Following the Michelin Guide in District 3 for the best eats in Ho Chi Minh City
From my own travel experience, there is no more reliable food resource than the Micheline Food Guide for finding the best eats in a city. Since 1900 the tyre company Michelin has release an annual food guide. It is an attempt to encourage food lovers to drive further seeking delicious eats. By encouraging people to travel further, the wheels on their cars would wear down faster and thus Michelin could sell more tyres.
Originally the guide functionedby a three star system- One star ‘High-quality cooking, worth a stop’. Two star ‘Excellent cooking, worth a detour’ and the highest accolade Three star ‘Exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey’. Now the guide has expanded to include ‘Rising Stars’ – restaurants viewed as on track to receive or to gain an additional star. A ‘Bib Gourmand’ – ‘for exceptionally good food at moderate prices’. A Plate for restaurants that ‘simply serve good food’ and since 2020 a Green star for excellence in sustainable gastronomy. These modern awards have meant that the guide is no longer restricted to high end and expensive restaurants. Allowing street food and local budget friendly eateries to be highlighted for their work.
I find the guide to be a reliable resource as the inspectors are anonymous and the restaurants are visited on multiple occasions. This allows for a more accurate recommendation of the food. The food must be reliably good across multiple trips and that the diners are treated equally rather than given special treatment.
On our recent trip to Ho Chi Minh we focused on restaurants in District 3 that had a Bib Gourmand.
Here are some of the best eats in Ho Chi Minh City- following the Michelin Food Guide:
Phở Hoà Pasteur
260C Pasteur, Phường 8, Quận 3, Hồ Chí Minh 70000, Vietnam
This unassuming restaurant turns out some of the finest Pho in the city. You’ll often have to wait for a table to become available and then sit shoulder-to-shoulder with locals who also love this place. With two sizes of noodle soup are on offer – normal or big- and an array of meaty toppings – from raw beef, to fatty flank, beef paste to boiled chicken – you’ll be able to cater to your cravings. The meat was tender & moorish. The broth is richly flavourful with a thin layer of juicy fat on top. Poke your head into the back kitchen to spot the enormous stockpots (more like cauldrons). These are testament to the craftsmanship and popularity of this restaurant.
The perk of eating pho (and Vietnamese cuisine in general) is that the dishes are served with a ‘make it to your taste’ mentality. On your table you will find sauces, herbs, citrus, chilli, fried bread, etc. These additions will allow you to edit an already incredible broth to your exact preferences. What elevated this menu was the addition of a range of accompaniments- from summer rolls to steamed pork buns. Simple items made with attention to detail and freshness.
We loved this place so much that we went there everyday!
Prices – 90k dong for a normal size pho
Bánh Xèo 46A
46A Đinh Công Tráng, Phường Tân Định, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
Made famous by food legends Anthony Bourdain and Mark Wiens, this restaurant retains its excellent quality control. With an open air kitchen you can enjoy the spectacle of sizzling pans and a great atmosphere. Tucked into a quiet road in the heart of District 3 this restaurant takes over an alley space. You’ll find the kitchen on one side of the alleyway, the seating in the middle and the bar on the other side. With a chilled display case full of freshly made summer rolls you’ll find that the service is prompt. Before you know it you’ll be tucking into luscious rolls filled with pork belly, shrimp and noodles dunked into a fragrant peanut dipping sauce.
48As version of Bahn xeo- commonly referred to as a Vietnamese pancake- is made in the southern Vietnamese style. Ultra crispy pancake are plate sized, which you then cut into smaller sections. Also instead of wrapping the pancake in rice paper (which is more of a central Vietnamese style) you’ll wrap it in lettuce leaves.
The batter is loaded with toppings including pork, prawns, mung beans and a pile sprouts. Accompanied by a nuoc man (fish sauce with the perfect blend of sweet, sour & spice) along with pickled veggies and an array of fresh herbs & greens. Combine all the above elements in a crisp lettuce, dunk in the sauce and happily devour.
Spend some time watching the chefs masterfully tending to scolding hot pans & flaming burners and enjoy an utterly delicious & addictive Banh Xeo. This is an excellent recommendation from the Michelin Guide and definitely on of the best eats in Ho Chi Minh City.
Price- regular size Banh Xeo – 110K
Phở Hương Bình
148 Võ Thị Sáu, P.VTS, Quận 3, Hồ Chí Minh 700000, Vietnam
Clearly this square block in district 3 is a gem for Pho lovers. Around the corner from Pho Pasteur is Pho Huang Bing, a recent Bib Gourmand award recipient. This is an example of a restaurant mastering one dish perfectly. Focusing on a clean & full bodied broth you can adjust the protein addition to your dish. It only has beef or chicken options on the menu. Select your preference noodle – glass noodles, traditional pho noodles, instant, etc, and with a heavy hand of chopped spring onions you’ll find this outstanding dish utterly comforting.
Price – 85 for a normal size pho with chicken breast
For more Michelin guide recommendations I highly recommend downloading this app which makes searching for delicious eats simple.
Love exploring Ho Chi Minh City’s food scene? Read more about Ho Chi Minh City’s coffee culture here!