Secret Garden Restaurant is down an alley and up a few flights of stairs that feel dingy and very backstreet Ho Chi Minh City but worth the trip to this beautiful rooftop diner. The food here is top notch and has great prices. Not super cheap street food but cheap, high quality dishes from home cooked meals to 5 different spring roll selection plates. The drinks list covers local drinks to cocktails and a limited wine list. Staff here are friendly, know English and they have cash and digital payment options. Definitely worth seeking this out if you're in town

This place had a good vibe but in my opinion does not deserve the 5 stars many reviewers have given here. The food was good but again nothing particularly special for Asian cuisine. They also allow patrons to smoke even though the tables are quite close to each other, which really is unpleasant to those who are affected by secondhand smoke. Most patrons are western tourists when we were there.

Good reviews are definitely from those who were there for the grams. Only giving 2 stars for the fact that it’s a rooftop restaurant with nice decor and is uniquely hidden in a residential block. Otherwise, definitely a tourist trap. (Didn’t see a single local group dining in.) Anyone who has actually tried proper Vietnamese food anywhere else in the city would be disappointed. Wide variety of Vietnamese food but generally lacking in flavour and leaves a bad taste of overused oil in your mouth. Prices are also very steep for HCM. Skip if you actually want a decent meal.

A very unassuming location with the entrance being hidden by a row of scooters parked in front of it. Walked up 4 flights of stairs and were pleasantly surprised with the ambience and deco. We were seated promptly as we were early and ordered their speciality dishes - special veggie with sliced beef, banh xeo, platter of chicken with mixed flavours, and char siu fried noodles. All of the dishes were very tasty and generous. The special veggie was unique and tasty. The restaurant gets very busy and at 8 pm, it was full house on a week day. Recommend making a reservation to avoid disappointment.

Very nice rooftop spot with the outdoor seating area, don’t worry about the rain they have the covers;) it can get very busy but the waiting time isn’t too long, we didn’t have a reservation and they were able to accommodate us in like 5 minutes. The food was delicious, we have ordered many traditional meals but I recommend you to try the corn salad with dry shrimps it yummy 😋 also mango salad with chicken, coming with many dipping sauces if you like spicy or medium spicy, desserts very a bit too liquid for me personally but please go ahead and try you might like it. Attaching pictures for reference. Ooow and don’t forget the Vietnam is a tropical country so don’t get scared of the lizards 🦎 since they are very cute, small and harmless. Enjoy

Disastrous meal. Worst meal I’ve had in HCM and quite possibly all around the world. Food smells and tastes like rancid oil, and ingredients were very stale. Would not recommend this to anyone and it is extremely puzzling how this place was highly raved about and had good ratings. They have cats running around the place and so be prepared to deal with the level of hygiene, as they will be on tabletops and on the plates/bowls (which are laid out in advance) Prices were too expensive for the quality of food they are serving. AVOID AT ALL COSTS. You will be better off trying any other random local eateries around the area.

Definitely secret place. It can't imagine this splendid place belong to the old ruined building. Food is not amazing but enough to taste all traditional Vietnam food. Recommend to come here at evening, not day time for enjoying a view of rooftop and cool wind.

It's definitely worth to pass by and enjoy drink/food on the rooftop. Good selection of both drinks and food. Food though could be missing a Vietnamese flavours. It is not bad at all, but regarding taste prepared in a bit western style. Perhaps therefore you see mostly tourists there. What is strange, there is an extra charge of 2k vnd for....wet napkins.

We brought the kids here for dinner. We had heard the secret garden restaurant had a unique vibe with delicious food. Our kids got a kick out of walking up the stairs to the restaurant. My youngest also thought it was pretty funny to have a rooster in a cage in the middle of the restaurant. However, the service was very slow. It took about ten minutes for the drinks to be ordered, and then another ten minutes to order food (the drinks hadn't arrived yet either). I should mention there were only a few tables occupied. The staff carrying around kittens was honestly more odd than cute. The food was overpriced and subpar to any local street food you can buy at a fraction of the price. I'd say skip this place all around.

From back alley to bustling rooftop restaurant, this place is a hidden gem within Ho Chi Minh City. We arrived around 7:45pm and had to wait about 30 minutes to be seated. The woman at the front doors is illusive, so you need to track her down to get your name put on the waiting list. Make sure you get your name on the list, or else you'll be a sitting duck. The food is served in smaller portions, and the style seems to be more shareable, appetizer-sized plates. We ordered at least 12 dishes between 4 people and 4 alcoholic drinks. The total bill came out to 2 million, Drinks were last to come out, and the bar service is slow. The food was tasty and well plated. I recommend trying the soft tofu topped with shrimp and the sticky rice topped with pork. Both are very delicious dishes. The kitchen closes at 9:30 pm, and the restaurant seems to shut down for business at 10pm. The ambiance throughout the restaurant is nice, and it was comforting to see it so busy, then you know the food is going to be tasty.

