In a city known to be one of the best places to find good food, anyone in the culinary business needs to really step up to keep pace with the competition. Ho Chi Minh City has thousands upon thousands of places to eat, and for one restaurant to really get noticed, it has to offer something really special and unique. That is exactly what Cyclo Resto is doing. This place is a real gem hidden down an alley and up some stairs. Here, there is no air-conditioner. Instead you’ll find several electric fans and a few decorations and paintings on the wall. There is also a balcony with two tables from where diners could have a view of the alley below or perhaps when they want some bit of sky gazing while waiting for their meals.

So physically, it’s not the Ritz, but it's clean, the food is delicious and how they do business is interesting. There is no menu. Instead they serve 5 standard courses, which they call ‘set meals’, and costs $6 per head. So do not expect to sit down and have someone bring you an ala-carte list of food to order. You will never know what you’ll be dining on until it's in front of you. Many tourists and locals welcome the idea, and even love it. Besides, who doesn’t love surprises? Their 5 course menu changes every day, so there’s simply no way of knowing what you’re going to get.

But to make the most of your Cyclo Resto experience, just order a beer and go with the flow. Though drinks list is limited to coke, water or beer, any of these three works perfectly with delicious food. Besides the surprise meals, another thing that sets Cyclo Resto apart from other dining places is that it's a cooking school during the day before it transforms into a restaurant at night. And like the food they serve in the evening, their day cooking class is an incredible value! For $23, one will enjoy a cyclo-tour and market tour where the guides accompany guests in picking ingredients for the cooking class. The class is done at the Cyclo Resto kitchen, where guests will cook food under the direction of experienced chefs.

Of course, they get to eat what they have cooked. Add a free t-shirt and a ride home to every guest’s hotel, it will be the best $23 one will ever spend. Cyclo Resto has only started business around 6 months ago. Le Ngoc An, the restaurant owner, says that even if the place is a little short on the physique, the good service, the food presentation, and the flavors all make up for what’s lacking. “What’s special about Vietnamese food is its balance. Vietnamese prefer to combine different kinds of food and eat them together at the same time instead of serving just one particular dish. For example, they can have something fried which they will eat with soup and rice. The restaurant’s five-course set menu is a perfect way of meeting Vietnamese diners’ need for balance in their every meal,” he said. Their food is tasty and served beautifully. They are by no means gourmet food.

They’re simple authentic dishes, in a simple environment with lots of flavors and freshness. Anyone who appreciates good value will enjoy this restaurant. Cyclo Resto is indeed a fantastic little find. Though a bit hard to find, it’s definitely worth seeking out. Their cooking class should be on the list of top things to do in HCMC, and it’s doing a lot in helping people find their way to this humble place easier. The resto may be hidden away, but not for long. Cyclo Resto is located at 3-3A Dang Tran Con, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.