiting a place for only a few days and finding the right place to eat requires a scientific formula. I only want to travel for the food, therefore, I want to taste the best dishes a city has to offer and I don’t want to waste any meal on bad restaurants or experiences. I’m assuming that many people have the same dilemma as I do when traveling, thus, I’ve created 7 days worth of restaurants to eat for both lunch and dinner in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh), Vietnam.

Whether you’re beginning your expat journey or just passing through Saigon for a week, here’s a list of delicious food and where you can find it to fill your curious belly with. Note, this is not at all a comprehensive list of Vietnamese food, but this is a good start to introduce you to the many flavors of Vietnam. Plus, I’ve done all of the work so you don’t have to think for at least one week on where to eat.

[box type=”info” ]Often time, restaurants here only specialize in 1 dish, so you don’t even need to order. Just sit down and they will bring out the food.[/box]

[box type=”info” ]For extra sanitary reason, you can ask for your plate of vegetables to be boiled. [/box]

[box type=”info” ]Afraid that you won’t have enough time to try all of these dishes because your stay is shorter than 7 days? Don’t worry. Notice that most of the restaurants open very early, as early as 6 am. Therefore you can enjoy the food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. [/box]

Day 1:

Lunch: Cơm Tấm Ba Ghiền : BBQ pork rice plate

Address: 84 Đặng Văn Ngữ, P. 10, Q. Phú Nhuận, Hồ Chí Minh: (Map)

Hours: 6 am – 10 pm daily

Dish and Cost: Cơm Tấm Bì Sườn Chả Trứng Chiên (Broken rice with shredded pork, BBQ pork chop, meatloaf, and fried egg): 68,000 Dong ~ $3.20 USD Cơm Tấm Sườn (Broken rice with BBQ pork chop): 38,000 ~ $1.75 USD



Dinner: Bánh Canh Cua – Trần Khắc Chân: Seafood and pork udon soup

Address: 87 Trần Khắc Chân, Q. 1, Hồ Chí Minh: (Map)

Hours: 2 pm – 9:30 pm daily

Dish and Cost: Bánh Canh Cua (Seafood and pork udon soup): 35,000 Dong ~ $1.70 USD



Day 2:

Lunch: Bánh Mì Huỳnh Hoa: Vietnamese-styled hoagie — The Meat Lovers’ Version

Address: 26 Lê Thị Riêng, P. Bến Thành, Q. 1, Hồ Chí Minh: (Map)

Hours: 1 pm – 10 pm daily

Dish and Cost: Bánh Mì Thịt – đầy đủ (Meat hoagie with all toppings included): 32,000 Dong ~ $1.50 USD



Dinner: Bún Ốc Riêu Cua Thanh Hải: Vermicelli tomato soup with crab cake paste and snails (optional)

Address: 14/12 Kỳ Đồng, P. 9, Q. 3, Hồ Chí Minh: (Map)

Hours: 7 am – 9 pm daily

Dish and Cost: Bún Ốc Riêu Cua (Crab noodle soup with snails): 35,000 Dong ~ $1.60 USD Bún Riêu Cua (Crab noodle soup): 28,000 Dong ~ $1.30 USD



Day 3:

Lunch: Bún Thịt Nướng Chị Tuyền (originally Chị Thông): Vermicelli with BBQ pork and egg rolls

Address: 195 Cô Giang, Q. 1, Hồ Chí Minh: (Map)

Hours: 7 am – 10 pm daily

Dish and Cost: Bún Thịt Nướng Chả Giò (Noodles with BBQ pork and egg roll): 40,000 Dong ~ $1.90 USD Chả Giò (extra – egg rolls): 10,000 Dong ~ $0.50 USD/roll



Dinner: Bò Lá Lốt – Cô Liêng: “Wrap your own” rolls with betel leaf wrapped beef (Bò Lá Lốp) and beef sausages (Mỡ Chài)

Address: 321 Võ Văn Tần , P. 5, Q. 3, Hồ Chí Minh: (Map)

