Saigoneer | Eat & Drink

“Burgers Chose Me”: The Journey of Pingu's Burger and Healthy Fast Food

brian.letwin@gmail.com (Saigoneer. Photos by Pingu Burger.) — Sun, 14 Jan 2024 04:45:48 GMT

On an intimate, tree-lined street in the middle of Thảo Điền sits Pingu's Burger. By outward appearance, it seems like your run-of-the-mill burger joint, but there’s more intention here than one would expect.

In Search of Quy Nhơn’s New and Traditional Delicacies

paul@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer. Photos by Saigoneer.) — Mon, 16 Oct 2023 07:20:32 GMT

When asked what one should do when visiting, Quy Nhơn, one of Saigoneer’s favorite cities, the answer is simple: eat!

Landmark 81’s Oriental Pearl Prepares Dishes with its Head in the Clouds

guionbajotal@gmail.com (Saigoneer. Photos by Saigoneer.) — Wed, 28 Jun 2023 23:22:51 GMT

What Saigon venue offers the best mountain view? This may seem like an absurdist question given the city’s notoriously flat landscape, but if you go up high enough, you are actually able to see them rise on the distant horizon. But before recognizing these peaks, you are liable to get lost marveling at the city as it unfurls below in all its neon glory below.

From Buffet to Wine Bar: Exploring Dining Options at Saigon Grand Opera Hotel

guionbajotal@gmail.com (Saigoneer. Photos by Saigoneer.) — Wed, 27 Nov 2024 03:59:38 GMT

A shimmering sprawl of fresh prawns greets guests who arrive at Saigon Café for a nutritious, energizing International Buffet Lunch. The seafood is a perfect introduction to a meal that relies on fresh ingredients to provide a healthy, relaxing boost so diners can proceed to a productive afternoon.

Saigon’s Vibrant Charm and Energy Captured at RBar and Viet Kitchen

guionbajotal@gmail.com (Saigoneer. Photos by Saigoneer.) — Sat, 03 Jun 2023 02:50:37 GMT

Can one long for Saigon, even when in Saigon? The metropolis’ international influences and connections mean one can find cuisines, products and aesthetics from just about everywhere in the world here. This allows for a wonderfully convenient life, but sometimes it can be difficult to remember that Saigon has its own unique style and traditions. It’s important to have places to immerse in those flavors and aesthetics.

Experience Elevated Dining with Le Méridien Saigon's A La Carte Brunch and Set Lunch

guionbajotal@gmail.com (Saigoneer. Photos by Saigoneer.) — Sat, 03 Jun 2023 02:51:06 GMT

Many variables determine what you want to find on your lunch plate. While you certainly must eat something, the particulars of how long you have free in your schedule, the company you are with, the mood your taste buds are in and where you are located, go a long way in determining what you are looking to eat. Le Méridien Saigon in District 1 has diverse options suitable for indulgent weekend brunches as well as convenient and nourishing weekday lunches thanks to two of their venues: Latest Recipe and BARSON.

Saigoneer's 5 Best Ngõ Nooks of 2018

chris@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Sun, 17 Apr 2022 09:57:50 GMT

In 2018, Hanoi certainly saw its fair share of the good, the bad and the surprising, but it was, as always, a wonderful year for eating and drinking. Across the city, we delighted in finding decades-old street food spots and brand-new businesses alike.

[Video] Japanese Competitive Eater Visits Vietnam, Eats 15 Bánh Xèo in One Sitting

luca@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Wed, 18 Apr 2018 09:31:42 GMT

Yuka Kinoshita loves a good food challenge.

Tokyo Restaurant Dishes Out Insect Ramen

matatarski@gmail.com (Saigoneer.) — Thu, 13 Apr 2017 05:25:10 GMT

Saigon's recent In-N-Out pop-up has nothing on a ramen restaurant in Tokyo which served up an unorthodox version of the popular dish last Sunday.

Meet the Owner of Hanoi’s Secret Cafe

dana@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Tue, 27 Dec 2016 11:00:00 GMT

Vietnam has long been a coffee-drinking country, but over the last few years a growing number of enthusiasts have started to take the brew very seriously.

Hanoi Launches Mobile Testing Labs to Promote Food Safety

dana@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer. Photo by Brian Letwin.) — Thu, 17 Nov 2016 03:39:20 GMT

Hanoi recently launched three mobile food testing labs in an effort to reassure consumers and promote food safety.

Funky History: The Romans Made Fish Sauce, Too

dana@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Thu, 27 Oct 2016 03:42:49 GMT

Nước mắm holds a hallowed place in Vietnamese cuisine. In all its forms, it is a staple, found in kitchens and on tables throughout the country. But while fish sauce is often considered Vietnam’s – and even Southeast Asia’s – most coveted condiment, the Roman Empire also had its own version of the stuff.

