50 Best Vietnamese Foods
The dishes offered in Vietnam consist of diverse ingredients with lots of fresh foods and aromatic spices in addition to concentrating on sweet, sour, salty and hot tastes. Although this cuisine seems simple, in fact, it is too complicated to neglect. It is natural that every dish bears the country’s history and geography. The distinctiveness of Vietnam’s cuisine is its use of fresh ingredients such as rice, fresh herbs, pickled chili sauce, and fish sauce, regardless of the influence from French colonialism, Chinese food preparation methods, or Indigenous practices. This paper will analyze the most popular and traditional dishes of Vietnam, in the aspect of their beauty, which contributes to making Vietnam a top culinary destination in the world.
You simply cannot miss famous dishes like Phở - which is a rice noodles-based soup with bean sprouts enjoyed worldwide – and Bánh mì, which is a Vietnamese take on the French bread comprising pork, pate and pickles. At the same time, you will be introduced to other’s less appealing to some yet favorites such as Bánh cuốn, a thin rice paper roll filled with spiced ground meat and mushroom – or Gỏi cuốn, expertly wrapped young rice noodles filled with the freshest ingredients possible. It does not matter whether you are experiencing these foods at a street side vendor in Ho Chi Minh City or a fine dining experience abroad, there is mouth watering cuisine in Vietnamese and it is all about the experience.
Top 50 Vietnamese Dishes You Need to Taste
Vietnam’s cuisine is a complex spectrum of flavors, fresh products and unusual cooking styles to each region’s culture. It has elements of northern cuisine’s delicate fragrant herbs as well as the south’s aggressive spice. The beautiful mixture of flavors, that goes beyond the basic, of sweet, sour, salty and savory is perfectly embraced in their cuisine. There are classic fast foods such as ‘bánh mì, ‘phở, and the lighter alternatives like ‘bánh cuốn and ‘gỏi cuốn’ which show that eating in Vietnam is not merely for the sake of hunger but acts as a vessel for its able rich heritage and culture.
We will examine the Top 50 Vietnamese Traditional Dish You Must Try and dig deeper into the most appealing ones that have been enjoyed by the people throughout the world. From the fresh spring rolls full of aromatic herbs and spices to the clay pots simmering caramelized fishes, each of these works speaks volumes of the elaborate flavors and ancient techniques of cooking that are characteristic of Vietnam. Be it your first time tasting Vietnam food or an avid connoisseur, you will be guaranteed a wonderful experience with these dishes as they will tantalize your taste buds with delectable offers from the widely loved cuisine in Southeast Asia.
Here are brief descriptions of popular Vietnamese dishes:
1. Bánh mì
This iconic Vietnamese sandwich created due to French colonization features a flaky crusty baguette along with fillings such as pork belly or grilled pork, fish cake, meatballs, and fried onions with red pepper and pickles. It is characterized by savory, spicy, sweet and sour tastes, which are often made more intense by the addition of chilies.
2. Bánh cuốn
Steamed rice paper z-folds stuffed with minced pork and mushroom filling and crispy fried onions served with a thin shrimp dipping sauce (nước chấm). These rolls make a light and savory flavorful Vietnamese breakfast.
3. Gỏi cuốn (Spring Rolls)
Fresh spring rolls or summer rolls, as they are commonly referred to, are thin rice paper coverings packed with prawns, pork, rice vermicelli, and fresh ingredients. They are usually accompanied by a sauce, which may be either sweet hoisin or nuoc cham (fish sauce), among others.
4. Canh (Vietnamese Soups)
Typically light and appetizing, canh are rarely thick soups, mostly based on pork or seafood stock and stuffed with vegetables. A famous addition is a variant known as canh chua made from tamarind, pineapple, and tomatoes.
5. Phở
May the most representational Vietnamese dish – Phở – is a broth-based rice noodle soup usually served with beef or chicken. This dish is also accompanied with fresh bean sprouts, lime, and chili sauce.
