The best meal I’ve had in Vietnam and I’ve lived here for almost 2 years. Great quality and the service was equally good - Linh is excellent. Couldn’t recommend highly enough.
Basque restaurant
BOCĀO Basque Izakaya - Basque restaurant in Thao Dien, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City
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The Story
About This Place
BOCĀO Basque Izakaya sits on the Thao Dien riverfront at 12 Nguyễn Văn Hưởng, with unobstructed views of Landmark 81 across the water. The venue is run by Julien, the chef-owner behind Octo Tapas — one of Saigon's longest-running tapas bars — and the kitchen carries that same discipline: small plates built from quality produce, shaped by Basque traditions and served at izakaya pace.
The menu rewards diners who let the kitchen decide the order. A tomato dish has drawn repeated mentions from guests who describe flavors that far exceed the description. Miso crab butter arrives with bread, scallops and flaked beef filet follow, a wagyu steak anchors the savory section, and the Basque cheesecake closes the meal — one regular specifically notes it pairs well with the Tinto Fino Protos Roble from the wine list. That list is treated as seriously as the food: selections are available by the glass, jug, or bottle, with options that go beyond the predictable house pours. The kitchen also handles gluten-free dietary requirements without making a production of it.
The space is spacious without feeling empty — warm décor, open sightlines to the river, and a western exposure that makes the golden hour a genuine draw rather than a marketing line. The crowd skews international, the service is attentive, and the format — small plates, good wine, a view — scales naturally from an intimate two-person dinner to a larger group working through the full menu.
What separates it from other riverside options in the neighborhood is the cooking. This is not a wine bar that happens to serve food, nor a fine-dining room where ordering a second bottle feels ceremonial. The Basque-izakaya format keeps the evening loose and the kitchen engaged, making it one of the more complete evenings-out in Thao Dien.
basque cheesecaketomato dishmiso crab butter with breadwagyu steakwine list by the glass, jug, or bottle
riversidewarmrelaxedsophisticatedgolden hour
Reviews
4.6(174)
Had a wonderful time here. Interesting food concept, nice ambient and perfect vibe for any ocassion. Excellent service, very attentive. Great to see another great restaurant by chef Julien and team.
BOCĀO Basque Izakaya is a stylish spot with clear appeal for those who enjoy drinks with a view. The restaurant is well located near the river, and the sight of Landmark 81 adds to the atmosphere. The décor is simple yet elegant, making it an easy place to imagine lingering over wine or cocktails. I can especially see this being a good place for my friends, who enjoys drinking and taking in city views. When it comes to the food, the quality itself was good. The flavors were enjoyable, particularly the finger foods, which I found to be the most satisfying part of the meal. However, portion sizes were noticeably small for the price. Some of the larger dishes were interesting to try, but they weren’t as memorable as I had hoped. For our mains, the three of us shared the lamb, cod fish, and beef tartare. I really enjoyed both the beef tartare and the cod fish, but the lamb was disappointing—it arrived as just a single skewer, which felt underwhelming. In total, the bill came to around 1.4 million VND for three people, which felt expensive given the portion sizes and overall experience. Service was another area that could use improvement. The food took a long time to arrive, and there was no explanation, apology, or even acknowledgment that the kitchen might be busy. The staff also didn’t check in to see how we were enjoying the food, ask for feedback, or offer recommendations—especially for first-time diners, which would have been helpful. Would I visit BOCĀO Basque Izakaya again? Probably not for the price I paid. I was hoping it would be a place I could casually stop by after exercising, relax, and enjoy a meal, but it didn’t quite fit that expectation. That said, I would recommend it for couples on a date or groups of friends who mainly want to enjoy wine, drinks, and the ambiance rather than focus heavily on the food.
Spectacular flavors and so many dishes, with such variety. We let Julien curate the dishes for us for dinner, catered to gluten free dietary for me perfectly. Highlights are the tomato dish, wagyu steak, mushrooms. Great wine list with offerings of by the glass, jug or bottle. The basque cheesecake is not to be missed at the end! Of course, a beautiful spot by the river with fantastic views. We will most definitely come back and try to catch sunset.
Amazing view to Landmark and very delicious food. 🤤
Visit Tips
Visiting BOCĀO Basque Izakaya
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Open late: Doors stay open past 4 AM on at least one day — handy for after-work dinners.
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Breakfast available: Opens by 4 AM — a viable breakfast stop in Thao Dien.
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Reservations: Call +84 902 888 502 to book — recommended for weekend dining.
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Best for: date night, sunset drinks, group dinner, wine night.
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37Photos
Vibe
An interior view of a bustling restaurant with patrons dining and socializing
Other
Common Questions
Frequently Asked
- What's the best dish at BOCĀO Basque Izakaya?
- Guests consistently highlight the tomato dish ('the flavours are insane'), Basque cheesecake, wagyu steak, miso crab butter with bread, and scallops. Letting chef Julien curate the order is widely recommended.
- Does BOCĀO Basque Izakaya cater to gluten-free diners?
- One reviewer notes Julien 'catered to gluten free dietary perfectly' across a full multi-course dinner, with no dishes flagged as problematic.
- Is BOCĀO Basque Izakaya good for a date night?
- The riverfront setting offers 'unobstructed views of Landmark 81,' warm décor, and a western exposure that makes golden hour a genuine draw. The small-plates format and curated wine list suit an intimate two-person dinner.
- What wine options does BOCĀO Basque Izakaya offer?
- The wine list is available by the glass, jug, or bottle. Reviewers specifically mention Tinto Fino Protos Roble pairing well with the Basque cheesecake.
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