Vietnamese brunch in Dubai exists on two very different planes. At one end: Hoi An at Shangri-La, where an elegant Khai Vi Brunch spreads across multiple hours of crab cakes, tamarind fish soup, and flutes of sparkling wine. At the other: a quiet Saturday morning in Al Karama, a bowl of pho bo in front of you, Vietnamese iced coffee condensing rings onto a formica table. Both are equally valid. Both are essential.
The UAE's traditional Friday brunch culture has slowly begun to absorb Vietnamese cuisine — partly because of Hoi An's long-standing brunch programme, partly because casual Vietnamese restaurants have figured out that their all-day menus translate perfectly to a lazy weekend morning. This guide covers every meaningful Vietnamese brunch option in Dubai right now.
Vietnamese fresh spring rolls (goi cuon) — light, herby and perfect as a brunch opener
The Best Vietnamese Brunches in Dubai, Ranked
Hoi An — Shangri-La Hotel, DIFC
Dubai's most celebrated Vietnamese restaurant has been running its Khai Vi Brunch for years, and it remains the benchmark. The setting — warm wood, lanterns, a design that transports you to the streets of Hội An — is half the experience. The food is the other half: unlimited Vietnamese-French dishes cooked to order, from pan-seared crab cakes and Vietnamese rocket prawn rolls to the restaurant's famous tamarind fish soup and silky pho. On Sundays, Hoi An expands the experience to include Shang Palace next door, blending Vietnamese and Cantonese cuisine across two kitchens.
| Package | Price (AED) | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Soft Drinks | 228 | Unlimited food + soft drinks |
| House Beverages | 358 | Unlimited food + house drinks |
| Sparkling | 428 | Unlimited food + Champagne/sparkling |
Our verdict: The most complete Vietnamese brunch in Dubai. The Sunday bi-restaurant format (Hoi An + Shang Palace) is especially good — you get Vietnamese-French on one side, dim sum on the other. Book at least a week in advance for Fridays.
Indochine — FIVE Palm Jumeirah
Indochine brings Vietnamese-Indochinese cuisine to the rooftop party atmosphere FIVE Palm is known for. The Friday brunch here leans high-energy: DJ sets, pool views, and a spread that covers Vietnamese, Thai, and Cambodian dishes alongside the inevitable UAE brunch standbys. The food quality is solid — the fresh spring rolls, chicken pho, and Vietnamese coffee desserts are all good — though the party atmosphere means this is more about the experience than the cuisine. That said, the views across the Palm and the setting are genuinely spectacular.
| Package | Price (AED) |
|---|---|
| Soft drinks | 195 |
| House beverages | 295 |
| Premium beverages | 350 |
Our verdict: Choose this if you want the brunch-party atmosphere with an Indochine menu angle. Not the place for a quiet, food-focused Vietnamese experience — but undeniably fun. The Vietnamese coffee tiramisu alone is worth knowing about.
Pho at brunch: there is no better cure for a Friday morning than a deep, bone-broth bowl
Vietnamese Foodies — Multiple Locations
Vietnamese Foodies is the homegrown Dubai success story that now has branches across the city. It doesn't run a formal brunch programme, but its all-day weekend menu — pho, fresh rolls, bun cha, com tam, and Vietnamese iced coffee — functions as a near-perfect casual brunch for AED 50–90 per person. The lakeside original branch (JLT) is the pick for atmosphere. The quality is consistent, the portions are generous, and the Vietnamese iced coffee (ca phe sua da) is as good as any in the city. No reservations, no DJ — just very good food at very honest prices.
Our verdict: The best everyday Vietnamese brunch in Dubai. Arrive when it opens on Friday morning — the kitchen is fresh, the pho broth is at peak depth, and you'll beat the queues. The bun cha (AED 58) and Vietnamese iced coffee (AED 22) are your essential order.
Chôm Chôm — Al Barsha
The newest Vietnamese arrival in Dubai, Chôm Chôm brings the street food culture of Hanoi and Saigon to Al Barsha with an all-day menu that works perfectly as a weekend brunch. The concept is casual and colourful: banh mi made to order, pho served alongside tropical smoothies, bun cha with fresh herbs, and Vietnamese-style shakes. It's the closest thing Dubai has to actually sitting in a Saigon street café. Weekend mornings here feel genuinely alive in a way that the hotel Vietnamese restaurants don't quite capture.
Our verdict: Still building its following, but the food is excellent and the atmosphere is the most genuinely Vietnamese of any casual spot in the city. The banh mi (AED 35) and ca phe trung (egg coffee, AED 28) are must-orders for any weekend visit.