Hours: 8 am – 9 pm

Dish and Cost: Bò Lá Lốp (Betel leaf wrapped beef): 60,000 Dong ~ $2.80 USD Mỡ Chài (Beef sausages): 60,000 Dong ~ $2.80 USD



Day 4:

Lunch: Bánh Cuốn Tây Hồ (2 locations): Steamed rice rolls

Address: 127 Đinh Tiên Hoàng, P. Đa Kao, Q. 1, Hồ Chí Minh: (Map)

Address: 271 Phan Xích Long, P. 2, Q. Phú Nhuận, Hồ Chí Minh: (Map)

Hours: 7 am – 11 pm daily

Dish and Cost: Bánh Cuốn Dặc Biệt (Special rice rolls plate – more meat): 40,000 Dong ~ $2 USD Chả (Pork patties): 8,000 Dong ~ 0.40 USD Bánh Cóng (Deep fried green bean cakes): 16,000 Dong ~ 0.75 USD



Dinner: Bún Bò Huế Đông Ba: Hue-styled noodle soup

Address: 110A Nguyễn Du, P. Bến Thành, Q. 1, Hồ Chí Minh: (Map)

Hours: 6 am – 11 pm daily

Dish and Cost: Small bowl: 38,000 Dong ~ $1.80 USD Large bowl: 48,000 Dong ~ $2.25 USD



Day 5:

Lunch: Bánh Mì Hồng Hoa: Vietnamese-styled hoagie — Personal Favorite Version

Address: 62 Nguyễn Văn Tráng, P. Bến Thành, Q. 1, Hồ Chí Minh: (Map)

Hour: 5 am – 9 pm daily

Dish and Cost: Bánh Mì Thịt – đầy đủ (Meat hoagie with all toppings included): 17,000 Dong ~ $0.80 USD



Dinner: Phở Lệ (2 Locations): Pho noodle soup

Address: 303 – 305 Võ Văn Tần, P. 5, Q. 3, Hồ Chí Minh: (Map)

Address: 413 Nguyễn Trãi, P. 7, Q. 5, Hồ Chí Minh: ( Map

Hour: 7 am – 10 pm daily

Dish and Cost: Phở Tái Bò Viên (Well-done beef flank and meatballs): Large bowl: 65,000 Dong ~$3 USD



Day 6:

Lunch: Xôi Chè Bùi Thị Xuân: Sticky rice and sweet desserts

Address: 111 Bùi Thị Xuân, P. Phạm Ngũ Lão , Q. 1, Hồ Chí Minh: (Map)

Hour: 6:30 am – 10 pm daily

Dish and Cost: From 16,000 to 30,000 Dong ~ $0.75 to $1.40 USD Xôi Gà (đùi) (Sticky rice with fried chicken thigh): 29,000 Dong ~ $1.30 USD



Dinner: Hủ tiếu Nam Vang Nhân Quán: (2 of 7 locations): Cambodian and Chinese inspired noodle soup

Address: 72 Nguyễn Thượng Hiền, P. 5, Q. 3, Hồ Chí Minh: (Map)

Address: 122 Trần Quang Khải, P. Tân Định, Q. 1, Hồ Chí Minh: (Map)

Hour: 7 am – 11 pm daily

Dish and Cost: Dry and Soup version: 68,000 Dong ~ $3.15 USD



Day 7:

Lunch: Bánh Xèo Ngọc Sơn – Sizzling crepes

Address: 103 Ngô Quyền, P. 11, Q. 5, Hồ Chí Minh: (Map)

Hour: 9 am – 9:30 pm daily

Dish and Cost: Bánh Xèo — thường (Sizzling crepe — regular): 45,000 Dong ~ $2.10 USD Bánh Xèo — đặc biệt (Sizzling crepe — special): 55,000 Dong ~ $2.50 USD



Dinner: Cơm Niêu Sài Gòn – Hồ Xuân Hương: Caramelized fish in clay pot (Cá Kho Tộ) and Vietnamese sweet and sour soup (Canh Chua) – (2 Locations)