Ho Chi Minh is best cities for foodies, according to Time Out

British magazine TimeOut has placed Ho Chi Minh City in fourth position among its list of the world’s leading 20 cities for food.

Boasting a range of tastes such as sweet, spicy, fragrant, and fishy, Vietnamese cuisine never compromises on flavour, meaning that food lovers all over the world can sample the very best of it when visiting Ho Chi Minh, the article wrote.

According to the British media outlet, beyond the streetside food stalls and bustling markets hawking banh mi, snails, broken rice, and offal stew are a clutch of Bib Gourmand and Michelin-starred restaurants serving up creative versions of classic dishes. However, by far the most mentioned dish in TimeOut’s survey was Phở, a type of local noodle soup.

10 Best Local Dishes from Ho Chi Minh City

Banh mi (Saigon sandwich)

Available almost everywhere in Ho Chi Minh City, banh mi is a quintessential Vietnamese dish that you should never miss out on. This baguette sandwich contains pickled vegetables, pate, butter, soy sauce, cilantro, chillies, and hot peppers. Quick and tasty, you can also choose from a variety of meat fillings for your banh mi, including heo quay (roasted pork belly), cha ca (fried fish with turmeric and dill), cha lua (boiled sausages), xiu mai (meatballs), thit ga (boiled chicken), trung op la (fried egg), thit nuong (grilled pork loin), and xa xiu (Chinese barbecued pork).

Pho

Pho is a rice noodle that’s served in a flavourful soup with beef, bean sprouts, lime wedges, and greens such as basil, mint, cilantro, and onions. It’s generally served with a side of chilli sauce for added spice. A basic bowl contains tai (beef slices), bo vien (beef meatballs) or nam (beef flank), but diners can also opt for more exotic ingredients such as gan (beef tendon), sach (thinly-sliced pig stomach), and ve don (flank with cartilage). This popular breakfast option is widely available at any local restaurant or street market in Ho Chi Minh City.

Com tam (Broken rice)

Com tam is actually ‘broken rice’ in Vietnamese and is usually served with fried egg, diced green onions, and a variety of meats such as suon nuong (barbecued pork chop), bi (shredded pork skin), and cha trung (steamed pork and egg patty). Diners can also enjoy this dish with a side of pickled vegetables, cucumber slices, and nuoc cham Vietnamese dipping sauce. Com tam can be enjoyed any time of the day as it is relatively inexpensive, with street markets and roadside food stalls selling for about VND 20,000 per bowl.

Goi cuon (Fresh spring rolls)

Goi cuon or Vietnamese spring rolls consist of vermicelli noodles, pork slices, shrimp, basil, and lettuce tightly wrapped in translucent banh trang (rice papers). Due to its very subtle flavour, you can dip it in a mix of freshly ground chilli and hoisin-based dipping sauce topped with crushed peanuts. This traditional appetiser is a healthier alternative to cha gio, which is a deep-fried egg roll made with a combination of mung bean noodles, minced pork, and various spices.

Banh xeo (Vietnamese crepe)

Ban xeo is a savoury pancake that’s made of rice flour, coconut milk, and turmeric, stuffed with ingredients such as pork slices, shrimps, sliced onions, bean sprouts, and button mushrooms. Unlike the ones you find in Nha Trang and Hanoi, ban xeo in Ho Chi Minh City is much smaller in portion as it is usually eaten as a snack or appetiser. The best way to enjoy ban xeo is by wrapping it in mustard leaf, lettuce leaves or rice wrappers, together with mint leaves, basil, herbs, and sweet fermented peanut butter sauce. Lastly, dip it in a sweet and sour fish sauce.

Hu tieu (Clear rice noodle soup)

Hu tieu is a subtler version of pho noodles, featuring a clear pork-based broth, flat rice noodles, and an assortment of pork toppings. There are also countless variations available in Ho Chi Minh City, though the most popular one is hu tieu xuong, which is topped with pork ribs. Alternatively, you can enjoy hu tieu with shrimp, squid, or fish if you’re not a fan of pork. A bowl of hu tieu is usually pretty reasonably priced at street stalls but can be a bit more expensive if you’re dining at more established restaurants.

Bun thit nuong (Grilled pork and rice vermicelli)

A hearty dish in Ho Chi Minh City, bun thit nuong features vermicelli rice noodles with freshly chopped lettuce, sliced cucumber, beansprouts, pickled daikon and carrot, basil, chopped peanuts, and mint, topped with grilled yet tender pork shoulder. Diners can also opt for bun thit nuong cha gio, which comes with crunchy slices of cha gio (deep-fried eggrolls). As with most Vietnamese dishes, you also get a side of nuoc cham sauce to mix into the bun thit nuong for a flavourful ensemble.

Bun bo (Beef noodle soup)

Bun bo is made with thin rice noodles, beef, herbs, and a variety of spices. Its broth is usually made with beef stock and fish sauce, giving it an umami flavor and aroma typical of Vietnamese cuisine. The texture of the noodles varies depending on how they are cooked; some may be soft while others may be more al dente. Aromatic herbs, such as sawtooth coriander, lemongrass, and perilla leaf, add even more depth of flavor to this classic dish.

No matter what cooking style you prefer, bun bo remains an all-time favorite food in Ho Chi Minh City. A typical bowl of bun bo is often topped with bean sprouts, cilantro, scallions, and thinly sliced onions for extra crunch and freshness. It is usually served with lettuce leaves so you can wrap them around the noodles for easy eating.

Pha lau (Beef offal stew)

Beef offal stew, or pha lau, is a local specialty in Ho Chi Minh City that has been popular for centuries. Pha lau is a hearty stew made with beef offal and other ingredients like pork belly and vegetables. The dish is cooked slowly on low heat until all the flavors blend to create an incredibly flavorful and unique taste. The result is a rich and creamy soup-like dish that is often served with Vietnamese rice paper rolls and fresh herbs as toppings. It is also one of the most popular dishes at street markets, where it can be enjoyed along with banh mi or noodle soups.

Banh cuon (Steamed rice rolls)

Banh cuon is a specialty consisting of steamed rice rolls typically filled with pork, mushrooms, and spices. The rice rolls are topped with fried shallots, scallions, and herbs. This is a great option for those looking for something light yet flavorful. The combination of local herbs and spices gives this dish a unique flavor. Additionally, it is made of lean proteins like pork and mushrooms, which is perfect for those looking for a healthier meal.

The food in Ho Chi Minh city is an absolute delight for foodies. The 10 most delectable dishes rounded up above should be on the top of your list! Whether you are looking for traditional Vietnamese cuisine or something more modern, the food in Ho Chi Minh has something for everyone. So, get ready to embark on a culinary journey as you explore all of these amazing food delights in this vibrant city!

Cre: Vinpearl, CNN Travel, Hotels.com

Images: Internet