Sushi Sake Lounge & More

For year-end celebrations, private events and, of course, mouthwatering food, it’s gotta be SORAE SORAE Sushi Sake Lounge (Level 24, AB Tower, 76A Le Lai, D1) is a popular place and has been the go-to place for diners looking for Japanese food. The intimate setting and low lighting as well as the versatile food choices … Read more

Put a FORK in it

Big flavors on small plates at this new tapas restaurant in downtown Saigon When Tony Fox opened his doors a month ago in the much loved but now defunct Portofino, it was with a specific purpose: bring something new to HCMC. As we sit under warm lighting in a cozy brick layered interior, we can’t help but muse on the current state … Read more

Flavors of Home

Vietnamese comfort food that makes you feel at home It was evening and we meandered down an alleyway where we came upon Secret House by Secret Garden Vietnamese Restaurant & Café (55/1 Le Thi Hong Gam, D1), a new establishment by Huy, who has already made a name for himself with popular restaurants Secret Garden and Mountain Retreat. Born in the north of … Read more

Restaurant Review: Villa Royale Downtown Antiques & Tea Room

Already well-known for its one-of-a-kind antiques, decadent desserts and high tea, Villa Royale has opened a second location in D1 to add comfort food to its repertoire When I was approached to do a food review of an antiques and tea shop I was a little skeptical. Images of dusty relics and worn leather-bound books … Read more

Restaurant Review: The Patio Bar-Restaurant

Everything-seafood, barbecue, desserts-seems to taste so much better when eaten outside Nestled in an alley, unassuming at first glance, is The Patio Bar-Restaurant (52 Ngo Quang Huy, D2). Walking up the path I couldn’t help but feel as if I was entering someone’s backyard. And this is exactly what the owners had intended. They wanted … Read more

Restaurant Review: Sushi Rei

At an unassuming square building, pleasures lie within Sushi, it’s both a magical and a terrifying word. In the past several years in Saigon sushi has risen to enormous heights where it has given birth to some bad sushi food carts and mediocre sushi chains popping up like weeds in places like malls. California rolls, … Read more

Restaurant Review: BoatHouse

Picturesque river views, ice-cold beers and delicious comfort food this side of District 2 A year ago owner Jeff decided to take BoatHouse (40 Lily Road, APSC, 36 Thao Dien, D2) on as a personal project, utilizing his 20 some years of experience in the hospitality industry to revamp and turn the restaurant into a haven … Read more

Restaurant Review: Smoke House

Saigon is in the midst of a barbecue revolution and newly-opened Smoke House is gearing up for a fight Ho Chi Minh City’s BBQ craze is growing stronger every year. It seems everywhere you turn there are new BBQ places springing up and Thien Do is hoping to capitalize on that. Having recently returned from several … Read more