Baba's Kitchen is an indian restaurant in Pham Ngu Lao, Ho Chi Minh City.
Baba's Kitchen is Saigon's best-known Indian restaurant, a Bui Vien mainstay for North and South Indian curries, tandoor grills and thali plates.
Editorially verified July 1, 2026 by Lewis Vaughan, TableJourney editor. Source.
Signature dishes: Butter chicken, Biryani, Thali
Must order: The butter chicken with garlic naan, or a South Indian thali.
Tip: It is on the backpacker strip; the thali is the value order and the kitchen does mild-to-fiery on request.
Address: 274 Bui Vien Street, Pham Ngu Lao Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
The Racha Room is a stylish Thai fusion restaurant and bar on Mac Thi Buoi, plating punchy modern Thai plates and cocktails in a dim, design-led District 1.
Signature: Massaman curry, Pad Thai, Thai fusion plates
Order: The massaman curry and a lemongrass cocktail.
Tip: It turns into a lively bar later; book for dinner if you want a quieter table.
Nha Hang Ngon is a bustling institution in a colonial villa on Pasteur, gathering open stalls of regional Vietnamese street dishes under one roof.
Signature: Banh xeo, Goi cuon, Regional street dishes
Order: A spread of small dishes; the banh xeo and cha gio are reliable.
Tip: It is touristy and busy but a painless one-stop sampler of dozens of Vietnamese dishes.
Sorae is a high-end Japanese restaurant and lounge in the AB Tower, serving sushi, sashimi and wagyu across a dramatic space with skyline views.
Signature: Sushi, Sashimi, Wagyu
Order: The omakase sushi selection or the wagyu.
Tip: It sits at the base of the AB Tower; dress smart and book a window table for the view.
Ngoc Suong is a long-running upscale seafood restaurant in a classic villa on Suong Nguyet Anh, plating fresh fish, prawns and crab in a formal room.
Signature: Steamed fish, Grilled prawns, Crab
Order: Steamed reef fish and salt-and-pepper prawns.
Tip: It suits a group seafood banquet; fish is priced by weight from the tanks.
Cuc Gach Quan is a Bib Gourmand favourite: an architect's old villa turned into a warm room for home-style Southern Vietnamese cooking and clay-pot braises.
Signature: Braised pork in clay pot, Water-spinach with garlic, Tofu hotpot
Order: The clay-pot braised pork and the tofu the kitchen makes in house.
Tip: There is no fixed menu; tell the staff your group size and let the dishes arrive family style.
Secret Garden hides on the rooftop of an old apartment block off Pasteur, serving home-style Southern Vietnamese cooking on a breezy open-air terrace.
Signature: Banh xeo, Fresh spring rolls, Grilled pork
Order: Banh xeo and the fresh spring rolls with boiled pork.
Tip: It is up several flights inside an old building; look for the small sign and keep climbing.