Thanh Nien Issues Public Apology for Fish Sauce Articles, Vinastas Under Investigation

dana@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 07:57:31 GMT

Both the Vietnam Standards and Consumers Association (Vinastas) and Thanh Nien newspaper have publicly apologized after a string of articles published by the latter claimed many brands of local fish sauce were tainted by arsenic.

International Pop-Up Restaurant to Open This Week in Saigon

dana@saigoneer.com (Dana Filek-Gibson.) — Mon, 24 Oct 2016 10:32:34 GMT

When James Sharman starts talking about the last three weeks, he gets a little wide-eyed. His hands animate each story, hovering above the table. Between sips of coffee, he launches into tales of squid fishing and mountain villages and cooking with middle-aged women in Hoi An. If you didn’t know any better, you’d peg the Englishman for just another traveler passing through Southeast Asia.

[Video] What Asia Eats: Bizarre Food Fads From Across the Continent

dana@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Fri, 14 Oct 2016 07:50:32 GMT

In kitchens and on tables across the continent, Asia serves up some pretty unique grub.

Vietnamese Fish Sauce Producer Enters the Thai Market, Aims for Regional Domination

dana@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Thu, 06 Oct 2016 03:21:47 GMT

Last week, Masan, one of Vietnam’s largest private-sector firms, made a bold move by launching its fish sauce in Thailand, a market traditionally dominated by homegrown brands.

[Video] How Obama’s Bún Chả Dinner Came to Be

dana@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 04:47:02 GMT

When Obama visited Hanoi last May, he made a number of positive developments during his trip: lifted a 50-year-old arms embargo, witnessed the signing of a US$11.3 billion business deal, heralded the beginnings of a Fulbright University in Vietnam and generally won the hearts of the Vietnamese people.

How Farming Technology Could Improve the Quality of Vietnamese Produce

dana@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Thu, 22 Sep 2016 09:42:38 GMT

As farmers struggle to keep up with demand for fresh produce in Vietnam, safe and effective farming technologies may be the answer.

McDonald's Faces Stagnant Growth in Vietnam As Local Fast Food Fad Cools Down

khoi@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer. Photo by Lee Starnes.) — Thu, 08 Sep 2016 15:30:05 GMT

Back in 2014, during its first month in Vietnam, McDonald’s seemed set for success, as its first location in Saigon managed to attract some 400,000 curious patrons to sample its American dishes.

Ice Cream Wars: Japan's Frozen Treat Makers Take on European Firms in Southeast Asia Market

dana@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Sun, 21 Aug 2016 03:16:25 GMT

Southeast Asia’s dessert market is getting some healthy competition as Japanese companies join the fray, hoping to take a piece of the pie from their European counterparts.

[Photos] A Midnight Romp Through Saigon’s Wholesale Seafood Market

dana@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 08:30:05 GMT

Around midnight, as most Saigoneers are heading off to bed, District 8’s Binh Dien is the place to be if you’re in search of seafood.

Officials Attempt to Trademark Bún Bò Huế

dana@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer. Photo by Alberto Prieto.) — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 03:51:25 GMT

Officials in Thua Thien-Hue province are causing quite a stir after attempting to enact a regulation that would place trademark restrictions on the province’s signature soup, bún bò Huế.

Spice up Your Morning Phở With These Herbs

dana@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer. Photo by Brandon Coleman.) — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 10:44:17 GMT

In the wonderful world of Vietnamese soups, everyone has their preferred set of spices.

Vinamilk Goes Organic

dana@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Mon, 04 Jul 2016 05:00:00 GMT

Vinamilk, Vietnam's largest dairy producer, is going organic.

Vietnamese Cafes Take on Global Giants, Emerge Victorious

dana@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Mon, 27 Jun 2016 04:07:36 GMT

When Starbucks first opened its doors in Vietnam in 2013, a slight panic was in the air. From abroad, news outlets wondered whether the global coffee giant could adapt to Vietnam's unique coffee culture; at home, alarmists worried about being taken out by a bigger, stronger outfit, while larger local coffee moguls like Trung Nguyen remained unfazed.

Vietnamese Cocoa Receives Fine Flavor Recognition

dana@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Wed, 25 May 2016 05:21:05 GMT

Vietnam officially earned a fancy new title this week at the 2016 World Cocoa Conference.

Why MSG Isn't Actually Bad for You

dana@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Thu, 19 May 2016 04:03:10 GMT

For decades, much of the western world has been skeptical of monosodium glutamate (MSG), better known as Ajinomoto to Vietnamese. However, as research has suggested time and again, there is actually nothing to fear when it comes to this magical, umami-filled flavor enhancer.

This Vietnamese-Australian Is Raking in $19m a Year Serving Vietnamese Food

dana@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Thu, 29 Jun 2017 06:47:55 GMT

When Vietnamese-Australian Bao Hoang opened the very first branch of Rolld, a store specializing in street food-inspired Vietnamese cuisine, the former physiotherapist had high hopes for his newest business venture.

