5 Vietnamese snail restaurants recommended by Michelin

5 snail restaurants in Vietnam selected from the Michelin Selected list, with rich menus and attractive cooking methods.

Michelin Guide, the world's prestigious culinary ranking organization, commented that Vietnamese cuisine always surprises visitors every time they visit because of its diverse natural resources and fresh ingredients. Enjoying snails from the Mekong Delta region with a small needle, combined with a special dipping sauce is an "interesting culinary experience".

In January, Michelin inspectors selected five notable snail restaurants from the Michelin Selected list in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City that visitors should not miss when coming to Vietnam.

Aunt Tu's Snail

Address: Quan Thanh, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi

The restaurant mainly focuses on dishes made from Vietnamese sea and freshwater snails such as apple snails, moon snails or tiger snails. According to Michelin inspectors, the horn snail dish prepared with fried green onions and garlic is one of the dishes that diners should not miss when coming here. In addition, the restaurant also serves other seafood dishes such as shrimp, Ha Long squid, and clams. Prices vary depending on the weight and size of the dish.

Dishes at Di Tu snail restaurant. Photo: Jennifer Wu — Dishes at Di Tu snail restaurant. Photo: *Jennifer Wu*

Mrs. Lock Coc

Address: Khanh Hoi, District 4, HCMC

The restaurant stands out for its quality ingredients and diverse cooking methods, suitable for many different requests of diners, Michelin commented. Snails stir-fried with coconut, curry and steamed with pepper are three impressive ways of cooking at the restaurant. Each dish comes with its own dipping sauce and herbs, making it different from other restaurants. The downside here is that the menu does not have an English translation, foreign diners can ask the staff to help them choose dishes.

Saigon Snail

Address: Gia Ngu, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

Michelin inspectors rated the restaurant’s menu as extensive and reasonably priced. The dishes here mainly feature snails, but they also serve other types of seafood. Sauteed clams with garlic butter and stir-fried cockles with tamarind are two dishes that diners should try when coming here. You can order extra bread to eat with the sauce.

Snail Peach

Address: Nguyen Trai, District 1, HCMC

The restaurant serves many different types of snails and seafood. In addition, the restaurant is also famous for rare snails that are hard to find elsewhere. The dishes are prepared with traditional Vietnamese spices, rich but not too strong. The restaurant space is spacious, suitable for large groups of guests or meetings with friends.

Crackle

Address: Yet Kieu, Hai Ba Trung district, Hanoi

Nestled in a two-story French villa, the cuisine here has a European flair and is prepared by Australian-based chef Bernard Nguyen. In addition to Vietnamese seafood, the dishes incorporate Western ingredients and unique cooking techniques. Michelin inspectors suggest starting the meal with the crispy rice with tom yum sauce.