Aug. 24, 2019
Pho and bun bo are probably the most famous noodle dishes in Vietnam, but I’d rather have cao lau. The noodles are soft and chewy at the same time and there is just a little bit of broth, so it’s not dry but not a soup either.
People always ask me why I moved to Vietnam. One of the biggest reasons? The food! I love to eat Vietnamese food.
In my hometown there is a great restaurant called New Saigon, owned by Vietnamese immigrants, but their menu focuses mainly on mainstream dishes such as pho. By moving to Vietnam, I have been able to try so much more. There are things I won’t eat (dog) or would rather not (duck fetus), but the rest is amazing. You won’t find pho on my short list. There are so many dishes better than that. Enjoy!
Banh cuon are dumplings stuffed with tender pork and topped with a dollop of chili sauce. It’s not as good as dim sum, but it’s still pretty tasty. Not surprisingly, they are from northern Vietnam, perhaps an influence from their Chinese neighbors.
Com ga xe is my favorite rice dish in Vietnam. I also think it’s one of the best meals ever made that uses rice as its carbohydrate. The mix of flavors, including onions, mint, fish sauce, chili sauce and the chicken broth used to cook the rice, definitely makes mouths happy. I go to the source (Hoi An) once a month to eat this.
I saved the best for last. My favorite food, of all the various Vietnamese dishes, is banh khot. These mini pancakes, originally from Vung Tau and often topped with shrimp, are absolutely heavenly. You can wrap them in lettuce or just eat them as they are. Either way, make sure you dip them in fish sauce spiced with slices of chili pepper.