Before there were restaurants, there were mothers—standing by the hot stove, sleeves rolled, sweat beading at the brow, stirring pots of soup that tasted like love. These five Vietnamese eateries—Nhà Tú, HOME, Vị Quê, A Bản, and Mặn Mòi—don’t just serve food; they gather the scattered flavors of childhood memory, from Mom’s kitchen and countryside gardens to the plant-based family meals and time-honored dishes of Vietnam’s highlands. In every bite is a story. In their own ways, each preserves the essence of home.
Nhà Tú
Tucked away in the city’s chaos, Nhà Tú feels like a personal retreat. Draped in greenery and nostalgia, the restaurant’s charm is amplified by its cozy top-floor balcony, where time seems to slow down. The food is a deeply personal expression of memory and flavor from the owner, who draws inspiration from the humble meals of his childhood to recreate home-style cooking rarely found elsewhere. Signature dishes include steamed snails stuffed with minced pork, infused with the aroma of lemongrass; a deceptively simple yet addictive plate of mixed vegetables topped with pork crackling in a fish sauce reduction; and canh chua hến thì là—a sweet-and-sour clam soup brightened with dill—delicate yet soulful. Nhà Tú is a heartfelt tribute to comfort food, rooted in one’s earliest culinary memories.
Home Vietnamese Restaurant
With locations in Hanoi, Hoi An, and Saigon, HOME Vietnamese Restaurant elevates traditional cuisine to refined new heights. Bridging the past and future, each dish offers more than sustenance—it’s a cultural journey through Vietnam’s rich heritage. HOME reimagines authenticity with sophistication, positioning itself as a next-generation high-class Vietnamese dining destination. A plate here invites diners to explore the depth of Vietnamese identity, engaging the senses with timeless flavors and elegant presentation, all within thoughtfully curated settings that reflect both memory and modernity.
Vị Quê Kitchen
Vị Quê Kitchen reimagines the humble family meal through a plant-based lens, offering a heartfelt tribute to the countryside kitchens of Vietnam. Every spoon recalls the flavors of home—like the sour tang of lẩu mẻ (a Northern-style hot pot), the deep umami of Central mắm with its bold fermented character, or the gentle sweetness of Mekong Delta broths. The menu draws on the richness of all three regions, blending tradition with creativity while staying true to its roots: the simple stew Má (Mom) used to cook, the fresh greens Ba (Dad) picked from the garden, and the kind of food that brought everyone to the table. Entirely vegan yet deeply authentic, Vị Quê serves nostalgia, nourishment, and the unmistakable taste of quê hương.
A Bản Mountain Dew
A Bản—which means “ethnic village”—draws inspiration from the mountainous regions of northwestern Vietnam, offering a rare glimpse into Mông, Tày, Muong, and Tai culinary traditions. At A Bản, the goal is not only to preserve the flavors of the highlands but also to recreate the atmosphere of the mountains and the sense of adventure found in every journey. Ingredients are sourced directly from the villages, while traditional preparation methods are honored and subtly reinvented through the creative lens of Chef Việt—a native son of the region. The result is a culinary experience defined by what A Bản calls Tinh thần Dân Tộc Đổi Mới—a renewed ethnic spirit that bridges authenticity with imagination. The menu features bold, hard-to-find ingredients like snake, buffalo, and carp, alongside delicacies such as cơm rượu, a young sticky rice wine that adds a delicate finish to this immersive taste of the northern highlands.
Mặn Mòi - Homey Authentic Vietnamese Cuisine
Inspired by the wholesome meals once prepared by grandmothers and mothers, the restaurant honors traditional Vietnamese cuisine with a gentle, elegant touch. Each dish—from grilled specialties and rustic claypots to fresh salads and soul-warming soups—is crafted with fresh local produce and a deep respect for culinary heritage. Born from a longing for the tastes of home after time spent abroad, Mặn Mòi was created to share Vietnam’s most cherished kitchen staples with friends from near and far. A few quiet notes scattered through the menu tell stories of origin and tradition, inviting diners to slow down and savor each bite with intention. Whether seated in the leafy courtyard of the Thảo Điền location or in the heart of the city at Tao Đàn, guests are wrapped in nature and in the warmth of Vietnamese hospitality.
