Chinese$district-5Daily 15:00-23:00
Thiem Huy is a well-loved Cho Lon noodle shop specialising in mi vit tiem, deep-fried then herb-braised duck leg over egg noodles in a fragrant broth.
Signature: Mi vit tiem, Duck noodles, Roast duck
Order: Mi vit tiem with a whole braised duck leg.
Tip: The duck leg is fried before braising, so the skin stays firm; go early evening before it sells out.
Chinese$district-11Daily 15:00-24:00
Ha Ton Quyen is Saigon's sui cao street, and this corner is a favourite for hand-pulled egg noodles and plump pork-and-shrimp dumplings in clear broth.
Signature: Sui cao, Hand-pulled noodles, Wonton noodles
Order: A bowl of sui cao dumplings with hand-pulled mi.
Tip: The whole block is dumpling shops with pavement tables; it is busiest and best in the evening.
Chinese$district-5Daily 13:00-22:00
This Cho Lon congee counter simmers Teochew-style rice porridge loaded with pork, offal and century egg, a warming District 5 bowl for afternoon and night.
Signature: Chao, Congee, Pork organ porridge
Order: A bowl of pork-and-offal chao with youtiao dough sticks.
Tip: It runs afternoon to late; add the fried dough sticks to dip into the porridge.
Chinese$district-5Daily 14:00-22:00
Tam Ky is a Cho Lon specialist in pha lau, offal slow-braised in a five-spice coconut broth, a rich Chinese-Vietnamese snack eaten with bread in District 5.
Signature: Pha lau, Braised offal, Coconut broth
Order: A bowl of mixed pha lau offal with a baguette to dip.
Tip: The coconut-and-five-spice broth is the draw; tear the bread and soak it in the sauce.
Pho$phu-nhuanDaily 06:00-24:00
Pho Phu Vuong has poured beef pho for nearly twenty years, a Le Van Si mainstay whose broth balances Northern depth with the sweeter Southern palate.
Signature: Pho bo, Beef pho, Pho tai
Order: A bowl of pho tai nam with the works.
Tip: It runs from early morning to midnight, a dependable pho stop outside the tourist centre.
Pho$district-1Daily 06:00-23:00
Pho Hung is a big, busy pho hall on Nguyen Trai near the backpacker area, a convenient all-day bowl of Southern beef pho with the full raft of herbs.
Signature: Pho bo, Pho ga, Beef pho
Order: Pho bo with a side plate of herbs and lime.
Tip: It is roomy and central, an easy pho stop between District 1 and Cho Lon.