Our favorite places to explore the evolving dining scene in Ho Chi Minh City
Saigon is a city best experienced through its contrasts, and its food is no exception.
As connoisseurs of experiences in Vietnam, we spend our time exploring places that feel truly distinctive to us. Restaurants where atmosphere, storytelling, and cuisine come together with intention. Through our guides and experiences, we help travelers go beyond the obvious and discover Saigon from a more intimate perspective.
If you're wondering where to eat in Saigon, here is our curated selection of modern Vietnamese and fusion restaurants, from fine dining to more relaxed but equally compelling spots shaping the city’s culinary scene.
We continue to update this list as we discover new inspiring venues.
Modern Vietnamese & Fusion Restaurants in Saigon
Fine Dining Restaurants
Akuna
Address: Le Méridien Saigon, Level 9, 3C Tôn Đức Thắng, Sài Gòn, Hồ Chí Minh
A Michelin-starred restaurant, Akuna stands at the forefront of Saigon’s fine dining scene. The tasting menu blends Vietnamese ingredients with global influences in bold, precise ways, resulting in a highly contemporary culinary experience.
What stands out: refined, technique-driven dishes with layered flavors and beautifully executed seafood.
A by T.U.N.G
Address: 31-33 Đặng Dung, Tân Định, Hồ Chí Minh
With a strong creative identity, Å by TUNG offers a tasting experience inspired by Vietnamese traditional dishes, reinterpreted through a modern and highly technical lens.
What stands out: visually striking courses and thoughtful reinterpretations of familiar Vietnamese flavors.
Tales by Chapter
Address: 10 Đ. Nguyễn Thành Ý, Tân Định, Hồ Chí Minh
A unique concept in Saigon, Tales by Chapter is a fully plant-based, zero-waste fine dining experience. The restaurant places strong emphasis on fermentation, crafting many of its own ingredients in-house, and offers a carefully curated alcoholic and non-alcoholic pairing alongside its menus.
What stands out: fermentation-led creations and an innovative, story-driven dining format.
Oryz
Address: 51 Đ. Trần Nhật Duật, Tân Định, Hồ Chí Minh
Minimalist and quietly refined, Oryz explores Asian flavors through modern techniques. The menu evolves with the seasons and highlights balance, depth, and craftsmanship.
What stands out: delicate use of fermentation and slow techniques to build complexity.
Aiii House
Address: 27/6 Nguyễn Bỉnh Khiêm, Sài Gòn, Hồ Chí Minh
At Aiii House, Vietnamese cuisine is reimagined with an artistic and contemporary approach. Each dish is carefully composed, balancing tradition with creative expression.
What stands out: elegant plating and subtle reinterpretations of Vietnamese classics.
Nén Light
Address: 122/2 Trần Đình Xu, Cầu Ông Lãnh, Hồ Chí Minh
Founded by Chef Summer Le, Nén Light brings a deeply personal and narrative-driven approach to dining. Originally from Da Nang, home to Vietnam’s only Michelin Green Star restaurant, the concept blends storytelling, sustainability, and Vietnamese cultural references.
What stands out: an immersive experience shaped by strong storytelling and a thoughtful, ingredient-led philosophy.
Other Standout Restaurants
The Trieu Institute
Address: 10 Mạc Thị Bưởi, Sài Gòn, Hồ Chí Minh
At The Trieu Institute, the focus shifts toward exploration and pairing. The experience is built around Lady Trieu Gin, a Vietnamese craft gin inspired by local botanicals and flavors.
What stands out: curated pairings between dishes, gin, and cocktails, offering a playful and distinctly local take on modern dining.
* For those interested in discovering more hidden bars and cocktail culture in the city, our Saigon Secret Cocktail Experience explores similar spots and stories across the city.
Mâm Mâm Eatery & Lounge
Address: 13 Nguyễn Siêu, Phường, Sài Gòn, Hồ Chí Minh
Modern Vietnamese cuisine meets a relaxed, stylish setting at Mâm Mâm. The menu revisits traditional dishes with a contemporary twist.
What stands out: comforting Vietnamese classics elevated with a modern touch.
Mùa Sake
Address: 7 Lê Ngô Cát, Xuân Hòa, Hồ Chí Minh
Blending Japanese precision with Vietnamese ingredients, Mùa Sake offers a unique fusion experience centered around carefully curated sake pairings.
What stands out: the craft sake selection and how it enhances each dish.
2cms
Address: 72 Huỳnh Mẫn Đạt, Phường, Thạnh Mỹ Tây, Hồ Chí Minh
Part wine bar, part modern Vietnamese kitchen, 2cms is an understated yet thoughtfully curated spot.
What stands out: a concise food menu designed to complement a strong and well-selected wine list.
Discovering Saigon Through Its Food
Saigon’s dining scene reflects the energy of the city itself: bold, evolving, and layered.
From Michelin-starred restaurants to more understated yet equally interesting concepts, the city offers an incredible range of experiences for those willing to explore.
For travelers continuing their journey through Vietnam, you can also discover our guide to where to eat in Hoi An, where the pace slows down and the culinary scene reflects a different side of the country.
For us, it’s not just about where to eat in Saigon, but how to experience it. And through these unique spots, the city reveals itself in the most unexpected ways.