Zoom Cafe
Address:
169a De Tham Street
Ho Chi Minh, Viet Nam
Phone:
+84 122565 6264
NileGuide Expert tip:
Sit inside if you want to avoid being hassled by the sadly prevalent street hawkers around here.
Description:
The Pham Ngu Lao backpacker district may be heaven for thrifty westerners seeking familiar fare for pennies, but much of the food peddled down here can be filed under 'forgettable'.
There are, however, a good few notable exceptions and this long-standing favorite is one. The friendly, smiling waitresses set a nice vibe from the off and the presence of several vintage Vespas outside provide a dash of louche style to proceedings. Reasonably priced drinks are the main stock in trade, but the food is far from being mere ballast for another heavy night on the tiles. Paninis, sandwiches and salads are professionally presented and imaginatively composed, but the real stars here are the burgers. Toppings such as gorgonzola and emmental and bacon are suitably decadent while a price tag of around $4 a pop will ensure that any cravings for packaged patties from McDonalds or Burger King – both absent in Vietnam – will be well and truly assuaged.
Map: