Saigon and 5 good addresses for the Saigon breakfast

Take advantage of your stopover in Ho Chi Minh City to feast on popular dishes from the South, and also from different regions of the country. Whether in a good restaurant or a sober street counter, try eating breakfast in the lovely corners of Saigon.

Bread with a pan

Active only in the morning, this canteen has probably not changed anything for more than 50 years. We meet residents and travellers who sit inside and outside, along the nearby alley, around plastic chairs and tables. This little Vietnamese sandwich shop offers you alluring breakfasts that vary according to the bread companions whose ham and omelette seem to be the most popular. What sets the shop apart from others resides in the hot pan in which the omelette is placed, accompanied by ham, onion, Vietnamese pork pâté, sausages...

Hu Tieu or Saigon-style rice noodle soup

It is out of the question to look for a place to eat the Hu Tieu in the city centre as in the suburbs of Saigon. Of Chinese origin, this Saigon-style soup is among the most popular dishes in the regions of the Mekong Delta. It is with a whole story of an imagination nourished by local cooks that Hu Tieu knows many versions as succulent as varied that we find in My Tho, Dong Thap...

The dish consists of rice noodles similar to those of Pho, but finer. It is the garnish that decides the taste and flavours of a bowl. Guests are invited to create their own version by choosing from chicken, pork, intestines, bone or pork side and Hoanh Thanh or wheat noodles.

Good addresses:

Hu Tieu Thanh Xuan, Ton That Tiep Street, District 1

Hu tieu To Ky, Go Cong Street; District 5

Phu Quy, Ho Thi Ky market, District 10

Price: from 30,000 VND

Pho noodle soup

It’s useless to settle the debate on the difference between the Pho Saigon and the Pho Hanoi, admitted by the local food lovers as well as the travellers who already know these cities. For your first experience with the best Vietnamese noodle soup, treat yourself to a bowl of tasty Pho for breakfast or even anytime during the day.

If you think of a recipe for Pho with a sweet taste and accompanied by aromatic herbs such as basil, coriander and bean sprouts, opt for the tables of Saigon. For those who like to eat like the real Tonkinese in the giant megalopolis of the South, go to the Pho Hoa restaurant which, standing for 40 years, is essential for the faithful of northern cuisine. In any case, this famous noodle soup cannot be tasted without a little chilli sauce or sliced ​​chilli and lemon.

The restaurants and canteens in Saigon have something to awaken your taste buds with a wide range of Pho, namely Pho with chicken, Pho with beef, Pho without meat, Pho with beef balls. Speaking of beef, there are five popular versions that they serve, namely, cooked, semi-cooked, tendons, flank and beef breast. The shop can also prepare, if necessary, a small bowl of additional fatty broth with an egg and spring onion.

Good address: Pho Hoa, 260C Pasteur Street, Ward 8, District 3

Price: A mixed bowl costs 75,000 VND

Bun bo Hue

The people of Saigon know how to skilfully incorporate flavours from elsewhere and the Bun bo Hue is one of the greatest examples of this, being much sought after at breakfast in Saigon. The broth distinguished by the bright red comes from the cooking of lemongrass marinated beef bones. Very spicy and fragrant, a full bowl of Bun bo Hue is the marriage between beef and ham, garnished with Vietnamese pork patties, spring onions...

Good address: Bun bo Hue Chu Ha, 300 Vo Van Tan, District 3

Price: from 45,000 VND

      >> Also read:  The little miracle of the recipe Bun bo Hue

Com tam or Three treasures rice

Present in all meals, Com tam is a good choice for those looking for a hearty and delicious plate to start the day. Gourmets will easily fall for the grilled pork sides which are so delicious with the sweet and salty taste. Alongside this star of food are pork pies, omelette, fried egg, pork bites, and Chinese sausage. The whole plate is a little sweet as is the custom of the Saigonese and southern gourmets.

Good address: Com Ba Ghien, Dang Van Ngu Street, Phu Nhuan District

Price: from 44,000 VND

      Related articles:

>> 5 little-known things on Dong Khoi Street in Saigon

>> The 5 oldest restaurants in Saigon for tasting the Pho

>> What to do and what to visit in Ho Chi Minh City in 2 days?