6. Cháo
Cháo is a popular Vietnamese dish as a kind of rice porridge with the addition of meat or fish served. It has warming or filling characteristics that make it perfect for breakfast and sick days.
7. Cha Ca Ha Noi
This dish is a signature dish in Hanoi which includes grilled fish marinated in turmeric and rice vermicelli and peas, fresh greens, and sometimes this is cooked at the table itself.
8. Cá Kho Tộ (Caramelized Fish in Clay Pot)
This is a tropical fish dish slow cooked in a clay pot. Soy sauce, sugar, and black pepper are added to create the sweet and salty taste that rice lovers are invariably fond of.
9. Bánh Cam / Bánh Rán
Sesame seed coated deep fried sticky rice balls filled with sweet mung bean paste forming a crunchy exterior and chewy sweet insides.
10. Bánh xèo
The rice flour, turmeric, and coconut milk blend is spread in a thin crepe form and stuffed with pork, shrimp, and bean sprouts. This dish is mainly served with lettuce and fresh herbs and some dipped in nuoc cham.
11. Hoa qua dam
In desserts composed of various fresh tropical fruits, often accompanied by crushed ice and milk condensed with sugar. This particular delicacy is the ideal range of food for a scorching summer season – it is tasty and quenches thirst as well.
12. Banh khot
They are thin rice flour and coconut milk pancakes, with shrimps being their common topping. They are pan-fried until golden brown and garnished with herbs and a dipping sauce, intensifying the interplay of textures.
13. Bun bo nam bo
This appetizing dish contains dry noodles salad with fried beef, green herbs, vegetables, nuts, and seasonings, finished with mouth-watering fish sauce. It is not only light but full of flavors making it one of the meals for the Vietnamese people.
14. Bun bo Hue
Beef noodle soup, or ‘Bún bò Huế,’ is probably originated from Hue city. The broth is flavorful with lemongrass, chili, with shrimp paste and is usually taken with beef, pork, and thick rice noodles.
15. Bo luc lac
This dish, colloquially referred to as 'shaking beef,' presents bits of beef stir-fried with garlic and green onions. Usually, it is accompanied with rice, salad, and/or dipping sauce.
16. Banh goi
A savory snack and oftentimes an appetizer, this particular pastry is deep-fried and stuffed with minced pork mixed with mushrooms and a vermicelli noodle. It resembles a small cushion in shape.
17. Nom hoa chuoi
This is a tangy and spicy banana flower salad enriched with green papaya, carrots, greens, and either chicken or shrimp in the mixture. Fish sauce is provided for dressing, and peanuts are used for garnish, introducing a fresh, crispy, and salty honesty.
18. Com suon nuong
It is a very basic preparation of pork chops placed over a bed of rice grains that have been broken up into bits. The meat is tenderized through marination and cooked on a grill to create a sumptuous meal common in the southern region of Vietnam.
19. Nem ran/cha gio
These cracked earthy shell spring rolls usually contain shrimps, pho along with mushrooms. Many Vietnamese also use lettuce and herbs to cover these, adding a sour fish sauce to dip into.
20. Pho cuon
This dish is a center cut of spring roll. It is a thinner version of the classic Pho rolled with stir fried beef, bean sprouts, and herbs in fresh rice noodle sheets. It comes along with a mouth watery sauce to dip in.
21. Ga nuong
Barbeque chicken is seasoned with honey and spices and grilled to achieve a crunchy layer on the skin while ensuring that the insides remain soft and juicy. This is an appetizing option to suddenly crave fast food fried chicken.
22. Pho xao
Thin rice noodles wok-fried with veggies and protein of your choice. This dish is less heavy than other noodle bowls offered on the menu and is more of a balance of flavors that is salty and fresh.
23. Ca phe trung
Egg coffee Vietnam is a frothy beverage made of egg yolks that has thick foam on the top of strong brewed coffee. Owing to its flavor and consistency, it is generally regarded as a dessert.
