Saigon’s Best Foods to Keep You Warm

Located in the South of Vietnam close to the sea, Saigon has a wonderful tropical climate with an average humidity, believed to have two seasons: the dry season and the wet season, in stark contrast to Hanoi which has four decent seasons. Saigon has no proper winter yet having said so, there are still brief downpours from May to October, with chances of unwelcoming violent showers between mid-August and mid-September, bringing cold breeze to town. During those days, the food list below is the most ideal to savor for warm and cozy moments.

Pho

Proudly ranked #28 on the list of world’s 50 best foods by CNN in 2011, this signature noodle soup of Vietnam is definitely a perfect warming dish for winter. Though pho originated in the north, the southern style pho still captures the fascination of many food lovers around the world with deeply savory beef broth, slippery thin rice vermicelli, a modest amount of meat and additional garnishes such as a squeeze of lime, handfuls of bean sprouts, cilantro, cinnamon basil and especially must-have hoisin or hot chilli sauce. A bowl of pho never goes wrong in the chilling weather.

Price range: 20,000 – 80,000VND
Places to find:
Hòa: #260C Pasteur Street, District 3
Lệ: #413-415 Nguyen Trai Street, District 5 / #303-305 Vo Van street, District 3
Bình: #7 Ly Chinh Thang Street, District 8
Phú Vương: #339 Le Van Sy Street, Tan Binh District
Quyền: #33 Hoang Van Thu Street, Phu Nhuan District

https://www.mazevietnam.com/2018/03/18/saigon-cooling-foods-drinks-desserts/

Súp cua – Crab Soup

This thick and hearty soup is definitely different from the salty, sour and sweet cuisine that Vietnam is known for. Originated in French, this recipe is a reminiscence of Chinese egg drop soup accompanied by flavorful chicken bones broth, quail eggs, tender crabmeat, mushrooms, and fresh herbs. Some places also add century eggs for a creamy consistency and strong flavor.

Price range: 15,000 – 35,000VND
Places to find:
Hạnh: #873-875 Nguyen Huu Cau Street, District 1
Dũng: #40 Nguyen Huu Hao Street, District 4
Cô Lan: #239 Luong Nhu Hoc Street, District 5
Cô Bông: #166 Pho Co Dieu Street, District 11
Hoa Cúc: #8 Hoa Cuc Street, Phu Nhuan District

Duck porridge

Basically, porridge is rice simmered in water some time until the rice breaks down and thickens the water with its starch, which slightly resembles risotto of Italy. Porridges can be served with any proteins but the most popular one is still boiled or braised duck meat. Before you eat, add a handful of bean sprouts, some slices of

Price range: 20,000 – 110,000VND
Places to find:
Gốc Nhà Lá: #118 Binh Quoi Street, Binh Thanh District / #148 Tran Binh Trong Street, District 5
Thu Nga: #108 Binh Quoi Street, Binh Thanh District
Liên: #21/8A Nguyen Thien Thuat Street, District 3
Bà Lâm: #343/2 To Hien Thanh Street, District 10
#281/26/7 Le Van Sy Street, Tan Binh District

Tofu

Put a few slices of ginger and tapioca pearls, pour in as much sweet sugar syrup and creamy coconut milk as you want on top of the soft, fragrant tofu and then you have a hot delicate snack that is attached to every Vietnamese’s childhood. That traditional tofu was often sold by street vendors, served hot in a porcelain bowl and eaten on the spot while sitting a five-inch stool, which can only be seen in a few places these days.

Price range: 6,000 – 10,000VND
Places to find:
On the pavement of #128 Dinh Tien Hoang Street, District 1 (from 6:00 am till sold out)
On the pavement of #194/4/2 Bui Dinh Tuy Street, Binh Thanh District (from 9:00 pm till sold out)
#171 Bui Vien Street, District 1 (opposite the junction of Bui Vien Street and Do Quang Dau Street; from 5:30 pm till sold out)
#68 Nguyen Phuc Nguyen Street, District 3 (from 3:30 pm to 10:00 pm)
Đăng Thịnh: #125/24 Bui Dinh Tuy Street, Binh Thanh District

Sweet soup

Sweet soup has long become a popular dessert of Vietnamese culture with its vibrant colors and variety in recipes, including fruits, beans, and other toppings. Strolling around the streets with friends and warm yourself with a delicious bowl of hot sweet soup gives you an exciting experience on the freezing days of Saigon.

Price range: 10,000 – 30,000VND
Places to find:
Kỳ Đồng: #16C Ky Dong Street, District 3
On the pavement of #50 Ly Chinh Thang Street, District 3
Khánh Vy: #242B Su Van Hanh Street, District 10 (serve in a combo with 16 flavors)
Thu Minh: #403A-405A Le Dai Hanh Street, District 11
Xôi chè Bùi Thị Xuân: #111 Bui Thi Xuan Street, District 1
Meet Fresh: #46 Ngo Duc Ke Street, District 1 (specialises in Taiwanese sweet soups)

Snails

Navigating a snail restaurant or food stands is never hard as the fresh snails are always on display outside so you can see and choose what to eat easily. There are many ways to cook snails ranging from steam, stir-fry, sauté, coat in chili and salt to grill and toppings are various as well, with lemongrass, coconut milk, chili sauce, scallions or crushed peanuts. Some of my suggestions for this cold weather definitely are stir-fried mud creeper with coconut milk (ốc len xào dừa), grilled scallops with scallion oil (sò điệp nướng mỡ hành) and boiled apple snails with lemongrass and chilli (ốc bươu luộc sả ớt).

Price range: 10,000 – 30,000VND
Places to find:
A Sòi: #237-239 Nguyen Thuong Hien Street, District 3
Xuân Hón: #43 Le Thi Bach Cat Street, District 11
Đào: Alley 212B Nguyen Trai Street, District 1
Tô: #C128 Xom Chieu Street, District 4
Mắm sữa: #282/4A Bui Huu Nghia, Binh Thanh District

Grilled corn

When the cold winds begin to blow and the cold hands need something warm to hold, then yes, grilled corn is on its own season. The vendors put corns on a charcoal grill and constantly flip them over to make the cover browned and harder but the inside still soft, sweet and fragrant. Smoky grilled yellow corn brushed with chopped, fragrant scallion oil will bring a bit of warmth inside many Saigoneses.

Price range: 10,000 – 15,000VND
Places to find:
#223 Nguyen Kim Street, District 10 (after 7:30 pm)
#159 Phan Xich Long Street, Phu Nhuan District
The junction of Truong Son Street and Le Ba Kien Street, District 10
Gia Dinh Park, Go Vap District

Offal stew

The amazing combination of sweet and sour orange soup with the offal is indescribable. There are probably two kinds offal: beef or pig depending on the vendors, and sometimes their organs too. People usually eat offal stew with baguettes, rice or noodles.

Price range: 15,000 – 30,000VND
Places to find:
Cô Ba: Alley 199 (opposite #199/60) Cach Mang Thang Tam Street, District 3
Lì: #393 Nguyen Tri Phuong Street, District 10
Cô Oanh: #200/20 Xom Chieu Street, District 4
Dì Nủi: #243/30 Ton Dan Street, District 4
Phụng Thiên: #228 Nguyen Phuc Nguyen Street, District 3
Gia Định: #195/7 Xo Viet Nghe Tinh Street, Binh Thanh District (3:00 pm to 8:00 pm)