Sushi Bar 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6

This nice Japanese restaurant is a great place to go for a birthday, or just for a family occasion. Soup, Sushi, noodles, ice cream, the menu never finishes! The staff even greets you when you walk inside the door. This is a wonderful place to enjoy a different culture on a special occasion. I celebrated my birthday here more than once!

Location: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Rating: *****
Cuisine: Japanese
Specialties/Favorites:

• California Roll
• Hot Udon Noodles in Soup
• Hot Soba Noodles in Soup

Setting: Cozy. Med-Sized.

Service: Great!

Good things: Authentic Japanese food. Great dining areas.

Bad things: Dark on the 1st floor of Sushi Bar 1.

*Great Japanese food for families. I recommend going to Sushi Bar 1. Go upstairs to sit on a Tatami mat and eat Japanese style. They sell New Zealand Ice Cream, so no need to bring dessert!

Sushi Bar 1: 2, Le Thanh Ton St., Q.1, HCMC
Sushi Bar 2: 5F, Zen Plaza, 54-56 Nguyen Trai St., Q.1, HCMC
Sushi Bar 3: 54 Nguyen Dinh Chieu St., Q. 1, HCMC


Addresses of Sushi Bars 4, 5 & 6 on website.


http://sushibar-vn.com/

Joe's Cafe

This wonderful beach side cafe is owned by our friends, Joe and Thao. They bring an amazing cafe to life with food, beverages, movies and more! This is my favorite place to go in Mui Ne. You can also stay in Joe's Garden Resort while you're there.

Location: Mui Ne, Vietnam
Rating: *****
Cuisine: Cafe
Specialties/Favorites:

• Ham & Cheese Sandwich
• Bobby Brewer's Coffee

Setting: Spacious. Open air.

Service: Great! 

Good things: Food, drinks, board games & movie night!

Bad things: NOTHING!

*Eat lunch or sip some juice @ this cute cafe. WIFI is free. Movie night every weekend @ the loft. We watched 'Bolt' last time!

86 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, Ham Tien, Phan Thiet, Binh Thuan Province, Vietnam
http://www.joescafemuine.com/index.php/joes-cafe

La Madeleine

This delicious restaurant serves French cuisine in an unforgettable way. Enjoy eating with family while enjoying one of their fabulous desserts and some coffee. It is definitely one of my favorites in Virginia!

Location: Alexandria, Virginia
Rating: ***1/2
Cuisine: Bakery/French Cuisine
Specialties/Favorites:

• Chicken Pot Pie (not on the menu)
• Spinach Salade
• Sour-Dough bread w/ Strawberry Jam

Setting: Spacious.

Service: Cafeteria style. Line up & order.

Good things: Entrees & Salads. (I haven't tried the desserts yet!)

Bad things: Crowded and noisy. If you want somewhere peaceful, don't come here.

*Enjoy a French meal with family. Not a very good setting to socialize with friends, but to eat, yes it is! No kid's menus. Line up & order style (like Sonoma Chicken).

500 King Street, Alexandria VA, 22314

http://www.lamadeleine.com/

Coco's Bakery Restaurant

This cute family style restaurant is a perfect place to go for a regular family meal. Enjoy a free piece of pie on your birthday and munch on their amazing freshly baked brown bread. Dinner is the best!

Location: San Jose, CA
Rating: ***1/2
Cuisine: Bakery/Restaurant
Specialties/Favorites:

• Pumpkin Harvest Pie (pumpkin cream on top)
• Mashed potatoes
• Brown Bread (comes w/ every meal as an appetizer)

Setting: Medium sized. Bright.

Service: Great! They get busy @ dinnertime, so patience is needed.

Good things: Food, desserts and beverages.

Bad things: Pies/desserts are not always available. :(

*Dine here with friends and/or family. They do have kid's meals for ages 10 & under. Remember to ask for a free piece of pie on your birthday!

981 Blossom Hill Rd., San Jose, California, USA

http://www.cocosbakery.com/

Pasteleria Jeffrey

Enjoy these fabulous desserts at home, through a Drive-Thru, in an event, or at their several 'cafeterias.' From Strawberry Shortcake (Pastel de Fresa) to their Banana Cream Pie (Pay de Platano), Jeffrey's has over 30 types of treats to choose from. WIFI is also offered at some of their bakeries.

Location: Guadalajara, Mexico
Rating: *****
Cuisine: Bakery/PasteleriaSpecialties/Favorites:

• Pay de Queso con Blueberry (Blueberry Cheesecake)
• Pay de Platano - their specialty (Banana Cream Pie)

Setting: Medium sized. Bright.
Service: Good. 


Good things: WIFI, desserts, beverages and locations.
Bad things: Pay de Platano runs out REALLY fast!


*A great place to sit down and do homework. Enjoy a piece of pie and make your life feel like a piece of cake right after you take your first bite. They have good music playing too!


http://pasteleriajeffrey.com/index.html

Java Corner

This cute and well decorated coffee house is known for it's soothing coffee, scrumptious croissants, and delicious smoothies. Come here to work, relax and chit-chat!

Location: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Rating: *****
Cuisine: Cafe
Specialties/Favorites:

• Warmed-Up Chocolate Croissant
• Strawberry Smoothie

Setting: Small. Cute.
Service: Amazing! Waiters are always there when you need them! (No English spoken)

Good things: WIFI, desserts and beverages
Bad things: NOTHING!

*A great place to finish of some work online or just relax and watch the view. There is WIFI. This vietnamese cafe is definitely one of my all-time favorites!