24. Bo la lot
Minced meat is wrapped in betel leaves which are spiced before grilling. These aromatic leaves have a milder peppery scent which makes this dish a delicious delicacy enjoyed with either rice or vermicelli.
25. Xoi
Sweet or savory sticky rice, sometimes topped with mung beans, chicken or pork. It's a popular breakfast or snack food in Vietnam.
26. Ca tim kho to
This is a vegetarian dish whose main ingredient is eggplants, tofu, and it is cooked using a mud pot when most of the ingredients are soy sauce, tomatoes, garlic spices, and almost everything that has a strong flavor. It is quite a heavy meal and is nicely complemented with a bowl of steamed rice.
27. Bot chien
A street food favorite in Southern Vietnam, this dish consists of fried rice flour dough cakes topped with an egg, green onions, and served with pickled papaya and chili sauce.
28. Hat de nong
Roasted chestnuts: an acquired taste which most of the time street vendors serve to the clients to keep them warm in cold during winter months.
29. Banh bao
Steamed buns filled with a savory pork mixture, sometimes including quail eggs or mushrooms. They are a popular snack and often sold by street vendors.
30. Ga tan
A medicinal-style chicken soup made with herbs like ginseng and jujubes. It’s considered a restorative dish, ideal for recovering from illness.
31. Bánh Chưng / Bánh Tét
These sweet rice balls have many different names since they are usually eaten during the celebrations for the Lunar New Year. They are filled with pig meat and moong beans and covered in a banana leaf.
32. Com rang
Vietnamese fried rice is a practical dish that uses broken rice, which is often combined with vegetables, eggs and sometimes meat or seafood. Vietnam fried rice is usually stir fried with soy sauce and often accompanied with pickles to enhance the taste and add some crunch.
33. Banh uot thit nuong
These fresh rice paper rolls are scrumptious and filled with tasty grilled pork chunks that have been marinated in a sweet savory sauce, and some herbs are added before serving with a spicy sauce. The food is resplendent yet simple and is usually described as an appetizer or snack.
34. Bun cha
Another popular Hanoi dish is bun cha which is made of rice vermicelli served with grilled minced meat pork alongside fresh herbs, pickled vegetables and a dipping sauce named nuoc cham. Generally this preparation is also served along with meat filled deep fried spring rolls.
35. Lau
A Vietnamese hot pot is a dish that allows the diners to cook meat, seafood, or vegetables into a hot broth which is placed at the center of the table. It is an interesting way of taking a meal where there are also sometimes sauces for dipping the meat and also noodles for the soup.
36. Bun dau mam tom
This dish shows off marrow tofu, rice, and vegetables and a slimy fermented shrimp paste known as mam tom. It is the type of dish that has mixed opinions from the people because of this dippings sauce, but is enjoyed by the people who like those strong flavors.
37. Com chay
These crispy rice cakes are usually made from leftovers of rice. They are cut into slices and deep-fried, usually accompanied by toppings such as pork floss, sauce of chili, and some herbs. It’s a dry, salty munchie, or an appetizer.
38. Bo bit tet
Vietnam’s version of beefsteak, often served sizzling hot with a fried egg on top, and accompanied by fries, pâté, or bread. The dish is usually flavored with soy sauce and pepper in order to integrate both French and Vietnamese aspect.
39. Che
This dessert is a soupy and sweet pudding made out of all sorts of ingredients; beans, fruits, and coconut milk to mention a few. There are also many different kinds, which are commonly served chilled or with ice.
40. Cao lau
A dish that comes from the central region of Vietnam in the form of thick noodles with pork, garlic, vegetables, and deep-fried rice crepes in the layer, rendering contrast in the texture as well.
41. Rau muong
This stir-fried water spinach recipe may be an uncomplicated dish, but it is a favorite among many. Adding garlic and at times, chili, enhances the flavor as a vegetable accompaniment.
