Ốc Oanh

Ốc Oanh is a large pavement restaurant at 534 Vinh Khanh Street in Khanh Hoi Ward, District 4 of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, on the street best known for its seafood and snail restaurants. District 4 sits across the canal from the central district, and Vinh Khanh has become a popular evening destination where rows of restaurants set plastic tables and stools on the pavement and grill shellfish over charcoal. Ốc Oanh is one of the better-known names on the strip, with a long menu of grilled and stir-fried shellfish. Signature dishes include ốc len xào dừa, mud snails stir-fried in coconut milk, sò điệp nướng mỡ hành, grilled scallops topped with spring onion oil and peanuts, and nghêu hấp, steamed clams with lemongrass and chilli. Many tables order several plates of different shellfish, along with salt-pepper-lime dipping sauce, crab or prawn dishes and a plate of vegetables. The atmosphere is loud, crowded and festive, with motorbikes passing, servers calling orders and groups sharing beer. There is no dress code, and the setting is informal; diners can expect smoke and heat from the grills. The restaurant is open daily from the late afternoon until about midnight, though hours should be confirmed locally, and no reservations are taken, so a wait is common after 19:00 at weekends. A typical meal costs around 150,000 to 350,000 VND per person, depending on how much shellfish is ordered, and prices are shown by the plate or by weight, so visitors should check before ordering. Drinks are mostly beer, iced tea and soft drinks. The street is a short taxi or ride-hailing trip from District 1 and offers a lively look at local after-work dining culture.