Big Night Out at El Gaucho Steakhouse Saigon
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).
El Gaucho Saigon Atmosphere & Price
First off, this is not a restaurant for those in Saigon looking for a budget steak. This is a spot that will easily run you VND $1,800,000 to $3,500,000 or roughly USD $80 to $150. This all depends on how much you eat, and of course, how much you drink. A 250GR filet will run you VND $1,390,000 (USD $60), while their 500GR rib eye will cost $2,290,000 (USD $99). I also can’t help but split a few appetizers with friends while there (I’ll get to these in the next section).
While this isn’t cheap by Saigon standards, it does fair well compared to other steakhouses in Asia (looking at you Hong Kong and Singapore). Steaks are priced similarly, however, if you’re going to drink, that’s where it pays dividends going to El Gaucho on Hai Ba Trung in Ho Chi Minh City.
This is also a spot I recommend dressing up for. However, early in the night, I’ve seen dozens of travelers who popped in for a drink at the downstairs bar dawning casual clothing. I usually throw on a blazer and my khaki colored jeans which look more dressy than they actually are, and make my way over. You’ll encounter plenty of middle-aged businessmen in suits, accompanied by a 20 year old who is definitely not their wife, which makes for an interesting people watching spot as well.
I always recommend calling ahead to reserve a table, as you don’t want to get stuck downstairs. While it’s not terrible hanging and eating at the bar downstairs, there’s just too much foot traffic. Plus the real atmosphere is upstairs on the 2nd floor.
The 2nd floor is where it’s at. It’s how I imagine a dimly lit, bustling tapas restaurant in a Madrid alley might look like – with waiters scurrying back and forth with sangria glasses and sizzling steaks. The Hai Ba Trung location also boasts a rooftop with a great view of the heart of Saigon, which makes it a go-to spot for couples and those celebrating special occasions.
If you feel like you’re paying too much for steaks and drinks here, you definitely won’t by the end of the meal. Every single time I’ve been to the El Gaucho on Hai Ba Trung, after paying the bill, the floor manager or a server will bring out complimentary apple pie vodka shots. They are more than happy to pour more than a few rounds.
For a good friend’s final night in Vietnam, they actually just straight up gave us an entire bottle to pass around and pour our own shots. You can bet your bottom dollar we made use of that.
Steaks on Steaks on Steaks
Before I get into the steaks, the appetizers do deserve an honorable mention, as I’m an impatient person and generally need at least two or three appetizers to hold me over until my meal comes. Below are several of the appetizers I’ve tried that stood out to me.
- Lobster and crab meat soup: A great creamy soup for seafood lovers (kind of like a less hearty New England Clam chowder). My only complaint would be that I often feel shorted with the amount of lobster and crab I actually get.
- Salmon tartare with toast: A generous serving of quality salmon which is usually finished within minutes between friends and I.
- Cheese platter: There’s not really much to review about a cheese platter because the phrase “cheese platter” is a selling point in itself. Includes brie, camembert, goat cheese, and several others.
You can check out the rest of El Gaucho’s menu here.
Final Thoughts on El Gaucho in Saigon
I think it’s important to treat yourself to a nice dinner every now and again. El Gaucho Saigon is a steakhouse you go-to when you want to be taken away from Vietnam for just one night. It’s important to have those types of nights when living abroad. It’s great more me especially because I then look at my bank account and decide to get back to simple living for a week or so.
Finally, it would be remiss not to mention how great the staff is here. On New Year’s 2018/2019, I of course procrastinated booking a restaurant until the last minute. I called up El Gaucho the day of, asking if there was any way they could accomodate my date and I. El Gaucho’s manager (a suave looking German man) who I’ve interacted with several times, told me “No problem, just come in a bit early, around 6 and we will make it happen.”
I understand how packed New Year’s can get, and they were packed with reservations. However, El Gaucho’s manager was true to his word and squeezed in a spot at the bar after moving several tables and people around.
Also, every single server has been incredibly friendly and knowledgeable of all items on the menu. And, in certain cases where some friends and I were getting rowdy at the downstairs bar, and good banter with the bartenders increased, we noticed our drinks getting stronger and stronger (which is always appreciated).
Website, Address, & Details: https://vn.elgaucho.asia/
Do note that there are two other El Gaucho locations in Ho Chi Minh:
- 103 Tôn Dật Tiên, Phú Mỹ, Quận 7, Hồ Chí Minh 700000, Vietnam
- Lot L1-01, 02, 88 Song Hành, An Phú, Quận 2, Hồ Chí Minh 71106, Vietnam
If you are in Ho Chi Minh City for a trip and looking for some other places to hang out at, grab food, and get your drank on, check out my other blog posts here:
- Complete guide to craft beer in Saigon
- Best BBQ restaurants in Saigon
- Self-guided craft beer pub crawl in Ho Cho Minh
- Best breweries in Ho Chi Minh City
- Best brunch spots in Saigon
- Best cafes for digital nomads in Ho Chi Minh
- Best rooftop bars in Saigon
Best,
-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.