Vietnamese street food is always a great option to satisfy your hunger! It’s affordable, delicious, and the best part is that it’s available 24/7. You can get fresh seafood, roasted pork or beef skewers, or hearty rice noodles for breakfast. There are also plenty of great desserts to choose from if you’re looking for something sweet. The Vietnamese culture is known for its love of food and this article will outline the top 10 favorite Vietnamese street foods that are impossible to resist!
1. Cha Gio
The Vietnamese egg roll is crispy on the outside and light on the inside. If you’re looking for some tasty egg rolls, these are the ones you want!
2. Bánh Cuốn
A type of Vietnamese egg roll, this dish consists of steamed rice flour sheets stuffed with ground pork, shredded carrots, mushrooms, and diced onions. The dish is served with a side of dipping sauce made with fish sauce or soy sauce.
3. Chả Cá Lóc
Chả cá lóc is a popular Vietnamese dish consisting of fried catfish cakes that are seasoned with salt and pepper; you can get it prepared in either soup or dry form.
4. Trứng Kho Thịt
Eggs with stir-fried pork is one of the most popular dishes in Vietnam; this savory dish is usually eaten during breakfast time. There are many different variations of this dish; some include adding fried eggs, pickled vegetables, coriander leaves, peanuts, chili pepper flakes, black pepper corn, anchovy sauce or even fresh shrimp when preparing it!
5. Banh Mi
Banh Mi is a Vietnamese sandwich made with bread, meat and fresh vegetables. The bread is usually baked in-house and then filled with a variety of toppings. There are many variations of this popular sandwich, but it always includes a type of pork or chicken that has been cooked in a Vietnamese style.
The most common fillings for Banh Mi include grilled pork, pickled carrots and daikon, jalapeños, cilantro, cucumber and mayonnaise. Other popular toppings include pate, ham and eggs to make the dish even more filling.
6. Pho
Pho is a traditional Vietnamese soup with rice noodles and either beef or chicken broth. It’s usually served with herbs like cilantro and onions. The dish was originally created to help people who were poor and couldn’t afford protein at their dinner table.
7. Bun Cha
Bun Cha is a popular Vietnamese dish that consists of grilled pork, vermicelli noodles, and fresh herbs. It’s traditionally served with cold cuts or other types of meat on the side.
This dish has a very simple preparation but it can be quite spicy depending on what type of sauce you use. Bun Cha is also the perfect meal to share with friends over a beer!
8. Nem Nướng Món Đồng Xuân
Nem nướng món đồng xuân is a dish that uses a grilled meat, usually pork belly. The dish is quite popular in Vietnamese culture.
The name of this dish translates to “Grilled Pork Spring Rolls” which is what the dish looks like. It’s made from thinly cut strips of pork wrapped around pieces of rice paper and then grilled until the outside turns golden brown and crispy.
This dish contains a lot of sauce so it’s important to eat it with a bowl of rice to help soak up all the excess sauce. The crispy texture contrasts nicely with the soft rice paper so you will be able to enjoy both textures in one bite!
Nem nướng món đồng xuân can be found for as little as $1USD at street vendors or markets, making it one of the more affordable dishes on this list.
9. Chả Cá Lóc
The first Vietnamese street food is grilled fish with noodles, which is made by mixing rice noodles with grated coconut and lemon juice. The fish can be either grilled or fried and it’s often served with fresh vegetables like lettuce, cucumber, tomato, and onion.
How to Visit Vietnam and Eat Like a Local
It’s hard to believe that Vietnam has a population of nearly 1.8 million people and yet, you can eat like a king for less than $5 USD.
The first thing you’ll notice about Vietnamese street food is that it’s typically served as small plates, so you’ll be tempted to try many different dishes. The next thing you’ll notice is that it’s not as spicy as other Asian cuisines such as Thai or Indian. The Vietnamese cuisine is extremely diverse and there are few restrictions on what types of meats and vegetables can be eaten.
Although the country suffered from two major wars in the 20th century, one with America and one with France, the Vietnamese people managed to maintain their cultural identity and continue to cook their traditional foods like pho (soup noodles), bún (rice noodles), and nem (grilled pork) sandwiches!
