You’d be hard-pressed to search for a certain cuisine here in Ho Chi Minh City and not find it. This city is full of flavours from around the world and plays host to a wide variety of international restaurants. Vietnam’s largest city is especially well known for its excellent selection of the classic, mouth-watering southern American specialty: barbeque. East Asian barbeque dishes abound as well, so buckle in and check out the top 10 feast-worthy BBQ restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Quan Ut Ut (Oink Oink Tavern) is the Holy Grail of BBQ in Ho Chi Minh City. Their popular menu features all the classics: ribs slathered in house-made sauce, slow-smoked pulled pork, fried chicken, and more. Make sure to order the rich, creamy, and oh-so-cheesy mac and cheese as a side. There are several BBQ joints in the city that also cater to vegetarians, but this isn’t one of them!
Saigon Grill is centrally located on trendy Pasteur street and boasts a fantastic rooftop view of the city. Their wide variety of BBQ dishes are packed with local Vietnamese flavour and some are cooked right on the table. This spot is perfect for anyone looking for variety; their menu includes traditional BBQ meat as well as a wide selection of seafood. If you’re famished, consider ordering one or two extras – the portions can be a little on the small side for anyone used to American-sized BBQ servings!
If you’re looking for a fun place to kick back with an ice-cold beer and enjoy authentic Vietnamese barbeque, 5ku Station is your place. This off-the-street grill is where locals and tourists alike mingle and devour heaps of grilled meat, seafood, vegetables, and noodles until the wee hours of the morning. It’s so good that you’ll do a double-take when you get the bill; 5ku is notorious for its high-quality, affordable menu. You’ll almost always have to wait for a table at peak dinner times, but it’s definitely worth it.
Hickory-smoked, tender beef brisket and other succulent meats await to satisfy your barbeque cravings at TNT BBQ nestled in a small building off Ly Tu Trong street in Ho Chi Minh City’s District 1. This American-owned eatery started off as delivery-only but now regularly greets a line of hungry patrons eager to sink their teeth into their famous brisket, smoked chicken, or delicious pulled pork sandwiches. TNT’s selection of equally satisfying side dishes perfectly complement the main dishes and are best enjoyed with one of several craft and local beers on draught.
Anyone craving an authentic Korean BBQ experience needs to head to Ho Chi Minh City’s “Plan K” restaurant, an easier endeavour now that they have two locations. The original has been serving prime cuts of meat grilled right at your table in the city’s “Little Korea”, a.k.a the Phu My Hung area in District 7. Their larger second location is in the expat area of Thao Dien, District 2. Marinated cuts of beef or pork are available to grill at your table and are, of course, accompanied by bottomless servings of banchan, the classic side dishes served with Korean BBQ.
Barbeque Garden is a favourite among Saigoneers for their classic BBQ dishes with a dash of Vietnamese flavour. This open-air spot is perfect for parties and large groups looking to share a filling, scrumptious meal in a casual and fun setting. Barbeque Garden serves up a range of skewers, seafood, BBQ meats, appetisers and side dishes, and a healthy amount of vegetables for the group vegetarian.
Owner Jake has been serving delicious food across Asia for the past decade, and Ho Chi Minh City is the lucky location of his latest venture. Jake’s BBQ serves up the classic, tender, mouth-watering BBQ that southern America is known for: fall-off-the-bone ribs, crispy fried chicken, slow-and-smoked pulled pork, tasty burgers and more. Jake’s is situated on popular Pasteur street, so check in here and get your Americana on.
Rio Steakhouse is a one-of-a-kind BBQ restaurant in the big city. The concept of their restaurant focuses on “churrasco”, a typical Brazilian cooking style of grilling meat over charcoal using open flame. The resulting flavours are out of this world – few can beat expertly cooked beef with the smoky flavour of being grilled over charcoal. Did we mention it’s all-you-can-eat? If buffet-style doesn’t suit your style, Rio Steakhouse also has an a-la-carte menu bursting with the delicious, authentic flavours of Brazil.
3T’s menu is packed with an awesome selection of meat, seafood, and fresh vegetables to grill to your liking at your table. This casual restaurant sits on a rooftop in District 1, giving patrons great views and an easy-going atmosphere to enjoy a delicious Vietnamese barbeque. Kick back with a cheap local beer and enjoy the flavours of southern Vietnam.
Rom BBQ is another terrific rooftop spot for some delicious Vietnamese barbeque. The atmosphere at Rom is more peaceful than you’d expect, and is a great choice for couples looking to share a romantic dinner. Rom serves up the classics for patrons to grill on their own; selections of duck, goat, chicken, and pork all come coated in different homemade sauces to sizzle on the grill. Don’t miss the marinated coconut and sesame chicken with a side of lemongrass rice.