The short answer
Benaras Rasa: what visitors should know first
Go if your group wants a sit-down Indian meal near the river end of District 1 and does not need a meat-free kitchen. The group's site makes no statement on vegetarian, Jain or vegan food, so ask the staff about each before ordering.
Diet
What we checked
- Indian. An Indian restaurant outside India. Checked November 2026 · Source
Menus and kitchens change. If you follow a strict diet or have an allergy, confirm with the restaurant before you order.
Useful facts
Benaras Rasa facts at a glance
- Location
- 33-35 Dong Du, Sai Gon Ward, District 1
- Dining style
- Sit-down Indian restaurant, meat and vegetable dishes
- Price signal
- Mid to upper range for the area; check the menu
- Signature order
- Try: a dosa, a vegetable curry and bread to share
- Good for
- Mixed groups and a familiar curry-and-bread meal
Why it matters
Why Benaras Rasa is worth your time
Vietnam has few restaurant groups that run Indian kitchens in several cities, and Benaras is one. For travellers from India it offers the familiar sequence of starter, curry, bread and dessert in a sit-down room, which is a useful change after several days of noodle soups and rice plates.
The group's own site is the clearest evidence that this branch exists, but it does not list menus here or hours. Treat the branch details as checked on the day we looked and confirm by phone. A mixed-menu kitchen is not the choice for a household that avoids shared cooking; for those families, the all-vegetarian restaurants elsewhere in this guide are safer.
Highlights
What not to miss
- 01
North and South Indian
The group lists curries, tandoori kebabs and dosas from one kitchen.
- 02
Natural ingredients claim
The site says dishes avoid added colouring and use about 80% less oil.
- 03
Central address
Dong Du is a short walk from other District 1 sights and hotels.
Plan your visit
How to experience it
Benaras Rasa is one of five Ho Chi Minh City addresses listed on the group's site, and the one on Dong Du, close to the street's mosque and a short walk from Dahi Handi. The group describes its cooking as North Indian curries, tandoori kebabs, South Indian dosas and coconut-based dishes, made with natural ingredients, no added colouring and less oil than usual.
Because the same kitchen serves meat, vegetarian families should say plainly what they eat. Ask for dishes to be cooked without meat stock, and ask about egg in breads and desserts. The site says nothing on Jain food, so if no onion or garlic matters, ask before you sit down.
Skip the idea of an à la carte tasting. A simpler plan is two or three vegetable curries, dal, a dosa to share and bread, and spice level named to the server. Old HappyCow listings placed the Benaras name on Ton Duc Thang street, so check that the map pin matches the Dong Du address above before you head off.
Plan with confidence
Small checks that make a better meal.
- Phone the branch to confirm hours before you go
- Tell the server you eat no meat or egg
- Ask about onion and garlic if Jain food matters
- Check the map pin shows Dong Du, not Ton Duc Thang
Know before you go
Timing, access and comfort
- Area
- 33-35 Dong Du, Sai Gon Ward, District 1
- Time needed
- About 1 to 1.5 hours
- Best time
- Lunch or an early dinner
- Walking level
- Easy
- Senior comfort
- Dong Du is a short, flat street in the central district, and taxis can stop at the door. We found no details on lifts or step-free access, so ask when you book if a parent uses a stick.
- Tickets and access
- Benaras's own site gives a phone number for this branch but no opening hours, so call before you go. Booking ahead is sensible for a group of six or more.
Best for
Plan it with
Plan the practical part
Hotels near Benaras Rasa
Staying close keeps journeys short — useful for early starts and for anyone who tires quickly.
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Travelling with parents?
Dong Du is a short, flat street in the central district, and taxis can stop at the door. We found no details on lifts or step-free access, so ask when you book if a parent uses a stick.
Raahzo can arrange an arrival or day companion who handles tickets, queues and pacing, and keeps the family updated.
See concierge supportFAQs
Is Benaras Rasa vegetarian?
No. The group's site mentions meat dishes in reviews and makes no vegetarian claim, so we have not applied a vegetarian tag. Ask about each dish.
Does it serve Jain food?
We found no Jain statement on the group's site. Ask the staff directly.
Is it open now?
The site lists the branch address and phone number but no hours. Call before you travel.
Sources and further reading
Timings, fees and access rules change. Recheck with the official source before you travel.
