🍜 Vietnamese Food & Eating Out

How to order and pay at restaurants, ready-to-use phrases, southern dishes to try, how to find good places, and ordering phrases by dish

How to order and pay at a restaurant

At street eateries you share tables by default on low plastic stools. Many places serve only one or two dishes, so just sit down and say how many bowls. The menu is often on the wall.
Call staff by raising your hand and saying 'Em ơi!'. Don't clap or point with your finger.
If you don't like cilantro, say 'Không bỏ ngò nha' right at the start. It goes into southern dishes by default.
Wet towels (khăn lạnh), peanuts and snacks on the table often add a few thousand VND each to the bill if you use or eat them. Leave them alone if you don't want them.
You usually pay at the table. Say 'Em ơi, tính tiền!' and they'll bring the bill.
Local places mostly take cash or QR bank transfer (chuyển khoản). Many don't take cards, so carry small cash.
Tipping isn't required. No need at local eateries; at upscale restaurants, check the bill to see whether a service charge (phí phục vụ) is already included.
Drink bottled water that's opened in front of you. If you have a sensitive stomach, avoid ice (đá) and raw vegetables at first.
For street food, the safest places are busy ones with fast turnover.

Basic ordering phrases

Vietnamese	Meaning	Pronunciation
Cho em xem thực đơn.	Can I see the menu?	chaw em sem tewk duhng.
Món nào ngon nhất?	What's the best dish here?	mawng nao ngawng nyuhk?
Món này có cay không?	Is this spicy?	mawng nai kaw kai khohng?
Cho em một phần cơm tấm.	One broken rice plate, please.	chaw em mohk fuhng kuhm tuhm.
Không cay nha.	Not spicy, please.	khohng kai nya.
Không bỏ ngò nha.	No cilantro, please. ngò = cilantro (southern word)	khohng baw ngaw nya.
Không đá.	No ice.	khohng da.
Ăn ở đây.	For here.	ang uh duhy.
Mang về.	To go.	mang yay.
Có món chay không?	Do you have vegetarian dishes?	kaw mawng chai khohng?
Cho thêm một ly trà đá.	One more iced tea, please.	chaw tem mohk lee cha da.
Khăn lạnh có tính tiền không?	Do you charge for the wet towel?	khang lan kaw tin tee-uhng khohng?
Em ơi, tính tiền!	Check, please!	em uhy, tin tee-uhng!
Ngon quá!	It's delicious!	ngawng wa!

Asking about seats, prices and takeaway

Vietnamese	Meaning	Pronunciation
Món đặc biệt của quán là gì?	What's your signature dish?	mawng dak bee-uhk koo-uh wang la yee?
Cho em một tô đặc biệt.	One bowl with everything, please. đặc biệt = 'special', with all the toppings	chaw em mohk toh dak bee-uhk.
Còn bàn cho hai người không?	Do you have a table for two?	kawng bang chaw hai ngew-ee khohng?
Hai người ăn chung được không?	Can we share this between two?	hai ngew-ee ang choong dew-uhk khohng?
Ít ngọt thôi nha.	Less sweet, please.	it ngawk toy nya.
Cho em thêm rau.	More herbs and greens, please.	chaw em tem rao.
Cái này bao nhiêu một ký?	How much per kilo? ký = kilogram. Seafood is sold by weight.	kai nai bao nyee-oo mohk kee?
Cho em xem giá trước nha.	Can I see the prices first?	chaw em sem ya chew-uhk nya.
Gói lại phần còn lại giùm em nha.	Could you pack up the leftovers?	goy lai fuhng kawng lai yoom em nya.
Quán mở cửa tới mấy giờ?	What time do you close?	wang muh kew-uh tuhy muhy yuh?

Southern dishes you must try

Cơm tấm — broken rice topped with charcoal-grilled pork chop (sườn), shredded pork skin (bì) and steamed egg meatloaf (chả). Saigon's signature breakfast and lunch.
Phở — rice noodle soup. The southern style comes with heaps of bean sprouts and herbs, plus hoisin and chili sauce.
Bánh mì — baguette sandwich. 20k–30k VND at morning street stalls.
Hủ tiếu — southern noodles. Choose clear broth (nước) or dry, tossed (khô).
Bún thịt nướng — rice vermicelli with charcoal-grilled pork, tossed with nước mắm dressing.
Bánh xèo — a crispy yellow pancake. Wrap it in lettuce and herbs and dip it in the sauce.
Gỏi cuốn — fresh spring rolls, dipped in peanut sauce.
Cà phê sữa đá — iced coffee with condensed milk. Very strong and sweet.

