Vietnam Archives - Pale Ale Travel

Cơm Gà Xối Mỡ Su Su: Vietnamese Fried Chicken You Didn’t Know You Needed

August 6, 2023August 13, 2023Asia, Food, Vietnam BigBody Leave a Comment

If you checked out my other article breaking down my foray into the world of mookrata in Bangkok, then you know just how much Thai fried chicken caught me by surprise. Well, that was until I experienced the glorious world of Vietnamese waterfall fried chicken. This is the real deal (and the true definition of a hole-in-the-wall spot).

And there aren’t many better spots in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam for fried chicken than at Cơm Gà Xối Mỡ Su Su in District 1. Add on some of their addictive garlic soy sauce, infused with chicken drippings (I seriously don’t know if I’ve ever had a better sauce in my life), chase each bite with a spoonful of orange fried rice, rinse and repeat, and you’re in for an absolute fowlin’ good time.

Guide to the Best Burger in Saigon

June 29, 2020December 1, 2022Asia, Food, Vietnam BigBody Leave a Comment

Meat, meat, meat. If you’ve read any of my other blog posts, you’ll know that Big Body is a BIG fan of meat. Whether it American BBQ, Japanese izakayas, or Vietnamese goat curry, I’m a big fan of a good hunk of beef, lamb, chicken, pork, and most anything else.

One of my go-to meals anywhere in the world is a burger, so I spent a healthy portion of my time in Ho Chi Minh City (aka Saigon) searching for the best burger(s). And, I think I found them.

Below is a compiled list of my definitive best burgers in all of Saigon.

Big Night Out at El Gaucho Steakhouse Saigon

December 14, 2019December 1, 2022Asia, Food, Vietnam BigBody Leave a Comment

Normally I’m quite skeptical of any type of chain that doesn’t include a golden arch (McDonald’s) or red-headed girl with pig-tails (Wendy’s), so you can imagine I was a bit hesitant when my friend suggested we go grab at steak at El Gaucho Argentinian Steakhouse. Having lived across Asia for 8+ years, the name rang a bell, as you can find it in Bangkok, Hanoi, and several other major Asian cities. Well, I went. And then, I went again, one more time after that, and then countless more times.

Located on Hai Ba Trung Street in District 1 of Ho Chi Minh, El Gaucho Steakhouse is the spot to go for any special occasion. I never need a special occasion to eat a 350GR steak and drink 8 glasses of sangria, but it feels less excessive and gluttonous when I do go on a special night.

El Gaucho Saigon is worth every penny, and one of my favorite steakhouses in all of Asia.

Let’s take a look at a few reasons why this has become a favorite spot of mine to treat myself to and enjoy a great steak (along with great atmosphere).

4 of My Favorite Saigon BBQ Restaurants

November 30, 2019March 3, 2024Asia, Food, Vietnam BigBody Leave a Comment

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!

The 5 Best Brunch Spots in Saigon

November 28, 2019December 28, 2023Asia, Food, Vietnam BigBody Leave a Comment

Ahh brunch. A term that elicits memories of rounding up your house fully of mid-twenty somethings after a big Saturday night out, boozy brunches, and the best damn avocado toast you’ve ever had. I can’t think of many better cities than Saigon for not only great tasting and high quality brunches, but an affordable ones as well. Buckle in.

In this article, I’m walking you several of the best brunch spots in Saigon. But first, for the Vietnamese readers, what’s the meaning of brunch? Brunch là gì?