Saigon Palm House — Restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City

This is what you call a tourist trap- after seeing countless positive reviews you can imagine how surprised we were when we arrived at a rather empty restaurant. (We were looking for the Secret House restaurant before realising it had the same address as the Hidden House!) We were led into the alfresco area/ inner courtyard but soon asked to swap seats from the strong pee smell. We decided to try their most expensive dish (seafood platter- 999,000₫) and after half an hour, nothing came. (There were only 3 other tables, all foreigners.) When our food finally arrived, everything was lukewarm. (We believe that the cooked prawns and squid were supposed to be hot, and the oysters cold? But since they were plated together everything just became barely warm..) Overall, the cockles were tasteless, the snails were muddy/unfresh; the (not-very-nice) sauce was probably there to mask the ‘unfresh-ness’ of all the seafood..(just imagine how bad it had to be when 4 hungry people cannot finish 1 platter!) The only food that was nice was the fried rice- but definitely not worth the wait, nor the price. This is not authentic Vietnam!

Note: We also spotted the waitress getting the other customers to leave a positive review on...

If you’re looking for a dining experience that truly captures the vibrant flavors of Ho Chi Minh City, Saigon Palm is an absolute must-visit. This restaurant offers an impressive variety of dishes that cater to every palate, from authentic Vietnamese classics to creatively inspired fusion options. Each dish I tried was bursting with flavor, perfectly balanced, and beautifully presented. What sets Saigon Palm apart is not just the delicious food, but also the warm and friendly service. The staff are attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely eager to make your meal enjoyable. Their recommendations are spot-on and they consistently go the extra mile to ensure a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere. On top of that, the value for money here is exceptional. Portions are generous and prices are very reasonable, especially given the high quality of ingredients and care in preparation. Whether you’re a local or a visitor, Saigon Palm offers a fantastic culinary journey that won’t disappoint. In summary, Saigon Palm stands out for its huge variety of tasty foods, welcoming service, and excellent value. It’s a place I highly recommend for anyone wanting to enjoy authentic and diverse Vietnamese cuisine in Ho...

Vietnamese food in a pretty alley that's not really hidden tho and pretty sure we got ripped off too

Honestly tho: What's ok about this place is the southern style heavy seasonings and dipping sauce. I enjoyed the fresh squid out all dishes, braised pork belly with shrimp is also nice, salty, umami, and sweet that go pretty well with white rice, bánh khọt (mini savory pancake) was extra crispy, though too oily for me.

The only reason we felt ripped off is the fact that the server confirmed the squid price was VND600,000/ KG and we ordered 0.5KG. Then the bill came as VND799,000 / KG. I don't mind the high price but there is a misinformation here which kinda ruining the experience.

All in all this is a decent lunch for a group setting.

Turnaround time was OK, as we waited for about 10 minutes but all of the food arrived at...