Now, more than ever, durian orchards are opening their farms and adopt farmstay philosophy to local visitors as well as international tourists. It brings a new source of revenue for them and I hope more and more orchard owners will embrace it.

For this blog post, I will highlight some of the farms I have visited in the last 3 years, be it farmstay or walk-ins. I hope it will serve as a useful head start in your quest for durians.

Farmstays
You need to experience this at least once, purely for the benefit of tasting freshly dropped durians. The difference in taste and sensation are too big to ignore, and you get to learn more about durians from the owners.

Walk-ins aka Day visits
For farms that cater to walk-ins make sure you call in advance to reserve your durians, preferably 2-3 days in advance. I have seen owners turning away walk-ins as they have reserved their daily hauls for either their farmstay patrons or clients who have called ahead of time.

Bao Sheng (Farmstay available)

I have stayed at Bao Sheng twice before and in my opinion, you get your money’s worth in terms of durian quality as well as the owner’s willingness to share his knowledge. They have a wide range of durian varieties so do refer to their official website at Durian.com.my on their availability, usually, updated 2-3 months before the actual season starts.

The facility is well equipped and it’s easy to get to their farm if you are self driving. They provide both dinner and breakfast (takeaways from nearby food stalls) and 3 durian tasting sessions. One thing to note, it does get crowded sometimes when their stays are fully booked.

A post shared by Martin Jr (@martinjrlim) on Jul 31, 2017 at 12:34am PDT

Contact: Zhi Vooi (DurianSeng@Gmail.com)
URL: http://www.durian.com.my/

Green Acres (Farmstay available)

In terms of nature’s surrounding, this place is the most enchanting. Getting to the farm is an adventure by itself as you will be driving up narrow steep slopes, definitely not for the faint of hearts, however, the owner will recommend a taxi driver who is familiar with the route if you are without transportation.

Owners are very friendly, and during our visit in June we had the opportunity to try Ang Bak Kia, Ganja, Goldfish, 600, D15 thai variant, Ang Heh and luckily a 100+ years old kampung durian too. Not to forget, their cempedak is also a star, aromatic and sweet!

While they provide breakfast (homemade jams, fresh eggs from their chickens, croissants, and white bread) the next day, dinner unfortunately is not provided. The kitchen is well equipped so I would advise you to bring along some instant noodles or takeaways before heading to the farm.

A post shared by Martin Jr (@martinjrlim) on Jun 29, 2018 at 10:00pm PDT

Contact: Kim (GreenAcresPenang@Gmail.com)
URL: https://www.facebook.com/Greenacresorchard/

Nature Fruit Farm Resort (Farmstay available)

Although they do provide farmstay at their orchard we were only there for a day visit. I like how they have a small cafe beside the main house to caters for day visitors as well as providing breakfast to their lodgers. It was drizzling slightly during my visit thus I didn’t get the chance to look around the compound and can’t comment on their facility or living condition.

A post shared by Martin Jr (@martinjrlim) on Jun 28, 2018 at 12:09pm PDT

Contact: WhatsApp +60124887773
URL: http://www.naturefruitfarm.com.my/

Durian Rumah Batu aka Stonehouse Durian Plantation

Very friendly owner, unfortunately for our visit there were only 369, 603, and 604 varieties available as we were 1-2 weeks too early for others. I will definitely pay them another visit next year and try their Blackthorn and Red Prawn. Be sure to call in advance to make your bookings.

A post shared by Martin Jr (@martinjrlim) on Jun 28, 2018 at 10:00pm PDT

Contact: WhatsApp +60125385128
URL: https://www.facebook.com/DURIAN-RUMAH-BATU-STONE-HOUSE-PLANTATION-138839682794735/

Georgetown

If you lack the time to travel all the way to the farms at Balik Pulau and is staying around Georgetown then below is where I usually get my durian fix.

