Vietnamese Street Food: A Hidden Gem

Asian street food has become a staple in today’s world. In America particularly, Asian street food can now be found in any state, from east coast to west. However, the street food that we often find in America primarily comes from just a few select Asian cultures. For other countries, their street food is severely underrepresented. Everyone knows Phở or Banh Mì, but many Vietnamese dishes are unknown outside of native or Asian level. Truth is, Vietnam has an incredible street food culture. Street food can be found in many areas, especially in outdoor markets. Here are a few Vietnamese street foods that you can find in this country full of culture.

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1. Khoai lắc

   
   

   

   (Photo from HƯỚNG NGHIỆP Á ÂU)

   Khoai lắc are either potatoes or sweet potatoes that are shaken up with cheese powder. They can be found in street stalls in Vietnam, a quick but messy treat. Some places will fry them in a batter before shaking them in cheese, but other places just fry them without any batter. Cheese powder in Vietnam, and in some East Asian countries, tends to be sweet, making this dish more sweet than savory. For those of whom who don’t like cheese, I recommend using a blend of sugar, black pepper, and salt. It’s a tasty and unique alternative!

   Link to recipe (use translate option at the top of search bar to read recipe in English) : Khoai lắc recipe

   
   

2. Cút Chiên Bơ

   
   

   

   (Photo from VN Express)

   “Cút” is Vietnamese for quail. Quail are tiny little birds that are roughly the size of a fist. Cút are often marinated in a barbecue-like sticky sauce and fried till crispy. They are a great snack, though worth quite a bit of effort for the small amount of meat. They have the texture of chicken, but a distinctly different taste. They have a great smoky and savory flavor with a hint of sweetness to balance it all out.

   Link to recipe: Cút Chiên Bơ recipe

   
   

3. Cháo

   
   

   

   (Photo from KhanhVY Home)

   Cháo is like porridge, but with a much softer texture. It is made of rice cooked with a lot of broth so that the grains are very, very soft. Often, people eat it with meat like chicken or pig offal. It has a mild broth that can be complimented by a dash of fish sauce. Some people may eat cháo with a side of “gỏi”, a blend of vegetables mixed with fish sauce and sometimes meat. It is great for sick days or when the weather is cold. Fun fact: many smaller cháo businesses in Vietnam will package their cháo in a bag (as opposed to a takeout bowl) if it is for to-go. 

   Link to recipe: Cháo recipe

   
   

4. Bánh Tráng Nướng 

   
   

   

   (Photo from Full of Plants)

   With rice paper, eggs, and sauces, bánh tráng nướng is the perfect snack. While toppings vary, the very basic ingredients of it are eggs, rice paper, green onions, mayonnaise, and sriracha. Other than that, it's usually some sort of meat, seafood, shallots, or more. Bánh Tráng Nướng is crispy and yet soft where the eggs have melted the rice paper. It’s very common in places like Đà Lạt. 

   Link to recipe: Bánh Tráng Nướng recipe 

   
   

5. Nước Mía

   
   

   

   (VN express)

   Nước Mía in English is sugarcane juice. A special contraption where a sugarcane will be put between two rotating cylinders which will grind the sugarcane til it squeezes out juice. It tastes sweet, but not overpoweringly so. It is refreshing and a delicious drink for a hot day. In Vietnam, sugarcane juice is usually sold out of small cart businesses, as common with Vietnamese street food.

   Link to recipe:  Nước Mía recipe