When you think of Vietnamese food, you think of phở, bánh mì and maybe egg coffee. But after a long day of travelling, sometimes you just want a quick snack from a supermarket. The problem? You’re in a new country and don’t know what to pick.
To help, Chef Peter Franklin, founder of Ănăn Saigon, the first Michelin-starred restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City, shares his favourite supermarket snacks. Peter was born in Vietnam, grew up in America, and has a deep love for food since childhood—his mother even ran a small noodle shop at home.
He opened Ănăn Saigon in 2017, a restaurant known for creative Vietnamese dishes. But when he’s off-duty, he enjoys simple snacks from nearby stores like Ong Quang Tạp Hóa, 7-Eleven, Annam Gourmet, and Phương Hà Food Store. Here are his top picks:
Chef Peter Franklin’s Favourite Grocery Picks
1. Instant Noodles: Miliket 2 Shrimp (Curry Flavour)
Peter loves boiling the noodles, adding the seasoning packet, then cracking an egg and topping it with spring onions and coriander.
Where to buy: Ong Quang Tạp Hóa, District 1
2. Cheese Snack: Cheetos Crunch
His all-time favourite snack! He especially loves the “real cheese” flavour.
Where to buy: Phương Hà Food Store, Hàm Nghi
3. Go-To Street Snack: Xôi (Sticky Rice)
Xôi is sticky rice that can be sweet or salty. It’s wrapped in banana leaves and old schoolbook pages. Peter’s favourite is durian sticky rice, sold by a lady near Ănăn Saigon. He loves chatting with her while eating it.
Where to buy: Any local street vendor
4. Beer Combo: 333 Beer + Dry Beef + Nuts
Peter always picks dry beef and nuts from 7-Eleven and enjoys them with a chilled can of 333 Beer.
Where to buy: 7-Eleven, District 1
5. Ready-to-Drink Coffee: Vinacafe 3-in-1
For an easy afternoon coffee, he mixes Vinacafe with hot water to get a quick, sweet Vietnamese-style milk coffee.
Where to buy: Ong Quang Tạp Hóa, District 1
6. Ice Cream: Coconut Flavour
His childhood favourite was coconut ice cream from bicycle vendors. At his restaurant, he now serves a fancier version—young coconut ice cream with caviar.
Where to buy: Anan Saigon
7. Curry Powder: Anh Hai Curry Mix
This curry powder blends Indian and Vietnamese flavours. It’s perfect for dishes like Cari Ga (Vietnamese chicken curry with coconut water).
Where to buy: Phương Hà Food Store, Hàm Nghi
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