Best Can Tho Restaurants for Your Mekong Tours

Authentic Vietnamese Restaurants Locals Swear By

Sao Hom Restaurant – Elegant Dining by the Hau River with Local Soul

• Address: Can Tho Ancient Market, Hai Ba Trung Street, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho City
•  Opening Hours: 06:00 AM – 10:30 PM
•  Phone: +84 292 3815 616

Tucked away on Ninh Kieu’s breezy promenade, Sao Hom Restaurant is a legendary Can Tho restaurant that effortlessly combines heritage, hospitality, and the free-wheeling spirit of the Mekong Delta. Founded by a French-Vietnamese chef, this iconic restaurant features panoramic views of the Hau River, live nightly Don ca tai tu performances, and a menu that reads like a love letter to southern Vietnamese cuisine.

Highlights on the Menu:

• Bun mam (noodle soup of fermented fish with pork and seafood)
• Hu tieu My Tho (pork and shrimp noodle soup)
• Snakehead fish grilled with chili-tamarind sauce
• Seasonal tropical fruits from the floating markets

Price Range: ~100,000 – 300,000 VND per person

Ambiance: Open-air, riverside, casual yet elegant – perfect for a sunset dinner or a cultural experience

Nha hang Lua Nep – Southern Countryside Cuisine in a Garden Setting

• Address: Song Hau Embankment, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho City
•  Opening Hours: 06:00 AM – 11:00 PM
•  Phone: +84 973 606 979 / +84 852 280 089

Surrounded by greenery and river breeze, Lua Nep represents the quintessential charm of the Vietnamese countryside right in the heart of Can Tho City. A local favorite, this Can Tho restaurant is where locals celebrate birthdays, reunions, or a simple, bountiful meal of nostalgic Mekong specialties.

Menu Must-Tries:

• Roasted rice rolls with grilled chicken
• Hotpot of fermented fish and wild river herbs (Lau mam)
• Deep-fried elephant ear fish
• Steamed chicken with lime leaves (Ga hap la chanh)
• Water lily salad with tamarind dressing

Price Range: 150,000 – 400,000 VND per person

Atmosphere: Rustic elegance, open garden area, live music on weekends, family- and event-friendly

 Hoi Do Quan – A Taste of the Past, Cooked with Love

• Address: 54 Tran Binh Trong Street, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho City
•  Opening Hours: 07:00 AM – 10:00 PM
•  Phone: 0967 297 070

Step inside a southern Vietnamese home of the 1980s at Hoi Do Quan, where every aspect, from the bamboo designs to the clay pots, evokes the warmth of domestic heritage. This is not so much a Can Tho Vietnam restaurant as where locals come to rediscover home-cooked comfort and happy memories.

Signature Dishes:

• Clay pot rice with caramelized catfish (Com neu Ca kho to)
• Sweet-and-sour snakehead fish soup (Canh chua ca loc)
• Stir-fried morning glory with garlic
• Traditional omelet with minced pork (Trung chien thit bam)

Price Range: 80,000 – 200,000 VND per person

Atmosphere: Homey, nostalgic, leisurely—dinner at grandma’s kitchen

Best Street Food Gems & Hidden Alley Eats

Banh Cong Co Ut – The Crispiest Bite in Town

• Address: 86/38 Ly Tu Trong Street, An Cu Ward, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho City
• Opening Hours: Approx. 3:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Locals will tell you, no trip to Can Tho is complete without Co Ut’s Banh Cong. This small alleyway, Can Tho restaurant, is never short of hungry locals. Every rice cake is freshly fried to a golden crunch and served with herbs, pickles, and signature dipping sauce.

What to Eat:

• Banh Cong (shrimp & mung bean crispy cakes)
• Combo plate with vegetables and dipping sauce

Price Range: 10,000 – 15,000 VND per cake | 35,000 – 50,000 VND per plate

Note: Arrive early—there’s always a queue!