What a beautiful way to dine! Like so many restaurants in Vietnam we headed down an alleyway and then up the stairs until we reached the very top! Our reward for the stair climb was a restaurant decorated with fairy lights and silk lanterns, creating a magical dining experience for us. It was packed when we arrived and without a reservation we happily waited for a table to free up - luckily this did not take long. We ordered the Fresh Spring Rolls with Shrimp and Pork and the Banh Xeo or Vietnamese Rice Pancake with Pork and it was not long before the food arrived. The Spring Rolls were delicious but (after looking forward to having Banh Xeo again) I would have to say that the Pancake was my favourite. The service here is fast but also attentive and we were not pressured (even once) to leave after we’d finished our meals, even though the restaurant was full. We would recommend going at night though, as we had read in advance that it gets hot during the day. Without a doubt we would visit again!

The food comes in small portions but shareable. Taste is great. Price is reasonable. Ambience is good. View is amazing. As the name says, it’s a secret so look harder to find the place to where it is! Make sure you book in advance! We came on a Thursday night and it was fully booked! Fortunately they accommodated us and found us a table for an hour, more than enough to eat there.

Took us a minute to find (it’s down an alley and up about 4 flights of steps) but the view is lovely once you get there! I loved the plants and the birds, the food was really good as well. We got the family style share platters and I also really liked the melon and prawn soup.

Located within an unassuming apartment block, you have to hiked up several flights of step to arrive at this gem of a restaurant. The fairy lights add a magical feel to the whole ambiance. Food was well seasoned with a good lick of wok-hey. Prices is definitely above what you would get for local food but still it’s a nice place to bring guests who would like to experience Vietnamese food.

This restaurant was reference by my husband couleague. The place indeed is hidden, it's in 4th floor I think cause many stairs we need to reach 😅. It's at the roof top. Much better you have reservation first so you can choose your table but they also accept walking in. The food is OK for us, we love the beef and fish but we didn't like the squid soup. The ambience is OK. The staff service was good. Toilet is one only. Overall OK experience for us.

A hidden gem in the city ! All the food was great except for the morning glory with garlic was a 4/10 everything else was 10/10 especially the lotus seed fried rice… all the rice was crispy like crispy fried rice. The yellow rice in the photo fyi was amazing

Came here for dinner without a reservation but luckily they had a table free. Variety of food was great, so much to choose. Food quality was fantastic, one of the best restaurants in Saigon. Will definitely come back.

Very local vibe and feel. The decor is retro and the setting blends jn with ambience of being in the roof of the building. The service was quick and quality of the food good as well. Not the easiest place to find but well worth the visit. It is after all Secret.

Very decent place. Have both outdoor and indoor dining area with AC. Food is tasty. Highly recommended.

Quiet terrace where you can dine well-prepared dishes with a lot of variety. The waiters don't speak practically English but there is always someone who can solve you, don't worry it's a good place. The tables are spacious and there are many fans to combat the heat.

It’s such a surprise when you get to the restaurant, it’s down and alley and then up some unprepossessing stairs (several flights!) but really worth it. Lovely food, bustley staff and the setting is great - colourful lanterns and fairy lights. We had several dishes to share and all were excellent - fish, chicken, prawns

Was at the top, almost walked away after climbing few floors and can't see it. But the food were really great. Recommended to go for early dinner before 6 so that less crowd and you get to see before & after dark lighting. At night they will open their root top. You can order 1 bowl of rice and share it with others. The chicken and fish is a must order. Even the spring rolls is also not to be missed

Once you know where to find this place it’s absolutely worth the travel to. After you have to walk up a flew flights of stairs you come into a small entry way that truly leads you into an amazing secret garden where you can find some delicious authentic Vietnamese food. Service was good, but the food is what really makes the place stand out. We tried the sample roll plate, and these fantastic fried sticky rice with minced pork on top. That is 100% a highly suggested thing that everyone should try.

Food's good but not stellar. Ingredients are fresh and high quality. Ambience is great with rooftop feel and great decor. A little small and cramped, it is a small place overall. Music is not loud. Some people smoke and staff does not intervene. Staff service is excellent, they make the effort to cater to your needs and keep good mood.

It is hidden on the fourth floor of an old apartment, and there is only one sign at the entrance. Without any sign on the stairs, we were worrying that the place didn't exist while we climbed up. I think if they put some kind of decorations on the way up, combine with more lighting and someone guide the guests when they are arrived there will be much nicer, since the first part we saw were the kitchen. That was a wrong impression for me. Combine all of that, we thought we were at the wrong place for the first 10 minutes. Overall, food is good. View is great, specially when sunset, romantic. But price seem to be a little bit high, still in an acceptable range. With all I just said, I can understand why they don't have much customer... A rough beginning... but pleasant ending.

