Saigon 2014

It was like the shark fin soup in Hong Kong but there was no real shark fin. The soup was based with crab meat and chicken stripes and thicken with tapioca flour. Honestly speaking, this tasted better than the ones I had in Hong Kong.
At the corner of the Tan Dinh Market.

After the long hours of brewing, the bitterness from the bitter gourd was "brew" away and leaving its natural sweetness into the soup. They mixed the minced pork with mushroom and finely seasoned with some salt.
A healthier comfort food!

Com Tam Tu Quy

Cho Tan Dinh (Tan Din Market), near the corner of Hai Ba Trung street and Nguyen Huu Cau street, District 3
Yellow sign of the same name, plus waiters all wearing yellow shirts.
Daily from 6pm until late

The garlicky chilli sauce brought out the sweetness from the Sotong, making it irresistible.
Cha Muc Gia Phuc
47 Nguyen Huu Cau, P. Tan Dinh, Q1 TP. HCM.

It was simply like fried patty soaked in a sweet and sour broth. Minimum trace of the herby taste and maximum flavor from the meat.
Quan Anh Hong
34A Mac Dinh Chi, District 1

I made it just in time before they close for the day. Piping hot broth with thin slice of quality beef steak. Their soup wasn't as clear and sweet but in return, the flavor of the beef was the strongest. Compare to the past two pho bo I had, this is my number TWO!
Pho Phuong
25 Hoang Sa Street, District 1, right on the canal’s edge
+84 (8) 3910 2422

Fried spring roll, pork on the stick and some rice noodle. The lady kindly reminded me that there was fish sauce and vinegar bottom the bowl.
Mix it, eat it and love it.
Chi Thong
195 Co Giang, District 1

Unlike others I had, they had Grilled Patty with Seared Veg! It was like a longer version of "juicy burger"! Every bite was like biting into a piece of savory heaven.
Banh Mi Stall
37 Nguyen Trai, District 1

The hint of sesame oil made it perfect.
Quan Sadec
154 Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street, District 1
www.sadecquan.com

Very flavorful and heart warming porridge (cooked with broken rice and duck bone) and mouth watering braised duck.
This was the most expensive meal I had in Saigon (133,000 Dong). The duck was chewy but very well seasoned.
Quán Cháo Vịt Thanh Đa (Gốc Nhà Lá)
47 Nguyễn Thông, 9, 3, Hồ Chí Minh

But they served one of the Com Suon (Grilled Pork) with Com Tam (Broken Rice). Because it was char grilled, the juice was sealed in instantly. Marinated with sugar, fish sauce and maybe some garlic.
Love every bite of it. Serious comfort food.
The com suon joint directly across the street from the entrance to the water puppets show on Nguyen Thi Minh Khi, not far from the park’s entrance. Essentially: between Truong Dinh and Huyen Trang Cong Chua.
You will see a dancing school beside the water puppet then cross the road.

They sold clothing and accessories at their front door and cafe at the second floor. I sat at their outdoor balcony enjoying a cup of ice cold Vietnamese coffee and a warm/cold apple pie. Watching the bikers rushing through the narrow streets and listening irritating horning sound! (It was so different while I was on the street)
Slices of caramelized Apple with a hint of cinnamon. The melted ice cream sipped in between of the apple slices making it so cozy to eat. Oh Yes! The stripes of orange zest made it so un-real-ly good.
L'usine (Le Loi)
70B Le Loi St - D.1 HCMC - Vietnam +84 (0) 8 3521 0703

Even with the sign board, it still seem so hidden.
No wonder @legalnomads said that this is one of the best in town. The soothing sweetness from the broth was just so comforting. Their sliced beef was so tender that I hardly need to chew.
Pho Thanh Binh
18bis Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, District 1, HCMC