BeefBreakfastGrilled

    Sizzling Beef Steak

    Bò Né

    4.6₫45k-100kQuintessentially a breakfast dish, typically eaten between 6am and noon. Many stalls close by midday.
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    Overview

    Saigon's sizzling breakfast steak — pan-fried beef, fried egg, and pâté served on a scorching cast-iron skillet with baguette

    Bò Né is a uniquely Saigonese dish: thin slices of beef flash-fried in a shallow cast-iron skillet with butter and onions, served alongside a sunny-side-up egg, rich pâté, and a crusty baguette to mop it all up. The name ‘né’ means ‘dodge’ — a nod to customers instinctively leaning back from the spitting hot oil when the skillet lands on the table. A breakfast staple in Saigon, it blends French and American culinary influences into something wholly its own.
    Gallery

    Photos

    What's in it

    • thin-sliced beef
    • fried egg
    • pâté
    • butter
    • onions
    • tomato
    • baguette
    • chili sauce
    • soy sauce or maggi
    When to eat

    Best moments to enjoy it

    BreakfastBrunch

    Quintessentially a breakfast dish, typically eaten between 6am and noon. Many stalls close by midday.

    The story

    Origin & history

    Bò Né's exact origin is a mystery, but it is believed to be a working-class Saigon invention blending French influence (pâté, baguette, butter) with American-style pan-fried steak — possibly inspired by the influx of American culture during the Vietnam War era. Some food historians draw a parallel to the first bánh mì at Bánh Mì Hoà Mã, both served in cast-iron skillets. The dish is almost exclusively found in Saigon and is considered one of the city’s most distinctive street foods.

    At the stall

    How to order & pay

    Ordering

    Order 'bò né đặc biệt' for a full plate with beef, egg, and pâté. Say 'ít dầu' for less oil. Watch out for splattering oil when the skillet arrives!

    Paying

    Cash only. Most stalls are cheap — keep small bills handy.

    Good to know

    Allergens, nutrition & health

    Allergens

    Contains beef, egg, gluten (baguette), pork (pâté); may contain MSG

    Nutrition & benefits

    High in protein from beef and egg; provides quick energy from baguette carbohydrates

    Health notes

    High in saturated fat from butter and beef. Best enjoyed occasionally as an indulgent breakfast treat.

    Where to eat it

    Best spots in Ho Chi Minh City

    • Bò Né Xíu Mại Sài Gòn

      4.9

      62/61 Lâm Văn Bền, P, Tân Hưng, Hồ Chí Minh 700000, Vietnam

      Hours
      4:30 PM–10:00 PM
      View on map

    • Bò Né Thanh Tuyền

      4.5

      20/6-7 Đ. Nguyễn Trường Tộ, Xóm Chiếu, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam

      Hours
      6:00 AM – 11 :00am
      View on map
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