Max McFarlin, affectionately known as “Mac Oi”, is a YouTuber famous for his journey of discovering street food. Having lived in Vietnam for more than 4 years, Max considers himself to have become an unofficial “expert” on Saigon cuisine.
In a recent video, Max shared 5 must-try dishes when visiting Ho Chi Minh City.
Grilled meat noodles
Max shared: “Every morning when I wake up, I crave grilled pork noodles. If Hanoi has grilled pork noodles, Ho Chi Minh City has grilled pork noodles.”
This dish is the perfect combination of fresh noodles, fragrant grilled meat, crispy spring rolls and sweet and sour fish sauce.
The grilled pork noodle shop on Nguyen Trung Truc Street, which has existed for more than 30 years, is the first destination that Max recommends. The shop is famous for its special spring rolls that are fried crispy with pork, wood ear mushrooms, vermicelli...
Max emphasized: “If you come here and don’t order spring rolls, it’s not right!” He also revealed the secret to eating it right: mix well so that the ingredients are evenly coated with fish sauce and enjoy every bit.
Broken rice
No one who comes to Ho Chi Minh City misses the opportunity to try broken rice. The broken rice restaurant in alley 33 Phu Nhuan is Max's top choice.
The special thing here is not grilled ribs but “crispy lean” – a type of meat that is skillfully processed to have a texture that is both soft and crispy.
Max enjoyed every grain of traditional broken rice, served with candied fish sauce, soft-boiled eggs and pickles.
“I think small rice grains like this are the standard for broken rice. Anyone who is bored with pork ribs can come here to try the crispy pork, you won’t be disappointed!”, Max shared.
Snail Xuyen
Ho Chi Minh City is a paradise for snail dishes, and Max chose Oc Xuyen at Ban Co market as his stop. Here, diners can choose from hundreds of types of snails and a variety of ways to prepare them: stir-fried with butter, steamed with lemongrass, roasted with salt, stir-fried with tamarind, or grilled with scallion oil.
Max's favorite dish is coconut stir-fried snails, with a rich, fragrant coconut sauce, combined with crispy banh mi for dipping.
Max excitedly said: “It would be a waste to come to Saigon without eating coconut-fried snails!” He also advised visitors to ask the restaurant owner for advice to choose the best dishes.
Co Tu crab noodle soup
Crab noodle soup is a popular dish throughout Vietnam, but the Saigon version with its golden broth made from crab roe left a deep impression on Max.
At an old stall in the market, Max tried crab noodle soup with fish cakes – a type of cake made from fresh fish cakes.
“Not only is the color attractive, the broth here is also rich and has a bit of fat from the crab.”
Max said this dish is especially suitable for many people's taste and cannot be missed when coming to Saigon.
Chi Men's Noodle Soup
Hu tieu is a popular dish in Ho Chi Minh City. Chi Men's restaurant offers a rich flavor of broth made from bones and dried shrimp, along with soft and chewy hu tieu noodles.
Max especially enjoyed the friendly service and intimate atmosphere of the restaurant.
He commented: "The feeling of sitting and eating hu tieu on the side of the road, surrounded by passing vehicles, is an experience that cannot be found anywhere else."
In conclusion, Max shared that to fully enjoy Ho Chi Minh City cuisine, visitors need to wake up early and be ready to embark on a journey to discover popular eateries, where traditional flavors are preserved.
For him, every dish is a story, and street experiences are the soul of this city.
If you're planning a visit to Ho Chi Minh City, save Max's list and prepare for a memorable culinary experience.
