An's Saigon

It took me over half an hour to reach this restaurant in Thảo Điền, and I hadn’t eaten in 25 hours after partying. I arrived exhausted, hungry, and aching all over like a deprived zombie, yet everything that followed made the trip entirely worthwhile. When I arrived, the electricity happened to be out, likely for maintenance. The waiter kindly brought me a complimentary perilla and lemongrass tea while I waited. It was delicately sweet, soothing, and easy on the stomach, the perfect prelude to the meal. I started with the bulot snails wrapped in betel leaves, and the aroma immediately reminded me of a rainy afternoon in Đà Lạt, passing by bò nướng lá lốt stalls. The flavor was exceptional: the bread crisp yet soft, the snails beautifully seasoned, the leaves juicy and aromatic. Everything, from portion to presentation, was done with care and intention. For the main course, I chose the garlic-seared duck (medium rare) with garlic oil sauce. I had initially wanted the pepper elder salad with crab, but the waiter thoughtfully suggested baked vegetables instead since the portion might be too large for one person. It turned out to be a wonderful choice. I was pleasantly surprised to find winged beans among the vegetables, a lovely touch that reflected both creativity and cultural awareness. Even the okra was tender yet lightly crisp, with no excess gel, which speaks volumes about their attention to detail. Dessert was a strawberry choux and a mango choux, both airy and subtly sweet, the kind of balance I prefer after a full meal. My strawberry matcha latte tasted beautifully fresh, with what seemed to be a homemade syrup that complemented the matcha perfectly. In the end, both the tea and vegetables were on the house, and I received a 20% discount due to the temporary power cut, even though the wait was reasonable. Service throughout was warm, attentive, and unhurried. The waiter also gave me a 10% voucher for their spa upstairs; a graceful touch that left a lasting impression. Everything about this restaurant from the food, the thoughtfulness, to the quiet refinement speaks for itself. The cherry on top: I’m writing this review voluntarily, not because anyone asked me to.