Cục Gạch Quán

Cục Gạch Quán is a restaurant at 10 Dang Tat Street in Tan Dinh Ward, District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, housed in a former villa whose rooms are decorated with salvaged brick and period furnishings. The name refers to the brick, and the interior leans on nostalgia, with old furniture, tiled floors and wooden shutters evoking a southern Vietnamese family home. The cooking follows the same theme, presenting southern home-style dishes rather than restaurant showpieces. Cá kho tộ, fish caramelised in a clay pot with fish sauce and pepper, is a defining southern dish and a typical order, eaten with plain rice. Canh chua, the sour soup of tamarind, pineapple, tomato and herbs, provides a bright counterpoint, and rau muống xào tỏi, morning glory stir-fried with garlic, is the standard vegetable side. Portions are meant for sharing, so groups usually order several dishes for the middle of the table. The dining rooms are relaxed and moderately quiet compared with street-food spots, and there is no dress code, though the surroundings suit a slightly smarter casual outfit. Rooms and courtyard areas give a choice of indoor or open-air seating. Reservations are advisable on weekends, and the restaurant accepts them through its phone line or Facebook page; weekday visits are normally easier. Hours run daily from about 07:00 to 22:00, though visitors should confirm locally. A typical meal costs about 250,000 to 500,000 VND per person, which places it above street stalls but below fine dining. Drinks include iced tea, juices, soft drinks and beer, and there is no notable wine list. Tan Dinh is a district of old villas and markets, and the restaurant fits comfortably into an afternoon spent walking its quiet lanes and the nearby Tan Dinh Market.