1. Ah Hoe @ Chulia Street
I bought my first ever Penang durians from him 3 years ago. You will find him setting up a stall on the roadside at around 1PM during durian season. Do try his Ang Heh, Kun Poh, and Honey.

2. Durian truck @ Jalan Kimberley
I am unsure if they are the same sellers but for the past 3 years I have seen a white truck selling durians at this location during the night time at this popular night market. For my June visit, I bought Susu and Kapri from this vendor and both taste great.

Lotte Fitin, Dongdaemun
So if you find yourself in the same situation in Dongdaemun, take note that if you exit the station from Exit #11 or #12 Lotte Fitin mall is just next to the exits. On the ground floor, there’s a locker storage facility, if you can’t find it do inquire with the Inquiry booth near one of the entrances. The mall open at 11am so if your check-in is at 2pm or 3pm then it’s perfect, we stored our big luggage using the L sized locker for $1,500KRW for 4 hours. Lockers found in subways would cost around $4,000KRW for the same size and duration. If you are hungry during lunch hour there is a Korean buffet restaurant on the 7th floor which our host mentioned is pretty good but we didn’t get the chance to try them out.

Korean Dessert Cafe, Dongdaemun
About 50m from Lotte Fitin is Time Castle building, on the 2nd floor is where you will find one of Korea’s favorite sweet snacks, Sulbing. It’s a bowl of shaved ice filled with sweet toppings.

KakaoTalk store at Dongdaemun Design Plaza, Dongdaemun
Opposite of Lotte Fitin is the futuristic looking Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), a landmark in Dongdaemun. While chiling on the open area waiting for Lotte Fitin to open its door for business I noticed a Kakao store. KakaoTalk is a popular social chatting apps from South Korea, they have stores throughout popular tourist spots. LiNE app users, don’t fret, there are a few stores around Seoul as well.

Grilled Fish Alley, Dongdaemun
This is a small alley and can be easily missed if you don’t pay attention. There are dozens of grill fish restaurants along the alley, pick one and order away. Best to come around lunch time as we went at 8pm and only a few remain open so do take note. A must try for foodies. The grilled fish tasted fresh and oozes Omega oil.

Kyochon Chicken, Dongdaemun
Near Exit #6 of Dongdaemun station, right above KFC (wait, wot?) is Kyochon Chicken, a chicken and beer joint. Finger lickin’ good *heh*. Definitely one of the best, if not the best, in their category. A must visit if you so happen to find one near your area.

Midnight Supper in Dongdaemun
After so much walking and shopping you are bound to get hungry. We had supper twice in this small tent operated by two ajummas, next to Lotteria and right opposite of Time Castle building.

Shopping in Dongdaemun

Pardon my scribble on the map, not exactly world class. Dongdaemun shopping district can be divided into retail and wholesale. The map above shows (1) retail section and (2) wholesale section. Wholesalers only cater to retail customers buying in bulk so it will be hard if you only want to buy 1 piece. For retails you can bargain away, the force is strong in you!

Tosokchon @ Ginseng Chicken Soup, Seoul
First off, I apologize for the unflaterring shots of the chicken soups, it came bubbling hot. I was hynoptized by the steams and went for it before realizing I forgot to take the all-important photos. This restaurant is very popular for its Samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup) and it’s best to avoid the usual peak hour as the queue can be very long. I recommend ordering their Pajeon (green onion pancake) as well.

Gyeongbokgung Palace, Seoul
A short walk away from Tosokchon is Gyeongbokgung Palace, a good opportunity to walk off your lunch.

We arrived at the right time, changing of Royal Guards was about to take place.

Gwangjang Market, Seoul
If you are looking for traditional Korean street food then Gwangjang Market is not to be missed. It is one of the oldest traditional markets in Seoul and it is packed with vendors and tourists alike. We came here for our late breakfast/lunch and we were spoilt with options. Sometimes too many of a good thing can be bad because we didn’t know what to eat!

