An ultimate guide to the best Spanish restaurants in Saigon

Not long ago, one could count the number of Spanish restaurants in Saigon on the fingers of one hand. In recent years, many new restaurants have opened their doors, each having its way of preparing traditional Spanish dishes. That is why Spanish cuisine is getting more and more well attended and has become one of the most popular foreign dishes here. Check out the best Spanish eateries in Saigon.

1. Tomatito Sexy Tapas Bar

Tomatito is recently one of the top Spanish restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City, known by its slogan: “sexy tapas bar”. This restaurant opened in 2018 in District 1's burgeoning foodie area, just a few hundred meters from the famous Ben Thanh market.

In Spanish, Tomatito means “little tomato”. Tapas enthusiasts in Manila and Shanghai are likely familiar with this name. Indeed, this HCM City’s location is Chef Willy Trullas Moreno's third child, born after the success of the two branches mentioned above. Tomatito's fun and playful spirit distinguishes it from the other tapas restaurants in the city, precisely as the slogan "sexy tapas bar" promises.

Besides the tapas dish you’d expect, Tomatito's menu is diverse and offers something for everyone. There is also an "express" lunch menu (available from 11 am) and, of course, a drink menu that’ll have you dancing on the table right away.

Tomatito's interior design is chic and modern, with an overall tone of red – an appropriate color for a Spanish restaurant. The space accommodates approximately 100 people in three main areas: the lounge, dining rooms, and bar area.

This restaurant is becoming one of the most popular places for a relaxing meal, plus a bar area for guests who prefer to unwind after work with casual drinks and chit-chats.

• Address: 171 Calmette Street, District 1, HCM City
• Fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/tomatitosaigon/
• Phone: 0869 388 864
• Opening hours: 11:30 am – 3 pm and 5:30 pm - 11 pm
• Price range: $10 - $25
• Must try: Paella de Mariscos Salmon TNT 2.0, Caldereta de marisco, Seabass tiradito, Australian Angus BBQ steak

2. Octo Tapas Restobar

Octo means 8 in Greek, reflecting the wish for luck and eternity. The Tapas Restobar is on the second floor of a building, a few steps from Bitexco Tower.

Since its inception in April 2018, Octo Tapas Restobar has earned itself a cult thanks to its traditional tapas and some of the best Spanish food with a modern twist in Ho Chi Minh City.

The bread, mayonnaise, sauces, sausages, and stocks at Octo Tapas Restobar are handmade. Most of their ingredients come from Vietnam. However, they still delight diners to experience new ingredients from the Mediterranean Sea, such as Spanish red shrimp (Spanish red carabineros prawns) or Gambero Rosso shrimp, one of the most expensive seafood resources on the island of Sicily.

Octo Tapas Restobar's menu is always fresh as they serve 8 to 10 new dishes every week. Some of Saigon's most appealing set lunch deals can also be found here. You may want to try the Executive Set Lunch ($15 ++), which offers a premium menu for you to select a starter, a main course, and a dessert, as well as tea or coffee.

After dinner at Octo, a premium Spanish wine and signature cocktails are just a few stairs down. The stylish decor and splendid music are also great, which was at just the right volume for diners to converse.

• Address: 75 Ho Tung Mau, 2nd floor, District 1, HCM City
• Fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/Octotapas/
• Phone: 093 300 28 95
• Opening hours: from Tuesday to Friday: 11:30 am - 2 pm and 5 pm - 10 pm, Monday and Saturday: 5 pm - 10 pm, Sunday closed
• Price range: $2 - $26
• Must try: Sourdough Bread, Octo Bikini Toastie, Jamon Iberico de Bellota, Iberico Pork Katsu Sandwich, Pulpo a la Gallega

3. Ria - Sangria & Tapas

Located in District 1, next to the Saigon Municipal Opera House, Ria - Sangria & Tapas is a five-star Spanish-style restaurant bar ideal for intimate meals in a sophisticated and chic setting.

