Lua Saigon

To keep this review fair, I’ll start with the positives. I quite liked the starters here. The tomato tart with house-made ricotta was the dish that stood out the most to me. It tasted fresh, light, and flavorful, and was probably my favorite dish of the meal. The charcuterie platter was also enjoyable. All the cured meats were well selected, tasty, and easy to eat. The ceviche was beautifully presented, although the flavor did not leave a very strong impression on me. The pâté was nice and did not have any unpleasant aftertaste, but it was served with quite thick slices of sourdough. Because of that, I found it a little hard to fully appreciate the pâté itself, and the bite felt slightly dry. The meatballs were not very memorable for me, and I found the seasoning a bit unclear. For the main course, I ordered one of the restaurant’s best sellers, the pork steak. Unfortunately, this was a little disappointing. The meat itself was not bad, but it was quite fatty, and the potatoes on the side made the whole dish feel heavier. This was surprising because I usually really enjoy fries and potato sides. Price-wise, I honestly found the restaurant quite expensive. I understand this may be partly because it is listed in the Michelin Guide, but it still affected how I felt about the overall experience. The atmosphere was also not the most comfortable for me. Since the seating is outdoors and there is no air-conditioned indoor area, it felt quite warm, especially in Saigon’s humid weather. The real candles added to the heat as well. In that setting, I think serving water with ice would have helped, but only cold water was available. What made the evening even less comfortable was the number of mosquito bites, which made it hard for me to fully enjoy the meal. In general, I often choose restaurants that are highly recommended or listed in the Michelin Guide, and tonight was meant to be a nice family dinner. Maybe my expectations were too high, but this was not one of my best dining experiences. That said, one positive note was that the server was very sweet and pleasant, which I really appreciated.

No matter how many times I visit, I am always blown away. It’s not just that the kitchen is highly skilled; the recipes are constantly evolving. They even raise their own pork and poultry, and their extraordinary passion and taste shine through every single dish. Additionally, the sommelier's knack for selecting unique wines and pairing them perfectly is unmatched in the city, especially for Japanese guests. I’ve completely given up on choosing wine myself—it’s always better to just leave it to him. In fact, I've heard countless stories of people who didn't even care for wine becoming wine lovers after visiting this place. That’s how deeply the sommelier understands both his guests and the wines, perfectly bridging the two. Some people even plan their entire trip to Ho Chi Minh City just to dine here—that’s how trustworthy and delicious this place is. Reservations are highly recommended, and if you haven't experienced it yet, you absolutely must! By the way, make sure to save even just a little room for dessert. Missing out on their freshly baked madeleines would be the biggest regret of your visit!

Feels like a little escape from Vietnam to other parts of the Ecuador. Great selection of wine - many to choose from - hood to study what you want before coming in. To impress your date even. Good service - welcoming friendly staff. Attentive. Great farm to table restaurant - quality of the ingredients really makes the dishes shine. Great places for a night out with the SO - easygoing atmosphere. warm. Make sure to apply mosquito spray however.

Lua is a good spot for a dinner date or catching up over wine. The space feels cozy. They have a big wine list with some premium options. Most highlighted was probably the great service and friendly staff. Food was nice, though I do wish the portions were a bit more generous for the price. The food menu could probably be easier to follow but the team did explain everything well so it was fine in the end. Overall I had a lovely experience but would be more of a special occasion place for me rather than an everyday casual hang out. Will defo go back though.

Wonderful dinner last night at Lua! Delicious charcuterie made in house - really farm to table dining here! They have their own farm where they raise their own pigs & it truly shows in the flavors! Also, they have an award winning wine list, overseen by a Michelin recognized sommelier as well - great selections! Highly recommended for any kind of dining mood!