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Customers at a complex of coffee, craft and clothing shops in Thao Dien, HCMC. Photo by VnExpress/Bich Phuong |
A short stroll along Xuan Thuy, the epicenter of the largest expat community in Ho Chi Minh City, and you will see numerous popular chains that are full with customers each day, including Pizza 4P’s, Coffee House, Craft Beer, Pasteur Street Brewing Co. and many more.
However, if you dig a little deeper beyond these franchises that are teeming with people seven days a week, you can find many independent cafes, restaurants and bars who offer high quality experiences, without the stress of worrying whether you will be able to get a table or worrying about the following crowd.
Chico’s Pizza Bar
Let’s kick things off with a wonderful alternative to Pizza 4P’s, in a quiet alley on Nguyen Van Huong Street, you will find Chico’s Pizza Bar.
The restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating available with a diverse menu offering numerous Italian delicacies including handmade pasta, 72-hour cold fermented pizza dough sandwiches (also known as panuozzo) and one of the most popular dishes, smoked brisket calzone. The food, welcoming service and alfresco dining is a wonderful slice of Italy found in Saigon.
One of the few disadvantages is that the surrounding streets are prone to flooding during rainy season, so be aware when dining there, however any journey here, even through a few puddles, is undoubtedly worth the effort.
Mori Coffee
Thao Dien is a coffee lover’s heaven with countless cafes scattered across the area, offering customers every style of coffee one could desire with coffee beans from around the world and different methods of preparation a plenty. However, one particular coffee that is more difficult to find in both Thao Dien and all of Vietnam, is decaf.
Away from corporate giants such as Starbucks, you have to delve deeper to enjoy the tase of coffee without the rush of caffeine included. At Mori Coffee, 85 Thao Dien Street, you can find decaffeinated coffee, along with a huge range of specialty brews with a diverse range of high-quality coffee beans on offer.
The small cafe also allows customers to purchase any beans they enjoy to take home with them. Sitting in the cafe with a cold brew and having a productive work session is made easier here too, with comfy seats and natural light to complement your visit. Although the house blend arabica prices are a little bit higher than what you will find elsewhere here with a latte listed as VND95,000 (US$3.67), but many would argue the quality of the coffee and the service is worth the price.
Garden Kisses
Whilst we are on the subject of slightly more luxurious coffee options, it is time to direct our attention to one of the most popular establishments in Thao Dien in recent years and that is Garden Kisses on Nguyen Ba Huan Street.
Unlike Mori Coffee, it is almost impossible to find a seat here, especially on the weekends, however you can still enjoy their mouthwateringly delicious speciality, sourdough buns by opting to take them away. Flavors such as miso caramel, matcha black sesame and lemon blueberry cheesecake attract hundreds of customers everyday lining up to purchase one of the best baked treats in the city.
Zeroism Vegan
One street over from Garden Kisses on Nguyen Cu, you can find arguably one of the best vegan restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City. It is rare to walk past this cafe without seeing a cluster of delivery drivers waiting to pick up the orders of customers. Their extensive menu is one of the reason they are growing in popularity, offering meat-free options for many famous Vietnamese dishes, alongside western options such as buddha bowls, pizzas and burgers.
The only thing nicer than the food there is the friendly staff who speak brilliant English and have a passion for their job that puts a smile on the face of everyone who visits. Despite some reviewers complaining about the portion size for the slightly higher price compared to other more simplistic vegetarian options available, it could be argued that the charming service, meticulous preparation and lovely green space you found yourself in, justifies the heftier price tag.
Be Nuts Granola & Cafe
The final cafe option included in this list is situated on the aforementioned Xuan Thuy Street with many of Thao Dien’s biggest restaurants and cafes surrounding this establishment. It is smaller stature compared to the grandiose style of Katinat cafe and Phe La on the same street means that could easily go unnoticed, however those who go inside will be treated to wonderful coffee, a healthy food menu with lots of variety and warm customer service.
Visitors are greeted with the pleasant smell of freshly baked granola that can be enjoyed in one of their many bowls, accompanied with greek yogurt, strawberry, mango, chocolate smoothie, coconuts, Oreos or many other options. Although the seating inside is limited compared to bigger cafes, the staff make up for it with incredible food freshly made for a very competitive price.
L’Herbanyste
Towards the other side of Thao Dien on Nguyen Van Huong Street is another vegetarian restaurant that is particularly appealing on a sunny day. Considering it is wide-ranging menu of brunch options, beautiful space and swimming pool, it is surprising that anyone can ever find a seat at L’Herbanyste. The wonderful decor and cozy corners boasts a spacious setting, with air-conditioned spaces available indoors for those who prefer to escape the heat.
Outdoors, there are many palm trees offering shade while you can enjoy smoothie bowls, toasties or even a delicious mezze sharing board. Some feel that the menu is quite expensive, especially once 13% for service charge and tax is added onto your bill at the end, however the majority of customers argue the unique setting and delicious food make up for more western-style pricing.
Coastal Saigon
The final residence included in this list is situated on the Saigon River, a little further east compared to the extremely popular restaurants, Clay and The Deck. Similarly to these two, Coastal Saigon offers their customers a happy hour between 4-7 p.m. where you can enjoy drinks with 30% discount.
Perhaps you may need these reduced prices to justify your visit, with classics such as an Aperol Spritz listed as VND180,000 ($7). However, the riverside setting, light music and delicious food, particularly the oysters and duck breast, makes this restaurant one of the best places to enjoy a romantic sunset dinner in one of the quietest corners of the city.