42. Canh bun
A noodle soup similar to bun rieu, featuring crab paste, fried tofu, and water spinach in a flavorful tomato broth. The dish is rich and savory, with a balance of textures from the various ingredients
43. Dau phu sot ca chua
In this meatless curry, tofu is cooked in a spicy tomato gravy and served. It is an easy to prepare dish but offers great satisfaction as a dish based on soft tofu and appetizing sourish tomatoes.
44. Mi xao bo
A blend of stir-fried egg noodles enriched with beef and vegetables and savory sauces that further enhance the taste. The texture of the noodles is almost crispy adding a juxtaposed textural experience to the tender beef and vegetables.
45. Bún Thịt Nướng
Grilled pork, vermicelli noodles, fresh herbs, and fish sauce dressing create a mouth watering street food ensemble. It is refreshing and full of flavors with the distinct taste of smoked meat in the background.
46. Bún Riêu
This is a dish consisting of noodles in a soupy dish prepared with a broth that is made with tomatoes, crabs, and usually served with tofu, pork, and star-shaped vermicelli noodle. This is a dish that is clearly red in color and rather sour and salty in flavor.
47. Mi Quang
A specialty from the Quang Nam region, this dish features wide yellow rice noodles in a flavorful broth with pork, shrimp, and herbs. It’s often garnished with peanuts and sesame crackers for extra crunch
48. Hủ Tiếu
A light and sweet broth, typical of southern Vietnamese noodle soups, usually comes with shrimp, pork, and vegetables. It is an adaptable dish that offers many different regional versions and ingredient variations.
49. Bánh Bột Lọc
These chewy tapioca dumplings are filled with shrimp and pork, and are typically served with a fish sauce dip. The translucent dough gives them a distinctive, delightful texture.
50. Mì Vịt Tiềm
A dish of braised duck with egg noodles in soup, made with a dominant herbal flavor, that is influenced by the Chinese culture. The duck meat is normally seasoned and cooked until soft whereas the soup is infused with various Chinese herbal medicines for flavor.
Saiga Vietnamese Restaurant, a Vietnam themed restaurant located in the city of Irvine, California – especially for those in and out of the state who admire Vietnamese cuisines. Saiga holds a plethora of traditional Vietnamese dishes like fond Banh Mi, egg rolls, and Pho made with the best possible ingredients without taking away from the native taste of Vietnam. Crisp French bread is also the basis of their sandwiches called banh mi filled with meats, vegetables, and spices that complement each other perfectly in taste and texture.
Let’s not forget phở—the warming and fragrant noodle dish soup that Saiga knows how to make the best. Its broth is cooked for hours and seasoned with spices such as star anise, cinnamon, and served with juicy pieces of beef or chicken. If you are coming for the first time and have no idea about Vietnamese food or if you are already a Vietnam food lover, then the food offered in Saiga Eatery is quite extensive, allowing one to experience Vietnamese culture in the middle of Irvine. You may also see how their entire menu looks like and even schedule your visit via their website at saigaeatery.com
Brisket Pho
24-hour bone broth served with sliced braised brisket, rice noodles, white & green onions, and cilantro.
Combination Pho
24-hour bone broth served with sliced filet mignon, braised brisket, rice noodles, white & green onions, and cilantro.
Filet Pho
24-hour bone broth served with sliced filet mignon, rice noodles, white & green onions, and cilantro.
Tofu Pho
24-hour beef bone broth served with breaded tofu, rice noodles, white & green onions, and cilantro.
Plain Pho (No Meat)
24-hour bone broth served with rice noodles, white & green onions, and cilantro.
Pho Broth
24-hour beef bone broth.
