I was invited to dine at Benaras, an Indian lounge and restaurant nestled in the heart of the Saigon. It immediately became my go-to for an Indian fix. 

Although Benaras lies neatly in a quieter street in town, the restaurant is almost always packed with such a diverse array of customers in the peak hours of the night. Benaras offers a wide range of Northern Indian dishes with an emphasis on homeliness, health, and authenticity.

Playing with your food isn’t a crime

What instantly stood out amongst the vast sea of dishes on the menu was the street food section. My favorite was Gol Gappe (or Panipuri). It was not so much a dish but more like an exciting ride in the amusement park. Each crunchy mouthful was a unique experience, from the earthy minty goodness to the sweet cooling chutney, you could taste it all.  A close second would be Puri bhaji which was on a slightly heartier side. Despite the distinctness of each dish, both featured similar staples such as potatoes, in which case, trying one out at a time might enhance your experience.

Tasting fireworks

Since all meals are made fresh to order, they take a good 20 minutes to make. While waiting, I got to enjoy what sounded like Hindi pop intertwined with good ol’ Rock, the likes of One Last Breath and The Final Countdown. It was surprising at first but I quickly eased to the vibrant beats. The rather intriguing song selection actually amplified the experience for me when I found myself fervently nodding to the Cranberries’s Zombies while relishing a perfect bite of curry-wrapped naan. Each bite was an explosion of flavors, meshing and melting into one another. As a garlic lover, I might be biased, but the Garlic naan was an absolute treat– it was garlicky, stretchy, yet somehow still had a bite to it. The Mutton was cooked till tender and filled with flavors, while the curry itself was creamy and hot with spices, as soothing as a hug on rainy days. 

Fresh for the best

Accustomed to the myriad sauces on the Indian dining table, I admit to having had a fleeting moment of disappointment when they offered me only two kinds: tamarind and mint. Upon dipping my gooey cheese naan into the sauces, I began to savor them both and figured I might not miss the variety after all. The two iconic chutneys were enough to satisfy my taste buds due to their unbelievable freshness. Benaras’s mint sauce was the best I had ever tasted. It was jam-packed with flavors and felt fresh like a morning breeze. The tamarind sauce was nothing less – fresh with a tinge of luxury.

Paneer (Indian cottage cheese) and Dahi (Indian yogurt) are made in the Benaras kitchen every morning, and it clearly pays off. I had Lassi, an Indian yogurt drink, and was again surprised by its freshness and how refreshing it was for a dairy-based beverage. It also complimented the taste of my spicy Prawn Masala. Overall, highly recommended. Many chicken dishes at Benaras also have the chicken marinated in yogurt, which gives it a subtle creamy element and a beautiful coat with seared marks that contain all the desirable zest. I had several kinds and enjoyed every one of them in many different ways. 

Delicious roots and the story behind it all

Ms. Nidi, the owner, shared that Benaras was opened with a mission: changing the perception of Indian food, which has started currying favor (pun intended) with Vietnamese people only recently. Contrary to popular misconception, Indian food is exceptionally healthful. It contains loads of vegetables, spices laden with benefits, retains more nutrition due to slow-cook method, and has little saturated fat compared to most dishes elsewhere. She takes a step further to making sure that Benaras delivers non-oily food from fresh quality ingredients as detailed above. I truly felt no guilt treating myself to a steamy hot earnest bowl of curry in days wanting comfort. 

Towards the end of our conversation, Ms. Nidi shared that her husband and daughter were her greatest critics. They would come infrequently and taste test, so rest assured, you truly are getting family-endorsed delights at Benaras. 

Bits & Pieces

• Location: 
  • 5A, Nguyen Sieu Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City 
  • 28, Tran Ngoc Dien, Thao Dien Ward, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City
• Hours: 10 am – 12 am
• The cherry: 
  • District 1 branch offers “Royal Cuisine” that lets you dine how the Indian Royals would with customs, extravagant cutlery, and all.
  • District 2 branch has a garden and a rooftop bar. 
  • They are committed to being green and sustainable 😀

*Photos by Nhi Luong & f.ahntasy