The moment you walk to Bahdja, the first Algerian restaurant in Saigon, you could be forgiven for thinking you have been transported thousands of miles to the exotic world of North Africa.

The décor is as authentic as seen in a restaurant in Algiers or any other cities in Algeria, the soothing hall is a mixture of contemporary and traditional details, with beautifully intricate lattice design on doors, walls and ceiling, light polished flooring, carved dark wood furniture and pristine light dining sets. Bahdja is literally an Algerian oasis in the hustle and bustle of Saigon.

The menu at Bahdja will not disappoint the most discerning gourmands, featuring Algerian national dish couscous, with its own Couscous Royale playing a deserved starring role. Cooked in a traditional clay pot, the couscous grains are fluffy and attaining a texture and taste of being rich and light at the same time, served with a spicy vegetable stew and choice of full-flavored meat.

Alongside couscous, tajine is another must-try dish for lovers of Algerian cuisine. At Bahdja, beef tajine is one of the most popular, with melt-in-the-mouth beef cubes slow cooked in a tajine pan with potatoes, carrots and a special spice mix of ground cumin, ground coriander, ground turmeric and some secret other spices by chef Ahmed, a trained chef with years of experience, who runs the kitchen with the aim of bringing his home cooked traditional dishes to his customers. The result is an earthy and piquant fare with melting tenderness.

Algerian is an evocative cuisine, a captivating mix of Arab, Berber and French influences. No Algerian meal, be it at home or at a restaurant, would be complete without bread, either a French baguette or Berber flatbread. At Bahdja, guests are greeted with a basket of sliced home-made bread and three types of spicy dips: harissa, pickles and baba ganoush: a smoky Arabian paste from chargrilled vegetables. To stay true to Algerian tradition, any left-over bread could be used to mop up the delicious sauce from your main course.

To accompany their authentic dishes, Bahdja has a wide range of wines, beers, soft drinks and not to mention the quintessentially North African beverage: fresh mint tea, served in elaborately carved silver tea set.  

Anna, chef Ahmed’s better half, runs front of house with staff trained to ensure impeccably smooth services, which are friendly and attentive whilst still leaving diners with space for themselves.

A visit to Bahdja will whet your appetite of North African delights and have you coming back for more.

Bahdja Restaurant 87-89-91 Ho Tung Mau Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: 08-66799330