4 of My Favorite Saigon BBQ Restaurants
BBQ and beer are probably my two favorite things ever. Well, cheese is also up there in my food power rankings. After moving to Saigon, you can bet your bottom dollar I made sure to explore as many Saigon BBQ restaurants as I could.
This list is going to be a mix of Asian and Western BBQ restaurants, because after all, they are both incredible and worth writing about. BBQ restaurants in Saigon also happen to be absolutely everywhere, so you’ll never be scrambling to find great ribs, goat, or meats in general.
Important Note: I had actually included TnT BBQ in the original list, but I’ve come to find out they closed September 30th. You can still find most of their BBQ over at Malt South (according to their Facebook).
Now, let’s get started with the best BBQ restaurants in Ho Chi Minh!
Wait! Maybe you’re more in the mood for brunch. Find out the best spots to brunch in Saigon here!
Lẩu Dê Trương Định: Curry Goat BBQ & Hot Pot
I couldn’t really find any pictures to use for this, so here’s a picture of a goat. Trust me, you have to go to this place.
After going to Lau De, the first thing I said to my good buddy is, “Man, I sure do need more curry goat BBQ in my life.” It’s just something you don’t typically think of when you think of BBQ in Asia. Lau De has quite a few locations, however I’m specifically writing about my experience (and favorite location) on Trương Định in District 3.
When arriving at Lau De, it can be a bit overwhelming (in a good way), as it’s a hot spot for both eating and drinking – plus, there’s three or four levels to sit on. I recommend heading up to the top level, which I refer to as the penthouse, and sitting by the window. There you can overlook the street while slugging Tiger beers and grilling your own goat. GYOG. Grill Your Own Goat.
My Vietnamese is minimal, so every time I’ve been (I somehow turned into a regular), I would order the giant goat curry plater and use Google Translate to do so. This isn’t a spot that is heavily frequented by foreigners either, so Google Translate is likely your best friend here. The curry goat BBQ platter comes with okra and several other assorted vegetables which you then dip into the curry and grill. Each table will receive their own mini-grill to cook on, so make sure to brush up on your chopsticks skills before heading over.
Goat-enthusiasts can then GYOG and dip it in Lau De’s hot sauce, provided at the table, or donkey milk. While I’m not the biggest fan of donkey milk, most buddies who I went with loved it. I think it is mixed with some sort of citrus as well.
Lau De also has standard noodle, rice, and hot pot dishes, which pass muster. However, it’s all about the goat when I go.
I also recommend heading to Lau De before a big night out, as it’s extremely affordable, lively, and good quality. With four friends, we had several goat platters (which come with okra and various vegetables to grill), noodles, hot pot, and more beers than I can count (they give you a crate with Tiger beers to crack yourself), and the bill was no more than USD $40.
I also had one night out at Lau De where there was no alcohol consumed, and we split two goat curry BBQ platters between us, two or three lemonades each, and a side or two, and the bill was less than USD $4-5 per person.
Website, Address, & Details: https://www.foody.vn/ho-chi-minh/lau-de-truong-dinh
Torisho Izakaya Japantown
Credit to Torisho’s Facebook page. I would recommend checking out their TripAdvisor profile for more reviews and photos.
For those unfamiliar, ‘izakaya’ is the Japanese word for an informal Japanese pub or tavern for after-work dinner and drinks. Emphasis on the drinks. Izakayas are often cozy (tight seating), smokey, and high energy, with incredible BBQ skewers, rice bowls, fried chicken, and grilled fish. Most importantly, Asahi, Sapporo, and Kirin beers (along with sake) are always on draft and flow like the Mekong – to the point they would even make Bacchus blush.
Torisho Izakaya is smack dab in the middle of Saigon’s Japantown and one of the best Japanese BBQ spots in Ho Chi Minh. It’s a preferred spot by yours truly to start the night out, due to the affordable prices, great atmosphere, and sake. Torisho and Japanese BBQ are quite different from the others on the list, as their modus operandi tackles BBQ skewers, rather than large slabs of beef, goat, or pork.
You know an izakaya is good when the majority of the clientele are Japanese.
The staff are also extremely friendly and highly attentive, meaning you’ll always have a new Sapporo draught beer on rotation right after finishing your current one. There’s two floors with seating areas, but I recommend if you want the jam-packed, high energy, izakaya experience, sit downstairs.
Food-wise, I’m always content. The great thing about yakitori and BBQ skewers is that there’s plenty of wiggle room to try numerous types. At Torisho, I recommend mixing it up and ordering several of each meat category; pork, beef, and chicken. You can’t go wrong. And, make sure to get a few skewers that are wrapped in bacon. Bacon always makes everything better.
Another favorite of mine at Torisho is their ‘Unagi Don’, aka their eel rice bowl. They also have fried chicken rice bowls, sushi, and other Japanese staples (okonomiyaki and grilled salmon).
Website, Address, & Details: https://www.facebook.com/8A11B1thaivanlung/
Additional Notes: Japantown can be somewhat difficult to navigate due to it being compact and it’s own “mini-city.” When entering Japantown from the Thai Van Lung Street entrance, simply walk straight, and right before the intersection (where you can go either right or left), Torisho will be on your left.
Jake’s American BBQ
Credit to Jake’s American BBQ’s Facebook page.
Jake’s American BBQ is THE restaurant in Ho Chi Minh where it feels like your cool Uncle is sharing his passion with you. And Jake’s passion is American BBQ. Jake’s feels like home, and that says a lot. It’s especially needed when you’re living thousands of miles away from home and want to transport back to the U.S. for an hour or two.
