The 7 Biggest Budget-Friendly Restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City

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Vietnam, a country known for its diverse culinary landscape, offers an array of budget-friendly restaurants that cater to travelers and locals alike. Here are five of the largest and most popular budget-friendly restaurants in Vietnam:

  • Pho 2000:

This renowned chain of restaurants serves up steaming bowls of traditional Vietnamese pho at an unbeatable price. With its simple yet flavorful broth, tender beef or chicken, and fresh herbs, Pho 2000 has become a favorite among locals and tourists.

  • Bún chả Hương Liên:

This humble eatery in Hanoi is known for its delicious bun cha, a dish consisting of grilled pork, vermicelli noodles, and a tangy dipping sauce. The affordable price and authentic flavors have made Bún chả Hương Liên a popular spot for both locals and visitors.

  • Bánh xèo Cô Ba Vũng Tàu:

This restaurant in Vung Tau specializes in bánh xèo, a crispy Vietnamese pancake filled with shrimp, pork, and bean sprouts. The generous portions and affordable prices make it a great choice for those looking for a hearty and budget-friendly meal.

  • Cơm tấm Thuận Kiều:

This iconic restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City is famous for its cơm tấm, a dish of broken rice served with grilled pork, egg, and pickled vegetables. The affordable price and flavorful dishes have made Cơm tấm Thuận Kiều a popular destination for both locals and tourists.

  • Quán Ăn Ngon:

With multiple locations across Vietnam, Quán Ăn Ngon is a popular chain of restaurants known for its extensive menu featuring a wide variety of traditional Vietnamese dishes. The affordable prices and spacious dining areas make it a great choice for groups and families.

Saigon Kitchen in Ho Chi Minh City
Saigon Kitchen in Ho Chi Minh City

The 7 Biggest Budget-Friendly Restaurant near Ho Chi Minh City

Bếp Mẹ Ỉn – Lê Thánh Tôn

  • Address: 136 Đ. Lê Thánh Tôn, Phường Bến Thành, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 700000, Vietnam
  • Map: Click here
  • Rating: 4.4 (4689)
  • Phone: +84 28 2211 1119
  • Website:
  • Opening hours:
    Monday: 10:30 AM – 10:30 PM
    Tuesday: 10:30 AM – 10:30 PM
    Wednesday: 10:30 AM – 10:30 PM
    Thursday: 10:30 AM – 10:30 PM
    Friday: 10:30 AM – 10:30 PM
    Saturday: 10:30 AM – 10:30 PM
    Sunday: 10:30 AM – 10:30 PM
  • Reviews:
    Ms Q✭✭✭✭✭
    a month ago
    The place was hidden in an alley, but Google Maps can show you the right place. Michelin recommends this place.

    I ordered two dishes and one drink, obviously it was too much for one person. The taste was great, egg pancake was very crunchy and mushroom inside was juicy. The meat was also super good, one is pork and not sure about the other one.

    The paintings on the wall are beautiful and bright, adds more lively vibes to the great food.

    The place was very popular, I went there before 12pm and luckily got the last seat. Better go early for lunch.

    Teegan Dolling✭✭✭✭✭
    in the last week
    This was the best authentic Vietnamese experience we had in HCM. It’s hidden down an alley way, and is quite small. Often a line waiting to be seated for lunch, full of locals and tourists, but moves quickly. Offers a great range of noodles, rice and meats to share. The drinks aren’t overly cold at a lot of these places, so I always ask for ice in a glass too. Price point is good, however the same plates would be offered on the street much cheaper if you’re willing to buy from local carts.
    Victoria Kooyumjian✭✭✭✭✭
    a month ago
    This place was delicious! Definitely a spot you don’t want to miss before or after your shopping at Ben Thanh Market. I would highly recommend the beef skewers, spring rolls, and pancake. They also have a wide range of tasty drinks! The workers here were friendly and provided great service.
    Kate Taylor✭✭✭✭✭
    3 weeks ago
    Hidden in an alleyway near Ben Thanh market this spot is so good even Michelin recommends it!

