Must-try District One Saigon Street Food – 9 Suggestions

Right here, Vietnam Adventour will suggest a list of District One Saigon street food that you must definitely try when you come here!

Saigon’s street food permeates every single district, neighborhood, and alley. SaiGon boasts so many street food outlets that it sometimes looks like one giant open-air restaurant – What a beautiful and colorful culinary culture.

Of course, District One is no exception. Every day, thousands of roadside eateries serve delicious and affordable street food. No luxurious tables and chairs, diners just sit on tiny stools, just a few centimeters off the ground, enjoying the vibrant tastes of Saigon. 

Banh Mi 37 Nguyen Trai – The top choice for street food in District 1

• Address: 37 Nguyen Trai stress, Pham Ngu Lao Ward, District 1, Saigon.

Banh Mi is undeniably one of Vietnam’s most beloved street foods, there’s no doubt about it. As alway, you’ll encounter countless Banh Mi push carts in District One, but none quite as renowned as Banh Mi 37 Nguyen Trai.

Nestled at 37 Nguyen Trai, District 1, this stall focuses exclusively on Banh Mi Nem Nuong, which is a delightful mix of grilled pork patties, rich sticky brown gravy, and fresh cucumber chunks. Each bite delivers a perfect crunch, tender meat, and a savory sauce that leaves you craving more. 

Banh Mi Huynh Hoa

• Address: 26 Le Thi Rieng, Pham Ngu Lao Ward, District 1, Saigon.

Another fantastic spot to indulge in Vietnamese sandwiches is Banh Mi Huynh Hoa. Open from 2:30 pm to midnight, this place is celebrated for serving the best Banh Mi in the city.

When you arrive, you’ll be dazzled by two glass cabinets overflowing with fresh ingredients for their colossal sandwiches. Each sandwich is crafted to order, bursting with up to nine layers of savory cold cuts and lavishly spread with rich pate.

Oc Dao

• Address: 212B alley, Nguyen Trai Street, Nguyen Cu Trinh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh city.

Oc Dao is a small seafood restaurant specializing in snail dishes (or “Snail” in Vietnamese). As you walk in, you’ll see a display on the right showcasing the day’s fresh selections, and then pick your favorite snail dish and enjoy it inside. Everything is incredibly fresh, and each dish is deliciously prepared.

Pancakes – Banh Xeo

• Address: 46A Dinh Cong Trang, Tan Dinh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.

Bánh Xèo is a beloved street food in Vietnam and loved by many people in the world. These Vietnamese pancakes are crispy, savory crepes made from turmeric, rice flour, and coconut milk. The batter is poured into a hot skillet, creating a sizzling sound that gives the dish its name, which means “sizzling cake.” 

The main ingredients from pork, shrimp, green onions, and bean sprouts then folded in half and served with fresh herbs, and lettuce. Of course, a tangy dipping sauce called nuoc cham is indispensable.

Vietnamese Fried Bananas 

• Address: 286 Co Bac, Co Giang Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh city.

Vietnamese Fried Bananas are created by dipping bananas in rice flour and frying them until they’re crispy. It’s likely the most delicious banana dish you’ll ever try.

This sweet dessert uses small, locally known bananas called “Siamese banana” – much sweeter than the larger orther bananas. For an extra crunchy outer crust, the secret is to fry the bananas twice. Once they turn golden, take them out, dip them back in the batter, and fry them again for that perfect crunch.

Bun Rieu – Delicious street food in District 1, Saigon

• Address: 4 Phan Boi Chau, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh city.

When it comes to noodle soups, there are many to choose from. But bun rieu (or “bún riêu”), which is a crab-based noodle soup, is something that you must try at least once. 

The broth is flavored with crab paste made from paddy crabs that results in it a rich taste, while stewed tomatoes add a slightly tart, natural sweetness. The noodles are topped with golden fried tofu, sometimes meatballs,  hearty chunks of pork, squares of congealed pig’s blood and a generous slab of crab paste.

If you want to enjoy bun rieu, you will use shrimp paste and chili sauce, a squeeze of lime juice, and finally devour it with a small mountain of shredded vegetables and herbs. Then, you’re enjoying a true gem of Vietnamese cuisine!

Bun Moc

• Address: 14 Truong Dinh, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh city.

This classic Vietnamese noodle soup features a combination of pork with tomatoes, sometimes crab or shrimp paste, but unlike Bún Cua, the broth is thicker and of more flavor with a tangy sweet flavor.

The name comes from pork meatballs, or “mọc” in Vietnamese, made from ground pork and wood ear mushrooms. Other toppings may be sliced pork, pork ribs, Vietnamese ham, and sometimes fried tofu.

Banh Canh CuaCrab noodle soup – Street food specialty

• Address: 87 Tran Khac Chan, Tan Dinh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.

“Banh canh cua” features thick, big noodles in a rich crab-infused broth. The noodles are in fact made from a blend of rice flour and tapioca starch, so they are a little chewy and slightly stick to your teeth.

Unlike traditional noodle soups using thin broths, Bánh Canh Cua features gravy-like consistency, so it’s more like a stew, really. The star ingredient would have to be the big chunks of succulent crab meat thrown in for sweetness in every bite.

Other toppings like shrimp, pork, and fish cakes add elbow grease to the flavor. Some versions may be topped with crispy fried shallots and/or quail eggs or pork blood cubes.

Fruit Bowl

• Address: 177 – 177 Ly Tu Trong, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.

For a refreshing treat, you can’t go wrong with a Fruit Bowl. This straightforward and joyful dish is basically a mix of refreshing fruits served in a big, transparent glass bowl. 

You might be expecting brightly and vibrantly colorful fruits, such as bananas, kiwis, or sliced watermelons, perfectly paired with creamy yogurt. On an extremely hot day, you can request a bit of shaved ice to make it even more refreshing.

Conclusion

Now you have it: top 9 District One Saigon street food that you should try.  Sample a few, and you’ll discover that you don’t need to dine in fancy restaurants to enjoy an amazing culinary experience!