transition - AsiaLIFE Magazine

Where the game’s always on!28/4 Bui Vien Str. Pham Ngu Lao Ward, Dist 1.Phone: (08) 665 663 38 - (08) 665 663 28OPEN24/7NFL, College Football, NHL, Football, Rugby and More.Takeout and Free Delivery.noodle dishes for breakfast and lunchbefore switching to a menu of Easternand Western fine dining for dinner.Warda71/7 Mac Thi Buoi, D1 Tel: 3823 3822Chic, middle-eastern themed eateryswathed in oranges and reds servingLebanese cuisine prepared by Damascanchef, Nouman. Mezze and tapas arethe main draw, but you can also puff onhookas post-meal.ITALIANBaby Spoon Cafe & RestaurantHead Office: 47 Phan Chu Trinh, D1Tel: 3822 3356 Fax: 3822 3357SB 2-1 Parkview, Phu My Hung, D7Tel: 5412 0145Level 3, Diamond Plaza, 34 Le Duan,D1While Baby Spoon is primarily Italian,a vast selection of international cuisineis served in this Japanese-inspiredrestaurant.BasilicoInterContinental Asiana Saigon,Ground Floor, Corner Nguyen Du andHai Ba Trung, D1 Tel: 3520 9099dine@icasianasaigon.comContemporary and casual trattoria-stylerestaurant specializing in authentic Italiandishes and homemade desserts. Woodfiredpizza oven and a wide selection ofItalian wines.Centro Caffe & Ristorante11-13 Lam Son Square, D131 Ngo Duc Ke, D16 Thai Van Lung, D1This is home of Illy coffee in Vietnam.Offers modern and traditional Italiancuisine in three central locations withlunchtime set menus and regular winetasting evenings. Good spot for businesscoffee meetings.Good Morning Vietnam197 De Tham, D1 Tel: 3837 1894Popular authentic Italian restaurant withadditional outlets around the country.Specializes in thin-crust pizza, pasta anda range of Italian dishes. Good selectionof Italian wines. La Hostaria17B Le Thanh Ton, D1 Tel: 3823 1080Rustic eatery specializing in top-endtraditional cuisine from various regionsin Italy. Main courses from 130,000 VNDwith daily specials on offer. Serves excellentpizza. chefs produce gourmet Italian fare. Internationallytrained chefs work with thefreshest and finest ingredients around toproduce some superb dishes.Pendalasco87 Nguyen Hue, D1, Tel: 3821 8181One of the city’s oldest Western restaurants,Pendalaso serves a wide range ifItalian favourites, as well as remarkablyauthentic crispy, thin-crust pizza. Pepperoni’s111 Bui Vien, D1 Tel: 3920 4989Attractive pizza and pasta restaurantfrom the same chain as Al Fresco’s.Good cheap buffet lunches on weekdaysand all-round large and tasty portions.Pomodoro79 Hai Ba Trung, D1 Tel: 3823 8998A family-oriented Italian restaurantserving traditional fare are surprisinglyreasonable prices. Offers daily lunchtimespecials and has an extensive wine list.Sarpino’s125 Ho Tung Mau, D1 Tel: 3821 7788Tasty American-style pan pizza in apleasant and fresh Italian-themedenvironment. Four sizes available, frompersonal to extra large, with a largerange of toppings. Also serves pasta,soups, wings and salads. Scoozi6 Thai Van Lung, D1 Tel: 3823 5795Italian pizza restaurant affiliated withCentro Caffe serving tasty gourmet pizzasprepared in a wood-fired oven. Thedelicious creations restore one’s faith inHCM City’s ability to turn out a qualitypie. Villa RomaineThao Dien Village 195 Nguyen VanHuong D2 Tel: 3744 6857Set on the banks of the Saigon River,Villa Romaine offers traditional Italianpizzas and pastas in an alfresco settingwith an excellent wine list. Open tillmidnight Sunday to Thursday and till 1am Friday and Saturday.JAPANESEDragon Hot Pot122-124 Ho Tung Mao, D1Tel: 3915 1001info@dragonhotpot.vnJapanese hot pot restaurant servingmotsu nabe, Japanese barbeque andlots of sake and shoju.Pha lau bostreet gourmetPha lau bo is a populardish among Saigonese—and a particular favouriteof young people. It is madefrom cow innards suchas tripe, stomach, lungand liver, which are mixedwith coconut milk andcurry powder. Pha lau bo isnotion of the common hotel sushi eateryon its head thanks to an affordable menuand a fun atmosphere.K Cafe74 A4 Hai Ba Trung, D1 Tel: 3824 5355Small, cosy and cheery, this café isnoteworthy for its cracking hand rolls.Salmon skin rolls are also a treat. Theassorted sushi and sashimi, tasty andbeautifully presented, costs around USD$8. Leave some room for