Nem Nuong Thanh Van – Grilled Pork Rolls Like No Other

• Address: 17 Hoa Binh Avenue, Tan An Ward, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho City
•  Opening Hours: 09:00 AM – until sold out (~6:00 PM)

For locals, Nem Nuong Thanh Van is the top choice when grilled pork rolls are on the menu. This beloved Can Tho restaurant is a Nem Nuong specialist, delicate pork skewers paired with rice paper, fresh herbs, pickled vegetables, and their signature peanut-hoisin dipping sauce.

Best Picks:

• Nem Nuong platter with banh hoi
• Fermented pork rolls with fried shallots
• Rice paper spring rolls with grilled meat

Price Range: 40,000 – 60,000 VND per set

Ambiance: Busy, street-side, filled with locals during lunch hour

Cho Toi – Grilled Snails with Green Peppercorns

• Address: 118/9/48 Tran Van Kheo Street, Cai Khe Ward, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho City
•  Opening Hours: Approx. 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM

As night falls and the temperature cools, locals go to Cho Toi for one thing: smoky, spicy, sublime green peppercorn-grilled snails. This after-dark find is a Can Tho seafood must. It’s the kind of Can Tho restaurant you only stumble upon when you’re guided by locals.

Top Dishes:

• Oc nuong tieu xanh (green pepper grilled snails)
• Clams cooked in lemongrass
• Blood cockles grilled

Price Range: 40,000 – 120,000 VND per dish

Vibe: Open-air, casual, lively—ideal for a beer and beer-cap nightcap snack

Mid-Range Crowd-Pleasers (Under $10 Meals Loved by Locals)

Tomato – Pad Thai

• Address: 54 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho City
• Opening Hours: 07:00 AM – 10:00 PM
• Phone: +84 944 204 741

Vibrant, delicious, and astonishingly cheap, Tomato Pad Thai is a fusion favorite among young locals and adventurous travelers alike. This bright, airy restaurant in Can Tho imports the bold flavors of Thailand to complement fresh Vietnamese ingredients. From zesty Tom Yum hotpots to signature Pad Thai tossed with herbs cultivated right here in the Mekong Delta, it’s a winner every time.

Top Picks:

• Seafood Pad Thai with tamarind sauce
• Thai hotpot served with sour-spicy broth
• Pineapple fried rice and Vietnamese sausage

Price Range: 50,000 – 90,000 VND per dish

Atmosphere: Tasty, delectable, and great for a speedy lunch after a trip to nearby floating markets

Vado Canteen Can Tho

• Address: 42 De Tham Street, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho City
•  Opening Hours: 07:30 AM – 10:00 PM
•  Phone: +84 799 227 079

A hip, youthful spot that feels transportive to Ho Chi Minh City, Vado Canteen is Can Tho’s best restaurant for comforting fare served up with creativity. Korean fried chicken-style fried chicken to rice, Vietnamese-style dishes served artfully, the food is designed for taste and Instagram.

Don’t Miss:

• Soy garlic Korean fried chicken wings
• Mixed rice with sunny-side-up egg and beef
• Spaghetti with grilled pork belly and chili sauce

Price Range: 60,000 – 100,000 VND

Ambiance: Modern, lively, friendly staff—ideal for groups or solo diners wishing to enjoy a delicious recharge in Can Tho City

Mekong 1965

• Address: 38 Hai Ba Trung Street, Tan An Ward, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho City
• Phone: +84 292 3821 646

Rooted in tradition, loved by generations, Mekong 1965 is a family-run gem that has stood the test of time. This Can Tho, Vietnam restaurant is all about soulful southern dishes prepared with care and authenticity. It’s where you’ll find true home-style cooking—bold, fresh, and bursting with the flavors of the Mekong Delta.

Highlights:

• Fresh spring rolls with shrimp and pork
• Braised catfish in clay pot (Ca kho to)
• Stir-fried morning glory with garlic
• Banana flower salad with peanuts

Price Range: 80,000 – 120,000 VND

Ambiance: Easy-going, classic, and always delicious—dining in someone’s hometown home

Vegetarian & Vegan Options the Local Community Trusts

Quan Chay Bach Thao for mindful Can Tho restaurant lovers

• Address: 86A De Tham Street, An Cu Ward, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho City
•  Phone: +84 918 174 071

This humble yet lovely vegan Can Tho restaurant is a paradise for vegan diners. Dim lighting, immaculate decor, and a scrumptious menu full of flavorful dishes, Quan Chay Bach Thao proves that vegetable food needn’t be boring.

