District 1, Opera House French Restaurant Le Corto Review(2025.08)
- Hochiminh Gourmet
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
#1. District 1, Opera House French Restaurant Le Corto Review
French restaurant Le Corto is located on Nguyen Sieu Street, near the Opera House in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Despite its exterior, the interior is quite spacious, with a dark, upscale atmosphere. Prices are a bit on the high side, but it's a wonderful place to experience French cuisine. Each dish is presented like a masterpiece, a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate.
I made a reservation for a solo dinner on a Thursday evening and was shown to a table on the second floor. When making a reservation on the website, you can choose between the Ground Floor and the First Floor. I recommend the First Floor, which offers a more spacious and ambiance-rich space.
There's also a corner room on the second floor, perfect for a private meal with a group. While the main hall has a dark, luxurious feel, the rooms are bright and warm.
The restaurant featured mascot character scattered throughout, and this was oddly reminiscent of Daft Punk's music video animation(Interstellar 5555) or Kazuhiko Kato's cartoons, blending in with the restaurant's aesthetic.
Shortly after ordering, a server brought a basket full of bread and asked me to choose bread. I saw baguettes, sourdough bread, nut bread, and more. They kept offering breads throughout the meal, so it's best to just take one and then pick up more later.
I ordered a glass of Le Grand Noir Sauvignon Blanc as my first wine to accompany my meal. This French white wine had a refreshing, grassy aroma and a subtle fruity flavor, making it a delightfully refreshing.
The amuse-bouche consisted of three bites: minced tiger shrimp jerky roll, pumpkin mousse tart, and cheese cracker. The visual delight and unexpectedly harmonious flavors heightened my anticipation for the meal.
I ordered French Snail(6 pcs) as a starter. Escargot, a classic French snail dish, had a chewy yet soft texture and a rich, savory flavor blended with garlic, butter, and herbs.
Two pieces of toasted baguette, slathered with escargot sauce, were served together. Crispy on the outside, moist on the inside, and with a salty, savory flavor, they were surprisingly delicious. Topping them with snails made me reach for a glass of red wine.
While I was enjoying my snail dish, the server opened a large wooden box and showed me some duck part that were being smoked. It contained half a breast and a leg, and they said they would use the breast for the main dish, and the meat from the leg for samosa.
I ordered a glass of Chateau La Fleur, a French red wine, to accompany my main course. It was an impressive wine, with a slightly smoky, unique aroma and a fairly heavy character, considering its low price.
For my main course, I ordered the Long An Barbary Duck(Roasted and smoked dry-aged duck breast). A large platter was filled with meat, baby carrots, vegetable puree, and pumpkin puree, topped with orange sauce by the staff.
I requested the meat medium-rare, and it was cooked to perfection. The tender, fatty meat had a nice texture and was appealing, and the tart, sweet orange sauce complemented it perfectly. Of course, it paired well with red wine.
The samosa served with the Long An Barbary Duck feature duck leg meat. Unlike regular samosa, they feature a thin crust encasing the savory, seasoned meat. Their stimulating texture and flavor ensured a satisfying meal.
After the main course, I ordered Baked Mango for dessert. The bottom of the plate was filled with chopped grapes, mango, and strawberries, topped with sugar-coated apple mango and coconut ice cream, and drizzled with passion fruit syrup. It wasn't as sweet as I'd expected, and was refreshing and just the right amount of sweet, making it a perfect ending to the meal.
After finishing my dessert and asking for the bill, I was presented with a box of gooseberries and chocolate. The chocolate was quite luxurious and decent, and the sweet and tart Cape gooseberries definitely made an impact.
At Le Corto, a French restaurant, I experienced the freshness and pleasure of dining for the first time in a long time. While the prices are certainly on the high side, it's definitely worth a visit for special occasions or when you crave fine French cuisine.
#2. French Restaurant Le Corto - Menu
French restaurant Le Corto offers a five-course dinner for 2,900,000VND / three-course for 2,250,000VND, and also offers a variety of French dishes a la carte. While prices are on the high side, the restaurant offers a luxurious atmosphere, excellent service, and high-quality French cuisine. Visit during lunchtime and order a lunch set, offering a reasonable meal for 370,000VND for a three-course or 320,000VND for a two-course.
I visited for dinner alone on Thursday evening and ordered as follows:
French Snail(6pcs): 185,000VND
Long An Barbary Duck: 595,000VND
Baked Mango: 250,000VND
Le Grand Noir: 195,000VND
Chateau La Fleur: 190,000VND
Adding up the 5% service charge, 8% VAT, and 10% alcohol VAT, the bill came to 1,612,695VND. The French restaurant Le Corto was a highly satisfying experience, with a luxurious atmosphere, excellent service, and exquisite cuisine, all commensurate with its high price tag. This is a great restaurant to visit on a special day with a special someone.
#3. French Restaurant Le Corto - Location
French restaurant Le Corto is located on Nguyen Sieu Street, near the Opera House in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Its prime location is near renowned five-star hotels in the city center, including the Park Hyatt, Hilton, Sheraton, Caravelle, and Majestic Saigon. Click the Check Location button below to see the detailed location on Google Maps.
Address: 5D Nguyễn Siêu, Bến Nghé, Quận 1
Website: http://lecortovietnam.com/
Phone: 02838220671
Hours: 11:00 ~ 14:30 / 17:30 ~ 22:00
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