14 Thao Dien Street, Ground Floor Fideco Building, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

High Tea 'Buffet' @ the Legend Hotel

Enjoy some English Breakfast Tea while chatting with friends in this beautiful 5 star hotel. It's a peaceful getaway to enjoy a variety of desserts and bite-size treats. 

Location: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Rating: ****
Cuisine: Afternoon Tea/High Tea
Specialties/Favorites:

• Salmon & Cream Cheese Sandwich
• Lemon Meringue
  
• Waffle Station! waffles

Setting: Lobby of Hotel. Big. Elegant.

Service: Fabulous. Waiters are really nice.

Good things: Variety of desserts and finger foods. Waffle Station.
Bad things: No Buffet.

*Great for an afternoon out with family. Recommended: Kids 9+. Served from about 2pm to 5pm. I haven't been there in a while so I don't know if the waffle station is still there or not. it was a really good part of Afternoon Tea!

http://www.legendsaigon.com/en/dining.html

Loaves and Fishes

Try out this cute, family-owned coffee house created by our friends, Tim and LuLu. Homemade cold chocolate milk, pastries and more are all here! With a nice setting, this cafe is very unique! Delivery, private parties and catering are also available.

Location: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Rating: ****
Cuisine: Bakery/Cafe
Specialties/Favorites:

• Cinnamon Roll w/ Cream Cheese Icing
• Homemade Harvest Baking Bagels
• Homemade Harvest Baking Scones

Setting: Small. Cute. 2 floors.

Service: Ok. English speaking owners.

Good things: Baked goods and homemade beverages.

Bad things: Setting is a little hidden.

*Great for breakfast. Not much seating, so take-out is also good!

#5 Street 11, Ward Thao Dien, An Phu, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
http://loavesandfishesvietnam.net/

Ray's Hell Burger Too

If you want to try out an amazing thick burger, come here! Ray's Hell Burger (Too) offers a wide selection of burgers, milkshakes and more! You'll walk out more than satisfied.

Location: Arlington, Virginia
Rating: ***
Cuisine: American/Burgers
Specialties/Favorites:

• 1/4 pounder
• Sweet Potato Fries

Setting: Small. Plain/Casual. A little dark and fan is usually on.

Service: Ok. 

Good things: Burgers.

Bad things: Kind of cold. Pricy.

*Good for lunch. If you want an American burger with a different taste, come here!

http://www.rayshellburger.com/

Au Parc

This cute Mediterranean style restaurant is perfect for a big group. From their amazing Chocolate Nemesis to their Mediterranean hummus and flatbread, this restaurant is among the best in town. With a big variety of food, you'll never get tired of coming here!

Location: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Rating: *****
Cuisine: Mediterranean and French Cuisine
Specialties/Favorites:

• Hummus served with crudites, grissini and flat bread (45,000 VND)
• Chocolate nemesis cake (50,000 VND)
• Raspberry and apple crumble (50,000 VND)

Setting: Beautiful. Indoors.

Service: Fast. Really (kid-) friendly waiters.

Good things: Desserts and Pastas.

Bad things: NOTHING!

*Dinner is the best. Go upstairs to the right to their Mediterranean room. It has comfy couches and it's great for a big group! Only Cash $$ Accepted.

23 Han Thuyen Street
District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

Highlands Coffee

These charming coffee houses are set all over the city. Sip a Cafe Sua Da while talking to a colleague and enjoy the setting. They even have full meals! This is my favorite coffee house yet in HCMC.

Location: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Rating: ****
Cuisine: Coffee house/desserts
Specialties/Favorites:

• Opera Cake (layered cake)
• Pad Thai
• Cafe Sua Da (Vietnamese Ice Coffee)

Setting: Nice. Friendly.

Service: Fast.

Good things: Desserts and Coffee

Bad things: A little pricy. 

http://www.highlandscoffee.com.vn/vn/index.html

Yo Mood

This self-serve frozen yogurt place is full of delicious choices! From fruit to candy, Yo Mood's topping choices are almost never-ending. When you want to enjoy something sweet and tangy while chatting with friends or family, this is the place to go!


Location: Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Rating: ***1/2
Cuisine: Frozen Yogurt
Specialties/Favorites:

• Original Yo
• Cappuccino Yo

Setting: Cute. Loud music.  

Service: Ok. 

Good things: Flavor choices, topping choices and setting.

Bad things: Loud music.

http://www.yomood.com.mx/

Usagui

Located in one of the older parts of Guadalajara, this family owned Japanese restaurant is the best in the city! Though it's setting is very plain, the food is full of flavor. Usagui is definitely my favorite restaurant in town!


Location: Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Rating: *****
Cuisine: Authentic Japanese Cuisine
Specialties/Favorites:

• Kake Udon (thick rice noodles in a flavorful soup)
• Rollo California (California Roll) con Masago (w/ fish eggs)
• Niguiri Sushi de Salmon (Raw salmon on rice - 2 pieces per order)

Setting: Casual. Very plain. 

Service: Very good. Fast. All of our waiters were SO friendly!

Good things: Fast service and amazing food!

Bad things: NOTHING!

*Anyone who wants to try something Asian, try out Usagui. It gives you the flavor you were craving and a different kind of flavor. Usagui does not serve sushi with cream cheese like all the other Japanese places in GDL, which makes it most authentic.

Manuel Acuña 1661, Guadalajara, México, 40850 Guadalajara, Mexico