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A L Y S H I A  T U R C H Y N

Late night markets, wandering vendors, bustling sidewalk stalls, these are the trademarks of Ho Chi Minh City’s mouth watering street food scene. Not only is Vietnamese food delicious, but its distinct flavours make it un-phở-gettable.  As we know, food plays a major role on anyone’s itinerary (especially mine), but when visiting Saigon it should be made a priority. I mean, let’s face it, if you didn’t eat street food in Saigon, were you ever really there?

After 2 years of calling this crazy city home, I had the chance to hop on the back of a motorbike to explore Ho Chi Minh City’s street food scene by night with Street Food Man. Let me just say this, my eyes have since been opened after such a unique experience! I thought I had tasted it all, I thought I’d seen it all, I mean, I thought I lived in Saigon! Boy was I wrong. Over the course of 4 hours I got a real and authentic Vietnamese street food experience through the weaving allies of Ho Chi Minh City. Street Food Man took me off of the beaten path, to places I’ve never been, to foods I’ve never tasted, to districts I hadn’t yet visited and gave me knowledge only locals would know.


If you’ve had a lurk of my Instagram you know the only thing I do in this city is eat to my heart’s content. So, my one piece of advice would be: eat until you can’t no more! And that’s exactly what I got up to on my tour with Street Food Man!


We started our night off by meeting up with the lovely Layla and Peter! Our guides, experts and motorbike drivers who kindly drove us through the sights, sounds, and smells of Saigon! 



First Stop


Our first stop led us through the winding and weaving District 3 to taste some bánh xèo and bánh khọt. In Vietnamese “bánh” means cake and “xèo” means sizzling. As we watched the chef flip, toss and turn her Vietnamese pancake every which way we soon found out why it’s called a sizzling pancake.

With over 20 years spent mastering her craft, the resulting bánh xèo and bánh khọt was to absolutely die for! Needless to say, I licked my fingers clean, this street food chef definitely knows a thing or two about flipping a Vietnamese pancake!








Second Stop


Next, we made our way across District 3 for a mini adventure through one of Saigon’s oldest apartment blocks. Peter and Layla, our trusty and knowledgeable guides, gave us the rundown of all the history that was made here and it truly was fascinating! 

Built in 1960, this complex consists of 11 large blocks which were used to bunk Americans during the Vietnam war. Nowadays, the apartments are still alive and well, housing many local residents. We even took a little climb to the top floor to visit a pagoda which had been built inside one of the old apartments by a female monk. How cool is that!




Third Stop


Our third stop landed us in two local markets, a Cambodian-Vietnamese market and Ho Chi Minh City’s largest Flower Market, both of which I’ve never been to before! Markets are central to local life, so it’s no wonder we stumbled upon some yummy drinks and tasty Vietnamese snacks. As we walked deeper into the maze of the market we were met with stunning bouquets of beautiful flowers! And we even got a special little gift from our guides! But it's a secret so you'll just have to go and find out for yourself!






Fourth Stop


Hopping back onto our motorbike, we drove through District 5’s urban streets to reach our next dish, bún chả! This Hanoian style dish is one of my all-time faves! The so called “Obama Noodles” need no introduction, but if you’ve been out of the loop think: cold rice noodles, meets grilled pork, meets fresh greens meets a savoury version of fish sauce that's good enough to drink. 





Fifth Stop


After we slurped up the remains of our bún chả we were off to District 10 where the city’s street food scene really thrives. It was time to dig in to some of the best coconut ice cream I’ve ever tasted! It’s no wonder this restaurant has been open since 1975. It’s all sorts of heavenly, imagine unicorns dancing on your tongue, that's how good!




Sixth Stop


After we squeezed through the narrow alleyways and past the banks of the Saigon River we made it to our last stop in District 4. It was time to feast on the local seafood this district is known for! We started off with mini scallops encrusted with bits of peanuts and shrimp skewers marinated to perfection. All of this came with a side of morning glory and fried noodles, washed down with a Saigon beer.  

As we chatted away with Peter, Layla sneakily pulled out some homemade rice wine, that was made in Vinny the Street Food Man's own village. It was bottoms up from there as we enjoyed our Happy Water and guzzled the rest of our beers.

Just when we thought our stomachs had reached capacity, out came the final dessert! Flan cake with caramel, coffee and coconut milk and yes I ate every last drop! There is always room for dessert, am I right...







