Eating in Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City is not yet a gourmet haven, and you will be surprised that Vietnamese Restaurants outside Vietnam may be even better then the ones here. One of the the main problems I think is getting good ingredients. The meat that you get here - especially the beef, are not the best in terms of quality. 

One thing you should eat everday in HCMC is the Pho, whether it's Pho Bo (Beef Noodle Soup)  or Pho Ga (Chicken version). Everyone here does, and it's everywhere. It's something that's so simple - just the broth, some beef or chicken, scallions and basil, yet so satisfying. I can definitely have it everyday !

Some enterprising locals have even turned pho into a fast food business. These offer slightly better hygeine and ambience then the coffee shops or stalls - and surprisingly, the pho is just as good ! One of the most popular chains is Pho 21.

Like most Asian cities, you can find food almost everywhere. Most of the locals will go to the coffee shops or roadside stalls for a quick meal.

One great discovery in HCMC is a little seafood restaurant which is definitely off the tourist radar, as it's tucked away in a nondescript corner of the city. I had the best crab meat fried rice there ! It's not like the typical crab meat fried rice elsewhere, where you have to use a magnifying glass to find the crab meat. Here you get chunks of it, and really good quality crab meat full of flavour. Whats more, the fried rice is enhanced with a tasty stock which makes it really delicious. You must try this restaurant when you visit HCMC. I am still drooling over it. 

The restaurant, if you can find it.