Bep Me In

In an alley off Le Thanh Ton not far from Ben Thanh Market, this no fuss, homestyle-cooking joint is a huge hit with locals and expats living in Saigon. The evocative décor on the two floors includes murals of Vietnamese street scenes and even a full tuk-tuk-style food truck used as a counter, while the upstairs feels more like a home. The restaurant, which promotes itself as "mama’s kitchen with a twist" and uses stone pots, bamboo baskets, and coconut shells to serve some dishes, offers items such as peppercorn pork and sour fish soup on its wide-ranging menu.