Finding The Authentic Taste Of The Country In The Best Restaurants In Vietnam

Xin Chao! From the land of the ultimate beauty, the land which is famous for its mountains, famous for its rivers, the adventures that it offers to locals and tourists alike, famous for the train which passes through the street, and a plethora of unparalleled experiences which for sure will leave a lasting impression on your mind, body and soul. Well, Vietnam is way too awesome, and all that we said above is absolutely true, well not just true; Vietnam is much more than that, which is why Vietnam trip packages have become so popular as they act as the window to get a glimpse into the South Asian heaven.

We did talk about how Vietnam is so famous for its landscapes, beauty, adventures, and more. But, one of the most distinctive elements that Vietnam has is its authentic cuisine, which it owes to its distinctive culture and heritage. The cuisine of Vietnam is known for its balance of flavours with special emphasis on the freshness of the ingredients, which are all locally grown and used. One special aspect of Vietnamese food is that it is influenced by French tastes too, as Vietnam was a French colony for years, and though the French left the country, they for sure left their recipes and cooking styles, which can be seen in dishes like French baguette cooked with Vietnamese ingredients, and can be found in many of the restaurants in Vietnam.

While the food of the country is so so famous, it is no doubt that restaurants in Vietnam too are a traveller’s delight. When exploring Vietnam, travellers can find places to eat in Vietnam at literally every corner of the country. Moreover, restaurants in Vietnam are quite special and different from other eateries in the world, and that is majorly because of their focus on the freshness of ingredients, which is why if you’re planning to have a meal in of the best restaurants in Vietnam, then you definitely don’t need to question if your food is fresh. Did you also know that the restaurants in Vietnam have a regional variation? This means that different restaurants in Vietnam located in different regions have different tastes and most probably different cuisines too. Well, this gives you another reason to check out the places to eat in Vietnam. Well, so without any more delay, scroll down and check out the Best Restaurants in Vietnam.

Best Restaurants in Vietnam

1. Cha Ca La Vong

Located in the heart of Hanoi’s Old Quarter is one of the best restaurants in Vietnam which is said to be the place where time stood still as it still gives out the same vibes since its gates first opened up in the 19th century. Cha Ca La Vong, is one of the most popular eating spots in the country which was opened by a man from the Doan family who began selling Cha Ca in the old quarters. Cha Ca is also the most popular dish of the restaurant and also the dish to which the restaurant owes its name too. 

The Cha Ca is undoubtedly the restaurant’s star dish at Cha Ca La Vong. Catfish is typically used as the main ingredient in the dish and is marinated in turmeric and other spices to give it a unique flavour. The fish is then cooked live at the table with onions, dill and other herbs on a portable gas stove, providing an immersive experience to the guests. The aroma of the cooking fish fills the air, adding to the meal’s sensory experience.

When at the restaurant, you don’t need to worry about whether you’ll miss out on having anything else, as this restaurant only serves Cha Ca. Sounds super fun and delicious, right? So next time you’re planning a culinary experience in Vietnam, then don’t forget to check out one of the best restaurants in Vietnam; the Cha Ca La Vong. 

Location: 14, Cha Ca, Hang Bo, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi.

Must-Try Dishes: Cha Ca Dish

Timings: 11 AM to 10 PM

2. Chookie’s

Next up in the list of best restaurants in Vietnam is a small, family-run restaurant located in the heart of Ninh Binh, a region in the northern part of Vietnam. In recent years, this restaurant has become a famous place for both tourists and locals because of its delectable dishes, warm hospitality and an atmosphere that just cannot be described in words.

Chookie’s, as the name suggests, is run by a woman named Chookie along with her husband, and have been serving a menu with a fusion of Vietnamese and Western cuisine, and the best part? All their ingredients are freshly and locally sourced. 