My Final Thoughts


If you’re in Saigon, you need to enjoy life the way the locals do: on the back of a motorbike en route to some mouth-watering street food. Cuisine is an essential part of any culture and with Saigon’s back alleys and entangled streets, finding authentic local food can be quite a challenge here. Trust me, I should know by now. That's why I think Street Food Man has masterfully crafted a street food tour that takes you into the depths of Saigon's many districts in order to get that local food experience you've dreamt about. 

What I still cannot believe, is that after 2 years of living in Ho Chi Minh City, Street Food Man’s tour was able to uncover a whole new Saigon for me, one I haven’t seen before. I think that says a lot in itself. I loved how we were swept away to food stalls and restaurants in the small, winding neighborhoods that are frequented by locals rather than the usual District 1 spots catering to the masses of tourists. Our local guides were also not only experts, but experienced in all that Saigon has to offer. After all, they did grow up here, so who better to chat the night away with and gain insight into what life is really like in Vietnam! I mean, of course food is a major part of any culture, but isn’t it the local food vendors, restaurant owners and energetic guides living in Saigon we want to learn from in the end? I can say with certainty that Street Food Man has taken me off of the beaten path and immersed me in the delicious food, customs and hospitality of the Vietnamese people. Tonight was a night to remember phở-ever!




Essential Information


Time: 5:30pm to 9:30pm

Pick Up & Drop Off: Complementary ride from any hotel within District 1, 3, 4, 5 & 10. Any pick-ups outside this area will incur an extra charge depending on the location & distance of the hotel. Alternatively, you may make your way to the Saigon Opera House, 7 Lam Son Square in District 1.

 Sample Menu: 9 mouth-watering dishes, vegan and vegetarian options available

Included: All food and drinks, transportation by motorbike, English-speaking guides, poncho (if it rains), accident insurance

Find Them: at www.StreetFoodMan.com or on Facebook and Instagram and TripAdvisor



If you have any questions please reach out! There's nothing I'd love to do more than help you plan your Street Food Man experience!




December 09, 2019 No comments

There are countless restaurants to wine and dine your way around in Ho Chi Minh City, but the heart of Saigon lies in the tiniest alleyways on top of miniature plastic tables and chairs. Understanding a country's culture often lies in its cuisine and Vietnam's can be found in the food stalls that cover every district, neighbourhood and laneway across the country. 

Street food in Ho Chi Minh City is not only an easy and inexpensive way to quickly satisfy your cravings, but it's also a doorway to a whole new world of Saigonese deliciousness. Here are my personal top 10 favourite street eats to find in Ho Chi Minh City Saigon.




1. Bún Mắm (Fermented Fish Soup)

Brace yourself. Here we have a noodle soup with a fermented fish broth, seafood, pork belly, eggplant and fish cake. I know ... fermented fish broth, pffft pass ... but its sweet tangy base mixed with thick rice noodles and chunks of delicious meat has never disappointed my taste buds.


How to Eat: Add some lime juice and assorted leaves and slurp away!

Where to Eat: Bún Mắm Phan Xích Long, 11 Hoa Sứ, Phường 7, Phú Nhuận District, Hồ Chí Minh




2. Bánh Xèo (Vietnamese Stuffed Crepe)

Vietnamese cuisine is always a game changer, take for example this huge sizzling crepe made from rice flour and coconut milk. Not your typical Sunday crepe, it's then stuffed with bean sprouts, taro, carrots, cooked shrimp and thin slices of cooked pork. More than a divine combination this will make your mouth explode.



How to Eat: Take a bit of the stuffed crepe, wrap it in lettuce, dunk it in the sauce and voila! Magic!

Where to Eat: Banh Xeo 46A, 46A Dinh Cong Trang, Tan Dinh, District 1,  Ho Chi Minh




3. Bánh Canh Cua (Crab Soup)

These thick, hearty, dreamy tapioca noodles are topped with a handful of crab meat, sliced pork, quail eggs, shrimp, and crab cake. A dash of green onions and black pepper top off this drool worthy dish. Yum!



How to Eat: Add some lime and chili and through in a couple Chinese donuts and eat up!

Where to Eat: Bánh Canh Cua 87, 87 Trần Khắc Chân, Tân Định, District 1, Hồ Chí Minh





4. Bún Chả  Ha Noi (Grilled Pork & Noodles)

Originally from Hanoi, bun cha was taken by the street food gods down the coast to Saigon. Spiced pork patties and thin slices of pork belly (grilled until crispy) are served in a delightful bowl of fish sauce, sliced young papaya, carrot and garlic. Plain rice noodles and a huge basket of fresh herbs accompany one of the best meals you can get for under $2.00.