Maple Tree House, Myeongdong
If you can’t go to Jeju island to try their black pig then Maple Tree House is your next best option. This is an upscale restaurant thus their price reflect that. It’s more of “out of curiosity” visit but don’t get me wrong, they taste fairly good.

Myeongdong being the mecca for ladies around the world for affordable cosmetic care as well as fashion attires can be very pack and busy mid afternoon. I recommend going early in the morning when foot traffic is at “minimun”. However street food stalls aren’t available then.

Pungcheon Eel, Hongdae
After our trip to Busan and Jeonju we headed back to Seoul and this time we booked our AirBnB host at Hongdae in Mapo district. Hongdae is a great place to stay because it’s filled with youngsters due to several Universities in this district, which means affordable clothings and food targeting this demographic! But there are also great family restaurants about and if you like Japanese Unagi then I highly recommend giving Pungcheon Eel a try. The eels are fresh out of the tank, grilled with light salt seasononing. They tasted insanely good!

Ahyeondong Ganjang Gejang, Mapo
Ganjang Gejang is salted fermented seafood in Korean cuisine, and Ahyeondong Ganjang Gejang serves one of the best soy sauce fermented blue crabs in Seoul. The blue crabs were mildly salty and sweet, perfect with a bowl of white rice. The flesh were soft like jelly, it was so good we had to order additional servings!

Next to the restaurant is Ahyeon Central Market, do take the time to search for homemade Korean Sikhye, a traditional Korean beverage made with barley malt powder and rice. It is delicious and refreshing. You should be able to find them displayed in 1 liter mineral water bottle (color resemble barley water).

Explore Hongdae
There are plenty of street food to be had as well as regular eateries with varieties of cuisines in this area. Lots of interesting small boutiques for the ladies. I highly recommend you exploring the drawn area on the map below. Spend at least a day or two here, at night the whole place comes alive with street performances as well as pop up market.

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If this is your first visit to South Korea, please check my blog post on what to prepare – An adventure to South Korea April 2017

The journey takes about 3hours and there is a restroom break in between for 15mins. After arriving at Jeonju Bus Terminal, we followed the crowd out to a street corner to hail a taxi. Make sure you have your accommodation address in Korean ready as well as the host’s contact number. We had trouble with ours as the taxi couldn’t find the address on his GPS.

1. Hankookjib Bibimbap

After storing our luggage at our AirBnB host we proceed to Hankookjib restaurant for lunch. Jeonju’s version of bibimbap was listed by CNN Travel back in 2011 at number 40th of World’s 50 Most Delicious Food according to Wikipedia page. Lucky for us Hankookjib is 5mins walk from our accommodation and is one of the popular restaurants in Jeonju that serves bibimbap.

There was already a waiting list when we arrived at 11am, so we promptly wrote down our name and the number of people on the list, conveniently stuck on the glass door. The list goes by pretty fast so don’t lose track of time if you are strolling in their small garden. We ordered Yukhoe-bibimbap (beef tartare bibimbap), Dolsot-bibimbap (hot stone bibimbap) and Sagol Gomtang (thick beef bone soup). It was a satisfying meal and deserves our thumbs up.

2. Jeonju Hanok Village

This is one of my favorite places (Hongdae in Seoul, being the other) throughout my South Korea trip. It might look touristy at first but the scene where people partake in wearing traditional Korean hanbok clothing, both Koreans and tourists alike, in a close vicinity just add to that romantic atmosphere. We mainly spend our days in Jeonju exploring and trying out the food found in this Hanok village.

We rented an electric scooter for 2hrs and covered the whole village in no time, stopping every once a while to grab a bite. Don’t forget to try PNB Bakery’s Choco pies, I could eat a dozen of them every day!

