Eating sea snails (oc) may sound bizarre to some people, especially visitors from Western cultures, but in Vietnam, sea snails are the top Vietnamese street food. With a wide variety of selections and even wider preparations, these dishes are must-haves before claiming you’ve tried Vietnamese street food.
About Eating Sea Snails in Ho Chi Minh City
Sea snails on a plate (oc) are a national favorite and an indispensable part of Vietnamese drinking culture. You might have only heard of snail dishes such as escargot, but Vietnamese snail dishes are more humble, yet packed with dynamite flavors. What typically would be considered pests are street food delicacies. Don’t worry; these are entirely safe (and incredibly delicious) to eat, as long as you consume fresh ones cooked carefully. Many sea snail vendors can be found along the river banks and canals or in Ho Chi Minh City’s hidden alleyways.
Precautions for Eating Sea Snails
- Most sea snail eateries are roadside vendors, which can be unhygienic; choose ones that are clean only.
- Some people can be allergic to certain kinds of sea snails, so check carefully whether you’re allergic.
- Pregnant women, nursing moms, people with diabetes, kidney problems, high blood pressure, gout, arthritis, and asthma should avoid sea snails.
- If you are not used to eating snails or trying new food in general, don’t go overboard with the order. Try more familiar ones before going for more exotic dishes.
- Beware of dead sea snails. Not only do they smell foul, but consuming them can be bad for your health.
How to Order Sea Snails
For first-timers, walking into a sea snail vendor might be overwhelming as there are so many customers and even more food choices. There are snails that you’ve probably never seen before, and most sellers don’t speak one word of English. And believe us, trying to make sense of the menu is even more confusing. So, here we have simplified tips to order your first plate of snails.
Step 1: Choose your snails
As we mentioned, there are so many snail varieties that even locals don’t know where to start. To save you the fatigue, we recommend some typical options, such as nghêu (clams), ốc bươu, ốc hương, ốc móng tay, sò điệp (scallop), hàu (oyster), etc.
In addition to snails, there are other food often available at the sea snail vendor, such as chicken feet, crabs, shrimps, or even lobsters.
Step 2: Choose How It’s Cooked
One type of snail can be made into different types of dishes. Depending on the snails, here are some basic ways you can have them cooked:
- Steamed, or boiled with lemon grass
- Steamed, or boiled Thai style (spicy)
- Grilled, plain, with black pepper/fish sauce, or with scallion oil
- Stir-fried with coconut milk, garlic, butter, or tamarind sauce
- Stir-fried with noodles, and/or morning glory
Below, you can see examples of dishes that we like to order.
Step 3: Enjoy
These dishes are meant to be eaten on their own or sometimes with some Banh Mi (plain baguette), and you’re expected to get down and dirty while eating. Most dishes require using bare hands to crack shells and toothpicks to pick out the flesh.
Most of the time, these dishes come with a side of sweet and spicy fish sauce, and a side of pepper and salt. Remember to squeeze some lime or kumquat juice to the salt.
Where To Eat Sea Snails In Ho Chi Minh City
There are literally thousands of eateries in the city selling these mouth-watering dishes. But don’t worry, we’ll show you below our 3 favorite candidates for eating sea snails in Ho Chi Minh City.
Oc Dao
Address: 212B/D28, Nguyen Trai Street, Nguyen Cu Trinh Ward, District 1.
Opening hours: 10 AM – 10 PM.
Average price: VND 60,000 – VND 110,000/dish
Although the restaurant is not in a favorable location, it’s one of the most famous sea snail eateries in Ho Chi Minh City. Therefore, visit in the evening for a quieter atmosphere. Although its dishes can be a bit pricey, the fast service, friendly staff, and flavorful plates make up for that.
Oc Khanh
Address: 25/5, Nguyen Binh Khiem Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1.
Opening hours: Noon – 10 PM.
Average price: VND 25,000 – VND 72,000/dish
The restaurant has a favorable location, but it’s quite small so you might have to wait a bit during nighttime. There are many types of sea snail to choose from, and all of them are fresh, which provides tasty plates.
Oc Loan
Address: 12, Block C, Nguyen Thien Thuat apartment complex, Ward 1, District 3.
Opening hours: 4 PM – 10 PM.
Average price: VND 30,000 – VND 100,000/dish
The restaurant’s located in the food haven of Nguyen Thien Thuat apartment complex so it’s very easy to find. Service can be quite slow since this place is always jam-packed and the “restaurant” is at the back of an alley, which is inconvenient during the rainy season. However, their sea snail variations are other-worldly with quite a comfortable price.
Where To Eat Sea Snails In Ho Chi Minh City – Other Recommendations
Oc Nho
Address: 190, Le Quoc Hung Street, Ward 12, District 4.
Opening hours: 4 PM – 9 PM.
Average price: VND 30,000 – 50,000/dish
Oc Ghe
Address: 34, Mac Dinh Chi Street, Da Kao Ward, District 1.
Opening hours: 5 PM – midnight.
Average price: VND 50,000 – VND 80,000/dish
Oc Mam Sua
Address: 282/4A, Bui Huu Nghia Street, Ward 2, Binh Thanh District.
Opening hours: 3 PM – 7 PM.
Average price: VND 30,000 – VND 44,000/dish
Summary on Where to Eat Sea Snails in Ho Chi Minh City
There’s something unreserved and inviting about picking sea snails and drinking beer that Vietnamese, young and old alike, adore. If you don’t know where to spend the night away in Ho Chi Minh City yet, try eating sea snails, and you may make some unexpected friends.