Mỹ Duyên

If you're a lover of traditional German food and beer, you don’t need to wait to attend HCM City's version of Germany's famed annual Oktoberfest, the world’s largest food and beer festival. 

You can enjoy your favourites in the heart of downtown at one of the most authentic German restaurants in Việt Nam, Gartenstadt German Bar & Restaurant. 

“This is the one place in the city where I really love to drink my favourite beer and eat classic German dishes,” said a regular visitor who preferred to be anonymous. “The atmosphere, food and service are all great. I'm always excited about visiting this great place.”

Located on bustling Đồng Khởi Street, the restaurant has been a popular spot for locals and expats for more than two decades. It is deservedly famous for its authentic cuisine and Bavarian atmosphere.

Stepping into Gartenstadt, also known as Đức Bảo Restaurant for locals, diners will immediately see the long teakwood bar designed in the Bavarian style, evoking the ambiance of a traditional German eatery.

The restaurant features spacious seating with private dining options on the second floor, including balcony seating overlooking scenic Đồng Khởi Street.

Aside from German classics such as sausages, schnitzel and roast pork knuckle, Gartenstadt also offers the latest cuisine from Germany and flavours to match Vietnamese tastes. Featured dishes include German sausage, pork knuckle and sauerbraten.

The restaurant is also home to imported Schneider Weisse and Krombacher beer, as well as a large collection of choice schnapps.

It was a little bit late and rainy when we arrived at the restaurant for a family dinner to reward my children for their school achievements. Since our party had three children, we decided to go upstairs where there was a non-smoking space and cosy ambience.

Đức Bảo offers more than 40 food items including classic dishes designed for lunch and dinner featuring beef, pork, chicken or seafood.

At least nine different kinds of imported German sausages, created to match local tastes, are on offer with an extensive drink list from German beers to wines, cocktails and coffee.  

The two adults in our party wanted to try classic recipes while my daughter asked for a cream of asparagus soup for VNĐ100,000 and my son and my cousin shared a grilled US beef strip loin (VNĐ510,000 for 220g).

My brother and I started our meal with German-style potato pancakes served with apple sauce (VNĐ130,000). The appetizer was crispy and quite good but it seemed too small, so we asked for a sausage platter for VNĐ760,000, including nine different German sausages and salads, to share with everyone.  

Any meal at Gartenstadt would be incomplete without imported German beers, both bottled and draught, starting from VNĐ88,000.

To add more fun to our meal, we ordered a Krombacher dark and a Krombacher draught for VNĐ98,000 and VNĐ88,000, respectively.

The sausage extravaganza featured a wide range of flavours and textures: smoked, fried and crunchy, spicy and Frankfurter, with chicken, ostrich or lamb, and home-fried potatoes, red cabbage and sauerkraut.

Each had its own taste and stunning flavour, so it was hard to say which was the best. I preferred the smoked and the fried and crunchy. The fine beers and tasty sausages whetted our appetite, helping us to digest our high-calorie meal.

My brother loved the spicy chicken sausages complemented well by the red cabbage and sauerkraut.

The colour of the cream of asparagus soup reflected the freshness of the ingredients and its taste was exceptional.

“I love it. It's delightful," my daughter said. 

Meanwhile, my son was enjoying his beef served with asparagus, baked potato, vegetables and herb sauce. "Irresistibly juicy,” he said.

Aside from German classics like sausages and knuckles, Đức Bảo is famous for its specialties including imported beef roasted in red wine with raisin sauce (VNĐ310,000) and rabbit Pot de Provence served with mashed potatoes and vegetables (VNĐ390,000).

For those loving German-style fried foods or snacks, fried dumplings and potato pancakes are must-tries at a price of VNĐ130,000.

Still unsatisfied, my twins insisted that I try Swabian cheese noodles with caramelised onions and Gruyere cheese for VNĐ210,000. 

My daughter, a cheese lover, loved the noodles. "I'm not disappointed," she said. 

 After the sausage platter and beer, we adults were stuffed, but my twins and my cousin wanted dessert. Besides Vietnamese cakes, the menu also offered German and other European style sweets and cakes.

Instead of their typical request for ice cream, they chose the homemade creme brulee for VNĐ60,000. They weren't disappointed with this, either, and said they wanted it again on our next visit to Gartenstadt. VNS

Gartenstadt German Bar & Restaurant

34-36 Đồng Khởi Street, District 1, HCMC

Tel: (028) 3822 3623

Hours: 10:30am – 12pm (Mon-Sun)

Comment: Original German restaurant on a busy downtown HCM City street. Classic German food and atmosphere with friendly service.