Good food, great vibe (cooling greenery, garden restaurant style), great service. Very suitable to bring foreigner guests here for a memorable meal as an introduction to Vietnamese cuisine. Highly recommended!
Vietnamese restaurant
Mặn Mòi – Thảo Điền - Vietnamese restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City
+23
The Story
About This Place
Mặn Mòi sits on a quiet lane off Street 11 in Thao Dien, its garden dining room draped in greenery setting it apart from the neighborhood's more casual pho counters and café-restaurants. The kitchen draws from Vietnam's full culinary geography — southern clay-pot braises, northern hot pots, and coastal seafood — making it one of the more genuinely regional menus in the district. The name, which translates loosely to 'savory' or 'salty,' is a candid hint: the cooking leans assertively seasoned, a deliberate stylistic choice rather than an oversight.
The grilled squid is the dish most repeat visitors cite first. The rambutan salad surprises guests expecting more conventional starters, and the simmered shrimp with pork belly and braised mackerel represent the kind of slow-cooked home-style dishes that are hard to find executed at this level outside a family kitchen. Bún riêu hot pot is available but takes time — the staff manages the wait attentively. The basil fried rice rounds out a meal well.
A Michelin Guide 2025 listing has raised the restaurant's profile, and walk-ins during peak hours can face a wait; reservations are advisable. The space includes a small gift shop stocking food products and local goods — unhurried guests tend to browse after the meal. Mặn Mòi draws a steady mix of Vietnamese families, foreign residents introducing visitors to regional cooking, and travelers making the trip out from District 1 specifically for the meal.
grilled squidrambutan saladbún riêu hot potbraised mackerel fishbasil fried rice
gardenelegantleafymodernrelaxed
Menu Highlights
What to order at Mặn Mòi – Thảo Điền
Grilled wild chicken with lemongrass and pepper by Ba To
670k VND
Grilled free-range chicken with Ba Tô wild pepper
Grilled chicken with lemon basil leaves
637k VND
Grilled chicken with white basil.
Duck - 2 dishes (Pan-fried, Grilled with galangal and fermented rice)
626k VND
2-style duck breast (Pan-fried and Grilled with galangal).
Steamed Squid with Lemon and Coriander Sauce
626k VND
Steamed squid with lime and green coriander sauce.
Deep-fried squid with Phu Quoc fish sauce.
626k VND
Fried squid in Phú Quốc fish sauce.
Full menu below · prices in VND.
Reviews
4.6(1373)
Although the location is quite far from the city center, it’s definitely worth a visit. The space is so elegant with a Vietnamese vibe, and the food looks and tastes amazing. The staff is very friendly and professional. This is a place full of thoughtful details. Thank you!
Love love love the food here! Ngan served us so well and gave great recommendations. Must order the grilled squid. It's very very nice! The prawn fried rice is bomb too!! Would come again!
Came here to celebrate my birthday while on our girls trip to HCMC (we’re from Malaysia). Had a fantastic time: the food was amazing (get the rambutan salad), the service delightful (shoutout to Khang especially), and the restaurant gorgeous. Also spent a little money in the gift shop - don’t leave without having a little walk around. The products are quite unique, and not too pricey either!
I was there for the local culinary festival. The food is great in overall, however if you want something oustanding, it might not be the case. This is a great place to bring your expat friends as they serve authentic Vietnamese food with a decent of varieties from many regions. From the South to the far North, they got your covered. Just a small note: the food is slightly salty, as mentioned in the restaurant's name.
Visit Tips
Visiting Mặn Mòi – Thảo Điền
- ✓
Menu starts from: 0k VND, based on 100 priced items on the public menu.
- ✓
Reservations: Call +84 899 189 218 to book — recommended for weekend dining.
- ✓
Best for: group dinner, birthday celebration, expat dining, special occasion.
- ✓
Delivery: Listed on GrabFood.
gallery
30Photos
Food
Vietnamese Noodle Soup
Lẩu mắm Nam Bộ
Braised Pork with Egg in Clay Pot
Stir-fried Pork with Cucumber and Herbs
Platter of Vietnamese Chicken Dishes
Vibe
The image depicts the interior of a café or restaurant in Thao Dien, Saigon. It features several wooden tables and chairs arranged in an open layout.
A cozy café interior in Thao Dien, Saigon, featuring wooden tables and chairs. Patrons are seated at tables, some engaged in conversation. The space h
Other
Common Questions
Frequently Asked
- What's the best dish at Mặn Mòi – Thảo Điền?
- Reviewers most often cite the grilled squid and simmered shrimp with pork belly. The braised mackerel and rambutan salad are also frequently highlighted as standouts.
- Does Mặn Mòi – Thảo Điền take reservations?
- Reservations are advisable. A Michelin Guide 2025 listing has increased demand, and multiple reviews note that walk-ins during peak hours can face a wait.
- Does Mặn Mòi – Thảo Điền have outdoor seating?
- The restaurant features a garden dining room described by reviewers as 'cooling greenery, garden restaurant style' and 'well designed' with a cozy, green-draped setting.
- Is Mặn Mòi – Thảo Điền good for groups?
- Several reviewers brought colleagues or visiting friends and noted the wide regional menu suits shared dining. One reviewer noted 'wish we had a bigger group so we could order more.'
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