    Seriously tho, for the price you cannot beat the quality of this food, the atmosphere is just a bonus. You get to enjoy communal tables either in a packed and narrow restaurant or just in the alleyway at a low table with stools amongst a few other businesses. The bánh xèo was the best we’ve ever enjoyed and was crispy on the outside but full of flavor inside with juicy shrimp and pork. The signature drinks are also tasty – the kumquat was a favorite for us!

    Don’t miss this place – it’s worth a wait, I swear!

    Angelia Tio✭✭✭✭✭
    a week ago
    The location is kinda inside an alley. If i don’t see it on gmaps maybe i will not go there. But turns out it really a hidden gem. The foods are all delicious, especially the pancake. All seats are full. The service is good and food comes quickly. Overall good, definitely will come again.

Cheap Eats

  • Address: 9 Đ. Nguyễn Trãi, Phường Phạm Ngũ Lão, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
  • Map: Click here
  • Rating: 3.8 (249)
  • Opening hours:
    Monday: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, 5:00 – 10:00 PM
    Tuesday: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, 5:00 – 10:00 PM
    Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, 5:00 – 10:00 PM
    Thursday: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, 5:00 – 10:00 PM
    Friday: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, 5:00 – 10:00 PM
    Saturday: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, 5:00 – 10:00 PM
    Sunday: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, 5:00 – 10:00 PM
  • Reviews:
    San Ôn Thục✭✭✭✭
    6 years ago
    Nice staff. Lovely decorations. Good food, reasonable price (buffet 189,000vnd/Adult). The location is easy to find.
    J X✭✭✭✭
    6 years ago
    Update: we were able to reach them via Facebook and they fixed the error.

    Previous : They said the credit card transaction failed and showed me the card machine. It was mostly in Vietnamese but I was unsure whether if it succeeded or not. There was no receipt printed out of the card machine. Then they forced me to pay in cash. I had my suspicions so I checked my account as soon as I got Internet. Unsurprisingly I see them charging me twice on my card and we had to pay in cash on top of that. I do not recommend this place.

    Clover Elric✭✭✭✭✭
    5 years ago
    Chảnge Manager maybe, so improved
    Ivy Nguyen
    5 years ago
    Bad cuts. They use the lowest fire as possible so it takes a very long time to cook anything thoroughly. Food is not good either. I suggest go somewhere else and have a better quality bbq.
    linh linh✭✭✭✭✭
    5 years ago
    Quite crowded. But good service, the waiters are very supportive. The best point is cheap cost with this kind of BBQ buffet.

Rice field

  • Address: 77 Đ. Hồ Tùng Mậu, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 700000, Vietnam
  • Map: Click here
  • Rating: 4.2 (844)

Saigon Kitchen

  • Address: 173 Đ. Phạm Ngũ Lão, Phường Phạm Ngũ Lão, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
  • Map: Click here
  • Rating: 4.1 (21)

restaurant

  • Address: 24 Trương Định, P. Phú Thuận, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
  • Map: Click here
  • Rating: 4.8 (36)

Quan Bui – Original

  • Address: 19 Ngô Văn Năm, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 700000, Vietnam
  • Map: Click here
  • Rating: 4.2 (2820)

Anh Mâp Restaurant

  • Address: 241/39 Đ. Phạm Ngũ Lão, Phường Phạm Ngũ Lão, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
  • Map: Click here
  • Rating: 4.7 (96)
Saigon Kitchen in Ho Chi Minh City
Saigon Kitchen in Ho Chi Minh City

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Top Budget-Friendly Restaurant Alternatives in Ho Chi Minh City

KFC (also commonly referred to by its historical name Kentucky Fried Chicken) is an American fast food restaurant chain headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, that specializes in fried chicken. It is the world's second-largest restaurant chain (as measured by sales) after McDonald's, with 22,621 locations globally in 150 countries as of December 2019. The chain is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, a restaurant company that also owns the Pizza Hut and Taco Bell chains.KFC was founded by Colonel Harland Sanders (1890–1980), an entrepreneur who began selling fried chicken from his roadside restaurant in Corbin, Kentucky, during the Great Depression. Sanders identified the potential of the restaurant franchising concept and the first "Kentucky Fried Chicken" franchise opened in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1952. KFC popularized chicken in the fast-food industry, diversifying the market by challenging the established dominance of the hamburger. By branding himself as "Colonel Sanders", Harland became a prominent figure of American cultural history and his image remains widely used in KFC advertising to this day. However, the company's rapid expansion overwhelmed the aging Sanders and he sold it to a group of investors led by John Y. Brown Jr. and Jack C. Massey in 1964.