How to find good places to eat

Google Maps reviews — what locals use most too. The number of reviews matters more than the stars. A rating of 4.0+ with thousands of reviews is usually trustworthy. Sort by 'Newest' to see recent opinions.
Foody · ShopeeFood — Vietnamese restaurant review and delivery apps. You can see photos, menus and prices in advance. Be wary of 5-star reviews from newly created accounts.
MICHELIN Guide Vietnam — Ho Chi Minh City has been included since 2023, with a new list every June. The 2026 list has 26 Bib Gourmand places in the city. Bib Gourmand means 'good food at moderate prices', so it's great for finding local favorites like phở and cơm tấm.
Districts (quận) were abolished in July 2025, but restaurant write-ups still use old names like District 1 and District 3. This app's restaurant lists use the old names too.

Tips for eating out

Price ranges (per person) — street food 30k–60k VND a bowl, famous local spots 60k–120k VND, regular restaurants 200k–500k VND, fine dining 1.5M VND and up. Most per-restaurant prices are approximate, so always check the menu.
Seafood and ốc places often sell by weight (ký). Ask the price per kg before ordering, and check the weight and price on the bill.
Famous spots are busiest at 7–9 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. 2–4 p.m. is quiet.
Breakfast-only places (Phở Minh, Hòa Mã) sell out by 10–11 a.m.
The Michelin list changes every June, and restaurants often move or close temporarily. Before you go, check opening hours and recent reviews in a map app once more.

Phrases for Korean restaurants

Vietnamese	Meaning	Pronunciation
Có thực đơn tiếng Anh không?	Do you have an English menu?	kaw tewk duhng tee-uhng an khohng?
Ít cay thôi nha.	Less spicy, please. For not spicy at all: 'Không cay nha'	it kai toy nya.
Cho em thêm kim chi nha.	More kimchi, please.	chaw em tem kim chee nya.
Nướng giùm em được không?	Could you grill it for us?	new-uhng yoom em dew-uhk khohng?
Em đặt bàn cho 4 người lúc 7 giờ tối nha.	I'd like a table for four at 7 p.m.	em dak bang chaw bohng ngew-ee look bai yuh toy nya.

Ordering phrases by dish (what to eat today)