[Photos] Yangon's Must-Have Street Snacks

dana@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 07:28:03 GMT

Like any major city, Yangon borrows from Myanmar's many ethnic groups, not to mention its neighbors, to create a mosaic of the country's cuisine.

[Photos/Video] As Tet Approaches, Vietnam's Braised Fish Village Goes Online

dana@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 04:38:44 GMT

In the lead-up to Vietnam's new year celebration, it is time to remember that which is most important during the holiday season: food.

Hanoi's Communist Cafe Chain Comes to Saigon

dana@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer. Photos by Brian Letwin.) — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 07:42:17 GMT

Set foot inside the newly opened southern branch of Cong Caphe and you'll instantly feel like a giant. The endless array of tchotchke lining its concrete walls and wooden shelves – transistor radios, chipped tin cups and a forest worth of vintage books – shrink the retro space. Above the crowded bar and main cafe area, a creaky wooden loft houses low-rise folding chairs, their seat cushions covered in a bright, '70s-style floral pattern, and each distressed wooden table looks like it's been around since the war era.

Da Nang's Taiwanese Taco Shop Is out of This World

dana@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Mon, 25 Jan 2016 03:53:27 GMT

It's fair to be skeptical of Mexican food in a country like Vietnam. Despite the best efforts of chefs across the country, tacos in Southeast Asia can often wind up being oceans away – both literally and figuratively – from the real thing.

[Photos] Here Are 12 of Thailand's Tastiest Noodle Soups

dana@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Sat, 23 Jan 2016 05:00:06 GMT

We all know about mì, phở, bún, bánh canh, hủ tiếu, miến, cao lâu and a plethora of other Vietnamese noodles, but Thailand is equally famous for its scores of noodle-based dishes.

Starbucks' Da Lat Coffee Now Available in Vietnam

dana@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 02:45:38 GMT

As of January 4, Starbucks stores in Vietnam now sell Da Lat coffee.

This D5 Restaurant Serves Up 7 Bowls Of Noodles For 49k

dang@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Tue, 06 Oct 2015 07:30:22 GMT

Sometimes choice can be overwhelming. Do you go with the phở or the hủ tiếu? The bún chả or the bánh canh? For all the good food Vietnam has to offer, eating requires far too many decisions in this country.

Phở Is Vietnam’s Best Dish: Business Insider

dang@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 04:42:26 GMT

Perhaps in an effort to balance its more serious content, American publication Business Insider has taken to producing Buzzfeed-style lists (yes, we’re all guilty of this). Stemming from a Quora thread in which users singled out the most iconic foods from their countries, the online magazine ran with the topic and created their own list called “The best thing to eat in 50 countries around the world”.

[Infographics] 6 Of Vietnam's Most Dangerous Foods

dang@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Wed, 23 Sep 2015 06:07:13 GMT

From duck fetus to pork intestines, food is nothing short of an adventure in Vietnam. But if you're not careful, it can be more of an adventure than you bargained for, depending on what and where you eat.

[Video] Kinh Do Makes Mooncake Sexy In New TV Commercial

dang@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Tue, 22 Sep 2015 07:33:44 GMT

Love 'em or hate 'em, mooncakes are one of Vietnam's most visually attractive holiday treats. Featuring beautiful, intricate designs and packed with a range of both sweet and savory flavors, there's a lot that goes into mooncake perfection.

Weekly Voucher Giveaways Presented by Slapdish And Saigoneer

brian.letwin@gmail.com (Saigoneer.) — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 07:45:45 GMT

Saigoneer has teamed up with Slapdish to provide our users with free food and drinks at some of Saigon’s most popular restaurants. This week features American-style burgers from Chuck’s, cocktails at Shine, Tex-Mex favorites at La Fiesta and ginormous Black Cat burgers. We're working on adding some Vietnamese flavor for next weeks' deals so keep an eye out for those.

The Hidden Gems of Binh Tay Market

brian.letwin@gmail.com (Lee Starnes. .) — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 06:49:11 GMT

Among the busy streets of District 6, Binh Tay, Cho Lon’s central market, sits in all its hectic glory.

[Video] How To Cook: Rau Câu Khuôn (Jello Cake)

brian.letwin@gmail.com (Saigoneer.) — Fri, 22 Aug 2014 09:54:14 GMT

While rau câu khuôn is typically served in individual pieces, in the shape of flowers or animals, it can also be served as a cake wherein triangular slices are cut and served. But over at Hellen’s Recipes, the YouTube sensation takes the common desert to the next level with her ornate flower rau câu khuôn masterpiece.

15 of Saigon's Best Hidden Coffee Shops

brian.letwin@gmail.com (Saigoneer.) — Tue, 06 Aug 2024 11:36:47 GMT

Saigon, known for its coffee culture, offers many different environments where one can grab a cup of joe. However, sometimes we crave something a bit more comfortable than plastic stools but don’t want to waste our hard-earned cash at the big chains.