Sick of Pho? What About These Alternatives!

Sick of Pho? Try These Top 10 Vietnamese Dishes

It’s not all about Pho you know. Today we delve into the wonderful world of cuisine as we present to you the top 10 Vietnamese dishes.

This blog is brought to you by the wonderful folk at Urban Sesame.

They know Vietnam better than most so when they speak, we most certainly listen.

Let’s see what they have to say about some of Vietnam’s finest foods

If you’ve been living in Vietnam for a while, you’ve probably had your fill of pho. It’s everywhere, it’s cheap, and on very specific days, it just hits the spot.

While it’s undeniably delicious, there are plenty of other Vietnamese dishes that are just as tasty – and sometimes even better.

For one reason or another, they just haven’t enjoyed the same marketing push as noodles and boiled beef.

Maybe it’s because their names are not monosyllabic? But hey, don’t let that stop you!

Check out these dishes that you should definitely try if you’re sick of Pho, or just want to expand your Vietnamese cuisine repertoire.

Vietnamese Food | Bún Chả

Vietnamese Food | Bánh Mì

Vietnamese Food | Bún Riêu Cua

Vietnamese Food | Bún Bò Huế

Vietnamese Food | Bánh Xèo

Vietnamese Food | Chả Cá

Vietnamese Food | Gỏi Cuốn

Vietnamese Food | Cao Lầu

Vietnamese Food | Canh Chua

Vietnamese Food | Bún Thịt Nướng

Vietnamese Food | FAQs

Top 10 Vietnamese Dishes // Bún Chả

This is a dish of grilled pork served with rice noodles, vegetables, and dipping sauce.

The fact that the name almost always has Hanoi tagged at the end makes me think that it originates from Hanoi.

I’d look into this more, but it’s so delicious I don’t really care where it’s from as long as it gets in my belly.

The pork is marinated in a special sauce made with fish sauce, garlic, sugar, and a bunch of other spices.

It’s grilled over charcoal until it’s nice and crispy on the outside but still juicy on the inside.

The dipping sauce is a sweet and sour mixture that goes perfectly with the rice noodles and fresh herbs. Try it with a nem ran (a type of spring roll). 

Top 10 Vietnamese Dishes // Bánh Mì

This is Vietnam’s answer to the sandwich, and it’s a damn good one.

A bánh mì is basically a baguette (usually containing some pork) with pickled vegetables, fresh herbs, chilli sauce, and mayo.

It’s cheap, delicious, and portable – perfect for a quick snack or meal on the go.

A bunch of different varieties exist as well, so you won’t be out of options.

• Breakfast? Egg banh mi
• Pescatarian? Fish banh mi
• Hate your arteries? Pate banh mi

You can find them all over Vietnam, and it’s the perfect street food for people on the go.

Top 10 Vietnamese Dishes // Bún Riêu Cua

The first on this list that is combination of noodle and soup, this dish is made with crab, tomatoes, and rice noodles.

It’s usually served with a side of fresh herbs and chilli peppers, and it packs a serious flavour punch.

The soup is a little sweet, a little sour, and a little salty – and the crab meat just takes it to another level.

It’s definitely worth trying if you’re ever in the mood for something light but flavourful.

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Top 10 Vietnamese Dishes // Bún Bò Huế

This dish is named after the city of Hue, and I would like to think that it’s the noodle dish that Pho would like to become after puberty.

It’s also a beef noodle soup, but is heavier and more complex than regular Pho, with a deeper flavour and a richer broth.

The dish is usually garnished with fresh herbs, lemon wedges, and chilli peppers.

It’s definitely worth trying if you find yourself in Hue – or anywhere else in Vietnam for that matter.

BONUS | Love Noodles? Course you do. Here’s some more noodle based dishes that specialise from Vietnam.

Top 10 Vietnamese Dishes // Bánh Xèo

This is a dish of rice flour pancakes filled with pork, shrimp, and bean sprouts.

It’s usually served with a side of fresh herbs and dipping sauce.

The pancakes are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, and the filling is flavourful but not overpowering.

The dish is perfect for sharing, and makes for a great starter or main course.

Careful though, depending on where you buy it, it can be on the greasy side. Might as well get a few hours to learn how to say “less oil please”.

BONUS | Want to try and make your own? Check out this recipe.

Top 10 Vietnamese Dishes // Chả Cá

This is a dish of grilled fish served with rice noodles, vegetables, and dipping sauce.

The fish is marinated in a special sauce made with turmeric, galangal, lemongrass, chilli peppers, and fish sauce.

The fish usually used is a snakehead. But don’t worry, it’s neither a snake, nor is it just the head. Grilled over charcoal until it’s nice and flaky, it’s an excellent fish but can be quite boney.

The dipping sauce is a sweet and sour mixture that goes perfectly with the rice noodles and fresh herbs. 

Top 10 Vietnamese Dishes // Gỏi Cuốn

These are spring rolls filled with pork, shrimp, and vegetables, and served with a side of dipping sauce.

The spring rolls are made with rice paper wrappers, and are usually served fresh (not fried). They’re light, healthy, and incredibly delicious.

The dipping sauce is a sweet and sour mixture that goes perfectly with the rice noodles and fresh herbs.

But I’ve also seen places where they serve it with a peanut dressing of some sort.

These are one of the best snacks available if you’re just looking for a small nibble.

Try and resist the urge to want these after watching this video below

Top 10 Vietnamese Dishes // Cao Lầu

This dish is made with rice noodles, pork, and greens.

The noodles are slightly thicker than your average rice noodle, and are served in a broth that’s been simmered for hours with pork bones.

The broth is rich and flavourful, and the noodles are chewy and satisfying.

The dish is usually garnished with fresh herbs, chilli peppers, and bean sprouts.

It’s perfect for a rainy day, especially when shared with a bunch of friends sitting on those small plastic chairs while drinking a few bottles of Saigon Special.

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Top 10 Vietnamese Dishes // Canh Chua

This is a soup made with fish, tamarind, pineapple, vegetables, and rice.

It’s sour, sweet, and slightly spicy – and it’s an excellent way to get your daily dose of vitamins and minerals.

The soup is usually served with a side of fresh herbs, chilli peppers, and bean sprouts.

Canh chua is quite reminiscent of Filipino sinigang, but without having to depend just a sour punch to the face.

It’s herby, well balanced and perfect for a hot day, when you’re looking for something light but filling.

Top 10 Vietnamese Dishes // Bún Thịt Nướng

This dish is made with vermicelli noodles, grilled pork, and greens.

The pork is marinated in a special sauce made with lemongrass, chilli peppers, and fish sauce.

The dish is usually garnished with fresh herbs, peanuts, and pickled vegetables.

I used to have this for breakfast everyday. Literally every day, for like 6 months. It’s that good.

And for the variety of flavours in one dish, it’s possibly one of the best options for a filling meal. 

There concludes our list of the top 10 Vietnamese dishes (aside from our friend Pho).

There are plenty of other great Vietnamese dishes out there, but these are just a few of my favourites.

Thanks for reading!

BONUS | Want to know what Vietnamese eat during the holidays? Check out our guide to food eaten during the Vietnamese holidays.

Feel free to check out Urban Sesame for more articles on life in Vietnam.

We cover everything from travel and food, to culture and current affairs.

If you have any specific questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch or drop a comment below!

Thanks once again to Ian from Urban Sesame for this fascinating look at China vs Vietnam.

Vietnamese Dishes // FAQs

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