A burger that tastes like pho!? A playful twist on a traditional dish
Relish and Sons
Vietnamese cuisine is famous for its noodle dish pho, fried soft shell crab, and fresh spring rolls. A movement to turn these dishes into hamburgers is quietly underway. For Vietnamese people, whose soul food is the French bread sandwich "banh mi," hamburgers tend to be shunned as "unhealthy." However, as the city develops, the number of restaurants serving hearty hamburgers made with fresh ingredients has increased, and hamburgers have gradually gained acceptance. Now, the idea of combining these dishes with traditional Vietnamese cuisine has been born.
The "Pho Burger" at Relish & Sons uses pho noodles instead of buns, and costs 150,000 VND++ (tax and service charges not included). The recommended way to eat it is with a knife and fork, but it's also fun to hold it in your hands and bite into it like Western customers do.
The spark that started this playful experiment was the hamburger specialty store "Relish and Sons." The "Pho Burger," which was created as a joke, has become an unexpected hit. This burger uses fried pho noodles in a round shape instead of a bun. Beef is simmered in the same spices as the pho broth, such as star anise, then shredded and shaped into a patty. After garnishing the burger with the mint and other herbs provided, and pouring the sauce over with a squeeze of Vietnamese lime...the taste that spreads in your mouth is just like pho!
The "Vietnamese burger" is also popular at other restaurants. On the left is a burger (Koto) from the Vietnamese restaurant "Bola Lot," made with charcoal-grilled ground beef. On the right is a bun made with seasonings used in the broth of pho, sandwiching the ingredients for pho (Ro22).
| Relish & Sons | ||
|---|---|---|
| address | ： | 2 Đ. Đặng Hữu Phổ, Thảo Điền, Quận 2, Hồ Chí Minh 700000 Vietnam |
| business hours | ： | 10:00～23:00 |
| Closed Day | ： | none |
| SNS | ： | https://www.facebook.com/relishandsons/ |
If you get thirsty while walking around town, take a break with a craft beer
East West Brewing Company
Vietnam ranks 9th in beer consumption in the world, and has the highest growth rate in the world. When it comes to beer in this country, light lagers, which are sometimes made from rice, are the mainstream, but the first craft beer appeared three years ago. Since then, the movement has spread at an incredible pace, and 13 craft beer breweries have already been established in Ho Chi Minh City. It all started when Westerners who grew up on rich, hoppy beer started brewing their own favorite beer at home.
© East West Brewing Co.
East West Brewing Company is the only brewery in central Ho Chi Minh City, where you can taste beer made by American brewers. The brewery also has a bar, making it the perfect place to enjoy freshly brewed, aromatic beer.
Inside the first floor, you can see beer barrels in the back. The second floor, which is open only on weekends, is open-air and refreshing. (© East West Brewing Co.)
There are eight types of standard beer made using traditional methods using only water, malt, yeast, and hops. Limited-edition beers with an element of fun also include fruit and herb beers. You can compare the different types with the tasting set, and the menu shows the craft beer recommended for each dish, so you can enjoy matching the beer with the food.
The "King's Flight," where you can choose your favorite 10 types, costs 425,000 VND. The "Tasting Flight," which has four types, costs 175,000 VND. (© East West Brewing Co.)
| East West Brewing Company | ||
|---|---|---|
| address | ： | 181-185 Ly Tu Trong Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City |
| business hours | ： | 11:00～24:00 |
| Closed Day | ： | none |
| web | ： | https://www.eastwestbrewing.vn |
| SNS | ： | https://www.facebook.com/eastwestbrewery/ |
Nail art featuring fun local designs such as designs of traditional crafts and national flags
Kawaii Nails
Getting your nails done on your hands and feet is a hobby that Vietnamese women can enjoy at affordable prices at beauty salons and markets on the street. Many Vietnamese living in Europe and the US make a living as nail artists, making use of their skills, and nowadays, they are known for their good taste and dexterity, so much so that they are often said to be "Vietnamese when it comes to nails."