Vietnamese	Meaning	Pronunciation
Cho em hai phần thịt ba chỉ nướng.	Two servings of grilled pork belly, please. thịt ba chỉ = pork belly · nướng = grilled	chaw em hai fuhng tiht ba chee new-uhng.
Cho em một tô canh, đừng bỏ hành nha.	One bowl of soup, no green onions, please. đừng bỏ ~ = please don't add ~	chaw em mohk toh kan, dewng baw han nya.
Có món nào không cay không?	Do you have anything that isn't spicy?	kaw mawng nao khohng kai khohng?
Cho em một con gà rán, nửa sốt nửa không sốt.	One fried chicken, half with sauce and half plain. gà rán = fried chicken · sốt = sauce (glaze)	chaw em mohk kawng ga rang, new-uh sohk new-uh khohng sohk.
Giao tới địa chỉ này mất bao lâu?	How long does delivery to this address take?	yao tuhy dee-uh chee nai muhk bao luh-oo?
Phần lớn đủ cho mấy người ăn?	How many people does the large size serve?	fuhng luhng doo chaw muhy ngew-ee ang?
Hôm nay có món gì?	What do you have today?	hohm nai kaw mawng yee?
Cho em ít cay thôi nha.	Not too spicy, please.	chaw em it kai toy nya.
Cho em một tô mì lạnh.	One bowl of cold noodles, please. mì lạnh = cold noodles (naengmyeon)	chaw em mohk toh mee lan.
Cho em một phần thịt heo chiên xù.	One pork cutlet, please. heo chiên xù = breaded fried pork cutlet (south says heo, north says lợn)	chaw em mohk fuhng tiht heh-oo chee-uhng soo.
Cho em thêm hai chai bia.	Two more bottles of beer, please.	chaw em tem hai chai bee-uh.
Cho em một phần sushi tổng hợp.	One assorted sushi set, please. tổng hợp = assorted, mixed	chaw em mohk fuhng sushi tohng huhp.
Cho em một tô phở bò tái.	One bowl of rare beef pho, please. tái = rare (lightly cooked) · chín = well-done	chaw em mohk toh fuh baw tai.
Cho em một phần bún chả.	One serving of bun cha, please.	chaw em mohk fuhng boong cha.
Cho em một tô bún bò, không lấy huyết.	One bowl of bun bo, no blood cubes, please. huyết = blood curd	chaw em mohk toh boong baw, khohng luhy wee-uhk.
Cho em một dĩa cơm tấm sườn trứng.	One plate of broken rice with pork chop and egg, please. dĩa = plate (southern word; northern is đĩa)	chaw em mohk yee-uh kuhm tuhm sew-uhng chewng.
Cho em một ổ bánh mì thịt, không cay.	One pork banh mi, not spicy, please. ổ = counter word for a loaf of bread (southern)	chaw em mohk oh ban mee tiht, khohng kai.
Món này ăn như thế nào?	How do I eat this?	mawng nai ang nyew tay nao?
Món nào là món đặc trưng ở đây?	What's the specialty here? đặc trưng = signature, characteristic	mawng nao la mawng dak chewng uh duhy?
Cái này bao nhiêu tiền một ký?	How much is this per kilo? Many seafood places price by weight (ký = kg)	kai nai bao nyee-oo tee-uhng mohk kee?
Cho em thêm nước lẩu.	More hot pot broth, please. lẩu = hotpot	chaw em tem new-uhk luh-oo.
Buffet bao nhiêu tiền một người?	How much is the buffet per person?	Buffet bao nyee-oo tee-uhng mohk ngew-ee?
Cho em thêm một cái trứng.	Add one egg, please. trứng = egg · in the south, cái is used instead of quả, and eggs are also called hột gà	chaw em tem mohk kai chewng.
Cho em xem thực đơn.	Can I see the menu, please?	chaw em sem tewk duhng.
Cho em một xửng há cảo.	One basket of shrimp dumplings, please. xửng = steamer basket · há cảo = har gow (shrimp dumplings)	chaw em mohk sewng ha kao.
Món này có cay không?	Is this spicy?	mawng nai kaw kai khohng?
Cho em thêm một cái bánh naan.	One more naan, please.	chaw em tem mohk kai ban naan.
Pizza này mấy người ăn được?	How many people can share this pizza?	Pizza nai muhy ngew-ee ang dew-uhk?
Cho em mang về.	To go, please.	chaw em mang yay.
Quán mở cửa tới mấy giờ?	What time do you close?	wang muh kew-uh tuhy muhy yuh?
Cho em chín vừa.	Medium, please. tái = rare · chín vừa = medium · chín kỹ = well-done	chaw em chin yew-uh.
Em muốn đặt bàn cho hai người lúc bảy giờ tối.	I'd like to book a table for two at 7 p.m.	em moo-uhng dak bang chaw hai ngew-ee look bai yuh toy.
Giá này đã bao gồm phí phục vụ chưa?	Does this price include the service charge? Upscale restaurants often add a service charge (usually 5%) and VAT (8–10%) separately. A '++' next to menu prices means both are added on top	ya nai da bao gohm fee fook yoo chew-uh?
Món này có thịt hay nước mắm không?	Does this dish have meat or fish sauce? nước mắm = fish sauce — vegetarians should always ask	mawng nai kaw tiht hai new-uhk mam khohng?
Cho em một ly cà phê sữa đá, ít ngọt.	One iced coffee with condensed milk, less sweet, please.	chaw em mohk lee ka fay sew-uh da, it ngawk.
Cái này ngọt lắm không?	Is this very sweet?	kai nai ngawk lam khohng?

Sources

📱 Open in the app (audio · favorites)