Saigon, aka Ho Chi Minh City, is the destination for foodies with worldwide cuisine. Literally, you can find the most well-known culinary culture in this particular city besides Vietnamese cuisine, such as Japanese, Korean, European, Chinese… Today, we will focus on Indian cuisine and pick out 8 best Indian restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City if you are new to the city and crave something different.
1. Tandoor Indian Restaurant
- Address 1: 39A&B Ngo Duc Ke Str., Ben Nghe, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
- Address 2: 17/10 Le Thanh Ton Str., Ben Nghe, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
- Price: 3-10$/dish
For over two decades, Tandoor has been the first choice of Indian expats when it comes to Indian fine dining in Ho Chi Minh City. Tandoor's original owner, Mr. Subhash, was intent on introducing genuine Indian food to Saigon in July 1997. Since the Ben Nghe channel was so important for trading in early Saigon, he opted to open Tandoor on nearby Vo Van Tan Street in Ho Chi Minh City.
Near the original location of Tandoor, there was an old port where spices and unique foods from all around Asia landed regularly. Tandoor, long a favorite for its authentic Indian cuisine and a staple of Saigon's dining scene, has relocated to a new, more central location. One of the main reasons for this is that Tandoor serves some of the best Indian food in Vietnam and therefore, they aim to serve more and more diners. Its prime location on Ngo Duc Ke Street in Saigon's District 1 and close proximity to the city's glamorous Nguyen Hue walking street make it a popular choice among visitors and business people alike for a taste of authentic Indian cuisine.
The authentic cuisine from Northern India and the culture of South Asia are brought together in perfect harmony at Tandoor Indian Restaurant Saigon. You can look around the menu and discover something that works for you. Tandoori cuisine is known for its use of high-quality spices and the use of fresh ingredients in all of its dishes, from the aromatic naan to the decadent Indian sweets. Most of the spices used at Tandoor Saigon, including cumin, coriander powder, and garam masala, come all the way from India. Tandoor's veteran kitchen staff has mastered the challenging art of preparing dishes in a wide variety of Indian regional cuisines.
Popular dishes include the Chicken Butter Masala and the Palak Paneer, which is Indian-style cottage cheese cooked in spinach puree. When paired with coconut chutney and masala chai, Indian dishes like dosa pancakes, idli rice cakes, deep-fried medhu vada lentil, and fermented rice fritters are at their best.
2. Ganesh Indian Restaurant
- Address: 38 Hai Ba Trung Str., Ben Nghe, District 1
- 54 6th Str., District 7
- Price: 5-10$/dish
Ganesh Indian Restaurant is a popular restaurant among Indian expats. It also might be a great introduction to Indian cuisine for those who are unfamiliar with it. To find out what you prefer, get a thali platter to try a variety of meals first.
Six distinct items, including steamed rice, naan or leavened bread prepared with milk and butter, crisp and circular flatbread (papadum), yogurt combined with cooked vegetables (raita), and the delicious Gulab Jamun, a classic Indian dessert composed of thickened milk and dried almonds, are served on a thali platter. These items have a wide range of complementing tastes, including sweet, salty, bitter, sour, and spicy.
If you're a vegetarian but still want to enjoy this delicious dish, you may purchase the vegetarian version. Onion bhaji (fried vegetables in batter with spices), tarka dal (a lentil dish fried in spices), steaming rice, leavened bread, flatbread, yogurt with cooked vegetables, and dessert are all part of a Indian vegetarian thali.
3. Baba’s Kitchen
- Address 1: 274 Bui Vien Str., Pham Ngu Lao, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
- Address 2: 35 Le Van Mien Str., Thao Dien Ward, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City
- Price: 3-8$/dish
The Ho Chi Minh City's Indian restaurant scene was limited in the early 2000s. It used to be that just a few eateries served Indian food, most of which centered around the Pham Ngu Lao street. Many of the restaurants served biryani and samosas, two popular Indian delicacies, but they were nowhere near as good as the ones in the city nowadays.
Satisfying the demand, under Mr. Jeet Thepa's direction, Baba's Kitchen opened its doors for business on Bui Vien Street in Pham Ngu Lao on February 9, 2011. Customers' perceptions about Indian cuisine in Saigon shifted as a result of Jeet's work in Baba's Kitchen. He was instrumental in establishing a level of customer care that few businesses can match even now.
Baba's Kitchen Indian Restaurant Saigon features both an elegant indoor eating area and a garden with beautiful vegetation for those who prefer to eat outside. Baba's Kitchen serves not just Indian food but also Thai and Sri Lankan delicacies. One meal that comes highly recommended is the Butter Chicken Curry, which is a blend of creamy, savory, and earthy flavors.
Baba’s Kitchen is a nice choice of Indian restaurant in Saigon for vegetarians as well. Gobi Tandoori, or cauliflower marinated in tandoori spices and roasted in a tandoor oven, is a delicious pick for vegetarian option.
4. Namaste Indian
- Address: 189 Bui Vien Str., Pham Ngu Lao, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
- Price range: 3-8$/dish
Namaste India Restaurant Ho Chi Minh city offers a diverse and one-of-a-kind menu that includes over 100 delectable and well-known dishes such as curry. Curry chicken is prepared with a variety of buttery, creamy ingredients. It goes well with naan and curry rice. Namaste India Restaurant gets high marks for both its delicious food and its reasonable prices.
Chicken Biryani, a fragrant long-grain rice dish served with succulent and spicy chicken, is a safe bet if you're feeling overwhelmed by the variety of options available to you.