This restaurant appears to be a perfect marriage of traditional Spanish dishes and localization of ingredients and flavors. Ria has been serving a culinary love steeped with the subtle and traditional tastes of the nation of gaur to guests, inspired by tapas, a classic appetizer in Spanish cuisine.

Many diners choose seafood as a dish when they visit the restaurant. Because the specially prepared sauces to accompany the dishes.

Drinks are also varied, with a selection of white, red, champagne, and fruit cocktails. But the main drink at Ria - Sangria & Tapas is a combination of fruits and fine grapes to bring out the distinct flavors found only at Ria. The carefully curated cocktails and wines will undoubtedly satisfy your palate.

The overall design of the restaurant Ria - Sangria & Tapas, from the interior to the layout, conveys a sense of lightness and tranquility through luxurious architecture and modern colors. Besides, the restaurant also brings out a warm and close sensation as the design is combined with the surrounding green trees.

Thanks to its ample space, Ria has many areas for groups of friends, family or coworkers, and private romantic corners for couples and lovers. Everything is thoughtfully laid out so that you don't run out of space or struggle to find a suitable seat.

• Address: 2nd floor, 95 Hai Ba Trung, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, HCM City
• Fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/riasaigon/
• Phone: 090 902 82 93
• Opening hours: 5 pm – 11 pm, Sunday Closed
• Price range: $4 - $51
• Must try: Shrimp Tapas, Pisto, Croquetas, Gazpacho, Patatas Bravas And Tortilla

4. Tapas Kitchen

Tapas Kitchen is situated on the ground floor of the five-star Caravelle Hotel in District 1. It’s a modern dining place, illustrating the hotel's resolution to bring this spot back to its position as one of the city's best-known hangouts.

Tapas Kitchen transforms a small space into an elegant and sophisticated dining area. Tapas Kitchen's open kitchen has a small seating area where five lucky diners can watch chefs cook the meals directly in front of their eyes. The chefs have crafted a menu of colorful and rich foods by selecting and harmoniously blending unique but familiar ingredients.

Tapas dishes are prepared in bite-sized portions, cleverly and beautifully decorated on slate trays, and frequently serve the vegetables, sauces, and condiments, making them a delectable lunch or dinner option. They are not just "generous" but also very gentle.

Besides serving a variety of Spanish dishes, Tapas Kitchen also introduces diners to various international cuisines. And the menu has a lot of options that will satisfy even the pickiest of diners.

• Address: 19 - 23 Lam Son Square Caravelle Saigon, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
• Website: http://www.caravellehotel.com/tapas-kitchen/
• Phone: 0906 900 523
• Opening hours: 10 am – 11 pm
• Price range: $23 - $47
• Must try: pan-roasted salmon, filo triangles

5. Lubu Restaurant

Lubu Restaurant in District 2, is a modern Mediterranean restaurant. It is run by Jim Cawood - a Saigon culinary veteran. Besides Spanish dishes, Lubu serves French, Moroccan, Greek, and Italian dishes. Some dishes to mention include grilled crocodile, ground pork, paella, souvlaki, and tapas, as well as some of the city's finest brunch choices, such as green shakshouka (eggs baked in spicy spinach, kale, Swiss chard and coriander sauce).

Lubu Restaurant will be ideal for those who appreciate sophistication and elegance. Because the restaurant is decorated in a predominantly white tone, it gives the impression that you are sitting in a European restaurant.

Besides, diners can escape the hustle and bustle of the city by dining here, where they can enjoy inspiring cuisine, fine wines, and fantastic service.

• Address: 97b Thao Dien Street, Thao Dien Ward, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City
• Fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/luburestaurant
• Phone: +84 28 6281 8371
• Open hours: 08:30 am - 10 pm
• Price range: $5 - $40
• Must try: Souvlaki, Tapas, Paella
  

Above are several best Spanish restaurants in Saigon to choose from, each with its distinct style. Come and enjoy light, delectable, and sophisticated fare.