Also regarded as one of the top restaurants in Vietnam, Chookie’s interior is warm and welcoming, with wooden tables and chairs, a rustic brick wall, and colourful lanterns hanging from the ceiling. The restaurant is open-air, with a covered patio and outdoor seating, making it a pleasant dining experience even on hot summer days, and creating a vibe that is difficult to find in other restaurants in Vietnam. 

The hero dish of the restaurant is the grilled pork with noodles. The pork is intricately marinated in a secret sauce, which gives a smoky, sweet flavour to the meat. It is then grilled to perfection and served hot with fresh herbs and vegetables on a bed of rice noodles. The dish is light in nature but filling, and bursts with flavour, leaving you wanting for more.

The eggplant with pork and chill is another one of the popular dishes of the restaurant which must be tried. Well, besides food, what distinguishes Chookie’s from other restaurants in Vietnam is its warm hospitality. People usually head to the restaurant to listen to Chookie’s stories and to learn more about Vietnamese cuisine. The restaurant also adheres to any special dietary requirements of the customers, making this one of the top restaurants in Vietnam and for all the right reasons. 

Location: 17, Hoang Hoa Tham Street, Ninh Binh Street.

Must-Try Dishes: Grilled Pork With Noodles, Fish in Clay Pot, Spring Rolls

Timings: 7 AM to 10 PM

3. Nha Hang Ngon

The Ngon restaurant is one of the most popular restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City; well, not just the city, this is also one of the most popular restaurants in Vietnam too, which hosts hundreds and thousands of guests every month. 

The Ngon restaurant along with its food is known for its ambience, the restaurant is located in an old French building with a spacious courtyard, offering the perfect opportunity to take part in outdoor dining. Now coming to the food, the emphasis on traditional Vietnamese cuisine distinguishes Nha Hang Ngon. The menu features traditional dishes from various regions of Vietnam, all prepared with fresh and locally sourced ingredients. The restaurant’s goal is to provide not only a delicious but also educational dining experience by showcasing the diversity and complexity of Vietnamese cuisine.

The hero dish of the restaurant is the bun cha. Bun Cha is actually a traditional dish from Hanoi, and is cooked with sizzling grilled pork with fresh noodles, herbs and a dripping sauce to add more flavour. The dish is perfect for those looking to get a taste of authentic Vietnamese cuisine. Another dish, which is well liked at the Ngon restaurant is the Pho, which is made up of rice noodles, beef broth, and is topped with an array of garnishes of fresh herbs and sprouts. 

Well, in the end, we can say that anyone who is visiting the Ho Chi Minh city should for sure visit the Ngon restaurant as it is the perfect blend of modernity with traditions. 

Location: 160 Pasteur Street, District1, Ho Chi Minh City

Must-Try Dishes: Banh Xeo, Bun Cha, Pho, Ca Kho To

Timings: 10 AM to 10 PM

Suggested Read – Adventure Activities In Vietnam

4. Vietnam House

The Vietnam House is a fine dining restaurant located in the heart of the Ho Chi Minh City, and is considered as one of the top places to eat in Vietnam for all the right reasons. The restaurant is quite different from the other top restaurants in Vietnam we’ve talked about till now as this restaurant is known for its elegant and sophisticated atmosphere, and is known for its efforts on an innovative take on Vietnamese cuisine. 

One of the extraordinaire features of Vietnam House is its beautifully designed interior. The premises is housed in a historic French colonial building, which has been renovated to include modern amenities while still exuberating its original charm. The dining room is spacious and welcoming, with soft lighting, comfortable seating, and tasteful decor that evokes the elegance of old-world Vietnam.

Now when it comes to the menu, the restaurant is all about taking the traditional Vietnamese dishes to the next level with their creativity and blending them with unique twists, with the restaurant’s signature dish being the crispy paper rice roll with prawns and crabmeat; which is an amazing fusion of taste and texture. 

Well, the best part about this restaurant is that it also offers a plethora of vegetarian dishes, perfect for those looking to have something light. The vegetarian dishes are equally delicious to their meat based counterparts, and one must give them a try when visiting this addition to our list of top places to eat in Vietnam. 

