PAMA Stew & Brew

The minute you open the door to this place, a deliciously smelling cloud of spices is hugging you. Their Bo Kho is probably the best I've ever tasted. The beef is falling apart and is super tender, the knive cut noodles I chose for my bowl are bouncy and delicious, the carrots, herbs, all in perfect harmony. Also the marinated egg - reminiscent of a japanese ramen egg - is a great addition. The broth is bold, has deep flavors and is so satisfying. The women running the place are friendly, the service is nice. Prices are a bit higher in comparison to traditional Bo Kho places, but it's absolutely worth it. Highly recommended!

I noticed this store when getting lost in district 2 (mainly because of the name of the store). The first time I came here was a rainy day, for me, the atmosphere of this store really warmed me up that day, made me feel cozy and comfortable immediately. For this first time, I tried the traditional Bò kho (beef stew) with hand-cut noodles. To be honest, I love the taste of the dish that day, it had the same vibe with the home-made beef stew, which is usually cooked by my mom and my aunties. For the second time, I tried the special PaMa beef stew, with dried hand-cut noodles mixing with special sauce and separate beef stew bowl. I never try dried beef stew before, so I really impressed by the taste and how soft the beef was. One notice: both the traditional and special version are spicy. Be sure to ask the store’s ladies about the spicy level. The ladies in store were nice and friendly. They explained to me when the carrot was still in processing and whether I want to wait for it or not. (Not sure that these ladies are sisters or not but they really look alike) The food was fast prepared (or maybe I came in the early morning). They also have a hand-written board about waiting time with each type of dish. One last thing, the drinks menu was also good. I tried the latte for both times. They were good. The price is a bit high for beef stew but considering the location and neighborhood, I think it is acceptable. Next time I will try the bretzel bun.

We had lunch at PAMA Stew & Brew and were seriously impressed. The concept is simple: two types of bò kho—classic and signature—with your choice of noodles or pretzel. That’s it. But they absolutely nail it. I ordered the Signature Stew with hand cut noodles. It’s served as a dry noodle bowl tossed in their house sauce, with the beef stew on the side. Everything about it was spot-on—deep, rich broth, tender chunks of beef, sweet carrots, and a perfectly runny egg. The noodles added a nice chewy contrast to the stew. My partner had the Classic with ramen noodles, where the broth is poured over the noodles—equally flavourful, just a different style. Of the two, the Signature is a bit spicier whilst the Classic was pretty mild in heat. Oh, and don’t miss out on the green chilli salt mixed with cumquat juice to did your beef pieces in - spicy salty goodness 😍 Drinks were also a highlight – we tried the Citrus You Later, which was sharp and refreshing, and the Tangerine Americano, which balanced surprisingly well between citrus and coffee. Service was warm and the whole place has a relaxed but thoughtful design. There’s a hand-written chalkboard explaining the noodle wait times, the food is beautifully plated, and the portions are generous. Everything felt crafted without being fussy. For Thảo Điền, the pricing is excellent—our full meal for two came to just 336k, which is hard to beat in the area for something this well done. Highly recommend if you’re craving something comforting but a bit different. The Vietnamese–Japanese fusion twist gives it a unique edge, and the whole experience was well worth it.

Hands down the best meal I’ve had in Saigon. You are hit with the aromatics as soon as you walk in. We arrived around 3pm and they were already sold out of or low on some ingredients so they let us know and we happily agreed to order the dishes anyway. Don’t come too late before all dishes sell out.

Yooooo the food is bomb! Personally I can’t live without beef stew and this place took it to another level. The traditional bowl of stew was on point and the ramen + the soft boiled egg brought the whole overall flavor to *chef kissed*. Definitely coming back! Matcha latte espresso was also satisfying to drink, strong coffee + strong matcha, not the average diluted bs. Má ngon vl ngon ko chịu được!!!

Came again today! Still the best bò kho in the area for me. A bit salty to my flavor, but still delicious. Personally, I prefer traditional Vietnamese bánh mì over pretzel—hope they consider adding it to the menu! The space is small but cozy. Just a heads-up: your hair or clothes might carry some food smell after eating due to the limited ventilation. Still totally worth it!

I still remember meeting the owner, Quyên, her name sounds like Queen, but what really lingers with me is not just the name, it’s her passion. She radiates a genuine love for her craft, making sure every guest leaves not only full but also deeply satisfied. That spirit alone sets the tone for the entire dining experience. Her bò kho (Vietnamese beef stew) is far from ordinary. She insists on using beef from young cows, supporting Vietnamese agriculture while keeping the flavors true to their roots. You can taste the care in every bite. The beef is stewed to that perfect point: not rushed, not overdone, just tender enough to hold together while letting the rich, aromatic spices seep all the way through. Pair it with their hand-cut noodles and you’ll find harmony in every slurp, the silky strands soaking up the broth like they were made for each other. And then, there’s the lava egg (流心蛋) with its golden center spilling into the stew, elevating each mouthful with a richness that lingers on the palate. For the price I paid, it honestly feels like I underpaid for the sheer love and dedication that Quyên pours into her cooking. This isn’t just food, it’s a bowl of comfort, passion, and pride in local ingredients. A rare gem that deserves every bit of recognition.

Cozy little place with amazing food! I was skeptical but oh wow. It was amazing. I really liked the signature beef stew with ramen noodles. And homemade pretzel is just little unexpected, but it goes well together with stew!