Ho Chi Minh City Street Food Guide: 9 Must-Try Local Foods (+ Where to Find Them)

Ho Chi Minh City’s vibrant street food scene offers an incredible array of flavors that reflect Vietnam’s rich culinary heritage. The excitement around Vietnamese cuisine reached new heights in 2023 when the Michelin Guide finally arrived in Vietnam, recognizing exceptional restaurants in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City with stars and Bib Gourmand awards.

Vietnamese food varies dramatically across regions, and southern Vietnam, particularly HCMC, has developed its own distinctive specialties. Saigon’s eclectic mix of Chinese, Khmer, French, and American influences is apparent in local dishes, creating unique southern specialties like cơm tấm (broken rice), bò lá lốt (beef wrapped in betel leaves), and the sweeter style of pho that differs from northern versions.

We spent six nights in Ho Chi Minh City primarily for the food as we tried to sample as much authentic Vietnamese cuisine as we could. The flavors of Saigon are amazing and a perfect reason to visit this city full of history and culture.

From bustling street vendors to hidden local eateries, HCMC street food delivers authentic experiences you won’t find anywhere else. This guide reveals the best Ho Chi Minh City street food and local specialties that will transform your understanding of Vietnamese cuisine.

1. Egg Coffee (Cà Phê Trứng)

Egg coffee is a uniquely Vietnamese creation that transforms your morning brew into a dessert-like experience. This creamy concoction combines robust Vietnamese coffee with whipped egg yolk, condensed milk, and sugar, creating a rich, custard-like foam that sits atop the dark coffee beneath.

Where to try it: Po Cafe in the famous Cafe Apartments serves a standout Creme Brule Egg Coffee that elevates this traditional drink to new heights. The cafe’s cozy atmosphere and innovative twist make it a must-visit spot.

Address: 42 Đ. Nguyễn Huệ, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh 70000, Vietnam

2. Banh Mi

The Vietnamese baguette sandwich is a perfect fusion of French colonial influence and Vietnamese flavors. These crispy baguettes are filled with a variety of meats, pickled vegetables, cilantro, and spicy mayo, creating a harmonious blend of textures and tastes.

Banh Mi 37 offers something special – delicious banh mi made with pork and lemongrass meatballs. This local favorite serves only one type of banh mi, but it’s so good that both locals and in-the-know tourists line up when the vendor rolls out her cart around 4pm daily. At just 30,000 VND, it’s incredibly affordable and authentic. Also called the Banh Mi Queen, this place serves our favorite Banh Mi in all of Vietnam.

Address: 39 Đ. Nguyễn Trãi, Phường Phạm Ngũ Lão, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam

For variety, Bánh Mì Hồng Hoa excels with their roast pork banh mi, available in two sizes with multiple flavor options to satisfy different preferences.

Address: 54 Đ. Nguyễn Văn Tráng, Phường Phạm Ngũ Lão, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam

3. Banh Xeo

Often called Vietnamese pancake, banh xeo is actually more like a savory crepe folded over with toppings, similar to a calzone but left open at the edges. The thin, crispy exterior made from rice flour and turmeric gives way to fresh herbs, bean sprouts, and your choice of protein.

Bep Me In serves exceptional banh xeo in a local setting that gives you an authentic taste of this beloved dish. This ever popular place is no secret and is usually quite full. Reservations can be made to ensure you get a table.

Address: 136/9 Đ. Lê Thánh Tôn, Phường Bến Thành, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam

4. Pho

No Vietnamese food journey is complete without slurping a bowl of pho. This aromatic noodle soup with its complex broth, rice noodles, herbs, and meat is Vietnam’s most famous export.

Phở Việt Nam comes with Michelin Guide recognition and offers a unique twist on the classic – we recommend their Special Pho, a hotpot style where you add the ingredients yourself to a boiling stone bowl of broth. This interactive experience makes for a memorable meal that’s both traditional and innovative.

Address: 14 Pham Hong Thai Street, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, 71009, Vietnam

Pho Minh is a breakfast specialist that gets packed in the mornings, so arrive early to secure your bowl. This local favorite serves traditional pho in an authentic setting. Note: The restaurant was temporarily closed during our last visit, though we enjoyed it on a previous trip. Check current status before visiting.

Address: 63/6 Pasteur Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, 710000, Vietnam

5. Vietnamese Salted Coffee (Cà Phê Muối)

This innovative coffee drink combines condensed milk, coffee, and ice with a pinch of salt, creating a flavor profile reminiscent of salted caramel. The result is sweet, creamy, and surprisingly addictive.

Tonkin Specialty Coffee crafts this unique beverage perfectly, balancing the salt and sweetness for a memorable coffee experience.

Address: 91 Lý Tự Trọng, Phường Bến Thành, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh 700000, Vietnam

6. Fresh Spring Rolls (Gỏi Cuốn)

These translucent rice paper rolls filled with fresh herbs, vegetables, vermicelli noodles, and proteins offer a light, refreshing meal that’s both healthy and flavorful. Dipped in peanut sauce or nuoc cham, they’re the perfect antidote to Vietnam’s humid climate.

Rice Field serves decent fresh spring rolls, but what truly sets them apart is their accompanying sauce. Perfectly spicy and fresh, the sauce elevates the entire dish and brings all the flavors together in a way that transforms a simple roll into something memorable.

Address: 2F, 75-77 Ho Tung Mau Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, 700000, Vietnam

7. Vietnamese Grilled Pork & Rice Noodles (Bun Thit Nuong)

This vermicelli noodle bowl topped with grilled pork, fresh herbs, pickled vegetables, and fish sauce is a complete meal that perfectly balances fresh and cooked elements.

Bún thịt nướng Kiều Bảo is extremely popular with locals – evidence of its authenticity can be seen during lunch rush when food delivery drivers continuously line up to collect orders for hungry customers throughout the city.

Address: 139 Đ. Đề Thám, Phường Cô Giang, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam

8. Beef Wrapped in Betel Leaves (Bò Lá Lốt)

This distinctly southern Vietnamese specialty showcases the region’s unique culinary creativity. Seasoned ground beef is wrapped in aromatic betel leaves (lá lốt), then grilled over charcoal, creating an incredibly fragrant and flavorful appetizer. The betel leaves impart a distinctive peppery, slightly bitter taste that perfectly complements the savory beef mixture. Often served with rice paper, fresh herbs, and dipping sauce, bò lá lốt represents the interactive dining style that makes Vietnamese food so social and engaging. This dish is practically impossible to find outside of Vietnam, making it a true local treasure.

Quán Ăn Cô Liêng serves exceptional bò lá lốt in an authentic street food setting where locals gather for this distinctive southern specialty.

Address: 321 Vo Van Tan Street, Ward 5, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, 72407, Vietnam

9. Broken Rice (Cơm Tấm)

Broken rice is a beloved Vietnamese comfort food that originated from using fractured rice grains that were once considered inferior. Today, it’s cherished for its unique texture and is typically served with grilled pork, pickled vegetables, and a fried egg. The smaller rice grains absorb flavors beautifully, making each bite more flavorful than regular rice dishes. This humble dish represents the Vietnamese philosophy of turning simple ingredients into something extraordinary.

Cơm Tấm Ba Ghiền is a local institution serving authentic broken rice dishes in the traditional style that keeps locals coming back for more.

Address: 84 Dang Van Ngu Street, Ward 10, Phu Nhuan District, Ho Chi Minh City, 725000, Vietnam