Location: 93-95, Dong Khoi Street, Ho Chi Minh City

Must-Try Dishes: Crispy Rice Paper Roll, Grilled Wagyu Beef, Vietnamese Hot Pot

Timings: 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM and 6:30 PM to 10 PM

5. Dalcheeni

Indians are absolutely going to love this restaurant in our list of best places to eat in Vietnam, as it is going to give the ‘home away from home’ feels. Dalcheeni as the name suggests, is an Indian restaurant located in Hanoi that serves a menu which is a blend of Indian and Vietnam dishes. 

The restaurant has a modern and attractive interior which is perfect for both family meals and or for romantic occasions with your special ones. But, it is not the interiors and the decor which give this restaurant a place in our list, it is actually the menu. Indians will have the time of their lives in this restaurant, as the restaurant serves Indian specialties like Butter Chicken, Tandoori Chicken, an assortment of Naans, Biryani, and much more. 

Don’t get disheartened if you wanted to try some authentic Vietnamese dishes, as the restaurant serves those too, but with a twist which your taste buds are going to love. The menu has Vietnamese dishes with an Indian twist like Pho with lamb kebab, and Tandoori Prawns among other dishes. 

Well, we’d just like to conclude by saying that anyone who’s getting homesick in Vietnam must head to this restaurant to feel like home again. The restaurant’s atmosphere, hospitality, and of course the menu will just give you the best experience. 

Location: 100 Xuan Dieu, Hanoi

Must-Try Dishes: Butter Chicken, Tandoori Chicken, Biryani, Tandoori Prawns

Timings: 10: 30 AM to 9 PM

6. Morning Glory

As glorious as the name sounds, Morning Glory is a popular restaurant in Hoi An region of Vietnam. The restaurant has a colossal dining room with an outdoor courtyard that is perfect for fresco dining. It is residing in an aesthetically restored colonial building. There is a wide array of dishes from various parts of Vietnam on the menu at Morning Glory Vietnam, including well-known favourites and lesser-known specialities.

The Hoi An delicacy Cao Lau is one of Morning Glory’s signature dishes. Served in a flavorful broth with aromatic herbs and spices, this dish includes thick noodles made from local rice, pork slices, bean sprouts, and crispy rice crackers. The end result is a filling meal that perfectly encapsulates central Vietnamese cooking.

The White Rose, a delicate steamed dumpling stuffed with ground pork, prawns and spices and served with a sweet and sour dipping sauce, is another dish at Morning Glory that you simply must try. The Hoi An people, who developed this special recipe more than 300 years ago, are honoured by this dish as example of their creativity and skill.

Along with their signature dishes, the restaurant; Morning Glory also offers an assortment of vegetarian dishes for those with special dietary requirements or who just want to have something light. The spring rolls are the most popular dish in the vegetarian menu which leave your taste buds wanting for more. 

Location: 106 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, Hoi An

Must-Try Dishes: Cao Lau, White Rose, White Marinated Squid

Timings: 11 AM to 2 PM and 5 PM to 9:30 PM

7. The Deck Saigon

The next restaurant is considered to be one of the most exquisite restaurants in Vietnam as it has the perfect blend of everything, from location to menu, everything is top notch at this restaurant. Located on the banks of the Saigon River in Ho Chi Minh City, The Deck Saigon is a chic and posh restaurant, that has gained popularity among both locals and tourists due to its stunning river views, elegant interior design, and mouthwatering food.

The Deck Saigon serves an assortment of Vietnamese and International delicacies with special emphasis on the freshness of the ingredients, hence the reason why they’re locally sourced. Some of the most famous dishes at The Deck Saigon include the Grilled Octopus Salad, Slow Cooked Beef Cheeks and the BBQ styled Pork Ribs. Besides these dishes, the menu also features a myriad of wines, and craft beers. 

