2026 Ho Chi Minh City Quince Saigon Fine Dining recommendation ｜ wood-fire cooking, steak, duck breast and lobster pasta

MICHELIN-selected restaurant in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

If you want to arrange a more ceremonial dinner in Ho Chi Minh City, Quince Saigon in District 1 is worth considering. The restaurant is housed in a restored old villa and focuses on wood-fire cooking, blending Mediterranean direction, Asian flavors and French techniques on the same menu. It’s not a traditional Vietnamese restaurant, nor a Western place that only chases small plated portions; instead it uses charcoal aroma, high-quality ingredients and shared-style dining to create distinctive modern cuisine.

Quince opened in 2018 and has been listed in the MICHELIN Guide Vietnam for several consecutive years; officially in 2026 the restaurant stated it had been selected by the MICHELIN Guide for the fourth consecutive year. For travelers trying fine dining in Ho Chi Minh City for the first time, its appeal is that the atmosphere isn’t overly formal while the food, wine list and service retain the completeness of a high-end restaurant.

Atmosphere: vintage villa plus open kitchen

The interior is dominated by dark wood, brick walls, warm yellow lighting and red neon; table spacing is reasonably comfortable, making it suitable for dates, birthday celebrations or special trip dinners. One of the biggest highlights is the open kitchen, where guests can watch chefs handle ingredients and cook over wood fire—when flames, grills and smoke become part of the meal, the whole experience is more memorable than at an ordinary restaurant.

If you prefer quiet conversation, ask for a more secluded table when booking; if you want to feel the rhythm of the kitchen and dining room, consider seats near the open kitchen. The restaurant also has private dining spaces, better for small celebrations or guests who want a quieter environment.

Recommended dishes: steak, duck breast and wood-fire aroma

From on-site sharing and the menu direction, steak is a main dish many guests prioritize. Cooked to around medium (about 70% doneness) the steak remains pink inside, with the exterior seared over wood or charcoal to give a smoky char without tasting merely burnt; the sides and sauces add acidity, sweetness or buttery notes so the dish isn’t one-dimensional.

Barbary duck breast is also one of Quince’s signature choices. The duck breast in photos keeps a tender pink interior with a crisp seared skin, paired with a rich sauce and vegetables, giving more layers of texture than a typical pan-seared duck. Duck lovers should prioritize it, but if someone in your party avoids red meat, check that evening’s menu availability first.

Seafood, pasta and more creative dishes

Seafood dishes include octopus, scallops and lobster. Wood-fired octopus has a slight char on the outside while remaining tender inside, paired with a rich sauce and herbs—good for guests who want seafood but not traditional preparations. The scallop dish uses butter foam, seaweed, sesame and scallion aromatics to create a more delicate flavor.

Lobster pasta combines seafood and pasta; the noodles absorb the sauce and bring out the seafood umami while the lobster meat becomes the focal point. These dishes are great for sharing between two: order one or two starters to begin, each pick a main, then add a pasta or dessert to finish—usually easier to control portions than everyone ordering full set menus.

Prices and how to book

The official Quince social channels have listed seating consumption starting from about 2,890,000 Vietnamese dong++, roughly HK$870／NT$3,600／RMB 2,600／US$115; online diners commonly report average per-person spends around RMB 700 and up, about HK$770／NT$3,100／US$98—adding wine, steak or extra dishes raises the total. The “++” usually indicates service charge and taxes will be added; ask about that evening’s menu and minimum spend when booking.

The restaurant generally opens daily at around 17:30, and the official FAQ lists last order at about 21:45. The address is 37Bis Ký Con, Phường Bến Thành, Hồ Chí Minh, and bookings can be made via 官方預約頁面. Although walk-ins are accepted, seats during peak times are limited—especially weekends, holidays and 19:00–20:00 evenings—so book in advance.

Pre-dining reminders

Quince is a fine dining restaurant; allow about two to three hours for a leisurely meal and don’t schedule it on a night when you’re rushing to catch a flight or the next attraction. If you have sensitivities to seafood, dairy, nuts or other ingredients, notify the restaurant when booking; they will try to accommodate dietary needs, but the official notice warns they cannot fully guarantee no cross-contact with allergens in the kitchen.

The restaurant accepts cash, bank transfers and most credit cards, and allows guests to bring bottles not on the wine list for a corkage fee: 75cl wine approx 1,000,000 Vietnamese dong++, 70cl spirits approx 2,000,000 Vietnamese dong++. For most visitors it’s more convenient to choose directly from the restaurant’s wine list.

After fine dining, go to Win Royal Spa

Quince is located in the center of District 1; after dinner you can relax at Win Royal Spa. The shop address is 48 Lê Thị Hồng Gấm, open daily 09:00–22:00. If you’ve had a two- to three-hour fine dining experience, booking a Vietnamese head wash & massage or massage afterwards can extend the evening into a more relaxed rhythm.

Summary

Quince Saigon is suitable for travelers who want to experience wood-fire fine dining, modern continental European cuisine and a more design-forward dining environment in Ho Chi Minh City. Steak, duck breast, octopus, scallops and lobster pasta each have their highlights, and the atmosphere is more relaxed than a traditional high-end restaurant. With advance booking, enough time and understanding of the “++” charges, it makes a great choice for dates, celebrations or a trip’s final dinner.