I went on the weekend so it was very crowded. You might want to go on a weekday instead. The dipping sauce here is a highlight, and the food is served hot and fresh.
Restaurant
Kim Thao Restaurant baby duck egg - Restaurant in Thao Dien, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City
+15
The Story
About This Place
Kim Thao Restaurant does one thing and does it well: hột vịt lộn, the fertilized duck eggs that divide tourists and unite locals across Vietnam. At 12,000 VND per egg, it sits at the opposite end of the spectrum from Thao Dien's better-known cafes and Western restaurants, offering one of the most affordable snacks in the neighborhood. The shop opens at 1:45 PM each day and runs until 10 PM, drawing a steady crowd of regulars who treat the afternoon visit as a ritual.
The eggs are served southern-style — whole and uncracked — leaving guests to break through the shell themselves. This keeps the heat in but requires a bit of patience; those arriving from Hanoi, where eggs typically come pre-shelled, may notice the difference. Ginger, a standard northern accompaniment, is not offered here. Sugarcane juice is the pairing of choice, its sweetness cutting through the mineral richness of the egg.
The space is small and consistently full, with an atmosphere that skews local rather than tourist-facing. Most people arrive, eat two or three eggs at the open-air tables, and move on. Takeaway is available for those who prefer to eat elsewhere. The eggs lean younger — the embryo less developed — a quality that lowers the barrier for first-timers without alienating the regulars who come back weekly.
With 1,635 Google reviews and a 4.1 rating, this is not a discovery so much as a fixture. On a street where dining increasingly caters to expatriates and international visitors, Kim Thao operates in a different register: direct, inexpensive, and entirely focused on a single product done consistently well.
hột vịt lộnsugarcane juice pairing12,000 vnd per eggsouthern-style uncracked servingtakeaway-friendly
localno-frillscrowdedcasualquick
Reviews
4.1(1669)
내돈내산 The Hot Vit Lon here was similar to many other places. The sugarcane juice was fine, refreshing . The eating area wasn’t very clean which may be uncomfortable for those who care a lot about hygiene. It was okay as an experience. Personally the eggs here were quite young, which suited my taste. Not a place I’d go to often, but trying it once was enough.
This was a serendipitous find while exploring Xuan Thuy St. We had actually walked past this shop but my wife was feeling a bit peckish at 2pm and not having had lunch yet. So we backtracked and were delighted to find what looked like balut (we are Filipino). So we ordered a set (4 eggs) and that came with some chili, lime, salt, pepper, and some Vietnamese Coriander leaves. Topped it off with som sugarcane water and we had a nice, savory afternoon snack. Came to 80K VND total, including the two wet towel packs. Very happy to recommend this shop to fellow lovers of balut. What was crazy is that the locals (the place was packed) use spoons to eat this! Filipinos usually just crack the shell and suck everything out. LoL. To each his own.
The eggs here are pretty good. They taste quite similar to the regular ones I’ve had before, but the experience was special because this place only sells hột vịt lộn (balut). The space is small and always crowded, but that’s part of its charm. The price is 12,000 VND per egg.
First time trying the "Hot vin lon" or "Balut egg". Delicious! Particular flavor! I devoured 3 of them :D Definitely recommended!
Visit Tips
Visiting Kim Thao Restaurant baby duck egg
- ✓
Open late: Doors stay open past 1 AM on at least one day — handy for after-work dinners.
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Breakfast available: Opens by 1 AM — a viable breakfast stop in Thao Dien.
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Reservations: Call +84 938 001 684 to book — recommended for weekend dining.
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Best for: quick snack, street food experience, budget eats, local culture.
gallery
22Photos
Food
Boiled Eggs with Dipping Sauce
Boiled Eggs
Egg and Fried Snack Platter
Trứng luộc kèm rau sống
Cracked Egg Dish
Drinks
Iced Coffee
Vibe
A bustling evening scene outside a Vietnamese restaurant named 'TIỆM HỘT VIT LỘN KIM THÁO THẢO DIỆN' in Thao Dien, Saigon. The yellow signboard with r
A bustling restaurant interior in Thao Dien, Saigon, featuring patrons seated at red plastic tables and stools. The space has yellow walls, large wind
Exterior of a bustling street-side restaurant in Thao Dien, Saigon. The yellow signboard displays the name "TIỆM HỘT VIT LÔN KIM THẢO" with "THẢO DIỆN
Other
Common Questions
Frequently Asked
- What does Kim Thao Restaurant baby duck egg serve?
- Kim Thao specialises exclusively in hột vịt lộn (balut) at 12,000 VND per egg. Reviewers note 'this place only sells hột vịt lộn' and praise the eggs as fresh and high quality.
- What are the opening hours of Kim Thao Restaurant baby duck egg?
- Kim Thao opens daily at 1:45 PM and runs until 10 PM. Multiple reviews confirm the hours: 'daily open from 13h45 to 22h'.
- Is Kim Thao Restaurant baby duck egg good for first-timers trying balut?
- Reviewers describe the eggs as 'quite young' with a less-developed embryo, making them more approachable. One visitor noted eating three on a first visit and calling it 'definitely recommended'.
- Does Kim Thao Restaurant baby duck egg offer takeaway?
- Takeaway is available. One reviewer specifically recommends it, noting 'nothing to complain except the smell of the egg all around the restaurant' as a reason to take away.
- What drink pairs with the eggs at Kim Thao Restaurant baby duck egg?
- Sugarcane juice is the standard pairing. A reviewer calls it 'best choice after having these eggs', and the narrative notes its sweetness cuts through the mineral richness of the egg.
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