homemadeyoghurt.served with bread, flagrantknotweed and tamarindsauce. You can find phalau bo in front of mostschools, from primary touniversity. One bowl goesfor 7,000 to 10,000 VND.Text by Hanh NguyenPhoto by VinhKuru Kuru Sushi129 Nguyen Du, D1 Tel: 3824 3566Sushi restaurant with colour-codedmenu and items served from a rotatingconveyor belt. Helpful place mats inboth English and Vietnamese breakdown prices and explain how to chooseyour food. Very affordable prices.MOF – Japanese Sweets & CoffeeLevel B3-17A, Vincom Centre, 70-72Le Thanh Ton, D130 Le Loi, D1Refined Japanese café specializing inunique desserts and food. Focusingon use of organic products, this casualeatery has a comprehensive Japanesedining menu along with a wonderfulselection of sweets and offers possiblythe most divine and delectable gelatoin HCM City.NishimuraMövenpick Hotel Saigon, 253 NguyenVan Troi, Phu Nhuan Tel: 3844 9222Exquisitely prepared sushi and sashimifrom a globetrotting chef with threedecades’ experience. A wide range ofcooked dishes and monthly meal promotionsare also available. Set lunchescost about USD $15.Okinawa Yamaneko13/1 Le Thanh Ton, D1 Tel: 38238433www.yamaneko-vn.comPart restaurant, part Japanese pubserving up a variety of Okinawafavourites like sashimi with sea grapes,namakari and goya champuru plussushi and soba.Sakae SushiNowzone @ Royal Centre, Level 4235 Nguyen Van Cu, D1 Tel: 35040054Healthy, affordable and quick servicekaiten (conveyor belt) sushi makesfor a fun dining experience. Extensivemenu also includes beef, chicken andvegetarian options.The Sushi Bar2 Le Thanh Ton, D1 Tel: 3823 80423A Ton Duc Thang, D1 Tel: 3911 8618This brightly lit Japanese-style restaurantserves over 40 varieties of sushiat reasonable prices. Sit at the sushibar or in private rooms upstairs. Openuntil 11.30 pm, delivery available onrequest. Popular with expats and localsalike. Tama-GawaThao Dien Village 195 Nguyen VanHuong D2 Tel: 08 37446857Anh Phu’s only Japanese restaurant,Tama-Gawa serves fresh sushi andother delicacies. Set lunches begin at120,000 VND.Zen20 Le Thanh Ton, D1 Tel: 3825 0782Located amid the sea of Japanese restaurantson Le Thanh Ton Street, Zenoffers a wide range of Japanese dishes.The yakitori station grills up fantasticsteak and quail’s eggs, and the chilledudon noodles are also a standout.KOREAN25 Si8A/6D Thai Van Lung, D1Tel: 3824 6921Traditional Yasik-style drinking restaurant.Winter and summer scene muralsfill the walls of this dual level eatery.Large menu with favs like budae jjigae,a mix of chilli paste, Spam, hot dog andtofu, as well as super spicy duruchigi.Hana8 Cao Ba Quat, D1 Tel: 3829 5588Japanese-Korean fusion in the heartof District 1. Contemporary decor witha private, yet open feel. Broad menuincluding cooked and raw fish andtraditional hot pot with fish eggs, riceand vegetables.Kim Bab Chun GookR4 42 Hung Phuoc 2, Phu My HungTel: 6296 9057Korean boonshik/snack food eateryserving up a wide variety of light butsubstantial foods including dumplings,rameyon and fish cakes.SOUTHEAST ASIANChaba ThaiThao Dien Village 195 Nguyen VanHuong D2 Tel: 3744 6857Cosy restaurant nestled in the middle ofThao Dien Village offering authentic Thaifood. Open daily for lunch and dinner.Lac Thai71/2 Mac Thi Buoi, D1 Tel: 3823 7506An elegant restaurant tucked in an alleywayand decorated with art-deco furniture.Authentic Thai cuisine preparedby two Thai chefs. Food is tasty but lessspicy than you’d find in Thailand. Little ManilaS2-1 Hung Vuong 2, Phu My Hung, D7Tel: 5410 0812Small, no -frills eatery with outdoor andindoor seating located on a quiet street.Serves a range of dishes from thePhilippines (pictured on menu for thoseunfamiliar) and draught San Miguel.The Red Dot21 Tu Xuong, D3 Tel: 3932 5123Aptly titled, this Singaporean restaurantserves decent chicken rice, char kwayOperaGround floor Park Hyatt Hotel, 2 LamSon Square, D1 Tel: 3824 1234Slick, contemporary eatery with exposedbrick and glass. The space revolvesaround an island kitchen from whichIkiGround floor, Moevenpick Hotel Saigon253 Nguyen Van Troi, Phu NhuanTel: 3844 9222 ext. 127www.moevenpick-saigon.comA Japanese restaurant that turns the68 asialife HCMC asialife HCMC 69