Great place to chill and have some delicious food! The staff is friendly and fast. Prices are a bit high because of it’s popularity. Location is good and ambience is perfect. Colourful lanterns and green plants surround you as you enjoy your meal. I would definitely recommend people to reserve a table if you plan to go during dinner time.

The food was amazing, the place was really great, and the staff were polite. One of the best places to visit when in Saigon. Restaurant is located at the rooftop of a building so some stair-climbing is required. Food prices range from 59k-250k+ dong.

Worth walking off the main road for this place. Yes it looks like you're walking into someone's house to start with but it's on top of an apartment block so it will feel this way. Ive added a photo to show what i mean. Forget it if you struggle with stairs as there is no lift. The layout is great with laterns, fabric and wooden tables giving it a very garden like feel. The menu has plenty to offer with vegetarian options. The toilet is clean and the wash basin is unique (go see). The negative; food is delicious but is bought out as it is made so I'd finished mine before my partner had received theirs. They also forgot to get our drinks so we had to remind them part way through eating. Overall I enjoyed it and would've given 5 stars if not for the service / delivery of order.

Secret is a true name for it. Its hidden at the end of an alleyway and then up 7 flights of stairs. The food was superb and being so high up there was a cool breeze. Just bare in my mind the "less secret it becomes" the busier it will be.

The + Good experience here, a lot of choices, from simple to more complex meals. You have to walk up a few stairs, but the vibe you get from the place is definitely worth it. The place is definitely on the "pricier" side, but for that you get a serious quality experience. The - I did feel a bit pressured to eat "fast", as the staff asks for you to leave within an hour. (Came here without reservation, as did a lot of other clients.). The only rather negative point, because I think it impacts the overall mood. I do understand that a restaurant needs to handle customers to make room for different services, but, maybe a more subtle and gentle way would make it feel less like a factory, and more like a sweet place to stay and eat. Thank you, still, for service, the food was top tier!

This was an experience! Staff is close by waiting for you to signal, they don’t pester you. The menu would take a year to order everything. And the food was delicious. Large sections of vegetarian dishes too. Gourmet food, beautiful settings, and great friends.

First we walked in seeing cats, then a dog running and jumping to us during our meal… it was a cute dog though. Thinking the food must be really really good, we ordered the 10 mixed - 5 different kind of rolls but only 2 out of 5 were okay, the mixed seafood and pork pancake had not much seafood/pork but with a large amount of super greasy stir fry vegetables. The plates and bowls were all chipped. Very disappointed and Won’t come back again.

I had been wanting to try this place for a long time but had a disappointing experience. Food was expensive but didn’t have any taste. My braised pork was so so chewy and full of fat. Salad was just okay, I had about 5 pieces of fatty pork in banh xeo and fried sticky rice was terrible.

Tucked away in a small alley, on top of a small old charming apartment buiding. Love this place. Highly recommended for an home cooking style dining experience.

I had a great time in Calmette branch. So, i went to Pasteur branch. The name is the same, the menu is the same. But the food is not as good as in Calmette Street. It was extremely oily and much too much garlic in every dish.

1. It was located in D1 area and was in the 4th floor. 2. It is local food for tourists. The taste is a bid soft. 3. The English menu is available with photo. 4. Staff can speak English. 5. You should visit there in the evening time. It is a bit hot.

Unfortunately, going up four flights of stairs was not the worst. Rolls and prawns were great, but the squid was rock hard. The claim made only served for a minimal discount. They should learn that if something is not good, no charge.

Went for weekday dinner. Was packed, mainly with tourists. Food was of a high standard. Service good. Recommended for authentic Viet cuisine. Note: Unfortunately approach path to restaurant is uninspiring, with scooter shed along the way. (1 US$ =~24,300 VND)

Such a hidden treasure. Tricksy to find, but well worth the 5 flights of steps we went up to get there. The food was excellent. Packed with flavour. Not expensive. Would absolutely go back. Great experience.

Average food, nice location, service was friendly, prices slightly high. The flavours were all good, but some of the execution was lacking. Read more at: Bittermansguide.com

Very interesting location, cool and amazing experience. The signboard is not very obvious and you need to climb up to the rooftop to reach the restaurant. Very nice decor and good food. Very packed with tourists and it's good if you make a reservation to secure your table. The wait staff speaks good English and there are English menu too. Highly recommended.

Beautiful restaurant on the top of a building so it can be a bit hard to find the first time. Clients are mainly tourists and foreigners and some portions are very small for the price paid. I think that explains there are only foreigners there. Overall food is tasty. I didn’t see any live roosters on cages decorating the place but I wouldn’t go back there if that is the case!

