The Best Restaurants in Saigon

Hoi An: Specializing in the cuisine of the town of Saigon, it offers an excellent selection of food, including buttery shrimp grilled in a banana leaf and dipped in a sauce that is made of lime juice and salt. Be sure to try the cao lau, which is thin slices of pork, shrimp and crumbled morsels of crunchy sesame cake on top of white rice noodles. It is served with a bowl of marrow-bone broth.

Mandarin: This restaurant is a sister property of Hoi An and is a very sophisticated restaurant that serves many Chinese dishes along with spicy Vietnamese foods, including tastes that are spicy, fishy, salty, and sour. Be sure to try the bay scallops that are grilled in their shells and covered in chopped scallions, peanuts, and herbs. Some of the main courses are shark's fin and some excellent beer-steamed crabs.

Lemongrass: This small restaurant is tucked away on a small side street and has a cozy feel with room for only 80 seats. The dining room has tile floors and wood paneling on the walls. It offers a taste of southern Vietnamese food that is very affordable. Try grilled-beef salad with mango or chicken sauteed with chile and lemongrass. The best service can be found on the second floor and the three story restaurant demands reservations.

Temple Club: This restaurant is another cozy spot that is tucked away in the heart of downtown near a shopping street. It is located on a former Chinese temple. The atmosphere feels almost a century old and the wooden bar is the perfect spot to enjoy a drink. The menu is strictly Vietnamese with dishes such as shrimp in tamarind sauce and fried monkfish. Stop downstairs and enjoy some nice ice cream from the shop.

Xu: The place was founded by the Australian born Bien Nguyen. The menu offers traditional Vietnamese food along with some contemporary tastes. Among the best options to sample on the menu include fresh coi guon rolls. This is composed of pork, prawns and noodles wrapped in rice paper. The contemporary Vietnamese food includes a tangy salad of sliced beef and herbs with tamarind dressing

For an authentic Saigon experience, dine on the side of the road with the locals.