{"id":3118,"date":"2020-07-23T11:48:54","date_gmt":"2020-07-23T03:48:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/?p=3118"},"modified":"2020-09-14T22:50:43","modified_gmt":"2020-09-14T14:50:43","slug":"hao-hao-sai-gon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/hao-hao-sai-gon\/","title":{"rendered":"HAO HAO S\u00e0i G\u00f2n Is A Taiwan-inspired Brunch Spot With Meals Under VND40,000"},"content":{"rendered":"

HAO HAO S\u00e0i G\u00f2n is an affordable brunch restaurant in HCMC<\/span><\/h2>\n
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After a trip to Taiwan last year, Thy, a 25 year-old architecture graduate with a passion for both <\/strong>architecture<\/strong><\/a> and Taiwanese foods<\/strong>, was impressed with the country\u2019s blossoming street food scene and its plethora of simple eateries with stunning aesthetics. <\/strong>She started to envision a restaurant in Saigon where customers could enjoy quality Taiwanese street food<\/strong> alongside her mother\u2019s home recipes<\/strong> in a beautifully decorated space.<\/p>\n

Thus, she opened a restaurant called HAO HAO S\u00e0i G\u00f2n, <\/strong>and we just had to visit the restaurant to taste its menu for ourselves.<\/p>\n

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Minimalist Taiwanese snack bar decor<\/span><\/h3>\n
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\"Hao<\/p>\n

At first sight, the caf\u00e9 looks like a snack bar in Taiwan<\/strong>, with hints of traditional Taiwanese architecture with red doors and windows, and hip green roof tiles against all-white walls.<\/p>\n

With clean lines, ample natural light,<\/strong> and using only white, dark green, and red as the main color<\/strong> both indoors and outdoors for a contrasting combination, HAO HAO S\u00e0i G\u00f2n<\/strong> has everything a minimalist Instagrammer needs for that perfect shot.<\/p>\n

\"HaoNoren<\/em>, a traditional Japanese fabric divider in the doorway, adds a Japanese touch to the caf\u00e9<\/em><\/p>\n

While the structure of the caf\u00e9 leans toward the traditional, its use of mainly black and white furniture gives the caf\u00e9 a timeless monochrome feel. It\u2019s also filled with all kinds of plants and fresh flowers, along with equally photogenic food<\/strong> to match.<\/p>\n

\"Hao<\/p>\n

The caf\u00e9 provides generous natural lighting, ample indoor and outdoor seating arrangements, and a plush sofa to make you feel pampered. This is a great place to read, study, and work while munching on comfort food. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Knowledgeable about architecture herself, Thy deftly incorporates the typical elements reminiscent of modern Taiwanese vibes<\/strong> into this caf\u00e9: a combination of traditional Asia and a dynamic world, a mild touch of Japan<\/a>, and a sense of airiness and open space.<\/p>\n

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Steam buns and street food munchies on the menu<\/span><\/h3>\n
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\"Hao
\nFishballs, chicken nuggets, sausage, French fries, and bao buns
\n<\/em>Image credit: <\/em>HAO HAO S\u00e0i G\u00f2n<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Even though the aesthetics alone draw visitors seeking elegant simplicity, Thy is hopeful that the food quality<\/strong> and affordable prices<\/strong> will keep customers returning.<\/p>\n

The caf\u00e9 serves a wide variety of Taiwanese-inspired comfort foods perfect for brunches or midday pick-me-ups, from steamed buns, fish balls, to yogurt, with prices starting at just VND16,000 (~USD0.69)<\/strong>, and nothing on the menu exceeding VND40,000 (~USD1.72)<\/strong>. For a caf\u00e9 that is only a 10-minute drive away from the city centre and studded with IG-worthy corners, these prices are not easy to come by. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Thy recommended the bao, <\/em><\/strong>or <\/em>buns cooked with her mother\u2019s recipes. In fact, HAO HAO S\u00e0i G\u00f2n is one of the rare spots in town serving such Taiwanese-styled steamed buns.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Hao<\/p>\n

