Banh khot

The Home Plate

How banh khot represents family, comfort and childhood. “Home is where the heart is,” that’s what they say. For most people the aphorism is applied to an actual home but for restauranteur Ms. Dung Pham home can come to you one spoonful (or chopstick-load) at a time. Tucked away in a small street in District

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Holey Bagels

Stuffed, saucy or schmeared—have them however you like them at Saigon Bagel Of all its signature foodstuffs—pastrami sandwiches, New York pizza—bagels are arguably the most synonymous with Gotham, and the best bagels in NYC are now being duplicated in Saigon. Originally brought over by Eastern European Jewish immigrants, the bagel is a round piece of

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It’s Better at The Top

It’s your typical rainy season evening when we go to visit OnTop Bar at Novotel Saigon Centre (167 Hai Ba Trung, District 3). Thunder roars through the city as lightning fills the sky and, naturally, it has us a bit concerned that the inclement weather will detract from the experience of a rooftop bar. Nevertheless, we ride the elevator to the

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NU is New

Asian fusion cuisine with a splash of drama There’s a flair of the dramatic and creativity that’s on full display as soon as you walk into the newly opened NU Bistro (2nd floor, 25 Ho Tung Mau, D1). Situated just off Ham Nghi and up a small staircase, the main doors open to a colorful

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Like No Other, This Sushi Is

The popular Chiyoda Sushi brand in Japan is now making its mark in Saigon Thanks to its sizeable Japanese expat population, Saigon is blessed with countless fine sushi restaurants, and it’s rare for a new one to power through the stiff competition, but with 25 years of experience behind various sushi restaurants across Tokyo, new

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One-Stop Street Eats

Getting your street food fix at Asian Streat We’re blessed to be living in a part of the globe where many cities are legitimate contenders for the world’s best street food capital, from Singapore to Saigon and Bangkok to Bombay. Asian Streat (151/6 Dong Khoi, D1; enter through the art arcade, but instead of turning

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Restaurant Review: Pizza Logic

Italian pizza—from Japan, take note—now in Saigon Both Japanese and Italian cuisine share common elements, most notably, an emphasis on seasonality and simplicity. Japanese-Italian food adds its characteristic attention to detail, and a light, delicate touch. Similar to the way French food has permeated Japanese cuisine, Italian food is both faithfully represented, and given Japanese

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Restaurant Review: Pho Ong Tay

For topnotch creative phos and pastas, head directly to Pho Ong Tay It may be difficult to find Pho Ong Tay (39 Vo Trung Toan, D2), located on the fringes of Thao Dien in District 2, but it’s well worth the effort for an unconventional eatery that’s decidedly delicious. The offerings are widespread—in addition to

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Restaurant Review: Stellar

Indulge in decadent continental—with delicate touches of Thai flavors—cuisine in a picturesque colonial villa Many restaurants in this town have tried their hardest to put on the face of luxury; few have succeeded. Secluded in a quiet Thao Dien back street, Stellar (43 Tran Ngoc Dien, Thao Dien, D2) has done its best to attempt

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Restaurant Review: Ember

From teppanyaki grilled steaks to burgers and pastas, Ember aims to please everyone They warn you to avoid trying to be all things to all people, but there are some rare instances in which this not only works, it’s also necessary. If you’ve ever dithered about where to take someone out to dinner for more

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