Inside the "Kawaii Nail" store
Recently in Ho Chi Minh City, there has been a rapid increase in nail salons that offer not only low prices, but also stylish designs with a stylish interior and a comfortable atmosphere. At Kawaii Nail, located along the pedestrian-only Nguyen Hue Street, you can enjoy fun designs that make full use of the dexterity of Vietnamese nail artists.
Nail design using traditional Hanoi pottery "Bat Trang ware" patterns
There are a wide variety of designs, but be sure to check out the "Travel Nails" that feature designs from various parts of Vietnam. Designs are sure to get you in the travel mood, including designs of Hanoi's traditional craft "Bac Trang pottery," Vietnamese beer bottles, and the country's flag. You can rest assured that the salon will provide careful service, and it's also reassuring that there is one Japanese-speaking staff member. The salon is located on the 9th floor of an old apartment building, so you will need to pay a 3,000 VND elevator fee to use the elevator. The salon will refund the fee after the treatment.
| Kawaii Nail | ||
|---|---|---|
| address | ： | 9F, 42/92 Nguyen Hue Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City |
| business hours | ： | 9:00-19:00 *Currently only on-site service available |
| Closed Day | ： | none |
| web | ： | https://kawaii-saigon.com |
| SNS | ： | https://www.facebook.com/kawaii.saigon/ |
A retro café that preserves a lost Saigon
Uttran Cafe
Old buildings have disappeared, roads have been beautifully maintained, and skyscrapers have sprung up in Ho Chi Minh City. People there feel sad that the charm of the good old city, known as "Saigon" before the Vietnam War, is being lost, and now there is a movement to rediscover traditional culture. One example of this is the popularity of old-style cafes, which collect antique furniture and tableware that would have been found in homes in the past.
The shop has a retro atmosphere. It feels like a hideaway, and piques your curiosity.
One such cafe is Ut Lang Cafe, which is tucked away in an alley in District 1, the busiest and most tourist-oriented district in Ho Chi Minh City. It is set in a two-story traditional house that is over 100 years old and was designed to resemble a "home from the 1980s or 1990s running a coffee shop."
The interior of the store is decorated to resemble an ordinary home in Saigon in the past, with old beds, tables, and chairs.
It's a relaxing space where customers sit on well-worn chairs and beds, and the cats take naps wherever they like. In addition to coffee and Vietnamese beer, they also offer a light meal menu. Wi-Fi is not provided because they value conversation, and they offer a unique service of a 5,000 VND discount per seat if you don't use your mobile phone. Even Japanese people who don't know the old Ho Chi Minh City will feel nostalgic for some reason, and it's a place where you can experience the atmosphere of local Saigon even as a tourist.
The sweet-smelling "Sâm Dứa Sữa (milk tea with pandan leaves)" is 40,000 VND, and the "Kem Ký (ice cream)" topped with colorful fruits is 25,000 VND. Traditional snacks such as pickled plums are also available.
| Út Lành Cà-Phê | ||
|---|---|---|
| address | ： | 1A Thi Sách, Phường 6, Đà Lạt, Đà Lạt, Vietnam |
| business hours | ： | 7:00～22:30 |
| Closed Day | ： | none |
| SNS | ： | https://www.facebook.com/utlanhcaphe/ |
If you're going to Ho Chi Minh City, one of the best parts of the trip is trying out what's popular among the locals. The friendly Saigon people are nostalgic for the old Saigon, but also love new and convenient things. Take a leisurely stroll through this city where they live, where the old and the new coexist, and enjoy the charm of Ho Chi Minh City that can only be experienced now.
Top image credit: Sean Hsu/Shutterstock.com
Originally posted on October 30, 2017
*Some content was updated on December 4, 2024.
Vietnam Sketch Editorial Department
"Vietnam Sketch Travel & Life Guidebook" is an information magazine for Japanese people living in Vietnam and travelers. It was launched in 2000 as the first Japanese information magazine in Vietnam. In addition to managing its own media, the company also produces and coordinates a wide range of Vietnam-related books and magazines published in Japan, and is constantly catching up on the latest information on hotels, restaurants, boutiques, culture, and more throughout Vietnam.
www.vietnam-sketch.com
Ho Chi Minh City is a vibrant city in Asia that still retains strong influences of French culture, while Hanoi is an ancient capital with a history of approximately 1,000 years.
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