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The best pho, banh mi, and regional dishes in District 1

Renaissance Riverside puts you within reach of some of District 1’s best Vietnamese cooking — from a 1945 breakfast-only pho shop to rooftop gardens serving home-style regional dishes. This guide covers six restaurants near the hotel, spanning classic street food, a modern seafood hall, and refined dinners in colonial-era spaces. Whether you want a fast bowl of pho or a proper sit-down meal, start here.

The Pins

01

Phở Minh Opens the guide because it only serves breakfast, plan around its 6:30–10am window before anything else.

Phở Minh

Vietnamese Cuisine · District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

06:30–10:00 daily 02838220345

Phở Minh sits in an alley at 63/6 Pasteur, District 1. This Ho Chi Minh City restaurant specializes in beef noodle soup. It has served traditional Northern Vietnamese phở since the 1940s. Two small, simple dining spaces house the operation. They stand nearly opposite each other within the alley. A family runs this establishment. The founder’s third generation currently manages it.

Founder Trần Minh, a Hà Đông native, started the restaurant. He began selling phở from a pushcart around 1945. Later, he established the Pasteur Street location. The restaurant maintains its original dish approach. It has done so for several decades. Phở Minh earns recognition in the Michelin Guide. Its quality and value increased its visibility. This attracts both local and international diners.

The menu focuses on beef phở. It offers various cuts. Diners choose from rare tenderloin or well-done brisket. Other options include flank, gầu (fatty brisket), and gân (tendon). The broth features a clear, delicate flavor. The recipe omits star anise or cinnamon. Many Southern Vietnamese phở variations use these. Instead, the kitchen uses grilled ginger and lemongrass. These create a lighter, distinct aroma. The restaurant also serves freshly baked pâté chaud. This is a savory, meat-filled puff pastry.

The setting is simple and functional. It features basic wooden tables and chairs. The two shopfronts provide limited seating. Phở Minh serves customers only in the morning. It closes when the daily broth supply finishes. The restaurant does not accept reservations. Its location is down a narrow, U-shaped alley. This alley connects to Pasteur Street.

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63/6 Pasteur, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam

1 insider tip

Mr.Pin · curator · Phở Minh

If you are interested in sampling traditional Northern Vietnamese phở, Phở Minh, tucked away in a District 1 alley, has been serving its version since the 1940s. Its small, simple dining spaces suggest a focus purely on the beef noodle soup itself. This restaurant caters to those who appreciate a no-frills setting and a historical take on phở.

02

Nhà Hàng Hải Sản Rạn Biển Trung Tâm, From a single bowl of pho to the opposite extreme: a seafood hall built for groups and big appetites.

Nhà Hàng Hải Sản Rạn Biển Trung Tâm

Vietnamese Cuisine · District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

10:00–23:00 daily 0827946222

Nhà Hàng Hải Sản Rạn Biển Trung Tâm sits on Hai Bà Trưng Street. This District 1 spot in Ho Chi Minh City serves live seafood. The restaurant opened in 2010. It is a branch of the Rạn Biển seafood chain. A large tank system holds live seafood. Diners choose their items from these tanks. The kitchen then prepares the selections.

The restaurant sources domestic and imported seafood. Its tanks contain a wide variety of marine life. Guests often find king crab and lobster. Grouper, abalone, and various snails are also common. The kitchen prepares chosen seafood in Vietnamese styles. Grilling, steaming, or various sauces are available. Pricing depends on daily market rates. It also varies by the animal’s weight.

The venue offers several dining environments. A large, open area makes up the main space. Private VIP rooms also accommodate groups. These rooms suit parties or business meetings. They provide a secluded setting for various events. The establishment hosts small family meals. It also caters to large group gatherings.

Rạn Biển Trung Tâm welcomes local residents and global visitors. Its city center location ensures easy access. Nearby hotels and business districts are close. The menu focuses solely on seafood dishes. Staff assist diners with tank selections. They also suggest cooking methods.

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2-4-6 Hai Bà Trưng, Phường Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam

03

Hoa Túc Saigon - Dials it back down from Rạn Biển's scale to something more intimate, refined Vietnamese in a quieter, colonial-era space.

Hoa Túc Saigon

Vietnamese Cuisine · District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

11:00–22:00 daily +84 28 3825 1676

Hoa Túc Saigon is a contemporary Vietnamese restaurant on Hai Bà Trưng street in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. The restaurant occupies a remodeled French colonial-era opium refinery. It sits within a quiet courtyard, set back from the main street. The venue serves modern interpretations of traditional Vietnamese dishes. The menu presents regional specialties and updated street food classics.

The kitchen offers dishes such as soft-shell crab with tamarind sauce. Other signature items include grilled beef wrapped in betel leaves. The menu also features mini pancakes with oysters and braised pork with coconut. The restaurant provides a full beverage list with wine and cocktails. The cuisine focuses on traditional Vietnamese flavors with refined presentation. It avoids fusion, instead innovating within Vietnamese culinary traditions.

The setting includes an outdoor terrace and an indoor dining area. The front terrace features wrought iron furniture and climbing plants. Its design includes a roof inspired by Parisian Art Nouveau metro entrances. The interior dining space has a colonial style that reflects the building’s history. The restaurant opened in 2008. It is recognized in the Michelin Guide for Ho Chi Minh City.

Hoa Túc Saigon offers several distinct dining spaces. These include the main indoor room, a side garden, and the front terrace. Upstairs rooms are available for private events. The restaurant is located a short distance from the Saigon Opera House. It provides a distinct dining environment away from the city’s street traffic. The restaurant also operates a Vietnamese cooking class.