3. Grandma’s Best @ Jeonju Hanok Village

Even if it’s chilly we could never pass on trying the varieties of Korean’s shaved ice dessert. We ordered the sesame red bean bingsu and oriental herbal tea. The tea was bitter and sweet, too sweet for my liking and the bingsu was on the plain side. This place does have good reviews so I believe it is up to individual taste.

4. Veteran @ Jeonju Hanok Village

Veteran is known for their hand cut buckwheat noodles but their mandu (dumplings) is just as good. We had their signature Kalguksu (chewy noodles in creamy broth), Jjolmyeon (cold noodles in spicy sauce), two helpings of mandu, and a Japanese icy cold noodle soup dish which name has slipped my mind. I highly recommend giving their Kalguksu and mandu a try.

5. Jeonju Nambu Market – Day Time

Was there around 11.30am, was expecting this place to be bustling with activity but it was almost deserted with most shops still closed. I think we came at the wrong time (holiday?) because a video posted on Youtube by Cory & Mary shows more life at the market – Jeonju’s Nambu Market

6. Jo Jeom Rye @ Jeonju Nambu Market

This seems to be one of the few eateries that were open and after seeing it was moderately packed with customers we decided to give them a try. Lucky for us this restaurant is famous for their Pisundae, which is blood sausage. We ordered the soup version as well as an extra plate of intestines. They were very good, the soup was flavorful, would definitely recommend if you are into offal soup.

7. Jeonju Nambu Market – Night Time

Holy crap, this place was packed! We were bumping shoulder to shoulder! Where did all these people come from and where were they during the morning/afternoon time?! Stalls after stalls of street food under Nambu Market roof, make sure you don’t miss this spot. Only available during summer and winter (?), on Friday and Saturday.

8. Gyeonggijeon Shrine

Initially I thought this was a Palace but it turned out to be a shrine for King Tae-jo, founder of the Joseon Dynasty. Now it hosts the King’s portrait as well as other successive Kings. The overall area is small, probably 100mx100m (?), you only need an hour to cover everything. It seems to be very popular among the young Koreans dressed in hanboks to take pictures and selfies here, maybe the location was used in a Korean Drama?

I thoroughly enjoyed my stay in Jeonju, given the chance I would definitely come back again and explore the place further. Have a look below for POIs which I’ve visited and shamefully missed.

If this is your first visit to South Korea, please check my blog post on what to prepare – An adventure to South Korea April 2017

1. Jagalchi Market

Using Subway Line 1 we arrived at Nampo Station and followed the signage to Jagalchi market. It has been said that this is the biggest fish market in South Korea but upon entering I felt a bit underwhelmed. Maybe because we were only a handful of visitors at the time and the place looked empty. After a quick walk around we randomly picked a stall and bought our lunch; a flounder, a few abalones, an octopus, and a king crab. Don’t forget to negotiate on the prices, for example, the seller was asking 65,000KRW per kg for the king crab, I managed to get it down to 55,000KRW per kg but having researched previously I know it can go even lower if I persisted.

You can bring your fresh seafood to the 2nd floor where there are many restaurants that will cook and prepare them for you for a fee. They will charge you a sit on fee as well as each individual preparation fee. Do inquire beforehand so that you aren’t surprised by the final bill.

After lunch we made our way to BIFF Square which is less than 10minutes walk away. Just outside of Jagalchi Market building you will see Ajummas selling more seafood by the roadside.

2. BIFF Square

Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) Square is a collection of 400+ meters long street comprising of theaters, street vendors and trendy shops. It’s an excellent place for a long walk and window shopping after a good hearty meal. Don’t forget to try Ssiat Hotteok, Busan’s version of the popular Korean Hotteok, a sweet pancake filled with brown sugar and a varities of seeds.

3. Haedong Yonggungsa Temple

Next day we took the subway from Busan station to Haeundae station, the journey took about 50mins with 1 transfer and passes 22 stations! From Haeundae station we took a taxi to Haedong Yonggungsa. You can also opt to take the bus from Haeundae station but will require an additional 10mins walk to the temple, the bus will drop you opposite of Lotte Premium Outlet (shopping after temple visit anyone?). Having seniors and children with us we decided on taxi! The taxi fare cost about $10,000KRW.

