Lee's Noodle Kitchen
One of the newer faces in town, Lee’s serves up a variety of tasty noodle dishes in one of Saigon’s most western neighborhoods. The prawn and pork dumplings are delicious and the roast duck mouth watering, yet at Lee’s it’s really the noodles that steal the show. Each dish can be ordered dry and then tossed in a sesame oil or as a soup with steaming pork broth.
Tan Nguyen Thai
Tan Nguyen Thai is known locally by Western expats, Chinese, and Vietnamese alike to have some of the best dumplings in town. A towering menu sitting on top of red and yellow signage will let you know you’ve made it to this always-packed hole in the wall in Saigon’s historic Cholon neighborhood. This should be a stop on any food lover’s visit to Vietnam. The menu is as extensive as it is delicious, featuring nearly a dozen pages of steamed or pan fried dumplings. Come with friends so you can try as much as possible.
Ocean Palace
Located just outside the madness of central Saigon, Ocean Palace is one of the best higher-end Chinese options in town. The menu is geared more toward seafood with options like prawn dumplings and shrimp pancakes. However, their meat and vegetarian options are great as well. The roast duck is crispy and expertly marinated.
Tien Phat Dim Sum
In operation for over 20 years now, Tien Phat is a Hong Kong joint dropped into the midst of Vietnam’s oldest Chinatown. The menu is similarly extensive to that of Tan Nguyen Thai, and the ambiance is cozy, casual and authentic. The steamed pork and crab dumplings are some of our favorite in the whole city.
Li Bai Chinese Restaurant
Located on the second floor of the Saigon Sheraton, Li Bai boasts some of the best and most expensive Chinese food in the region. The Beijing Duck is widely regarded as one of the, if not the, tastiest in the city, and the Dim sum list is never ending. With such a high-end location, it’s no surprise that the service is great and ambiance pleasant.