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BURGERS
INTERNATIONAL
VIETNAMESE

Black Cat


Downtown
13 Phan Van Dat (Mac Thi Buoi)
Ho Chi Minh City
829 2055

Hours
10:00 - 22:00

add / change info

Price (dinner)$$
Price (lunch)$$

Food***.5
Service***.5
Ambiance***.5
Overall***.5



Features
delivery
television


Accepts
cash
Visa
MasterCard/Eurocard

Smoking
permitted

Dress
casual


Alcohol
wine / beer

Top: Vietnam: Ho Chi Minh City: Downtown

Description



Small cosy restaurant tucked away in a little-known side street in the heart of downtown Saigon. Also known as 'Con meo den'. Has wifi.

Second branch in District 7, 480D Nguyen Thi Thap street, next door to Bike City.

They advertise as: restaurant, cafe, bar, catering, delivery.






Reviews

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Gastronomy: Black Cat - 28 April 2008; Blog entry describing visit to downtown branch. Includes photos. - suggest change
Alone in Vietnam: The Black Cat - 14 January 2009; Menu - suggest change




More reviews:      0 | 1
Show 10 |  20 |  30 |  50  reviews on each page

Spotty service
I've been living in HCMC for a while now and when I first discovered the Black Cat, I was pleasantly surprised by the burgers, but the service leaves a considerable amount to be desired to the point that it is highly unlikely I'll return. Given that there are a number of other places in town offering good burgers (Texas BBQ on Pasteur comes to mind) why would I bother? The last delivery took 2 hours but it was all my fault it took that long because "You live so far away." Never mind that I told them my address and asked BEFORE the order if they knew where I was. (I'm about 35-40 minutes away from the restaurant.) I talked with the assistant mgr who was aware of the problem but gave only vague reassurances and offered nothing. So one less customer but perhaps your luck will be better.    [04 Aug 2007 22:39:57]

Food: ***   Service: *   Ambiance: ***   Overall: **
Recommended Dishes: blue cheese burger

     ­Stephen   



Good for delivery
I'm unsure as to others' experiences, but I've never had an issue with delivery or service with Black Cat.

Like many Vietnamese delivery outlets, unless your Vietnamese is spot on (read: non foreigner accent), getting the address right can be difficult. However, the service and food is spot-on for the most part.    [24 Oct 2007 22:56:36]

Food: ****   Service: ****   Ambiance: ****   Overall: ****
Recommended Dishes: Quiet American (breakfast)

     ­Anonymous   



Awesome Breakfast
I've only been to Black Cat once, but I'm dying to eat it again. Actually the reason I'm on here is to find out if they deliver ... but that's beyond the point. Black Cat offers delicious food at a good price, especially if you're a foreigner looking for some good Western food.    [25 Jan 2008 06:40:52]

Food: ****   Service: ***   Ambiance: ***   Overall: ****
Recommended Dishes: Puss-N-Boots (brunch)

     ­Anonymous, Saigon South International School   



Hmmmm
I had only heard bad things from friends re the delivery being abysmally slow and the manageress on the phone being rude. Ignoring this as other reviews are good, I was keen to try the new one in District 7 today. It was absolutely crap. I have never had a drier burger in my life, it fell apart. The chef (or a Western guy in whites anyhow) was hanging about with the staff, looking slovenly and unclean. The staff cocked up my order. 2 Westerners onsite running the show, and it was still rubbish. Shall not be going back there unless I see different personnel at the helm!    [19 Sep 2008 06:43:55]

Food: *   Service: **   Ambiance: ***   Overall: *

     ­pete   



Fair
This review concerns the downtown branch.

I went for lunch today. Lamb pita bread and potato salad. Fair. The lamb could have been any dark meat, tender, but flavoured strongly with what seemed to me like cloves, but could not have been surely, in VN. Very peppery also, but between all this spiceyness, I could not have told whether it was lamb or any other dark meat. Salad fairly standard: onion, tomato, lettuce, cucumber, with coriander garnish. Potato salad quite dry and also salty. Pita at least soft and edible.

Service OK, with a smile, but also when called only.