4. Haeundae Beach

There are taxis at Yonggungsa Temple entrance so we took one and head for the beach. During summer this place would be filled with Korean beach goers. It was slightly chilly when we were there but that doesn’t stop us from dipping our legs into the icy water!

Feeling hungry we went to look for food and we chance upon a line of bright yellow tents just next to the beach. Warning – These tents are bloody expensive!

15minutes walk away is a street filled with restaurants, and at the end of the street is Haeundae station.

* Yellow line is where the yellow tents are and the red line is where you will find plenty of eateries.

For those who have more time in Busan and feeling energetic, do have a look at this blog, Bound for Busan, for a great list of to-do’s. Places I had to forgo were Taejong-Dae, Gijang Market (for crabs!), Lotte Premium Outlet (near Haeddong Yonggungsa), and Gujke Market (near BIFF Square) due to fatigue!

If this is your first visit to South Korea, please check my blog post on what to prepare – An adventure to South Korea April 2017

For the coming blog posts concerning South Korea trip, I will highlight the essentials, straight to the point and will be linking to several sites that have covered certain topics such as how to purchase KTX tickets, etc.

Things to do before arriving in South Korea

1. Flight ticket booking – I used Skyscanner app to search for the cheapest flight. Do note budget airlines will always be displayed as the cheapest but Skyscanner does not take things such as luggage fee into consideration. So be aware. Do not book through Skyscanner, go to the airline’s official website and book through there.
Skyscanner – iOS download | Android download

2. Trip planning – This is crucial, plan out the days of where you want to visit. If your trip is mainly focused in Seoul city then try to plan it by location, such as a day in Dongdaemun, the next day in Hongdae, etc. These are big districts and you can easily spend a full day in each of them. I used Google Map to plot my POIs (Point of Interest) and uses different colors to differentiate the days and locations.

3. Accommodation – Once your flight is booked and destination figured out, next is your accommodation. I’ve booked my stays on AirBnB, I like to stay next/nearby Subways but the cost is slightly higher. You can find cheaper stays if you don’t mind 10-15mins walk.
AirBNB – My referral link

4. Buy intercity travel in advance – Our trip was Seoul -> Busan -> Jeonju -> Seoul, I bought KTX tickets (Seoul to Busan, and Jeonju to Seoul) in advance from KoRail website. Transportation is well connected, you can travel by bus, train or airplanes, depending on your destination.
How to buy KTX pass

5. Write down places of interests in Korean – Important! Google map DOES NOT WORK in South Korea! Try to write down all addresses in Korean as well as having their contact number if possible. It will come in handy when you’re lost or too tired to use the subway, you can inquire with passerby or use the taxi. Don’t be shy, Koreans are very helpful, just show them the address and they will try their best to guide you, if not then try the next person!

6. Subway app – My most used app is Subway by Malang, the train exit option is a blessing as I can check which exit is closest to my POI.
Subway by Malang – iOS Download, Android Download | Youtube Tutorial

Arrival at the Airport

1. Money Exchange – Do not exchange the bulk of your money at the airport. While I was there the airport exchange for US$1 were $1,093KRW. Heading down to the city I found available exchanges between $1,110KRW to $1,135KRW.