Upon Thy\u2019s recommendation, I ordered the char siew bun (VND36,000, ~USD1.55)<\/strong>, which looks exactly like gua bao<\/em><\/strong>, a well-loved pork belly bun in Taiwan.<\/p>\n

Similar to its original Taiwanese version<\/strong>, the bun looks like a tiger\u2019s mouth chomping on char siew slices. The steamed bun is fluffy and tender<\/strong>. It’s made with a mix of flour, yeast, sugar, milk, and baking powder, with mixing time and proportions carefully adjusted to make sure it is light and not overly sweet.<\/p>\n

\"Hao<\/p>\n

The bun is filled with tender pork belly<\/strong> braised in soy sauce and pepper, laid atop a layer of shredded red cabbage and green cabbage. Every component pulls its weight<\/strong> – the char siew pork belly is salty and flavorful with a decent amount of fat<\/strong>, while the cabbage lends some crunch and herbal notes. They are harmoniously held together<\/strong> by the soft and mildly sweet steamed bun.<\/p>\n

\"Hao
\nImage credit: <\/em>HAO HAO S\u00e0i G\u00f2n<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Vegetarians can order tofu bao buns<\/strong> (VND34,000, ~USD1.46), <\/strong>consisting of seared tofu topped with a crispy layer of seaweed for a flavorful vegan treat<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"Hao
\nA glass of soya milk with black jelly and an eco-friendly straw<\/em><\/p>\n

I also tried HAO HAO S\u00e0i G\u00f2n\u2019s signature drink – soya milk with black jelly and ice cubes (VND37,000, ~USD1.60)<\/strong>. Thy revealed that she tossed an unexpected ingredient into the soya milk to give it a special flavor boost – sweetened condensed milk<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Soya milk purists <\/strong>might find this combination absurd, but it turned out to a harmonious blend, and not forced at all. The condensed milk lends the naturally bland soya milk a sweet and milky note, <\/strong>and a thicker texture<\/strong>. The drink is stuffed with grass jelly that tastes slightly bitter and balances the sweetness of the milk.<\/p>\n

Alternatively, if you\u2019re a fan of milk tea and milk tea only, you\u2019ll also find a good selection of milk tea<\/strong> here, such as oolong milk tea and caramel milk tea.<\/p>\n

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Why you should visit HAO HAO S\u00e0i G\u00f2n<\/span><\/h3>\n
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\"Hao<\/p>\n

HAO HAO S\u00e0i G\u00f2n sits up to 60 guests<\/strong> at any one time, and you\u2019ll find young students and freelancers sitting in HAO HAO S\u00e0i G\u00f2n for its aesthetics, tranquility, and space<\/strong>. But it’s the delicious and wallet-friendly foods and drinks that\u2019ll bring you back.<\/p>\n

\"Hao
\nTaiwanese street snacks galore
\n<\/em>Image credit: HAO HAO S\u00e0i G\u00f2n<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

The caf\u00e9 also has ample parking space and a security guard, which is a huge plus point in Binh Thanh District, a place where vehicles are aplenty, but parking can be scanty.<\/p>\n

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A unique brunch spot in HCMC<\/span><\/h3>\n
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\"Hao<\/p>\n

HAO HAO S\u00e0i G\u00f2n is a stylish, quiet, and affordable place <\/strong>near the city center to grab a quick lunch, study, and work. Order a sumptuous brunch with less than VND100,000 (~USD4.31)<\/strong> and you can lounge around for as long as you want<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Besides serving delicious and budget-friendly foods, the caf\u00e9 is also filled with aesthetically pleasing corners to feed your Insta goals.<\/p>\n

Reserve a table on HAO HAO S\u00e0i G\u00f2n\u2019s Facebook page here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Address: <\/strong><\/span>8 Ho\u00e0ng Hoa Th\u00e1m, Ward 7, B\u00ecnh Th\u1ea1nh District, Ho Chi Minh city
\nOpening hours: <\/strong><\/span>8AM-11PM, Daily
\nTelephone: <\/strong><\/span>038 867 8077<\/p>\n

Website<\/a><\/p>\n

Also check out:<\/p>\n