Vietnamese food is loved around the world for it’s unique tastes and refreshing amount of herbs used in the dishes. There’s something to be said about the lower calories that Vietnamese food tends to offer and in this health conscious world we live in, it’s no wonder Vietnamese cuisine is gaining popularity around the world.
We’ve put together a Vietnamese food guide that we expect to update continually as time goes on. Go on and try some of the dishes below!
Banh xeo
The Vietnamese crepe that got it’s name by the loud sizzle it makes when the batter hits the hot skillet. ‘Xeo’ means sizzle in Vietnamese.
Usually the crepe is filled with pork belly, bean sprouts, onion, and shrimp. The batter gets it’s yellow from turmeric and this dish is always paired with a lot of herbs. The secret to this dish is the quality of the fish sauce you use to dip. It can make or break the taste of the dish!
Banh khot
For those who are lazy eaters, Banh Xeo comes in a bite size version called Banh Khot. Essentially the same ingredients from Banh Xeo are used in Banh
Banh beo
A bánh bèo is a Vietnamese dish that comes from Huế, a city in Central Vietnam. The English translation for this dish is water fern cakes. Bánh bèo is made from a combination of rice flour and tapioca flour. It is popular street food in Vietnam!
Banh mi
A very popular submarine sandwich that is best served hot and toasty. The choice of filling is endless but if you don’t know which to choose, go with the “dac biet” or “Special” which usually a meat filled one with mayo and pate! It’s delicious.
Banh bot loc
One of my favourite appetizers to get at a restaurant. Bánh bột lọc is a small, clear-looking, chewy tapioca dumplings in Vietnamese cuisine that can be eaten as appetizers or small snacks. They are usually filled with shrimp and pork belly, often being topped with fried shallots and served with sweet chili fish sauce.
Banh tran trong
Banh trang tron is essentially broken rice paper salad and just as you would with any salad, you can put whatever you want inside! Costing only a few cents, it’s an affordable and tasty treat.
Many street vendors will give you the option to add beef jerky, dried squid, dried shrimp, fresh Vietnamese coriander, unripe julienned green mango, chili oil, scallion oil, tamarind sauce, toasted peanuts, hard-boiled quail eggs, fried shallots and so many more.
Pho
The quintessential dish of Vietnam. Everyone knows Pho, it’s the best cure for a hang over! This Vietnamese noodle soup is widely eaten everywhere in Vietnam and comes in many different styles. It’s flavorful broth can take hours to stew to perfection and can be paired with your choice of protein: beef, pork, or chicken.
Bun rieu
Bún riêu is a traditional Vietnamese soup of clear stock and rice vermicelli. There are several varieties of bún riêu, including bún riêu cua (crab), bún riêu cá (fish) and bún riêu ốc (snail.) Bún riêu cua is served with tomato broth and topped with minced freshwater crab.
Bun cha ca
Fish cake noodle soup. One of the lesser known of the Vietnamese noodle soups, but just as delicious as any. The soup is usually light in body and the freshest bowl comes with springy fish cake. Sometimes there is dill sprinkled in the soup for flavour enhancements.