2. SIM card – I opted for data SIM card by KT Olleh, 10 days package with unlimited 4G access for $38,500KRW. For calling I used SkypeOut and uses chat app such as WhatApps, Messenger, LiNE, etc. to stay connected with my family members. Most AirBNB hosts provide portable WiFi and there are plenty of cafes and shopping malls with free WiFi connection.
Where to buy SIM card

3. Collecting your KTX tickets and buying T-Money cards – You can collect your reserved KTX tickets at B1 Travel Center as well as purchasing T-Money card (for subways and buses) at the same counter. This is the floor where you can take Airport Express to Seoul Station as well as all-stops train to the city.
How to book KTX pass | What is T-Money

A Seoul-ful Trip, South Korea April 2017
3 Days 2 Nights Busan, South Korea April 2017
3 Days 2 Nights in Jeonju

Upon reaching the establishment I knew I was in for a treat. Greeting me was an open-air closed canopy charcoal grilling section sandwiched between two buildings, the right building seems like your typical seafood restaurant, known as Tresors De La Mer, while the left building house the main attraction of my visit, ADD.

Tresors De La Mer

I did not try their service but their reviews on Tripvisor seems spot on.  Here are some photos I snapped just outside the restaurant.

Charcoal Grill

We tried grilled Alaskan crab legs (NTD$750 per claw), abalones (ranges from NTD$250-$1,000 depending on size), and miso fish soup. You make your order from their display carts on the side and they will grill it before bringing the cooked product to your table, placing them on top of a heating charcoal pot lined with small black pebbles. Pretty gimmicky as the charcoal pot is only meant to keep your food warm. No complaints from me though, the abalones was grilled to perfection and the crab legs were pretty darn sweet.

Addiction Aquatic Development (ADD)

If you enter the building from the charcoal grill section, you will be ushered to walk all the way down to the end where the main entrance to ADD is located. Along the walkway you will find customers standing around tables enjoying their purchased goods. As you enter you will be greeted by several live tanks, housing different varieties of crabs such as Alaskan King crabs, Snow crabs, and Hairy crabs, as well as abalones, clams, and prawns. This section is meant for take-away order.

Next is the grocery section, this is where you buy prepackaged sushis and sashimis. They are all fresh as they fly off the shelves pretty fast. Also available are vegetables, fruits as well as dried and canned goods from Japan though in limited quantity and varieties. Located within the grocery section are sushi bar, seafood bar and deli. If you are not up for grocery shopping or standing around the bars then try their hotpot restaurant on the 2nd floor. Regrettably we did not get to try as the waiting list was more than an hour long, next time perhaps.

I doubt this is my last visit to ADD, I am already looking forward to giving Tresors De La Mer a try. So much food selection, I need an extra stomach please!

Addiction Aquatic Development
Address: No. 18, Alley 2, Lane 410, Minzu E Rd, Zhongshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan 104
Phone: +886 2 2508 1268
Hours: 6AM–12AM

The state of Penang is widely known to have the best CKT in Malaysia so it was a no-brainer to hunt for the very best. Ask around and the locals will hint at the below candidates:

#4 Char Kway Teow at Kimberley Street

Located just in front of Sin Guat Keong Coffee Shop at the junction of Kimberley and Cintra streets you’ll find this uncle churning CKT like a fast food joint, literally. He prepares the noodles by large batches and put them aside, as the orders come in he will grab a handful and add in the rest of the ingredients then recook them. Which is probably the reason why I find the CKT lack the distinct wok hei and personally I find the noodle’s texture too soft.
Total wait time to be served : 15mins

Address: 86, Lebuh Kimberley, George Town, 10100 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Hours: 6PM – 11:30PM

#3 Tiger Char Kway Teow at Kafe Ping Hooi

At Kafe Ping Hooi you will find other dishes being recommended such as Hokkien Noodles and Lor Mee so why not 3 birds with 1 stone eh? The CKT here tasted much better than the uncle’s at Kimberley street. Still, only a passing mark on the report card.
Total wait time to be served : 10mins

Address: Lebuh Carnarvon, George Town, 10450 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Hours: 7:30AM to 2PM (Closed on Tuesdays)

