The culinary experts at Taste Atlas have recently updated their list of the top 100 Vietnamese dishes, offering valuable insights for travelers eager to explore the unique flavors of Southeast Asia.
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| Taste Atlas showcases the iconic Vietnamese beef noodle soup. |
Taste Atlas, known as “a world atlas of traditional dishes, local ingredients, and authentic restaurants,” has earned a reputation for providing reliable reviews that travelers can trust.
The newly curated list of the best traditional Vietnamese dishes by Taste Atlas showcases a diverse range of cuisine from all three regions of Vietnam: the North, South, and Central regions.
Among the notable mentions is Hanoi’s beloved beef noodle soup, securing a respectable sixth position with a rating of 4.4 out of 5.
According to Taste Atlas, the pho bo is a heartwarming dish made with various cuts and parts of beef. The broth, a labor of love, is crafted from beef bones, shank, ox tail, and neck. The toppings are where the magic happens: thinly sliced fatty brisket (gau), flank, eyeball steak, tripe, and a choice of cooked or raw beef (tai nam), tendon (gan), or beef balls (bo vien). However, it’s worth noting that the beef ball variation is not as prevalent in Vietnam’s capital city.
“Pho bo is typically infused with an aromatic blend of dried spices, including cinnamon, star anise, cloves, cardamom, and coriander,” the website elaborates.
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| The iconic Pho Bat Dan, a beef noodle soup sensation. |
This comforting dish is served in a bowl, with steaming hot rice noodles and a generous topping of cilantro, sliced onions, and chopped green onions, creating a burst of flavors and textures.
Taste Atlas highlights two notable establishments for their exceptional pho bo: Pho Bo Gia Truyen Bat Dan (also known as Pho Bat Dan), and Pho Thin, each with its unique take on this classic dish.
Marybeth Bond, a Taste Atlas food expert and traveler, raves about Pho Bat Dan, stating that it’s “the best beef pho” she’s had in Hanoi. She describes the experience of customers lining up for their hot bowls of soup, enjoyed while perched on small plastic stools right on the bustling street. “It’s a dish that embodies the time and dedication of a Vietnamese grandmother’s cooking,” she adds.
Joe Ray, another culinary expert, encourages travelers to wake up early to indulge in the Pho Bat Dan experience, as their delicious broth tends to sell out by 10 a.m. He attributes the establishment’s success to their unique broth, cooked in a fire pit adjacent to the kitchen. The absence of sprouts and leaves is made up for by a tiny bucket of hot sauce and garlic-infused vinegar, enhancing the soup’s clean and delicate flavors.
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| A mouthwatering bowl of Pho Thin, a beloved Hanoi delicacy. |
CNN Travel has also featured Pho Thin, located on Lo Duc Street in Hai Ba Trung District. They describe it as “cheap, tasty, and available at all hours.” The article suggests keeping an eye out for crowds gathered on plastic stools, a telltale sign of a popular pho spot.
Pho Thin, established in 1979 by Nguyen Trong Thin, introduced a unique signature style called “pho tai lan.” This technique involves stir-frying the beef with ginger, garlic, and green onions before adding it to the broth, creating a distinct flavor profile. Over the years, Pho Thin has become a staple for pho enthusiasts, attracting diners throughout the day.
Another beloved dish that Taste Atlas showcases is the iconic Banh Mi Thit, or Vietnamese meat and cold cuts sandwich. With a rating of 4.5/5, it secured the second position on their list.
As Taste Atlas describes, Banh Mi Thit is a delightful variation of the traditional Vietnamese banh mi sandwich, where thit refers to meat. This sandwich is a delightful fusion of flavors and textures, featuring sliced roasted pork, pork belly, cha (ham), and cha lua (pork sausage). The addition of cucumber, mayonnaise, pickled carrots and daikon, and liver pâté stuffed into a crispy banh mi roll makes for a satisfying bite.
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| The irresistible Banh Mi Thit, a cheap-eat specialty in Hanoi. |
Often garnished with coriander, black pepper, and sliced chili peppers, this sandwich is a staple for many in Hanoi and other large Vietnamese cities. It’s commonly enjoyed for breakfast or lunch, but street vendors also cater to those craving a savory bite at any time of day.
Like pho, the banh mi has evolved to include various fillings. From roast pork and grilled chicken to beef meatballs, homemade pâté, cured ham, and shredded pork, each bite is an adventure. The addition of thin radish and carrot layers, cucumber, cilantro, and a spicy-sweet sauce creates a flavor explosion.
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| A mouthwatering variation of Banh Mi with roast beef, omelet, and pate. |
Vivian Bancroft, an Australian expat living in Hanoi, shares her love for banh mi. “One bite into a well-stacked banh mi, and you’re transported to food heaven,” she says. “It’s the perfect combination of crunchy, soft, aromatic, spicy, salty, sour, sweet, and savory—all in one bite.”
Luong Thanh Nghi, Vietnamese Ambassador to Denmark, reinforces the global appeal of banh mi. He highlights how this street food has gained popularity abroad and is now considered an ‘ambassador of Vietnamese cuisine and culture.’ When people think of banh mi, they think of Vietnam.”
The Taste Atlas list continues to impress with other Vietnamese culinary delights, including Mi Quang (Quang-style noodles), Bun Bo Nam Bo (South Vietnamese beef noodle salad), Bo Luc Lac (Vietnamese shaking beef), Chao Tom (sugarcane shrimp), and more. Each dish is a testament to the rich and diverse culinary heritage of Vietnam, enticing travelers to embark on a flavorful journey through the country’s vibrant food landscape.
Xoi Xeo – a popular sticky rice in Hanoi
There is nowhere in Vietnam that so many types of sticky rice- or “xoi” present like they do in Hanoi. But standing out among the various kinds, “xoi xeo” is not only creative art with a sophisticated combination of ingredients and color but the sophistication even leaks out to its odd name.
Vietnamese Chicken with Noodles
Summer is coming, and the heat usually makes people lose their appetite, especially for hot or spicy food. VNP introduces a light and fresh dish which is really suitable for the hot weather – Pho ga tron, or the Vietnamese chicken with noodles. The light and fresh dish is prepared based on the traditional dish of Pho ga (Noodles and chicken soup).
10 Best Vietnamese Food
Vietnamese food is known to be both healthy and robust in flavour, thanks its generous combination of fresh herbs and greens, paired with rice, noodles, seafood, pork and beef. While many cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City offer plenty of fine-dining venues and five-star hotel restaurants decked out in extravagant settings, some of the best (and most authentic) Vietnamese delicacies are actually found at roadside eateries, vibrant street markets, and humble-looking restaurants. A typical meal includes rice or noodles, a meat or seafood dish, a vegetable dish, soup and nuoc cham (fermented fish sauce) for dipping, each of which can easily customised according to your preference. Here’s a helpful guide on what to eat in Vietnam, most of which can be enjoyed just about any time of the day. While most are familiar with pho or spring rolls, there’s a wide range of Vietnamese dishes only available in certain regions so be sure to try them out during your visit.
‘Banh mi chao’: A Vietnamese dish that sizzles in a pan
Banh mi chao (Bread with combo pan) is a Vietnamese-styled hot alternative to stuffed baguettes.
Saigon’s banh mi hailed among the kings and queens of street foods
The best place to eat one is on the streets of Ho Chi Minh City, Fodor’s Travel recommends.
