BOCĀO
★ 4.6 · 205 reviews Ho Chi Minh City Opened 2025
Basque coals, izakaya looseness, Saigon River out front
BOCĀO's pitch is simple: small plates grilled over embers in the Basque style, ordered one round at a time like a Japanese izakaya. Right on the Saigon River on Nguyen Van Huong, it's built for grazing, not a formal sit-down dinner.
Plates run 70,000 to 390,000 dong, so a table can keep ordering for hours without breaking the bank. Weekend nights get packed fast, so come with a group and an appetite for lingering.
What guests say
Reviews by Google-
Duong Hoang Anh 83 reviews · Local Guide 6 August 2026
Amazing restaurant. Located in convenient area , easy to approach. Area is decorating nicely, neat with amazing view. Music is super chill mixed with good food and friendly staff. Saigon river view is stunning after all
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Nguyễn Huyền Minh Thư 27 reviews · Local Guide 29 June 2026
Good service and atmosphere, delicious food, and nice staff, especially Liem and his colleagues, we had an awesome dinner here.
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Victoria Rose 57 reviews · Local Guide 13 May 2026
As a solo traveller, I appreciated the service and attention I received, especially by the manager with his food recommendations and helpful local knowledge of the area. After 178 days in Vietnam, I'm on my last two days before returning to Australia so I chose Bocao to celebrate my time in Vietnam and was not disappointed. The Tiger Prawns served in a Mustard & Espelette Brown Butter Sauce were sensational. I happily licked my fingers. Followed by a single delicious skewer of Lamb Tsukune with Herb Wrap and Pickles. And who could resist the Basque Cheesecake? Not me. Perhaps I should also mention the glass of champagne and the glass of Lady Trieu Gin, sitting, sipping as I admired the colourful Landmark 81 tower. Yes, more than I normally spend but what a celebration to be remembered when I'm shivering back in cold, wintery Melbourne.
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Mat 809 reviews · Local Guide 9 April 2026
Had a fantastic experience at BOCAO. The food was exceptional, with beautifully balanced and well executed flavors in every dish. The steak was cooked perfectly, the cockles were fresh and full of flavor, and the lamb tsukune was a real standout. Service was warm, attentive, and genuinely friendly, which made the experience even more enjoyable. I’d highly recommend arriving around 5:30pm so you can enjoy one of the best sunset views in the area it really adds something special to the visit.
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wara leepinlausky 56 reviews · Local Guide 5 April 2026
Really really good! The service was perfect and the staff adorable! I canceled a 5 pax booking for 2 on a busy Saturday night and the team was still very sweet about it! The food was delicious, I missed Spain and it’s the first time I found it back culinary speaking 🫶 Will be back for sure!!
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