I kind of forgot how good and tasty Vietnamese food can be until I recently came back to Cuc Gach Quan. I discovered the restaurant I believe back in 2011 and it was already very popular, one of the few restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City, along with Pizza 4P’s, where a reservation is in order. Shortly after, Hollywood celebrity couple Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt had lunch in the restaurant during one of their humanitarian trips to Vietnam. At that point securing a table became very difficult! For this reason I stopped going (I hate competition when it comes to eating).
The restaurant was started by architect Tràn Bình in 2009 with the aim to recreate a family environment, like at his grandmother’s house, where guests could enjoy traditional Southern “countryside” food.
The visit
My most recent visit took place on a weekend in July 2018. I booked over the phone the night before. The receptionist spoke English and booking was not a problem.
The restaurant is located in a residential area called Tan Dinh at the margins of District 1. It is a nice area not yet gentrified (no Family Marts or Circle K there!). If you have a chance, take a walk.
A view of the entrance.
Across the street they have another facility that they call “Party” mainly used to host corporate events or large groups.
As you can see from the pictures above, the interior is very nicely decorated with vintage furniture and objects. The feeling is very intimate. Each table has its own character.
The ritual began as always with the massive menu (they have both a Vietnamese and an English version). Vegetables, meat, seafood, you name it… they have so many choices. Be aware that usually their bring only one menu since in Vietnam it is customary to have one person to order for all the party.
The sight of the table full of food was a bit moving. I felt like being in someone’s home and not in a restaurant.
This fried tofu was super delicious. We finished it in a second.
The prawns in coconut juice broth were a simple dish, but again so tasty. I even ate the onion as the sauce was irresistible.
Anther simple dish, squid, made delicious by the sauce, this time based on tamarind.
The deep fried fish with fish sauce cannot be missed in a Vietnamese family meal. This is river fish. Not that meaty, but again, the flavor was remarkable.
Another must-eat: a soup with clams, dill and tomato.
Somebody wanted some beef!
My friend ordered these soft shell crabs specifically for me. She knew I crazy about them. These are the best I had in Vietnam for a long time. The key is that they are only lightly fried, as opposed to those I had at TIB Restaurant for example.
The check
The feast cost us 1,115,000 VND (prices displayed on the menu are inclusive of 10% VAT and no service charge is added, thanks!). That’s around 48 USD for a meal that satisfied four people. That’s an incredible value for money considered the quality of the food, in my opinion much better than the food at TIB Restaurant for example. Just to make a comparison: at TIB one soft shell crab cost me around 270,000 VND, here I spent 250,000 for two.
For once, this was a restaurant that lived up to its reputation and the success did not mess things up. That they are popular is hardly surprising: the food is incredibly delicious and the able use of tamarind, coconut, passion fruit and other Vietnamese “countryside” condiments turn even the simpler food into a mouth-watering dish; the location has character and it is intimate; the price point is very honest. I must add that the service was good; I had some bad experiences in my first visits, I guess they improved this department.
These reasons make Cuc Gach Quan one of my favorite Vietnamese restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City.
Where in Ho Chi Minh City:
10 Dang Tat, Ward Tan Dinh, District 1
Pro-tip I: check their website to get an idea of the different seating arrangements available and when you book try to specify where you wish to seat. Warning: the stairs to the second floor are very steep, if you have mobility issues, ask for a seat downstairs.
Pro-tip II: they also opened a Cafe located in 92 Thạch Thị Thanh. Be sure to go the right address! In the cafe they serve a very enticing set lunch (no menu, only the set lunch available). Staff in the cafe does not speak English.