Vietnamese food is delicious and healthy, and this kind of cuisine is known to be some of the tastiest in all of Southeast Asia. Salty, sweet, sour and hot are all flavours you will get to enjoy, and the following are 9 Vietnamese foods you need to try:
1 Gỏi Cuốn (Salad Rolls)
These translucent salad rolls are packed with greens, minced pork, shrimp and coriander and are extremely tasty. They are served cold as a starter before the main course at many Vietnamese restaurants.
2. Bánh mì (Saigon Sandwich)
This is a popular street food which consists of a French baguette filled with a delicious selection of ingredients, including greens and your choice of pâté and pork. Fillings can also include beef, chicken, liver and tofu.
3. Bánh Xèo (Sizzling Pancakes)
These pancakes are enormous and contain shrimp, pork, bean sprouts and egg. They are fried, wrapped in rice paper with greens and dunked in a fish sauce.
4. Bun Cha (Grilled Meatballs)
This is a Hanoi (the capital of Vietnam) specialty and can be found at food stalls and street kitchens across the city. The pork is barbecued on an open charcoal brazier and served on a bed of cold rice noodles with assorted foliage and broth.
5. Phố (Noodle Soup)
This is the staple dish of Vietnam. This noodle soup can be eaten at any time of day, although it is primarily eaten at breakfast. A bowl of Phố consists of a light beef or chicken broth that is flavoured with ginger and coriander, to which broad, flat rice noodles and spring onions are added. Slivers of chicken, pork or beef are then added. Tofu is the main vegetarian option.
6. Cao lầu (Noodle Bowl)
This dish consists of a bowlful of thick, rice-flour noodles, bean sprouts and pork-rind croutons in a light soup. It is then flavoured with mint and star anise, topped with thin slices of pork, and served with grilled rice flour crackers (or sprinkled with crispy rice paper).
7. Cha Ca (Turmeric Fish)
This is the best-known seafood dish, which consists of white fish sautéed in butter with dill and spring onions. It is then served with rice noodles and a scattering of peanuts.
8. Mì Quảng (Noodle Soup)
This noodle dish is a Hanoi specialty, and while ingredients vary depending on the establishment, you can expect to see a simple bowl of meat noodles with additions like flavoursome oils, fresh sprigs of leaves, shrimp, peanuts, mint and quail eggs. The turmeric-infused bone broth, yellow noodles, and fragrant herbs will have you asking for seconds!
9.Cơm tấm (Broken Rice)
Made up of smaller pieces of rice, this has become a street-stand favourite and is a popular street food snack. It can be served with either grilled, steamed or shredded pork, fish or just a fried egg.
Vietnamese Food in Parksville & Nanaimo, B.C.
Here at Lan Vietnamese, we understand Vietnamese food, made from traditional recipes and spices handed down over generations.
If you are looking for a quality Asian restaurant near you or Vietnamese food near you in the Nanaimo or Parksville areas, contact us today at 250-756-7943 (Nanaimo, B.C.) or 250-586-6979 (Parksville, B.C.).
