#1. District 1, Italian Restaurant Ciao Bella IL Primo Review
Italian restaurant Ciao Bella IL Primo is located in Dong Du alley near the five star hotel Sheraton Saigon in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. This restaurant is so popular that many people visit even on weekday evenings, so sometimes you have to wait.
Most of the visitors are Westerners, and you don't see many Asians. The prices are on the high side, but more than anything, like restaurants in mainland Europe, the portion sizes for each dish are large, so it may be a bit burdensome for Asians.
I visited on a Monday evening to dine alone, and there was one small table near the entrance so I was able to sit there. After ordering, I was immediately served appetizer and welcome champagne. The aperitif bread was richly composed of ciabatta, balsamic vinegar & olive oil, olive pesto, and roasted garlic.
While waiting for my order, I quickly drank the welcome champagne and ordered a glass of house red wine. I ordered the cheapest wine and was not bad to drink with Italian dishes.
The first dish was Crispy Prosciutto. This dish is made by wrapping mozzarella cheese in salt-cured raw pork prosciutto and grilling it until crispy. The concentrated flavor and strong saltiness of the prosciutto were balanced by the savory mozzarella and asparagus, making it was great to eat with red wine.
The second dish was Posh Carbonara. It is a Ciao Bella IL Primo's signature menu, and is a special where you can watch the staff make pasta by pouring noodles into a parmigiano reggiano wheel right in front of your eyes.
Place poached eggs and prosciutto on top of the thick carbonara, and sprinkle olive oil and pepper. It is a delicious pasta with a savory and thick texture made from Parmesan cheese and egg yolk, but with the addition of salty prosciutto and spicy black pepper, it is not greasy.
#2. Italian Restaurant Ciao Bella IL Primo Menu
Ciao Bella IL Primo's menu is not as diverse as other Italian restaurants, offering a few starters and salads, as well as pasta and Neapolitan pizza. The prices are a bit high considering the prices in Ho Chi Minh City, but the portion sizes are large and it is a place where you can enjoy authentic Italian cuisine, so there are many people even on weekdays, so sometimes you have to wait.
I visited on a Monday evening to dine alone and ordered the following.
Crispy Prosciutto: 330,000VND
Posh Carbonara: 395,000VND
House Red Wine: 115,000VND x 2EA = 230,000VND
At 955,000VND, plus 8% general VAT and 10% alcohol VAT, totaled 1,036,000VND, which is a bit high for a meal. However, considering that I ate a hearty dishs with plenty of Parmesan cheese and prosciutto, I think it was quite reasonable. Ciao Bella IL Primo is the most popular Italian restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City's District 1. The prices are a bit high, but if you want to taste authentic Italian food, this is the place to visit.
#3. Italian Restaurant Ciao Bella IL Primo Hours and Location
Italian restaurant Ciao Bella IL Primo is located in Dong Du street near the five star hotel Sheraton Saigon in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. For more detailed location information, please click the Check Location button below.
Address: 11 Đông Du, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh
Phone: 02838223329
Hours: 11:00 ~ 22:00