The Vietnamese Brunch Essentials: What to Order
Whichever Vietnamese brunch you end up at, certain dishes appear across every menu — and knowing what to prioritise makes all the difference.
Pho bo (beef noodle soup): The anchor of any Vietnamese brunch spread. Look for a deep amber broth that's been simmering for at least 12 hours — it should taste of star anise, cinnamon, and slow-cooked bone. At the casual spots, a bowl runs AED 35–55. At Hoi An, it's part of the unlimited spread.
Goi cuon (fresh spring rolls): The lighter, brighter alternative to fried spring rolls. Rice paper wrapped around shrimp, vermicelli, fresh herbs, and lettuce — serve with peanut dipping sauce. Non-negotiable at any Vietnamese brunch. AED 35–55 at casual restaurants.
Banh mi: Vietnam's French-colonial-era gift to the world: a crisp baguette stuffed with Vietnamese pâté, pickled vegetables, fresh coriander, and your choice of protein. At Chôm Chôm, the banh mi op la (with fried egg) is a specifically brunch-perfect version. AED 28–45.
Ca phe sua da (Vietnamese iced coffee): Robusta coffee dripped through a phin filter over sweetened condensed milk and ice. Rich, intensely sweet, slightly bitter. Non-negotiable. Every Vietnamese restaurant in Dubai does a version — the Vietnamese Foodies one is the most consistent. AED 18–28.
Com tam (broken rice): Broken rice with grilled pork, a fried egg, cucumber, and pickled daikon. The traditional Vietnamese breakfast-lunch crossover dish. When it's done well — crispy pork char on the grill, runny yolk, fragrant rice — there are few better brunch plates in the city. AED 45–75.
Ca phe sua da: Vietnamese iced coffee with condensed milk — the essential brunch drink
Booking Tips & Practical Advice
Hoi An (Shangri-La): Book at minimum one week ahead for Friday brunch — it fills up. The Sunday brunch (including Shang Palace) is slightly easier to get into. Call directly or use Open Table. Request a window table when booking.
Indochine (FIVE Palm): Part of FIVE's famous Friday brunch circuit — book through FIVE's website or WhatsApp. The pool-adjacent tables go first. Arrive on time as they run strict time slots.
Casual spots (Vietnamese Foodies, Vietnam House, Chôm Chôm): No reservations needed. Arrive before noon on Fridays to avoid waits, especially at the JLT branch of Vietnamese Foodies. These spots fill up with Vietnamese expats and food-in-the-know locals from around 11:30 onwards.
Vietnamese Brunch vs. Regular Dubai Brunch
Dubai's standard brunch culture — endless buffets, unlimited bubbly, 4-hour affairs — is not entirely what Vietnamese brunch offers. If you want the full UAE Friday brunch experience (every food type under the sun, bottomless drinks, a DJ), Hoi An and Indochine deliver that. If you want something more focused, more genuinely Vietnamese, and considerably cheaper, the casual restaurants are the better call.
Vietnamese food is particularly well-suited to mornings and early afternoons: it's light, herby, not heavy on dairy or fried elements, and designed around fresh flavours that don't make you regret your choices three hours later. A pho, a couple of spring rolls, and a Vietnamese coffee is one of the best-value, most satisfying brunch sequences in the city.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the best Vietnamese brunch in Dubai?
Hoi An at Shangri-La (DIFC) is the standout — the Khai Vi Brunch runs Friday to Sunday from AED 228, with unlimited Vietnamese-French dishes cooked to order. For casual value, Vietnamese Foodies (JLT) is the best everyday Vietnamese brunch in the city.
How much does Vietnamese brunch cost in Dubai?
From AED 40–90 at casual spots like Vietnamese Foodies and Chôm Chôm, to AED 195–428 at formal brunch venues like Indochine and Hoi An. The casual option is dramatically better value; the formal option is better for a special occasion.
Is Vietnamese brunch available on Saturdays in Dubai?
Yes — Hoi An runs brunch Friday through Sunday. All casual Vietnamese restaurants serve all-day menus seven days a week. The UAE weekend is Friday–Saturday, so Saturday is also a prime brunch day.
What is the best Vietnamese dish to eat at brunch?
Com tam (broken rice with grilled pork and fried egg) is the most brunch-specific Vietnamese dish. Pho bo and a Vietnamese iced coffee (ca phe sua da) is the classic combination. At Hoi An, the pan-seared crab cakes and tamarind fish soup are must-orders.