How to Eat: I personally rip up the greens and dump them and the noodles into the large bowl filled with pork and fish sauce! Don't forget to order spring rolls to throw into the mix.

Where to Eat: Hải Hội Quán - Bún Chả Hà Nội & Nem Rán, 51 Xuân Thủy, Thảo Điền, District 2, Ho Chi Minh





5. Bún Riêu Cua (Fried Crab Soup)

This noodle based soup is taken to taste bud heaven using the deliciousness of crab (crab bricks, crab body, crab everything) and the bitterness of tomatoes. Bun Riêu is a tasty mixture of sweet copper crab meat, sour tangy broth and tangled vermicelli noodles, all topped with a congealed pig’s blood cube. Yes, this special ingredient complements the dish perfectly, and is basically like eating maroon jell-o!


Photo by: @pork_lego_guy

How to Eat: Often served with chopped lettuce and spinach stalks, you just throw some of those in there and add some chili as per your liking!


Where to Eat: Bún Riêu Gánh, 4 Phan Bội Châu, Phường Bến Thành, District 1, Hồ Chí Minh





6. Bánh Tráng Nướng (Vietnamese Pizza)

If you love pizza as much as I do then you'll need to cross Vietnamese pizza off your list. Starting off as a sheet of rice paper, it's slathered in butter and grilled on a coal brazier. Minced pork, shredded pork floss, dried baby shrimp, and chopped spring onions are sprinkled on generously. Quail egg yolk and a squirt of chili sauce help to bind everything together.


Photo by: @saigonesekitchen
How to Eat: Bite in or fold it into a taco and enjoy!

Where to Eat: Bánh Tráng Nướng C002 - Chi nhánh 1,  23/49 Đinh Tiên Hoàng, phường 3, Bình Thạnh, Hồ Chí Minh





7. Bánh Mì (Vietnamese Sandwich) 

Nothing can beat the best go-to meal and most popular street food in this city! A fusion of roasted pork, rice pate, homemade butter, chillies, pickled carrots and coriander are wrapped inside a crispy French baguette. Some soy sauce and chilies are added for that extra kick!



How to Eat: No explanation needed here!

Where to Eat: Lò Bánh Mỳ Xuân Thu/ Bon Banh Mi, 27 Quốc Hương, Thảo Điền, District 2, Hồ Chí Minh OR a larger than life bánh mì with all the fillings: Bánh mì Huỳnh Hoa, 26 Lê Thị Riêng, P, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh





8. Hủ Tiếu Nam Vang (Nam Vang Noodles) 

If you are feeling daring, be sure to try out this mixture of: dried shrimp, liver, green onion, intestines, minced meat, Nam Vang noodles and pork heart! All folded together in a sweet and savoury soup how can you pass on this dish?



How to Eat: Pour the soup over the noodles and season to your liking!

Where to Eat: Hủ Tiếu Nam Vang Thành Đạt, 25 Cô Bắc, Phường Cầu Ông Lãnh, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh





9. Phở (Beef Noodle Soup)

Vietnam’s claim to culinary fame boils down to a rich, fragrant broth made from simmering beef, subsequently spiced with anise, cinnamon, onions and ginger. It's a must and if you don't know, now you phở!



How to Eat: Pick the leaves off some fresh herbs and chuck them into your soup, I like to add hoisin sauce and chili to liven it up!

Where to Eat: Phở Hoà Pasteur, 260C Pasteur, Phường 8, District 3, Hồ Chí Minh





10. Bún đậu Mắm Tôm (Fermented Shrimp Paste With Noodles)

Three main ingredients come together to make up one of my favourite dishes in Vietnam. Vermicelli noodles, golden fried tofu and the star of the show fermented shrimp paste. Although this may be the smelliest food in Vietnam, you need to leave room in your foody bucket list to try it out!

Photo by: @quynhhsiniee

How to Eat: Add a spoonful or two of sugar, lime juice and chili to the purple sauce. Mix until frothy. Dip your noodles, tofu, pork and herbs into the sauce and nibble away!

