돈탐 - Dontam Thảo Điền logo
The Story

About This Place

Dontam sits on Nguyễn Cừ in Thao Dien and has built one of the district's stronger Korean reputations, holding a 4.8 across nearly 900 Google reviews. The kitchen operates on a clear philosophy: fewer banchan, higher-quality mains, and enough room on the table for each dish to land properly rather than compete for space.

The bossam anchors the menu — thick-cut pork held on a tabletop stove throughout the meal, arriving with a fat-to-meat ratio that diners consistently describe as precise. The eel rice is grilled to order rather than reheated, which makes a noticeable difference: crisp exterior, tender flesh, nothing like the pre-packaged versions common elsewhere. The octopus pasta reads as a deliberate fusion move, built with enough spice and layered depth that it holds its own against the Korean standards on the same menu.

The two-course format — Course A for moderate appetites, Course B for the hungry — runs around 700,000 VND and tends to be the recommended entry point. Portions lean generous; the kitchen has been known to send out complimentary beef tartare when a table is clearly working through a heavier load than anticipated.

The room is compact and consistently full. An open kitchen keeps the pace visible without the space feeling loud. Staff are proactive — multiple accounts mention the team finding room for walk-in groups on packed nights, which says something about how the floor is managed. The crowd skews mixed: Korean residents, local Vietnamese families, and diners who arrive with a specific dish already in mind.

tabletop bossamfresh eel riceoctopus pastatwo-course set menusopen kitchen
cozylivelywarmrelaxed

Reviews

4.8(1210)
Kim-Anh T. Nguyen
Kim-Anh T. Nguyen
5mo ago

Same as good as Marcel burger, to the taste of fine dining dishes. Nice service, feel at home. Unlike others, a touch of being distant for exclusive service. Soda drinks gifted for reviews. Big portion for 2 as normal size, remember to check with the staff before your order.

주영우
주영우
6mo ago

You can enjoy full-stomach course with 700,000 VND. Almost all the menu includes meat, it is not a vegetable party. The quantity of the foods were so large, I could not eat them all. But we were enjoying our meal so well, so the kitchen offered us beef tartare free. It will be a good choice to treat someone or invite someone, using less than a million VND.

Kimmy Tran
Kimmy Tran
6mo ago

Best restaurant discover of this year. Food was delicious and very high quality. Open kitchen. Friendly staff and cozy ambiance. We went without a reservation, restaurant was packed but they tried to arrange us a table which we really appreciate. Definitely will come back many many times more.

Thao Dinh
Thao Dinh
6mo ago

We tried spicy squid, grilled prok, and pancakes. All dishes were very delectable. 9/10 for the food. The staffs were very friendly, and proactive. Our group had a very great experience dinning here

Giang Tran
Giang Tran
7mo ago

The Bossam here is amazing; they use a tabletop stove to keep the pork perfectly moist and tender, and the flavor and fat-to-meat ratio are spot-on. We also tried the Octopus Pasta, and wow, it's got a nice spicy kick, but the flavor is deep and complex, probably the best I've ever had. The pricing is a little high, but that's just Thao Dien for you, and the quality totally justifies the cost. I'm definitely planning to go back just to try the grilled eel since it looked delicious!

Visit Tips

Visiting 돈탐 - Dontam Thảo Điền

  • Reservations: Call +84 784 667 000 to book — recommended for weekend dining.

  • Best for: group dinner, date night, special occasion, family dinner.

gallery

Photos

45

Food

A plated dish featuring a stack of meat and vegetables on top of what appears to be slices of bread or toast, accompanied by asparagus spears, green b

A plated dish featuring a stack of meat and vegetables on top of what appears to be slices of bread or toast, accompanied by asparagus spears, green b

Fried Rice

Fried Rice

Pho

Pho

Grilled Shrimp and Noodle Grill

Grilled Shrimp and Noodle Grill

Vibe

The image depicts the exterior of a casual eatery or café in Thao Dien, Saigon. It features a green awning over the entrance, a tiled walkway leading

The image depicts the exterior of a casual eatery or café in Thao Dien, Saigon. It features a green awning over the entrance, a tiled walkway leading

The image depicts an indoor dining area of a restaurant or cafe in Thao Dien, Saigon. The interior features modern decor with dark tones and red accen

The image depicts an indoor dining area of a restaurant or cafe in Thao Dien, Saigon. The interior features modern decor with dark tones and red accen

The image shows an exterior view of a small cafe or restaurant in Thao Dien, Saigon. The establishment has a green awning and is adorned with various

The image shows an exterior view of a small cafe or restaurant in Thao Dien, Saigon. The establishment has a green awning and is adorned with various

Other

돈탐 - Dontam Thảo Điền photo 1 in Thao Dien
돈탐 - Dontam Thảo Điền photo 2 in Thao Dien
돈탐 - Dontam Thảo Điền photo 3 in Thao Dien
돈탐 - Dontam Thảo Điền photo 4 in Thao Dien
돈탐 - Dontam Thảo Điền photo 7 in Thao Dien
돈탐 - Dontam Thảo Điền photo 8 in Thao Dien
돈탐 - Dontam Thảo Điền photo 9 in Thao Dien
돈탐 - Dontam Thảo Điền photo 10 in Thao Dien
Common Questions

Frequently Asked

What is the best dish at 돈탐 - Dontam Thảo Điền?
The bossam is the anchor dish — thick-cut pork kept on a tabletop stove, praised for its 'spot-on' fat-to-meat ratio. The eel rice is grilled fresh to order, described as 'absolutely delicious' with a 'crunchy' exterior unlike pre-packaged versions.
Is 돈탐 - Dontam Thảo Điền good for groups?
Staff are noted as proactive, with multiple reviewers reporting the team 'tried to arrange a table' for walk-in groups even on packed nights.
Does 돈탐 - Dontam Thảo Điền take reservations?
Reservations are not confirmed, but walk-ins are accommodated — reviewers note staff worked to seat unprompted walk-in groups when the restaurant was full.
What do the course menus at 돈탐 - Dontam Thảo Điền include?
Two courses are offered: Course A suits smaller appetites, Course B is for larger ones. Priced around 700,000 VND, portions are generous — one reviewer notes the kitchen offered complimentary beef tartare mid-meal.
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