This is the sort of place I try to avoid in the West, where I come from, but where in VN, to round out diet, I feel obliged to try once a year or so. On that score it's OK this place, but pretty ordinary on any serious markers from elsewhere.    [27 Oct 2008 08:49:51]

Food: **   Service: **   Ambiance: *   Overall: **

     ­ian   



Pleasant surprise
I have been a regular diner at Black Cat District 1, and I am extremely happy that Black Cat has now opened in District 7 as I live in Phu My Hung.
I am a regular customer for my breakfast and dinner in District 7. The atmosphere and space is wonderful. The food is gorgeous as it is in all Black Cat outlets.
Although the service needs improvement due to the fact that the owner explained to me that they are currently in their soft opening and training their staff.
But what I really like about this particular establishment is that the outlet owner interacts with each table and then the Chef comes out to explain the dish we have just eaten.
I really like the place and I would recommend that this is a must stop for all and every one looking for a comfortable restaurant and a good burger or sandwich in the area.    [07 Nov 2008 07:34:44]

Food: ****   Service: ***   Ambiance: ****   Overall: ****
Recommended Dishes: The Bike City Burger with potato salad

     ­Tim   



I loved it here
Everyone was happy with their food when we ate in Black Cat. I especially loved what I ordered. The risotto with black squid ink. Mouthwatering!    [09 Nov 2008 10:57:06]

Food: ****   Service: ****   Ambiance: ****   Overall: ****

     ­triccieps   



Black cat in Phu My Hung?
I had heard from a friend there was a new black cat in or near Phu My Hung. Seeing as there is only Lotteria in the area it's a nice change. Good burgers friendly staff, and cold beer.

What more could I ask for?    [10 Nov 2008 23:15:36]

Food: ****   Service: ****   Ambiance: ***   Overall: ****
Recommended Dishes: Garfield

     ­Anonymous   



District 7 (Ng Thi Thap) experience
With so much review activity lately for a place 200 metres from my house, I couldn't resist a look see.

Superb modern venue, aircon, nicely lit, comfortable, slick, clean, English speaking staff to greet you, open doors, find you a seat.

I tried the Cat burger at 89,000 VND. With that a free side of fries, potato salad or green salad. I chose the spud salad which was excellent even if small.

The burger was OK, not bad, quite good, with sesame seed bun. Quite large compared to other local bun styles.

Plenty of gimmicks, like ladies' nights, lads' nights, free qiveaways, Monday night beer deal.

Food is expensive. For example my burger was the cheapest of their range, others heading on up to 145,000 VND and even one super special one at more than that. But it's up to your wallet, and as reviews are getting thick at the moment from Phu My Hung oriented type folks, maybe this is the price range they are happy with.

Monday night has a Budweiser deal: buy 2 get one free: 50,000 VN dong.

My one visit thus far tells me this: food OK and the place will be attractive to goodsalaried local expats who need to eat at local expat places.

It also says that it's wasting its time with VNese items on its menu (eg bun bo Hue) which no expat will eat, priced at six times what you can buy it for 50m away down the street. That says something about the lack of VNese clientele they can expect.

Update July 2009: I guess over the past 6 months or so I've eaten their fare about once every 6 weeks on average. Three things I think are worth comment on: 1) the home delivery burgers I get are pretty good, all things being considered, and standards remain consistent; 2) These days the phone is answered by a girl with excellent English who - most importantly - can hear my English no problem. What follows upon hearing my name and my request is a please wait, while she checks her database, then after giving me back my address details, takes my order. Very efficient. 3)Given that HCMC prices have gone up so much lately, along with the world - I'm paying twice as much every day at market as I was say, a year ago - it is so nice to see a price coming down. My menu price for my burger, 89,000 VND, came down tonight to 80,000 VND. Good, and if a trend, gooder.    [11 Nov 2008 08:29:15]

Food: ***   Service: ****   Ambiance: ****   Overall: ***
Recommended Dishes: Cat Burger

     ­ian   



Great Burgers and Reubens
It is definitely worth the stop. Excellent burgers and Reuben. The Big Cheese is great if you have two or three hungry people. Excellent taste. Excellent Ingredients. Reuben would make a New Yorker come back. Great food and great service.    [01 Feb 2009 08:07:20]

Food: *****   Service: *****   Ambiance: ****   Overall: *****
Recommended Dishes: Reuben

     ­OHNOANDY, HCMC   


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