Best Sellers:

• Vegan pho with fragrant broth
• Stir-fried mushrooms with tofu
• Vegetable spring fried rolls

Price Range: 40,000 – 70,000 VND

Setting: Laid back, friendly, with a neighborhood following that knows what good vegan food is all about

PADME HUM for Can Tho restaurant explorers

• Address: 293 Nguyen Van Cu, An Hoa Ward, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho City
•  Phone: +84 702 494 949

A fresh face in Can Tho’s vegetarian food scene, PADME HUM is a vegan restaurant that brings a sophisticated, colorful twist to its menu. A mid-range restaurant, it blends the local with international and creates healthy, beautiful dishes.

Standout Dishes:

• Rainbow Buddha bowl with roasted rice and seeds
• Vegan Thai curry with tofu
• Cold noodle salad with sesame dressing

Price Range: 70,000 – 120,000 VND

Ambience: Creative, thoughtful, and ideal for travelers who seek wellness and flavor in each bite

Com chay Sen Vang for Can Tho restaurant lovers

• Address: 41 De Tham Street, An Cu Ward, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho City

A bargain, a smile, and a taste sensation—Com chay Sen Vang is a popular local vegetarian restaurant in Can Tho. The restaurant keeps things simple, with a daily changing menu of set-price dishes that deliver the region’s freshest Mekong Delta produce.

Recommended Dishes:

• Fried spring rolls with artificial meat
• Steamed rice with fried vegetables
• Vegan sour soup (Canh chua chay)

Price Range: 30,000 – 60,000 VND

Vibe: Low-key, no-frills, unpretentious dining all about freshness and affordability

Final Tips for Foodies Visiting Can Tho with Can Tho Restaurant Insights

Local Etiquette: How to Eat Like a True Southerner at Can Tho Restaurant

Eating at a Can Tho, Vietnam restaurant is all about slowing down and going local. Case in point: banh xeo, don’t be afraid to attack it with your fingers! Tear a piece off, roll it up in mustard leaves or lettuce, sprinkle some herbs, pickles, and dive into the nuoc mam (fish sauce). Eating with your hands is all part of the adventure, just don’t forget to clean up with wet wipes afterwards!

At small street food stalls or informal restaurants, tipping is not required, but at table settings in Can Tho restaurants, especially those in Ninh Kieu or in hotels, a tip of 5–10% is most appreciated for good service.

Must-Try Drink Pairings with Can Tho Restaurant

Pair your meals with something local and potent. When in the presence of heavy, grilled meats such as Nem Nuong or roasted rice dishes, try the ruou nep (sticky rice wine fermented) for a sweet, pungent experience that is a real kick.

If you’re spending a lazy river afternoon lounging, nothing beats a tall glass of ca phe sua da (condensed milk Vietnamese iced coffee). It’s the perfect sidekick for street food and an assured flavor of daily Can Tho City life.

What to Bring for a Seamless Culinary Adventure with Can Tho Restaurant

• Money: Small Can Tho restaurants and vendors selling street food do not always take cards. Bring a stash of smaller-denomination notes wherever you go.
• Translation App: Even though locals are generally nice and accommodating, not all restaurant staff will speak English. Google Translate and similar apps will help you decipher menus and communicate with the chef about what they deal in.
• Wet Wipes & Tissues: Don’t expect them to be easily found wherever you go, especially at open restaurants or at floating markets. Bring your own to make it hygienic and comfortable.

Conclusion

In  Can Tho City, food is not simply a meal; it’s a way of life. From riverbank feasts in Ninh Kieu to street snacks in front of the floating markets, every notable Can Tho restaurant offers more than flavor; it offers heritage. So follow the locals, trust your taste buds, and have each dish release the heart of the Mekong Delta. Your new favorite Can Tho Vietnam restaurant is waiting!