Wandering Saigon’s hidden alleys: Discovering a treasure trove of street food

Date: 2025.06.16

🌆 While restaurants offer a luxurious experience of Vietnamese cuisine, it’s in the alleys, pushcarts, and roadside stalls where the everyday soul of Saigon’s food culture lives—simple, rustic but deeply flavorful and unforgettable.

🍢 Street Food – The Beating Heart of Saigon

No need to venture far—just a stroll through streets like Nguyen Thuong Hien, Vinh Khanh, Ton That Thiep, or Co Giang will lead you into a universe of mouthwatering dishes:

🔸 Grilled Rice Paper, the “Vietnamese Pizza” – crispy with generous toppings, found near the Turtle lake

🔸 Noodle soups like bún bò (beef noodle soup), bún riêu (crab paste noodle soup), and hủ tiếu gõ (street-style pork noodle soup) – served from morning at alley entrances

🔸 Saigon-style shells – salt-roasted, tamarind-sautéed, grilled with scallion oil, found on Vinh Khanh Street

🔸 Sweet soups – refreshing and lightly sweet, perfect for breezy evenings on Nguyen Thien Thuat

🔸 Banh mi – “Vietnam’s iconic sandwich”, every cart has its own twist, from classic to egg-paté, fishcake…

Eat once, crave forever: Saigon street food delights around every corner!

Saigon never sleeps, and neither does its food scene. Here, you don’t need a fine dining reservation. Just turn into a small alley, sit on a plastic stool by the sidewalk, and savor flavors that linger in your memory. Let’s take a food tour of Saigon and explore the street stalls beloved by seasoned locals.

🍢 Alley 76 Hai Ba Trung – An afternoon treat paradise

Dozens of snack stalls packed into one alley: fried dough, mozzarella sticks, offal stew, fresh rolls, crab soup… Affordable prices and packed with students every afternoon.

📍 Address: Alley 76 Hai Ba Trung, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1 (near HTV Station)
⏰ Hours: 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM
💰 Price: 10,000–30,000 VND/dish

🐚 Ốc Oanh – The King of Shells on Vinh Khanh Street

Spacious venue, diverse cooking styles: garlic butter sauté, grilled with scallion oil, steamed with lemongrass… Top picks include chili salt-roasted sweet snails and cheesy scallops are especially popular.

📍 Address: 534 Vinh Khanh, Ward 8, District 4
⏰ Hours: 3:00 PM – 11:00 PM
💰 Price: 30,000–100,000 VND/dish

🥖 Huynh Hoa Banh Mi – A Legend of Saigon Sandwiches with Rich Fillings, Creamy Pâté, and Crispy Bread

Loved and known by locals and tourists from all over – Huynh Hoa Banh Mi – a long-standing sandwich shop famed for its generous fillings: cold cuts, ham, rich homemade pâté, and crunchy pickled veggies. The homemade pâté, savory butter, and perfectly crispy baguette explain why people are willing to queue up every morning for a bite.

📍 Address: 26 Le Thi Rieng, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1
⏰ Hours: 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM
💰 Price: 60,000–70,000 VND

🫓 Ms Yen’s grilled rice paper – Dalat’s Flavor in Saigon

No need to travel all the way to Da Lat—right here in Saigon, you can find grilled rice paper that wins over even the most devoted fans. Ms Yen’s stall, tucked away in an alley on Nguyễn Thượng Hiền Street, is a beloved afternoon stop for many. Each rice paper is grilled over charcoal, topped with quail eggs, dried beef, cheese, pork floss, scallion oil, and signature sauce.

📍 Address: Alley 38 Nguyen Thuong Hien, Ward 5, District 3
⏰ Hours: 3:30 PM – 8:00 PM
💰 Price: 20,000–30,000 VND/piece

🍜 Aunty Xuan’s Hue Beef Noodle Soup – Central Vietnam flavors in the heart of Saigon

If you’re craving an authentic bowl of Bún bò Huế—rich in flavor but not overly spicy—O Xuân is the perfect choice. The broth is fragrant with lemongrass, paired with thick rice noodles, tender beef brisket, crab cake, and pork leg. For those who enjoy a bolder kick, pure fermented shrimp paste is available, served alongside a generous helping of fresh, vibrant herbs.

📍 Address: 32 Nguyen Thong, Ward 9, District 3
⏰ Hours: 7:00 AM – 9:00 PM
💰 Price: 45,000–60,000 VND/bowl

🍲 Ms.Lien’s Fragrant fermented fish broth noodle – Western Vietnamese specialty in Saigon

Fragrant fermented fish broth, hearty toppings of shrimp, squid, fish, pork sausage. Long-standing hidden gem.

📍 Address: 137/2B Alley 285 Cách Mạng Tháng Tám, Ward 12, District 10
⏰ Hours: 7:00 AM – 9:00 PM
💰 Price: 50,000–70,000 VND/bowl

🥣 Ý Phương – Thai Sweet Soup Spot

Fresh ingredients: longan, jackfruit, mango, durian, palm fruit, coconut milk… made with pasteurized milk for a unique flavor.

📍 Address: 380 Nguyễn Tri Phương, Ward 11, District 10
⏰ Hours: 10:30 AM – 1:00 AM
💰 Price: 10,000–20,000 VND/cup

🍜 Tran Khac Chan Crab Noodle Soup – “Inner city” crab delicacy

Velvety broth, sweet fresh crab meat, crab cake, quail eggs. Clean, compact eatery with quick service.

📍 Address: 87 Tran Khac Chan, Tan Dinh Ward, District 1
⏰ Hours: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
💰 Price: 60,000–90,000 VND/bowl

🥟 Duong Ky Dumplings & Siu Mai

Juicy siu mai with savory soy-satay sauce. Also serves wontons, chive cakes, crispy tofu skin rolls…

📍 Address: 19 Ngo Gia Tu, Ward 2, District 10
⏰ Hours: 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM
💰 Price: 20,000–40,000 VND/portion

🛵 Eating is an experience – And street food is the fastest way to feel Saigon with all your senses

🌟 Whether you’re a local or a visitor, spend an afternoon wandering narrow alleys, sitting by a banh mi cart or roadside stall. A humble dish may spark a memory, a feeling—that’s truly Vietnamese.

💬 Saigon – Where a tiny stall offers a whole new World

No need for fine table settings or starched linens. In Saigon, sometimes all it takes is a street vendor, a pushcart, and a few plastic stools by a street corner to create unforgettable food moments.

That humble yet wholehearted experience has captivated countless souls. Because sometimes, it’s not just the ingredients—it’s about who you shared the dish with, and in what moment.

So don’t wait. This weekend, grab your bike and “eat through the alleys” with your friends—and taste Saigon with your heart and your hungry stomach!