Jake’s American BBQ (by far) makes my favorite ribs in Ho Chi Minh. And, some of my favorite ribs of any BBQ restaurant. This is coming from a guy who took a girl on a date to a ribs festival back in my teens. Ribs are my number one favorite food, so this recommendation doesn’t come lightly. First and foremost, they are tender, fall-off-the-bone, and very much the quintessential St. Louis ribs you are used to back home. Jake’s BBQ sauce (and St. Louis BBQ sauce) is my preference when it comes to ribs – a bit thicker, sweeter, and less tangy.
I’m a big eater, and the half-rack is more than enough (considering I get sides as well). These things are huge. I’d almost compare their size to a mini-Texas beef rib.
It was a breath of fresh air talking to Jake as well. This guy knows BBQ and absolutely puts his heart into it. I asked him why they didn’t have brisket on the menu and he replied that they just wouldn’t be able to guarantee the quality for same-day brisket. HOWEVER, if you really are craving brisket, you can call ahead a few days in advance (so all hope is not lost). Jake emphasizes quality and it shows.
I had a great eating buddy in Ho Chi Minh who loved Jake’s American BBQ as much as I did, so this was a commonly frequented spot for us – most of the time I ended up having to nap mid-day after going for lunch. Every single time we went, my buddy would order the Finger Licken’ Chicken, which was absolutely massive, golden brown, and juicy (I requested numerous bites each time). This chicken is the real deal.
Other dishes of note include Jake’s mashed potatoes (which taste just like how your Uncle used to make them), fried pickles, and mac and cheese. One time I was invited by a friend from Kentucky to come stay with him and his family. His mother – the sweetest, most generous, woman from the South – made incredible mac and cheese. She would go back for seconds after eating Jake’s mac and cheese.
Jake’s also makes a mean cheeseburger as well, which you can read more about in my post on finding the best burger in Saigon.
Finally, one of the best things about Jake’s American BBQ is that I always had leftovers, which came in handy when burning the midnight oil for work.
Website, Address, & Details: https://www.jakesamericanbbq.com/
Pale Ale Travel Tip: Looking to grab a few beers and hit the town in Saigon? Make sure to check out my complete guide to craft beer in Saigon!
5KU Station (Everywhere)
Credit to 5KU Station’s Facebook page.
5KU Station is everywhere in Ho Chi Minh. They are the 7-11s of BBQ joints, in the way that they seem to be on every corner. Plus, they’re open late-night. 5KU Station is my default BBQ spot, when I want good quality, good atmosphere, and good location.
Just like Lau De, 5KU Station requires you to grill your own meats and vegetables, which makes for a communal experience. There’s something oddly connecting about grilling beef for your friend and placing it in their bowl. Band of Beef Brothers. And, their green chili sauce is a must. You could dip a stick in it, and the stick would come out tasting great.
5KU is almost always packed as well – with locals, expats, or travellers, so make sure to plan accordingly. Everyone goes to 5KU. The atmosphere is absolutely electric, and you can often find large crowds gathering for food and drink to watch Vietnam’s soccer team compete.
Their barbecue options go above and beyond traditional BBQ in the states, as they not only have your standard meats (beef, chicken, pork), but also ostrich, frog, octopus, chicken feet, and quail. The octopus is a favorite of mine, and goes well with the green chili sauce. Just make sure not to overcook it.
If you’re looking to be a bit adventurous, I recommend choosing anything under their ‘Snails’ section of the menu. The Vietnamese do snails and clams extremely well, often serving them with peanuts and scaions on top. 5KU is also the king of snacks. Whether you’re looking for sweet potato french fries, fried rice, morning glory, or kim chi – they’ve got you covered.
Beers are cheap as well, and will run you anywhere from VND $19,000 (USD 80 cents) for a Saigon beer, to $24,000 ($1) for a Heineken. So, crack some beers, order some octopus, and post up here for a few hours. You won’t be disappointed.
Website, Address, & Details: https://www.facebook.com/5kuStation/
- 29 Thái Văn Lung, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh
- 119 Hoàng Sa, Đa Kao, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh
- 1/114A Thích Mật Thể, Phường Thạnh Mỹ Lợi, Quận 2, Hồ Chí Minh
Additional Notes: The 5KU Station on Thai Van Lung is a stone’s throw away from Torisho Izakaya, so checking out both in one night is a nice way to “BBQ hop.”
Final Thoughts on BBQ in Saigon
I never thought I would have more BBQ restaurant options in Ho Chi Minh than I do in my hometown back in the Northeast of the U.S.. Ho Chi Minh is by far the best city I have lived for BBQ (and food in general), so you’re in for a treat. And, there’s something for everyone. Whether you’re looking to try dozens of different types of skewers in one night, grill your own squid, or hunker down to take on a giant rack of ribs, they have it all.
I’d love to hear some of your favorite BBQ spots in Ho Chi Minh, as I’ll definitely be passing through again for an extended stay within the next year or so. Have you been to any of the above? What was your experience? Let me know in the comments!
As pop and doo-wop singer Meghan Trainor sings, “I’m all about that bass beef.”
-Big Body
Big Body is a voracious lov…eater, a cowardly fighter, and a self-proclaimed curry goat BBQ-eating champion (don’t forget the donkey milk) who likes Stoicism, baseball, and writing in the third person. Having worked for himself for the last 7 years, he isn’t particularly successful but he does still drink ice-cold Sapporo draft beers with the best of them and knows his way around a Dai Pai Dong or two. He is based in Hong Kong but you can still find him in Saigon, Osaka, and Vienna for extended periods.