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74/7 Hai Bà Trưng, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam

1 insider tip

Mr.Pin · curator · Hoa Túc Saigon

If you are seeking contemporary Vietnamese cuisine within a unique historical setting, Hoa Túc Saigon offers a distinctive atmosphere. This restaurant occupies a remodeled French colonial-era opium refinery on Hai Bà Trưng street, situated within a quiet courtyard. It is a suitable choice for those looking for an upscale meal with a nod to the past in District 1.

04

SH Garden - Trades Hoa Túc's polish for home-style cooking, 200 regional dishes deep, with a rooftop view thrown in.

SH Garden

Vietnamese Cuisine · District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

11:00–23:00 daily +842866800188

SH Garden is a Vietnamese restaurant on Nguyễn Huệ Street in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, that serves traditional home-style cooking. The restaurant occupies the rooftop of a colonial-era building, providing views over the city center. Its open-air setting incorporates numerous plants and garden-like features. The entrance to the building includes a vintage-style elevator for access to the top floor.

The menu presents dishes from Vietnam’s northern, central, and southern regions. The kitchen prepares a wide variety of classic recipes. Named offerings include Lotus Fried Rice (Cơm chiên sen), Vietnamese Fried Spring Rolls (Chả giò), and Jumbo Tiger Prawns. The restaurant also serves dishes like pork and lemongrass stir-fry. Food presentation is styled to reflect authentic, family-style meals.

The decor features dark wood and traditional Vietnamese design motifs. The space offers both covered and open-air seating sections. On select evenings, the restaurant includes live performances of traditional Vietnamese music. This atmosphere is designed to complement the classic cuisine. The restaurant attracts both local diners and international tourists.

SH Garden sits near the Saigon Opera House and other central landmarks. The location on Nguyễn Huệ walking street places it in a prominent area of the city. The restaurant offers a full-service dining format for both lunch and dinner. Staff wear traditional Vietnamese attire, adding to the setting’s character.

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Rooftop, 98 Nguyễn Huệ, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam

1 insider tip

Mr.Pin · curator · SH Garden

If traditional home-style cooking paired with cityscape views appeals to you, SH Garden is situated on the rooftop of a colonial-era building on Nguyễn Huệ Street. This restaurant in District 1 allows diners to observe the city from above while enjoying their meal. It is a suitable choice for an authentic dining experience with an added visual element.

05

Propaganda Vietnamese Bistro - The casual counterpoint to SH Garden's spread quick, unfussy classics near Notre Dame Cathedral.

Propaganda Vietnamese Bistro

Vietnamese Cuisine · District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

07:30–23:00 daily +842838229048

Propaganda Vietnamese Bistro sits on Hàn Thuyên Street. It occupies a spot in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. This modern Vietnamese restaurant faces April 30th Park. The park offers a large green space. The bistro’s interior features bold, colorful murals. These artworks draw inspiration from Vietnamese propaganda art. They cover the walls and tell stories. Murals depict Vietnamese culture and daily life.

The menu highlights authentic home-style dishes. Chefs prepare these dishes with local ingredients. The restaurant offers many classic Vietnamese food options. Its signature items include various fresh and fried spring rolls. The menu also lists noodle salads. Diners find bánh mì sandwiches and pho here. The kitchen also creates crunchy tri-colored rice. Guests enjoy a signature Propaganda Salad. The kitchen presents dishes in a modern, shareable style.

Paris-born restaurateur Noelle Carr-Ellison opened the bistro in 2013. The concept reinterprets historical Vietnamese art. It places this art in a contemporary dining setting. The venue serves food all day. Service runs from breakfast to late evening. An extensive drink menu is also available. It includes traditional Vietnamese coffee. Guests find both indoor and outdoor seating options. The bistro attracts a diverse clientele. It draws both local residents and international visitors.

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21 Đ. Hàn Thuyên, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam

06

Secret Garden Restaurant - Closes the guide with another rooftop hideaway, best saved for an evening after the day's other stops.

Secret Garden Restaurant

Vietnamese Cuisine · District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

11:00–22:00 daily +84909904621

Secret Garden Restaurant is a Vietnamese restaurant on Pasteur Street in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. The restaurant serves traditional, home-style Vietnamese cuisine. It occupies the rooftop of an older residential apartment building. Diners access the restaurant by climbing several flights of stairs. The entrance is located inside the building’s main entryway.

The open-air dining space sits above the surrounding city streets. The setting features lush plants, wooden furniture, and decorative lanterns. This creates a garden-like atmosphere on the rooftop terrace. The restaurant provides views of the nearby urban landscape. It operates without air conditioning, relying on the open-air setting for ventilation. The decor intends to evoke a rustic, countryside home.

The menu focuses on southern Vietnamese dishes passed down through generations. It includes a variety of salads, soups, and main courses. The kitchen prepares items like lotus root salad, caramelized pork, and various spring rolls. Other menu items include grilled snakehead fish and braised pork dishes. The restaurant also serves hot pot selections for larger groups. A drink menu lists juices, beer, and cocktails.

The restaurant is a well-known dining spot in the city center. It attracts both local residents and international visitors. The space is decorated with handcrafted items and traditional Vietnamese design elements. Staff members wear simple, traditional-style clothing. The restaurant offers a distinct dining environment away from the street-level activity of District 1.

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Top Floor, 158 Pasteur, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh 70000, Vietnam

1 insider tip

Mr.Pin · curator · Secret Garden Restaurant

If you are looking for traditional, home-style Vietnamese cuisine served in an unexpected setting, Secret Garden Restaurant provides an experience on a rooftop. This establishment on Pasteur Street occupies the top of an older residential apartment building in District 1. It is a good option for those who appreciate a unique atmosphere alongside their authentic meal.