A must stop BBQ place in Saigon

Grilling is one of the favorite form of cookings in Vietnam. Especially when our country is in rainy season from April to Sept. It is just such a nice feeling people gathering around a smoking charcoal grill enjoying hot and aromatic foods while it is a bit chilly outside. There are many different types of grilled foods that you should have a try, including corns, egg plants, chicken, fish, pork, beef even rice-field rat. That's why you can find many areas full of BBQ restaurants in Saigon so easy.

Walking towards Luong Son Quan - Bo Tung Xeo (31 Ly Tu Trong, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam) we can hear cheers of "Một Hai Ba Vô" (One Two Three Cheers) and the aroma of various foods grilling over charcoal hang in the air pulling us faster to enjoy grilled Vietnam style ribs, and other delious foods, over charcoal with each other, while we too toast each other with cheers of "Một Hai Ba Vô" as our bottles of Saigon beer tap each other.

The manager warmly greets us with a cheerful hello and welcome, and he has one of the English speaking staff guide us to our table. The cheers of many beer toasts are louder now and the aroma of grilled foods in the air is stronger and we look forward to enjoying it ourselves. The table cloths all have burn marks in them where burning pieces of charcoal where dropped or a careless smoker dropped his cigarette.

The waiter brings us our menus which has pork ribs, beef, rice and noodle dishes to more exoctic foods like fried scorpions and crocodile meat. We order pork ribs and beef to grill at the table. The waiter brings charcoal grills to our table along with Saigon beer, and soon our table is included in the "Một Hai Ba Vô" toasts, and our table will add the aroma of grilled foods in the air. The ribs arrive and have been marinated in a Vietnamese style sauce with lemon grass, honey, saltc that give it a very special flavor we all love and the beef has been marinated in Worcestershire sauce and garlic. Soon we hear the sizzle of the ribs and beef on the grills as we let the girls do the cooking while the guys are busy with the cheers of "Một Hai Ba Vô"

It is very crowded but the service is still fast and the orders are all correct. The waiters are always cheerful and helpful and ready to help you with your grilling if you need it. Most of the customers are locals but there are a fair amount of tourists and expats enjoyed the night there. The people around us are all friendly and ready to make new friends and they look at us and a cheerful "Một Hai Ba Vô" is directed at our table. We return the toast and have made new friends. As it is all over Vietnam the people are very friendly and are easy to become friends with. As we pay our bill, and find it very inexpensive, the folks around us give us a good by "Một Hai Ba Vô" and the staff all give us a big smile as we leave and the manager a big thank you and see you again.

This is a must stop if you live in Saigon or just here for a visit. There are many BBQs in Saigon, and Luong Son Quan is the leader of the pack. The food is always delicious and the service is always fast and friendly. The beer is always cold so you need not worry about having to drink it over ice unless you prefer it that way.

Nguyen Thuy Quynh