Bánh Xèo 46A — Restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City

Bánh Xèo 46A, located at 46A Đinh Công Tráng Street in Ho Chi Minh City, is arguably the most famous and iconic spot for enjoying bánh xèo – the crispy, savory Vietnamese pancake. This long-standing eatery has been delighting locals and visitors for over seven decades, offering a vibrant and authentic taste of Southern Vietnamese cuisine. Its fame has even been amplified by features on international travel shows.

The Art of the Sizzling Pancake Bánh Xèo 46A specializes in its namesake dish, and the experience begins with the mesmerizing sight and sound of skilled cooks expertly frying pancakes over charcoal fires in multiple sizzling woks. The term "xèo" perfectly mimics the sound the rice batter makes when it hits the hot skillet. The result is a large, golden, and wonderfully crispy crepe, made from a light rice flour batter infused with turmeric and a hint of coconut milk.

Each pancake is generously filled with a savory mixture of plump shrimp, tender slices of pork, and crunchy bean sprouts. What truly elevates the bánh xèo here is the traditional way it's enjoyed: diners are provided with a generous array of fresh leafy greens (like lettuce, mustard greens, and various herbs such as basil and sawtooth coriander). The proper technique involves tearing off a piece of the crispy pancake, wrapping it in a leafy green, adding some herbs, and then dipping this fresh roll into the tangy and perfectly balanced nước chấm (a sweet and sour fish sauce with lime, garlic, and a hint of chili).

While bánh xèo is the undisputed star, Bánh Xèo 46A also offers other Vietnamese classics like spring rolls (chả giò) and fresh summer rolls (gỏi cuốn), providing a comprehensive street food experience.

Lively Ambiance and Casual Service Bánh Xèo 46A embraces a quintessential bustling street food atmosphere. While there might be an air-conditioned indoor seating area, the most authentic experience is often found in the al fresco seating by the open kitchen. Here, you can watch the continuous production of bánh xèo and soak in the energetic vibe of a traditional Vietnamese eatery. It's a no-frills setting, focusing entirely on the food and the lively communal dining experience.

The service is fast and efficient, a necessity given the constant flow of customers. Despite the potential for crowds, the staff are adept at managing orders and ensuring hot, freshly made pancakes arrive quickly at your table. Bánh Xèo 46A is a place where locals and travelers alike come to savor traditional flavors in a welcoming, unpretentious environment, making it a true Ho Chi Minh City...

Michelin bib gourmand

They are known for their banh xeo but I personally enjoyed the other dishes more. Their banh xeo was good but because it had mung beans (or so it tasted like it), I felt that the supposed "seafood" taste was diluted / masked a bit which might be a downside for seafood enthusiasts like me.

Chicken Wings with Fish Sauce: These wings were really tasty and not too salty, even though the name might make you think they would be. They reminded me of homemade fried chicken, which was a nice, comforting touch.

Spring Rolls: These were surprisingly good, even for someone like me who doesn’t usually like spring rolls. They were full of flavor without being too heavily seasoned. The portion was big, and they were served super hot, which made them feel really fresh.

Guava shake: refreshing and helped us cool down from the heat. The open-air location will really make you feel the warm weather

Wait time: We visited on a Friday around 2:30pm, and even though the restaurant looked quite busy, we were seated immediately (party of 3)

Price: a bit more pricey vs other food shops that is similar in size and set-up VDN 110,000 for banh xeo VDN 85,000 for spring rolls (5 pcs) VDN 110,000 for chicken wings with fish sauce (5 pcs)

Portion size: just right

Crowd: almost 100% tourists

Location: 10 min walk from nearby Michelin bib gourmand Pho Pasteur 9 mins by Grab car from Ben Thanh Market 35 min walk from Ben Thanh Market 2 min walk from Tan Dinh Church 2 min walk from Tan Dinh Market (a good alternative for souvenirs vs tourist trap Ben Thanh Market but a more limited selection - they have dried fruits and...

Banh Xeo 46A Dinh Cong Trang is one of the oldest and most famous banh xeo shops in Saigon. Not only Vietnamese customers, but the restaurant also attracts a lot of foreign customers. Whenever you come to eat banh xeo here, you can see foreign customers enjoying this "Vietnamese Pizza". The banh xeo here is very thin and crispy, the shrimp and meat filling with bean sprouts is very delicious, the dipping sauce is mixed with papaya and kohlrabi with a little spicy chili. The vegetables that come with banh xeo are also very fresh and have many types of vegetables, so you can enjoy them. Besides banh xeo, the restaurant also serves other dishes such as banh canh, goi cuon, ... It is quite suitable when going with many people because there are many choices of menu. ·      Address: 46A Dinh Cong Trang, Tan Dinh Ward, District 1, City. HCM ·      Price: 110,000 VND - 180,000 VND ·      Opening hours: 15:00 - 22:00 daily Banh xeo 46A Dinh Cong Trang, District 1 was honored by the Michelin guide in the Bib Gourmand category (restaurant with delicious food at affordable prices). Banh xeo 46A or Banh xeo Dinh Cong Trang, for tourists and many people, this is the most famous Banh xeo restaurant in Saigon for nearly 80 years. Today, my family and I stopped by Banh xeo 46A and found it spacious and clean, the Banh xeo and other dishes are all very delicious Wishing the restaurant continued success and maintaining its reputation...