Pho Le is a pho restaurant in District 5, Ho Chi Minh City.
Pho Le is a Cho Lon institution famous for a rich, sweet Southern-style beef broth and generous portions, drawing steady queues on the edge of Chinatown.
Editorially verified July 1, 2026 by Lewis Vaughan, TableJourney editor. Source.
Signature dishes: Pho bo, Beef brisket pho, Pho with tendon
Must order: The full beef pho with brisket and tendon.
Tip: Southern pho runs sweeter than Hanoi's; the hoisin and sriracha on the table are meant for it.
Address: 413-415 Nguyen Trai Street, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City
Ha Ky is a long-running Cho Lon dessert house serving Cantonese-style sweet soups, warm and cold che by the bowl, in the heart of District 5's Chinatown.
Signature: Che, Chinese sweet soups, Sesame ball soup
Order: A bowl of warm black-sesame or almond sweet soup.
Tip: It doubles as a savoury spot, but locals come for the Chinese sweet soups after dinner.
Com Tam Ba Ghien is the only broken-rice shop in Vietnam with a Michelin Bib Gourmand, famous for an oversized caramelised grilled pork chop over broken rice.
Signature: Com tam suon, Grilled pork chop, Broken rice
Order: Com tam with the giant grilled pork chop, egg and crackling.
Tip: Go at lunch when the grill is busiest; the pork chop is the size of the plate.
Banh Xeo 46A is the sizzling-pancake specialist off Tan Dinh, where turmeric-yellow rice crepes stuffed with shrimp and pork come wrapped in herbs and greens.
Signature: Banh xeo, Sizzling rice pancake, Nem nuong
Order: A whole banh xeo, torn into lettuce with herbs and fish sauce.
Tip: One pancake is bigger than it looks; order one to start and share before adding more.
Bun Bo Nam Giao has cooked Hue-style spicy beef noodle soup since 1991, its lemongrass-and-chili broth a backpacker-district fixture near Bui Vien.
Signature: Bun bo Hue, Spicy beef noodle soup
Order: The full bun bo Hue with beef shank and cha.
Tip: The broth is fiery by Southern standards; add the shrimp paste on the side to taste.
Banh Canh Cua 87 is a Tan Dinh sidewalk institution with a single-minded focus: a thick, savoury crab noodle soup of tapioca noodles, crab and quail eggs.
Signature: Banh canh cua, Crab tapioca noodle soup
Order: The full banh canh cua loaded with crab and quail eggs.
Tip: It is a busy sidewalk stall with plastic stools; go mid-afternoon to beat the crowd.
Ha Ky is a long-running Cho Lon dessert house serving Cantonese-style sweet soups, warm and cold che by the bowl, in the heart of District 5's Chinatown.
Signature: Che, Chinese sweet soups, Sesame ball soup
Order: A bowl of warm black-sesame or almond sweet soup.
Tip: It doubles as a savoury spot, but locals come for the Chinese sweet soups after dinner.
Com Ga Hai Nam plates Hainanese-style chicken over rice cooked in the poaching broth, a tidy District 10 counter for steamed or roasted chicken.
Signature: Com ga, Hainanese chicken rice, Roast chicken rice
Order: Steamed chicken over the broth-cooked rice with ginger sauce.
Tip: Ask for a mix of steamed and roasted chicken if you cannot choose; both are strong.