8 street foods to try in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Vietnam may just be our favourite foodie destination in Asia so far. The variety of dishes, the amazing street food and the very low prices make for a food lovers dream. During our month in Vietnam we tried as many of the local foods as we possibly could, from the famous Pho to regional specialities such as Banh Uot Thit Nuong and were very rarely disappointed. The Southern City of Saigon is a fantastic place to visit if you want to get a real taste of Vietnam, with street food vendors all over the city and amazing restaurants around every corner. These are the 8 street foods you have to try in Ho Chi Minh City.

These little grilled beef parcels are a strong contender for our favourite dish in the whole of Vietnam. They’re simply beef with garlic and shallots wrapped in betel leaf and grilled on a stick over charcoal. They may not look like much but they are so delicious it’s difficult to put into words. Typically they are served with Vietnamese rice paper, vermicelli noodles and greens and are to be dipped in fish sauce. You can find them in many ‘hole-in-the-wall’ places across the city but if you’re near Bui Vien, then head to Bun Cha 145 for some incredible Bun Cha (also an incredible Northern Vietnamese dish) alongside your bo lat lot.

Bánh xèo quite literally means ‘sizzling pancake’ and is made from rice flour, water and turmeric. They come filled with a variety of different meats and even shrimp in addition to mung beans and beansprouts. Once again it is eaten with mixed green leaves and herbs, wrapped in rice paper and dipped in fish sauce usually served with little chunks of chilli and garlic. It is really quite delicious and can be found for incredibly cheap across the city.

Sometimes found in the same restaurants (and stalls) as Bánh xèo, Bánh Khot are very small pancakes made from the same ingredients as Bánh xèo – rice flour, water and turmeric with the addition of coconut milk. Topped with shrimp, onions and more coconut milk, they are bitesize, delicious and once again, served with greens and a spicy fish sauce. We actually preferred these to the larger crepe style pancake, Bánh xèo (above).

An absolute classic known around the world, Pho Bo is essentially beef noodle soup. Served in a light broth with tender slices of beef, Pho Bo is a dish that you simply cannot leave Vietnam without trying. Served in hundreds of locations around the city, you can get a bowl of noodle soup pretty much anywhere, at any time. Try out Pho Phuong 25 in District 1 for an authentic experience on a bustling street corner. Served with a side of bean sprouts, mixed greens, chillis and garlic you can tailor it just how you like it. Make sure to get the Vietnamese iced tea to have alongside this sometimes spicy dish – you’d be amazed at how well it calms the heat!

While this is not really a ‘dish’, it is still absolutely worth a mention here. Sugar cane juice is found all over South East Asia, but we have come across it the most frequently in Vietnam. Often created right in front of your eyes, the juice is created by crushing sugar cane stalks either by hand or mechanically. The delicious drink is served cold, fresh and with added Kumquat juice for a flash of citrus that makes the perfect drink for a hot day.

Another favourite of ours is this cold noodle based dish served with grilled pork, greens and Vietnamese spring rolls with fish sauce and chopped peanuts. We happened to find it in a little restaurant called The Old Compass Cafe which was truly delicious but it can be found all over the city in every type of restaurant.

Traditionally eaten for breakfast or as a snack by the locals, Bánh mì is a Vietnamese style baguette filled with a variety of fillings such as pork sausage, pate, coriander and pickled vegetables. Fillings can vary from place to place and a variety of meats are usually on offer. Some of the best Bánh mìs are found in the most unlikely of places (as with most of the dishes on this list!) and can cost under £1 so it makes for the perfect light lunch or snack on the go.

Originally from the beautiful countryside city of Dalat (one of our favourite places in the country), banh trang nuong, or ‘Vietnamese pizza’ is essentially thick rice paper grilled with varied toppings often including eggs, dried shrimp, pork, herbs and spices. Found all over the city, this cheap and tasty snack is a perfect light snack or as part of a food tour.