KFC was one of the first American fast-food chains to expand internationally, opening outlets in Canada, the United Kingdom, Mexico and Jamaica by the mid-1960s. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, it experienced mixed fortunes domestically, as it went through a series of changes in corporate ownership with little or no experience in the restaurant business. In the early 1970s, KFC was sold to the spirits distributor Heublein, which was taken over by the R. J. Reynolds food and tobacco conglomerate; that company sold the chain to PepsiCo. The chain continued to expand overseas, however, and in 1987 it became the first Western restaurant chain to open in China. It has since expanded rapidly in China, which is now the company's single largest market. PepsiCo spun off its restaurants division as Tricon Global Restaurants, which later changed its name to Yum! Brands.
KFC's original product is pressure-fried chicken pieces, seasoned with Sanders' signature recipe of "11 herbs and spices". The constituents of the recipe are a trade secret. Larger portions of fried chicken are served in a cardboard "bucket", which has become a feature of the chain since it was first introduced by franchisee Pete Harman in 1957. Since the early 1990s, KFC has expanded its menu to offer other chicken products such as chicken fillet sandwiches and wraps, as well as salads and side dishes such as French fries and coleslaw, desserts and soft drinks; the latter often supplied by PepsiCo. KFC is known for its slogans "It's Finger Lickin' Good!", "Nobody does chicken like KFC" and "So good".

The Biggest Budget-Friendly Restaurant in Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh City is known for its vibrant food scene, offering a wide range of dining options to suit every budget. If you’re looking for budget-friendly restaurants in the city, here are three popular alternatives that won’t break the bank:

  • Street Food Stalls and Markets: One of the best ways to experience the local food culture in Ho Chi Minh City is by visiting the street food stalls and markets. Here, you can find a variety of delicious and affordable dishes such as banh mi (Vietnamese baguette sandwiches), pho (noodle soup), and com tam (broken rice). Some popular street food areas include Ben Thanh Market, Binh Tay Market, and Nguyen Hue Walking Street. These places offer a lively atmosphere and an abundance of food choices at wallet-friendly prices.
  • Local Vietnamese Restaurants: Another budget-friendly option in Ho Chi Minh City is to dine at local Vietnamese restaurants. These establishments often serve authentic Vietnamese dishes at affordable prices. Look for small, family-run restaurants or eateries frequented by locals for an authentic dining experience. Some popular dishes to try include bo la lot (grilled beef wrapped in betel leaf), goi cuon (fresh spring rolls), and ca kho to (caramelized fish in clay pot). These restaurants are scattered all over the city, so you can easily find one near your accommodation.
  • Vietnamese Vegetarian Restaurants: If you’re looking for budget-friendly and healthy dining options, Vietnamese vegetarian restaurants are a great choice. These establishments offer a wide range of meat-free dishes made from tofu, vegetables, and mock meats. One popular vegetarian restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City is Hum Vegetarian, which has multiple branches across the city. They serve a variety of flavorful and creative vegetarian dishes at affordable prices. Vegetarian restaurants are also a great option if you have dietary restrictions or preferences.

Whether you choose to explore the street food stalls and markets, dine at local Vietnamese restaurants, or opt for vegetarian options, Ho Chi Minh City offers plenty of budget-friendly dining alternatives. These alternatives not only provide delicious and affordable meals but also allow you to experience the vibrant food culture of the city.

Thank you for taking the time to read our article. For more in-depth reviews and comprehensive ratings on the Budget-Friendly Restaurant spots, please explore the recommended articles listed below.

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