Visit Saiga Vietnamese Eatery for the Best Vietnamese Food
Saiga Vietnamese Eatery, based in Irvine, California, offers an authentic taste of Vietnam and brings true Vietnamese cooking to Southern California. Saiga, whose focus is on preserving rich taste and cooking methods, has become popular quite fast and is often frequented by people who have a desire to taste the vast and rich cuisine that Vietnam offers. If you’re fond of the classic pho or wishing to take a plunge into the fresh and daring tastes of, say banh mi, Saiga leaves you with an indelible food experience that takes you straight to the streets of Vietnam.
Valuing the importance of authenticity is very important in Saiga. All dishes in the restaurant are skillfully prepared by trained cooks, who use fresh products, traditional plants, and real spices to bring to life the culture of Vietnamese food cuisine. The menu boasts many different types of food, namely, hot and savory soup filled with flavors, noodles of various types and styles. From the smoky, stewed broth of the pho to the perfectly balanced tangy dipping sauces that come-hot in sweet and sour and spicy combinations - it does not matter, every chord played in Saiga is an ode to the food culture of Vietnam.
Grilled Pork Banh Mi
Thinly sliced pork shoulder in lemongrass marinade and slightly charred on baguette, housemade mayo, pickled carrots, jalapenos, cilantro, soy sauce.
Pork Belly Banh Mi
Slow roasted pork belly with crispy skin in house BBQ spices on baguette, housemade mayo, pickled carrots, jalapenos, cilantro, soy sauce. Pork belly made fresh until sold out!
Pork Belly Banh Mi (LS)
Slow roasted pork belly with crispy skin in house BBQ spices on baguette, housemade mayo, pickled carrots, jalapenos, cilantro, soy sauce. Pork belly made fresh until sold out!
Chicken Banh Mi
Vietnamese BBQ chicken on baguette, housemade mayo, pickled carrots, jalapenos, cilantro, soy sauce.
Tofu Banh Mi
Breaded tofu on baguette, housemade mayo, pickled carrots, jalapenos, cilantro, soy sauce.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Vietnamese cuisine covers an assortment of dishes that have gained popularity over the years. Some of these include, pho (a broth noodle soup from Vietnam with spices with chicken or beef), banh mi (Vietnamese bread which contains fresh vegetables, meat and cream inside a crispy French baguette ), goi cuon (also known as spring rolls, this dish uses shrimp, pork and herbal ingredients wrapped together), bun cha (a plate consisting of vermicelli noodles, stuffed grilled pork, and seasoned mixture), and com tam or broken rice (sliced rice that has been broken into parts served with assorted grilled meats and vegetables).
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Pho is noted for its flavorful and aromatic broth made from beef bones, star anise, cinnamon, and other spices, that has been cooked for many slow hours. It is accompanied with rice noodles or noodle dish, soft strips of beef or chicken, and some fresh herbs, lime, and chili sauce. The intriguing yet soothing taste has made it one of Vietnam’s favorite dishes across countries.
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Indeed, Vietnamese cuisine is widely regarded as healthful owing to its rich use of fresh fruits and vegetables, herbs, lean meat proteins and very little oils. Spring rolls are provided in the board as an example of light, delicious, easy to prepare and healthy meals, together with vermicelli with assorted grilled meats and salads in a dish called bun.
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There’s a twist to the Vietnamese sandwich. This type of sandwich gets a taste of France while still incorporating Vietnamese culture in its ingredients. You will be treated to a nice, crunchy baguette filled with meat, usually pork or chicken, pickled vegetables and herbs, cilantro as well as hot chili. The different levels of textures and tastes, from the crispy and crusty bread to the mouthwatering pork filling with a dash of sourness, makes it a common leisure snack enjoyed by many people.
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Of course! There are a couple of them for vegetarian and vegan food. For instance, vegetarian pho or ‘pho chay’, vegetarian fresh spring rolls or ‘goi cuon chay’, and dishes including tofu can be easily found. However, these dishes are often packed with tofu, fried tofu, mushrooms, and myriad vegetables along with their respective tasteful herbs and edible spices as meat variants do.