Restaurants in Vietnam
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A
V Cafe
A travellers’ favourite, this cute bistro hung with Chinese lanterns serves a mix of Asian and Western mains. Service is very good and you can choose dessert from the small spread on the counter.
reviewed
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B
Cargo Club
If you’re craving a hearty Western meal, come here for a full spread of international cuisine. The freshly baked patisserie and boulangerie selections are ‘to die for’, in the words of a Hoi An expat. It’s a great place for people-watching at any time of the day, and from the upstairs balcony there are lovely views of the river. After dark the place morphs into a groovy bar.
reviewed
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C
Tamarind Café
A relaxed cafe-restaurant with lounge-around cushioned seating, plenty of space and wi-fi. Offers an eclectic menu but is best for tabouli, eggplant claypot and salads. Drinks include heavenly lassis, zesty juices and wine by the glass. Our only quibble is that it’s a tad on the expensive side and all prices are in dollars.
reviewed
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D
Pho Gia Truyen
The perfect broth for pho (rice-noodle soup) should look as though it was ladled from the river. It's opaque and brownish after beef bones have boiled in it for hours. Some places try to take the mystery out of pho by serving weak, see-through broths, but here you get the good stuff. Once you've experienced it you'll understand why some can't start their day without a bowl.
reviewed
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Green Mango
For inventive, creative cuisine this is the restaurant of choice in Cat Ba Town. There’s an incredibly tempting menu that includes lamb shank, smoked duck and blackened barramundi (160,000d) as well as more inexpensive pasta dishes. It is also a great venue for a cocktail or three, either in the lounge bar–style interior or outside on the terrace.
reviewed
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E
Temple Club
This classy establishment is housed on the 2nd floor of a stunning colonial-era villa and has been decked out in spiritual motifs. The menu includes delightful dishes such as fish with tamarind or shrimp in coconut milk. The spirited cocktails are a good way to prepare for the experience.
reviewed
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F
Sushi Bar
Set on a frenzied intersection; enjoy the show over delicious Japanese bites. Delivery available until 10pm.
reviewed
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G
Vine Wine Boutique Bar & Cafe
Vine is widely considered to be one of Hanoi's finest restaurants. It certainly has the city's most comprehensive wine cellar. Gourmet pizzas are a headliner, but the menu also includes excellent steaks, burgers, clay pots and a smattering of Thai dishes. It may sound over-ambitious, but the kitchen manages to keep all balls in the air. Hybrid East-West décor creates a contemporary atmosphere.
reviewed
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H
Highlands Coffee
Aboard a big old ferry boat, Highlands gets you out on the water without actually setting sail. Its decks offer a fine vantage point and a chance to catch a refreshing breeze while enjoying smoothies, shakes and ice cream. You can also order a light meal or breakfast. The signature product, of course, is coffee.
reviewed
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I
Au Lac do Brasil
For a taste (and then some) of Brazil, head to Au Lac. Decked out with Carnaval-themed paintings, this churrascaria (barbecue restaurant) serves all-you-can-eat steak (and 11 other cuts of meat), just like back in Rio. Plus a new à la carte menu.
reviewed
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J
Mermaid Restaurant
One of the original Hoi An eateries (since 1991), this place is still going strong with its menu of Hoi An specialities and family recipes. Try the fried spring rolls and the excellent ‘white rose’.
reviewed
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K
Lanterns
The flavours are predominantly Vietnamese, such as braised pork in claypot or fried tofu with lemongrass, but there are some international offerings for anyone who is riced out. The restaurant supports a local orphanage and invites the children and their carers in to dine each month.
reviewed
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L
Café des Amis
Long a backpacker favourite thanks to cheap eats and plentiful beer, this place has a menu that includes a strong selection of Vietnamese dishes, inexpensive seafood and a pick and mix of international dishes. Look out for local artworks adorning the walls.
reviewed
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M
Le Beaulieu Restaurant
Hotel restaurants don’t come much more elegant (or pricey) than this in Asia. Le Beaulieu is the home of fine French food, with gastronomic cooking, regular regional specialities, an epic cheese board and a professional wine list.
reviewed
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N
Café 43
Tucked away in a residential lane, this casual eatery continues to get rave reviews for good food at good prices. The fact that it’s run by a very friendly family doesn’t hurt.
reviewed
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O
Tandoor
Recently relocated to a prime spot opposite the Park Hyatt, this long-running Indian restaurant serves a good range of North Indian favourites and offers affordable set meals.
reviewed
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P
Mandarin Café
A magnet for travellers, the cheerful owner, Mr Cu, speaks English and French and serves big dollops of travel advice along with pho, BLTs, salads and pancakes.
reviewed
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Q
Phuong Nam
Next door to the Mekong, this place offers a similar ambience, but has the slight advantage of an upstairs terrace for people-watching.
reviewed
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R
Miss Ly Cafeteria 22
A local institution for local specialities.
reviewed
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S
El Coyote
Spice up your life with some authentic Tex-Mex flavours at the Coyote. The fajitas, burritos and tacos are all designed to sate the appetite. The owner is even more fusion than the food: a mixture of French, Vietnamese, Lao and Cheyenne Indian.
reviewed
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T
Shree Ganesh Indian Restaurant
Formerly known as Omar Khayyam’s, this is the place for authentic Indian food. Fill up on your masala dishes and curries, with lots of vegetarian choices too.
reviewed
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U
Pho 2000
Near Ben Thanh Market, Pho 2000 is where former US president Bill Clinton stopped by for a bowl.
reviewed
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V
BKK
The card proclaims ‘trendy Thai restaurant’ and it’s damn right. A lot of thought has gone into the dining experience here, and whether you eat inside the lovely, carefully restored old townhouse or outside on the little front patio, it’s the perfect setting for a memorable meal. Authentic Thai dishes are beautifully prepared and presented – try the lab moo or pepper squid – and there are good vegie options too.
reviewed
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Xuan Hong
Xuan Hong is a 'floating' seafood restaurant, a fish-farm-cum-restaurant at Ben Beo Pier, where you can get up close and personal with your dinner first. Select a live victim or two from the pen and they’ll be grilled, fried or steamed for your table in no time. Prices simply go by weight and type of seafood; you can eat your fill of a selection of fish for around 100,000d per person.
reviewed
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W
Kitchen
Truly a metropolitan animal, this hip basement cafe ticks all the right boxes with a mellow buzz and a creative, healthy menu of delicious sandwiches and salads sourced from ‘virtually’ organic ingredients. Also great for breakfast, a juice (try the ginger and watermelon tonic), or just a quick espresso. Prices are expat wallet–friendly rather than backpacker money belt–geared though.
reviewed