Bánh Xèo 46A

Bánh Xèo 46A is a garden-style restaurant at 46A Dinh Cong Trang Street in Tan Dinh Ward, District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, long associated with the southern pancake from which it takes its name. The bánh xèo is a large, thin, crisp rice-flour crepe coloured with turmeric and coconut milk, folded around pork, shrimp and bean sprouts, and fried on a hot pan so that it sizzles, which is the origin of the name. Diners tear off a piece, wrap it in lettuce and fresh herbs such as mustard leaf, mint and perilla, and dip it in a sweet-sour fish-sauce dressing. The menu fills out the table with nem lụi, lemongrass pork skewers that are rolled in rice paper with herbs, and gỏi cuốn, fresh spring rolls with shrimp and pork. The dining room is open and informal, with tables set around a courtyard and covered areas, and the atmosphere is lively and loud at mealtimes, with families and groups sharing dishes. There is no dress code. Wrapping the pancakes is a hands-on, social way to eat, which suits groups. Reservations are not taken for ordinary meals; the practical advice is to arrive before 18:30 on weekends, when the courtyard fills. Hours run daily from about 10:00 to 21:00, but visitors should confirm locally. A typical meal costs roughly 100,000 to 200,000 VND per person, placing it in the moderate bracket, and a single pancake is large enough that two people often share one alongside other dishes. Drinks are mainly iced tea, fresh juices, soft drinks and local beer, and there is no notable wine programme. The restaurant sits in Tan Dinh, a residential and commercial district north of the central tourist core, which makes it a convenient stop for visitors exploring the nearby Tan Dinh Market and its colourful pink church.