Bun Bo Nam Bo – Ba Ba: Fast, Fresh, Authentic Vietnamese Cuisine

Bun Bo Nam Bo (Bún Bò Nam Bộ) literally translates to “beef noodles from the south” as it is most commonly found in southern Vietnam. It’s a dish that you must try during your trip to Ho Chi Minh City and our favorite spot in the city is Bun Bo Nam Bo – Ba Ba (Vietnamese: Bún Bò Nam Bộ – Bà Bà).

This classic Vietnamese dish is made of 21 different ingredients including fresh rice noodles, herbs, beef marinated with lemongrass, garlic, shallots, toasted peanuts, and sweet & sour papaya. The sauce is in the bottom of the bowl and is made with hot fish sauce.

Once you mix all of the ingredients together, it’s an incredibly delicious dish!

The Ambiance

The ambiance of Bun Bo Nam Bo – Ba Ba is nothing special. In fact, it looks like pretty much every other inexpensive Vietnamese restaurant in the city with plain metal tables lining the walls and plastic red and blue stools for seating. The small kitchen area churns out bowls of bun bo nam bo from the front of the restaurant.

Bun Bo Nam Bo – Ba Ba is buzzing with activity, with the service staff running around, taking orders, and delivering food. The menu is small so you’ll only have to wait a few minutes to get your delicious meal.

The Menu

The menu at Bun Bo Nam Bo – Ba Ba is quite small. The appetizer options are fried spring rolls, either with meat or without. Your options for a main course are, of course, bun bo nam bo or 3 other options that look quite similar to the items already listed above.

Combo options include a starter, a main, and a drink (or all of those with dessert as well).

Since the bun bo nam bo is really the highlight of the restaurant, best to stick to the classic.

The Pricetag

Prices at Bun Bo Nam Bo – Ba Ba are quite reasonable. The starters are 25k-30k VND (~$1 USD) and the mains are 55k-60k (~$2.50 USD). The combo meals are 100k VND or 120k VND if you want to add a drink and/or dessert.

You’ll leave stuffed and satisfied, all for under $10 USD!

Our Recommendation

Combo 1 is our go-to at Bun Bo Nam Bo – Ba Ba. We choose the vegetarian fried spring rolls to start, the bun bo nam bo for our main, and a coconut water or Saigon beer for dessert. It’s a delicious meal and one of the best deals around!

Location: 76 Nguyễn Thái Bình, Phường Nguyễn Thái Bình, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

More Info: TripAdvisor | Facebook