#2 Red Hat Aunty at Kafe Heng Huat

The infamous red hat aunty, if you did your research and read the reviews most will comment on her rudeness which resulted in some locals boycotting her business. We arrived during lunch hour thus there was already a long queue ahead of us. Her staff told us before hand the wait will be an hour or more so we camped down sharing a table with a lone patron. The stall uses charcoal with an electric fan to maintain high heat on the wok while the aunty does her cooking at a moderate pace, plate by plate. No batches here. There was a small drama when a customer changed her orders and the aunty wasn’t too happy about it and she let thoughts known. No biggie, I sort of side with the aunty, with dozens of orders to fulfill the last thing she wants is for people to start changing their orders and disrupt the flow and potentially mixup customers orders.
Total wait time to be served : 1hour 15mins

Address: 108, Lorong Selamat, George Town, 10400 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Hours: 11AM – 5PM (Closed on Tuesdays)

#1 Siam Road Char Kway Teow

The crème de la crème of Char Kway Teow! I had to endure nearly 2 hours wait for this, the longest ever for any type of food. This is mostly due to tourist buses bringing dozen of tourists to this tiny stall as well as locals “tahpao” aka to-go orders. You can probably avoid the crowd if you come earlier right before he set up shop. Was it worth it? Hell yeah! Hands down the best CKT I’ve ever tasted. This uncle manually fan his charcoal with one hand while the other hand does the frying, very efficient, you can really taste the wok hei. If you are stuck in a long queue you can sit at a nearby coffee shop called Hock Ban Hin Cafe who open its business purely to entertain this uncle’s customers. I bet he makes a bigger profit margin from his drinks than the uncle! Due to the long wait you will probably end up having more than a cup hahaha
Total wait time to be served : 1hour 50mins

Address: Jalan Siam, George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Hours: 3PM – 7PM (Can’t confirm, either Monday or Sunday closed)

Overall…

We had a blast and our tummies was happy. I do find the CKT in Penang to be on the expensive side, most starts at MYR$5 and if you want bigger portion with added ingredients it will cost upward to MYR$12-14 per plate.

Lastly below are CKT stalls worth visiting, especially Ah Leng Char Kway Teow which we did not managed to sink our teeth on. Do comment if you visited any and share with us your thoughts

Ah Leng Char Kway Teow at Kafe Kong Hiang

Sisters Char Kway Teow at Lam heng Coffee Shop

KTG Char Kway Teow at Low Eng Hoo Coffee Shop (same street as Red Aunty @ Jln Selamat) also known as uncle with safety gogggles

Pizza 4P’s, over the years they have gained plenty of fans, both locals and travelers alike. The reviewers rave about their pizzas and how it is on par if not better than most pizzerias found in USA but here’s the kicker, the owners are Japanese! Now you’ll wonder, Ok, Japanese opening an Italian restaurant so it’s like a fusion right? Nuh uh, the settings felt more like an elegant French restaurant to me, maybe it’s the atmosphere, like fine dining. Another reason for their popularity is they produce their own cheeses and own their own dairy farm, that’s commitment right there my friend! So popular are their cheeses they now distribute them to top hotels and restaurants around Vietnam, gaining lots of approval for their quality.

On their menu they have a wide selection of cheesy appetizers and an even larger selection of pizza varieties. I went for the half 4 cheese pizza and half classic margarita pizza. Stringy and simply delicious! I’ve also tried their cheese fondue with broccoli, tomato beef soup, ricotta wrapped parma ham, ratatouille and Camembert truffle, without doubt two thumbs up for all of them. Those wanting more carbohydrate can give their pastas a try, I heard they are on point as well, I’ll leave those for next visit!

If you’re planning to pay them a visit do remember to call ahead and make your reservation. If you are coming over in a taxi then keep in mind the restaurant is located in a small alley so you’re more likely to be dropped at the main road but no worries, it’s just a 3-4mins walking distance. Just walk straight into the alley and turn left at the end, you’ll see it!

Pizza 4P’s
Address: 8/15, Lê Thánh Tôn, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
Phone: +84 120 789 4444
Hours: 10AM–11PM