Wow! A delight for your tastebuds! At first we were a bit hesitant, because you need to walk down an alley and then up 4 flights of stairs. But don’t give up. Everything we tried was amazing. Service was fast and cocktails are great too. Make a reservation, because it gets busy in the evening. The great thing is that everything on the menu is translated into English and has identifying pictures. Try this place!

It's a Vietnamese restaurant & popular one. Saw a lot of tourists here. Better make a reservation before you go or you might got to wait long time. And you had to climb up to 5th floor to reach this rooftop restaurant. The food was good, authentic Vietnamese food.Delicious & price not that cheap but it could worth of it. Is that the reason many tourist there or just because we climb that high naked use feel hungry. So everything were yummy. Only1 thing bad about it was they serve a broken bowl to us.That should not happen to a ni e restaurant like this.

Great place for food and atmosphere. You can get most traditional dishes here that are well made, good place to take visitors from out of town like myself. It is kind of hidden and you have to walk up a few flight to stairs to the restaurant.

Wow! This restaurant is really hidden. You have to go through a quiet and run down alleyway and head up three old and unconditioned flights of stairs before you enter the roof top garden which is where the restaurant is. The food was exceptional, see the photos yourself. I must have ordered around a dozen dishes because the menu has so much to offer and I did not regret doing so. At the end of the meal I was so full and the total bill came to 900,000 VND (£30 GBP), absolutely fantastic!

This place is phenomenal. Highly recommend! The drinks are incredibly creative and imaginative. It reminds me of Willy Wonky style. Delicious drinks from creative minds! What could be better? Oh right - they have an awesome happy hour from 5-8! 99 dong cocktails ✨✨

To be honest, the only thing I like about this place is the atmosphere, environment. The food I was surprised that another branch is make it better (I did order the same things) and highly recommend to make a reservation. If not just go at 5 and enjoy the golden hour like us

A bit difficult to find - the restaurant just few meters next to it looks far more like a "garden". Your appetite grows as you need to reach the 4th floor by the stairs. Decent quality of food although we found a small plastic stitch in one of the dishes. Helpful staff.

Stopped in for dinner. The good was far less good than other reviews led me to believe. It wasn't bad, it was just clearly very overpriced. Everyone eating there was a foreigner. The service was fast, though. Also, the entire restaurant had to clear out when a sudden thunderstorm hit - the canvas covers were completely insufficient to protect the dining area on the roof.

Its a very vibey place - would def recommend to come at least once! The food here was quite nice, some dishes didn’t live up to the hype but my favourites included the crispy rice with minced pork and fried squid with salt and pepper. Other dishes tried was the secret garden, mixed pancake and char siew lotus seed fried rice. I felt like these were okay but nothing special, the mixed pancake felt a bit too oily for me. The place is on the roof top of the building so it’s a bit of a climb. Come during the evening to catch the sunset!

Beautiful restaurant with rooftop view. Food are all delicious and easy to eat for tourists! Better make reservation due to long queue ***Only tourists here (including me)😂*** If you’re craving for authentic Vietnamese food with strong taste, this place might not be your answer.

A lovely restaurant serving yummy Vietnamese cuisines. We arrived without reservation at 6pm. Thankfully we were given a table but were requested to end our meal by 7pm. It was okay for us since we 2 pax only. We enjoyed the dishes, and the rooftop atmosphere. Service was good. We will definitely go back for more.

Friendly service, good food and nice rooftop views. Secret Garden restaurant is hidden down an alley way, and at the top of a flight of stairs. The food was delicious and reasonably priced. We took some time ordering and the staff were patient with us. Would come again next time

Amazing authentic Vietnamese food with an outdoor setting that will transform you back into Vietnamese countryside. The food from an American perspective is amazing. The native Vietnamese person I took said the place is very good and authentic. Note for people it is like 5 floors up. I did not see any elevator so just note if you are needing or out of shape. I would call and see what they can do. Make a reservation otherwise you are waiting.

Cool looking roof top restaurant which requires you to walk up through an old building. Very nice setting and well worth trying for tasty Vietnamese food. Service could improve but it’s not too much of a big deal. Great flavours and plenty of food options to choose from. Really liked the lemongrass flavours.

Located down the side of a building is a small neon sign indicating the entrance to the staircase you must climb to reach the rooftop restaurant. After climbing 3-4 floors of concrete stairs you exit out onto a nicely decorated rooftop with a traditional vibe to it. There are nice views of the city and the rooftop is well decorated and breezy. You’ll find a lot of westerners and tourists here and while the food is ok, it is a little bit of a tourist trap. Not the best Vietnamese food I’ve eaten, but overall a nice experience and a place that’s worth visiting at least once.