I have just been (for the second time in less than a week!) to one of the most stunning, inspiring, elegant, amazing restaurants, and it’s right in my neighbourhood! I can’t believe I’ve only been introduced to this place two weeks before I depart Saigon, so obviously, a few more visits are in order!
Cuc Gach Quan is a Vietnamese ‘country’ style restaurant, with its menu offering a nod to the way dishes were once prepared – without msg or ingredients affected by fertilisers. The tofu and the soy sauce are homemade, and the juices are natural and pure with no sugar added, but a little jug of honey is served on the side. The food is delicious (especially the lemongrass tofu and the pork in claypot) and the decor is amazing, with antique/distressed wood furniture, gorgeous blue and white crockery and drinks served in glass bottles with rolled up banana leaf stoppers. There’s a fish and turtle pond between the front room and the open kitchen at the back, and a steep staircase leading up to more gorgeous seating. The restaurant is architect owned and designed – and it shows!
I’m in love with this place, and I can’t wait to go back. For more about Cuc Gach Quan, see this piece in Travel + Leisure, or check out some of the feature articles on its website.
Cuc Gach Quan, 10 Dang Tat, Tan Dinh, District 1, Saigon, Tel: 38480144 or 01657101010
Images courtesy Cuc Gach Quan
It looks like a gorgeous, cozy place! I love the decor, and I imagine the foods are delicious.
Wow, what a gorgeous setting for some great Vietnamese food. I’ll definitely have to try it out when I’m in Saigon in January. Thanks for this post!
Oooh, sounds delicious! I love the staircase in the photograph…
oh, it is close to my place. Should try it out soon. Thanks for this post. BTW, have you tried Vietnamese sticky rice? Take a look here. Hope u like it.
http://www.facebook.com/xoithangbom
This looks great! Just discovering your blog a couple of days before we leave for Saigon. Something tells me I’ll spend a lot of time here 🙂 Thanks!
I love your blog. Though I guess I’ll probably get to visit all these places after maybe 10 years.
I’ve included your name in a post on inspirational bloggers on my site. Hope you don’t mind. You can find it at: http://morethanjustmummy.blogspot.com/2010/11/bloggy-inspiration.html
Thanks for the comments all!
@djer – do you have a blog too? Tried to link to the site mentioned on your facebook page but it just redirected me back to facebooK!
@Chloe – Hope you enjoy Saigon!
@nmaha – Thank you so much for featuring me in your list – very flattering!
I was invited to dinner here only a few days after you posted this. It was exciting to try a place I had only recently read so much about. It fully lives up to its reputation. I wanted to lick the clay pot clean. I hope you made it into the attic. It’s even more charming than below. I am looking forward to visiting again soon.