Bếp Mẹ Ỉn — Restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City

Usually I’m not a big fan of giving negative reviews but this is honestly the most underwhelming meal my husband and I have had in Ho Chi Minh :(

Initially we were very excited to try this place after reading the online reviews. Upon arrival, the restaurant was packed with hungry tourists so we had to wait for 10-15 mins. We were eventually crammed in a small table outside and sat on tiny stools (which was fine as we were really looking forward to our meal).

We were a bit shocked when we looked at the menu as we were not expecting to see dishes averaging 100-250K VND (given we’ve had really good dishes that costed less than 80k VND - mind you, we’ve been dining out daily for the past 2.5 weeks in Hanoi, Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh).

There were lots of options to choose from, and we ended up getting two dishes (stir fried beef noodles and braised pork), a tea and a bowl of rice to share.

First impression of the food presentation - it’s really average and the portions are quite small. The stir fried beef noodles reminds me of the Cantonese stir fried beef noodles which is usually wok tossed and tastes slightly charred and extremely flavoursome. Sadly, this dish is probably the blandest version I’ve ever tasted. In all honesty, anyone could’ve recreated the same dish in their kitchen if you follow a semi-decent recipe.

Moving on to the braised pork. Once again there was barely any flavour. The ‘tea eggs’ tasted like normal eggs and the pork tasted like it was blanched in water and dipped in some sauce (not the flavourful and super tender slow cooked braised meat I was expecting).

I normally wouldn’t consider myself a food critic, however, my husband and I are very disappointed with this meal which costed us over 350k VND in total. We were also baffled by the overwhelming amount of attention it’s getting on social media and Google reviews…? Perhaps we just ordered the not-so-popular dishes? Perhaps the chef got a bit tired or complacent and didn’t do a very good job on our dishes? Perhaps we had too high of an expectation coming in?

Either way, there are MUCH better places close by serving much tastier meals at a much lower price point. I’d recommend supporting small businesses where locals gather instead of feeding into supposedly ‘viral’ restaurants that serve sub-par meals and charge a significantly higher amount of prices due to their popularity. Just my two cents so please take it with a...

Charming Ambiance and Generous Portions at Bep Me In – Ho Chi Minh City Review

Ambiance: 5/5 Bep Me In offers a beautiful, welcoming atmosphere that adds a touch of elegance to the dining experience. The interior features warm lighting and traditional decor, creating a cozy, upscale vibe that makes each meal feel special. This refined setting might explain the slightly higher prices, but the ambiance truly enhances the dining experience.

Food: 4/5 We tried a few dishes, and overall, the food was delicious and filling: • Banh Mi (5/5) – The banh mi here is amazing! Served on a perfectly toasted baguette, it has a gourmet twist that elevates the traditional flavors, with fresh herbs, crisp vegetables, and tender meat. Each bite combines crunch and richness, making this dish a highlight that’s well worth trying. • Bo Bun (5/5) – Reminiscent of the bo bun I order in Paris, this version is exceptionally fresh, with tender noodles, flavorful grilled meat, and a mix of crunchy vegetables and herbs. The sauce is balanced and light, enhancing the dish’s natural flavors without overpowering them. It’s satisfying and beautifully presented, perfect for those who enjoy layered textures and authentic flavors. • Crispy Pork Bites (2.5/5) – This dish was just okay. The pork bites are crispy with a light crunch, but I found them a bit plain and lacking the savory depth I expected. They’re not overly salty, which some may prefer, but I felt they could use a bit more seasoning to stand out.

Service: 3/5 Service was mixed. The server at the banh mi station was friendly and accommodating, but on the other side, we felt slightly uncomfortable when some staff members laughed as we spoke English. It could have been a misunderstanding, but it affected our experience a bit.

Overall Experience: Bep Me In is a bit pricier, but the portions are generous, and the food quality is worth it. If you’re looking for a place with beautiful decor and filling Vietnamese dishes, it’s worth a visit!

Key Notes: • Great spot for a gourmet take on traditional Vietnamese dishes • Highly recommend the banh mi and bo bun for standout flavors and quality • Charming ambiance adds value to the dining experience, making it worth the slightly higher price • Mixed service experience; friendliness varies depending...

Up to this point, we had really only been eating street food or at hyper local spots recommended by tour guides, so it was nice to eat somewhere that had actual chairs as opposed to those tiny little plastic stools ahaha. I do love a meal on a plastic stool don't get me wrong though...

We came here for dinner after a long day at the Cu Chi Tunnels and fresh off a 3L tower of beer split between the 2 of us, so we were pretty toasted. We entered through an alley where locals were chillin shirtless on their motorbikes rippin cigs, hung a right and were met with a pretty long line.

After 10 minutes we were seated, and handed a menu. I scanned the room and was a little disappointed as it was mostly tourists and only a handful of locals... but I had to catch myself writing that just now because I literally am a tourist.

The menu was HUGE, filled with pictures which is always a nice touch especially when data is LIMITED to look online. We opted to get a feast as we were starving. We ended up ordering 7 different items and some beer to keep the train rolling.

When we finished ordering, I could feel this german couple laughing at us for the sheer amount of food we got. After about 5 minutes the guy leaned over and said "So you got all 7?" in a hella snarky tone. Like bro mind ya business, stop pocket watching. Worry about yourself and... nvm I'm not gonna be mean on here.

The food, while 3-4x (~$8USD per entree) the price of some of the more local spots, was on par with anything we had on our trip, and likely 1.5x the portion. BIG DAWG PORTION SIZES!

Our favorites were the Banh Xe, the Bo Lui, Com Tam Suon, and that fried rice in a coconut. The Bo Lui was definitely leading the charge though, those beef skewers with the rice vermicelli had been blessed by the gods.

Service wasn't the best, as I had to ask for a napkin 2 different times before I just got up and grabbed some from an adjacent table, but idk I'm not gonna be a Karen and knock a star off for that lol they were busy af in here.

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