Where to Eat: Bún Đậu Mắm Tôm & Bún Chả Hà Nội - Trần Trọng Cung, 9 Trần Trọng Cung, Tân Thuận Đông, District 7, Hồ Chí Minh



There is so much more out there than just this list of 10 street foods! And to be honest narrowing it down was nearly impossible. So stop wasting time and get out on the streets of Saigon.
September 04, 2019 No comments
It’s true what they say, that the best things come in tiny packages! Well, at least as far as tapas goes, that is. If you’re anything like me and enjoy crafted-to-perfection tiny parcels, which are perfectly positioned AND also edible, then Tomatito’s Sexy Tapas Bar is about to haul your taste buds to the buzzing bars of Barcelona! Think, bite size portions with explosive flavours, accompanied by a large glass of Sangria. Toto, I don’t think we’re in Ho Chi Minh City anymore. 

We can all agree that tapas allows the indecisive to thrive. And some of the best Spanish food in Ho Chi Minh City can be found right in its very core. Downtown district 1 is home to the sexiest tapas bar in the city, Tomatito, where the rustic style of Spanish flavours and festive presentations stay true to an authentic tapas experience!

If there was one place I could unapologetically order the entire menu, Tomatito has my heart. Luckily for you, I am here to offer up some of my absolute favourite dishes! 



Salmón TNT 


This tasty smoked salmon parcel is stacked on top of a honey explosive just waiting for you to sink your teeth into. Pop this little guy in your mouth and let the fireworks go off because the flavours will make your eyes roll back! This is a must try!


Pulpo a la Tomatito


Next up was the char-grilled octopus piled on top of delicately cooked Iberian ham and a heavenly confit potato. Smothered in paprika oil, this little skewer is an experience you will never forget!


El Nido

People may like chorizo, but everyone loves Iberian chorizo escorted by a quail egg baked in a miniature bun, right? What's not to love? And served in a miniature nest? That was game over for me!


Ensalada con Brie

Tossed leaves in truffle honey dressing and sprinkled with warm brie, this is how you revitalize a salad! Did I mention the brie comes fried with warm walnuts inside? Now I understand why people enjoy salads.



Entraña de Angus con Guisantes


There’s nothing like mouthwatering, juicy steak to wet the appetite! From their sexy BBQ comes a succulent Australian Angus flap steak over a bed of roasted vegetables and pea puree! There is no doubt I could have easily licked this plate clean, but I do have some manners...



Paella de Mariscos


It's difficult, if not impossible, to find a good paella in Ho Chi Minh City. So, for all of you who love Spanish cuisine (and let's face it, who wouldn’t) just close your eyes and picture a scorching cast iron dish simmering together chicken, seafood, rice, vegetables, saffron and much, much more. If you haven’t experimented with different paella’s, I think I had you at simmer.

Paella is usually referred to as Spain’s national dish, however, it is a dish that has been authentically created here in Ho Chi Minh City by Tomatito! Be sure to choose wisely as they offer up five different amazing paella fusions! From their Catalonian Black Paella mixed with cuttlefish and squid to their most famous Mixed Seafood Dry Paella, every option is muyyyyyy bien!



Crema de Limón


Finally, for dessert we dug our spoons into the sexy lemon cream, piled high with basil-lime sorbet and berries. If there was ever a time I wish I weren’t sharing a dessert, it would be now!




Spanish Flair & Live Music


Diversity breeds happiness! And in a city, which lives and breathes its food scene, trying something new is the best way to expose yourself to the diverse food culture that is Saigon!

Stepping into Tomatito took me right back to Barcelona’s weaving cobble stone streets. Eating ice cream and enjoying that European sun. The pitchers of ruby red Sangria, the perfectly hung patio lights and the eccentric décor, not to mention the cutest red polka dot scooter put you on the coast of the Mediterranean instantly! With live music every Friday and Saturday night you don’t need to jump on a plane to feel like you’re in Spain. Olé!



Essential Information

Location: Tomatito Sexy Tapas Bar, 171 Calmette, Phường Nguyễn Thái Bình, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh
How To Get There: Located above Maison Marou on the second floor, you will find Tomatito’s outdoor stairway to the right of EC Farm Café!
Find Them: at www.tomatito.vn or on Facebook and Instagram
Menu: Take a look at their Sexy Food Menu, their Express Lunch Menu and of course their Drink Menu!

If you have any questions please reach out! There's nothing more I'd love to do than help you plan your Tomatito experience!
June 12, 2019 No comments
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