The Deck Saigon’s breathtaking waterfront location is one of its distinguishing qualities. Restaurant patrons can enjoy unhindered views of the river and the city skyline from the restaurant’s location on a sizable wooden deck that overlooks the waterway. This makes it the ideal location to enjoy a cocktail at sunset or a special dinner under the stars.

Location: 38 Nguyen U Di, District2, Ho Chi Minh City

Must-Try Dishes: Grilled Octopus Salad, Slow Cooked Beef Cheeks, Pork Ribs

Timings: 11 AM to 10:30 PM 

8. La Villa French Restaurant

Time to add some French touch to our list of Best restaurants In Vietnam,with the La Villa French Restaurant, a hidden gem located in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City. The restaurant, as the name suggests, offers flavours of France in the south Asian country. 

The standout feature of this restaurant is the menu, which is intricately designed by a French chef of the restaurant Thierry Mounon. The menu features a plethora of French dishes like Escargots de Bourgogne, Beef Tartare and Duck confit. Besides these, the restaurant also features an assortment of French wines to pair with your meals. 

One of the distintive features of the restaurant is its interior, the interior is designed in such a way that it oozes out colonial era vibes, the interiors also feature a mix of traditional and modern styles. 

Location: 14 NGO Quang Huay, District2, Ho Chi Minh City

Must-Try Dishes: Escargots de Bourgogne, Beef Tartare, Duck confit

Timings: 11:30 AM to 10:30 PM

9. Red Bean Restaurant

On number nine in our list of Top places to eat in Vietnam is the Red Bean Restaurant. Both tourists and locals alike nowadays consider Red Bean Restaurant Vietnam to be a must see attraction. The restaurant which is in the centre of Hanoi provides a culinary experience that captures the essence of Vietnamese cuisine.

Firstly, the food at the Red Bean Restaurant is out of the world, as the menu serves a delectable selection of Vietnamese dishes with creative tiwsts and turns which will leave a lasting impression on your taste buds. Every dish in the restaurant, from the sizzling grilled beef to the tangy green papaya salad, the restaurant has something for everyone. 

The cha ca is the hero dish at the Red Bean Restaurant. Turmeric marinated fish is served with rice noodles, herbs, and peanuts in this traditional Hanoi dish. The dish is served on a sizzling hot plate, which adds flavour to the fish and creates a memorable dining experience.

To sum it up, we  would like to say that anyone looking to taste the best Vietnamese cuisine should head to Red Bean Restaurant Vietnam. This restaurant is a true and hidden gem in the centre of Hanoi with outstanding food, a cosy and welcoming atmosphere, and a dedication to quality and sustainability. Regardless of whether you’re a local or a visitor, Red Bean should not be missed.

Location: 94, Ma May Street, Hanoi

Must-Try Dishes: Red Bean Bao, Cha Ca, Pho

Timings: 11:30 AM to 10 PM

10. Dining Room

Last but definitely not least in our list of Best Restaurants In Vietnam is the Dining Room, which is located in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, in the District 1 area. The restaurant is established in an old French building which has been carefully restored to create a vibe which is difficult to find anywhere else. 

The restaurant is designed to create a warm and cosy atmosphere with a blend of traditional and modern decor, the space features high ceilings, elegant lighting fixtures, and comfortable seating arrangements. 

The menu at the Dining Room restaurant is carefully designed by skilled chefs and uses only locally sourced high quality ingredients. Some of the must try dishes include Pho, Banh Mi, Cha Ca and Com Tam. 

The restaurant takes pride in the knowledge and warm nature of their staff which is always ready to make recommendations and answer any question which arises in the minds of their customers. Besides this, the restaurant also offers a variety of dining options like private dining options and the chef’s table experience, where visitors can watch the skilled chefs at work and watch their dishes being prepared live. 

Location: 93-95, Hai Ba Trung Ben Nghe Quan, Ho Chi Minh City

Must-Try Dishes: Pho, Banh Mi, Cha Ca

Timings: 11 AM to 11 PM

Frequently Asked Questions About Top Places To Eat In Vietnam