Quán Bụi Original

Quán Bụi Original is a restaurant at 17A Ngo Van Nam Street in Ben Nghe Ward, District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, set in a leafy courtyard just off the central Dong Khoi area. It serves a mix of Vietnamese dishes aimed at visitors, with a menu that covers rice dishes, salads, grilled meats and noodle plates in an accessible, home-style presentation. The name Bụi, meaning dust or rustic, hints at the casual, countryside-inspired style of the decor, with greenery, wooden furniture and open-air seating mixed with indoor rooms. Common orders include cơm chiên, fried rice, gà nướng sả, chicken grilled with lemongrass, and gỏi ngó sen, a lotus-root salad with herbs, shrimp and pork that is crunchy and sharp with lime and fish sauce. The menu is long and designed for sharing, so groups tend to order several dishes together with rice. The atmosphere is relaxed and fairly busy, with a mix of tourists, expatriates and groups, and noise is moderate to high at peak times; there is no dress code. Service is friendly and the setting suits families and small groups. Reservations are not required for small parties, though booking is advised for groups, especially at dinner. Hours run daily from about 10:00 to 22:00, but should be confirmed locally. A typical meal costs around 200,000 to 450,000 VND per person, in the moderate-to-upper-moderate bracket. The drinks list includes fresh juices, coffee, soft drinks, beer and cocktails. Its location, within walking distance of the Opera House, the Saigon River and the Dong Khoi shopping street, makes it a convenient place for lunch or dinner on a day of sightseeing in the central district, and a comfortable choice for visitors who prefer a calm garden to a street-side stall.