The vegan Indian cuisine Aloo Palak, which consists of spinach, potatoes, and spices, is a delicious and nutritious option for vegetarians and vegans. What’s more, Namaste is in Bui Vien, Saigon's most popular leisure district. After a satisfying supper, take a stroll around the neighborhood to check out the local nighttime scene and stop by a street beer bar for some terrific tipples. Weekends here are incredibly colorful and vibrant, and there is usually a live band nearby playing great music.
5. Shanti Indian Cuisine
- Address: 371C Pham Ngu Lao Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
- Price: 5-13$/dish
Shanti Indian Cuisine is a staple when discussing the best Indian restaurants in Saigon. Thanks to its wood-paneled walls, plentiful lighting, and soft furnishings, it boasts a bright and sophisticated ambiance.
Diners at Shanti Indian Cuisine Saigon may choose from a wide variety of authentic Indian specialties, ranging from spicy curries to mild raitas. Dishes are made and adorned in an eye-catching manner, and the prices are quite inexpensive despite the robust Indian-style flavor. Sometimes, they also create art events with Indian belly dancing and music, which makes diners feel so fascinated with the great food and art performances of India.
6. Dalcheeni
- Address: 2A Ngo Van Nam Str., Ben Nghe, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
- Price: 3-15$/dish
Looking for an alternative fine-dining Indian restaurant in Saigon? Try Dalcheeni in Ho Chi Minh City; it will not disappoint you.
In honor of India's regal past, Dalcheeni will serve you in the style of the Maharajas, which was inherited and refined by the Mauryan Dynasty in Indian history. With a scrumptious collection of kebabs and curries, dishes prepared in a clay oven over a charcoal fire are the first stop on the gastronomic adventure. To satisfy your five senses, skillful chefs with five-star hotel working experience prepare a variety of dishes using only the freshest ingredients and methods to present the food. The team has meticulously curated spices and flavors that are commonly found in the kitchens of foreign royal families, a practice that dates back hundreds of years. Dalcheeni’s strength is Northern Indian cuisine, and it serves 100% Halal Meat, Vegan, and Jain food.
Dalcheeni Indian Restaurant Ho Chi Minh's 100 Tavern bar, a contemporary relaxation area, is also a big plus. After dinner, do you want some drinks? You don’t even need to think where to go because it is on the ground floor of the building. Dalcheeni's drinks are inspired by a new drink idea called molecular mixology, which follows scientific methods to produce novel flavors, textures, and unexpected presentations. Indulge your taste buds in the wonderful flavor sensation offered by the kebab-cocktail combinations, which have been carefully created by the bartender. This is also a professional place to host formal events that will leave a lasting impression on your guests.
7. Benaras - Indian House HCMC
- Address: 2nd Floor, 42 Nguyen Hue, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
- Price: 5-10$/dish
Benaras Indian House, famous for its traditional Indian cuisine, has a varied menu highlighting the exotic flavors and spices used in Indian cookery. Benaras is a chain of Indian restaurants in Vietnam that aims to transport customers on a gastronomic adventure around India without leaving the comfort of their seats.
Benaras has something for everyone, from regional delicacies to vegetarian alternatives to old standbys like butter chicken and biryani. Benaras is the place to go in Ho Chi Minh City for Indian food, whether you're in the mood for an aromatic authentic curry or just want to experience some Indian culture. For a delicious alternative to fragrant basmati rice, try Milet Pulao, which is made by substituting millet for the rice and then adding aromatic spices, veggies, and herbs to the cooking process. If you're looking for a vegan and gluten-free meal, go beyond this tasty and healthy pulao.
Diners in Vietnam can expect nothing less than an amazing experience at Benaras Indian Restaurant, thanks to the restaurant's exceptional team of Indian chefs and service professionals. The Indian chef team consists of skilled cooks who are eager to share their knowledge and love of Indian food with the world. To make recipes that are both tasty and authentic to their heritage, they put their minds into choosing only the finest ingredients, spices, and seasonings.
The Indian staff at Benaras really goes above and beyond for their diners. They make the customers feel at home and take care of every detail to make sure they are happy. The service staff is trained to go above and above by recommending complementary dishes and drinks and catering to clients' individual tastes and needs.
8. Saigon Indian Restaurant
- Address: 26 Le Anh Xuan Str., Ben Thanh, District 1, Ho Chi Minh city
- Price: 2-8$/dish
Saigon Indian Restaurant is a great place to try both traditional Southern and Northern Indian dishes. Combining exotic spices of the south with the refined cooking techniques of the north, Saigon Indian Restaurant offers one of the finest multi Indian cuisine in Saigon, where you can enjoy delicious food in a relaxing setting. They take great satisfaction in presenting a variety of traditional Indian dishes prepared and presented with care and affection at our restaurant. It is hard to describe it in detail, you need to go here and try.
Each meal is carefully created by a talented team of chefs using only the finest ingredients. You'll feel like you've traveled to your favorite section of India with every taste, and the traditional Indian music will transport you there while you eat. Saigon Indian Restaurant still maintains the authenticity of Indian cuisine and offers delectable treats that can't be found anywhere else. Every time you dine at the restaurant, you can count on receiving service that not only meets, but exceeds high standards. They also have a catering option if you want to hold a party at home with customized menu and impeccable service.
Different from the past, Ho Chi Minh City is now filled with many great Indian restaurants, ranging from average to large scale, to satisfy the customers’ demand. Hope that our recommendation is helpful if you are seeking for the best Indian restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City.
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