Thi Nguyễn in Food Culture
Chè, Bánh, Chả, Nem: The Curious Lives of Vietnam’s Regional Food Names
Realizing the word that one is using refers to an entirely different object in another region is a situation many can relate to. The last time this happened to me, it almost cost me a bowl of Hanoi’s bánh đa trộn.
Khôi Phạm in Food Culture
From Kuy Teav to Hủ Tiếu: How a Phnom Penh Classic Became Hủ Tiếu Nam Vang
Originally from Cambodia, made popular by Chinese vendors and enjoyed by local diners, hủ tiếu Nam Vang captures the essence of Vietnamese history in one hearty bowl of noodles.
Khôi Phạm in Saigon Hẻm Gems
Hẻm Gems: A Streetcart Named Aoya and the Comfort of Sidewalk Ramen
The first time I tried to visit Aoya Ramen was on a Monday. The pavement where the stall should be was empty, without any trace of noodles or noren. I learned quickly that they’re closed on Mondays. The second time, my joy in discovering that the cart was open for business was quickly dashed by the long queue of hungry diners already in line. The third time, learning from the previous crowd, I arrived later at 8:30pm, just to find out that they were out of stock for the day.
Tracing the Roots of Bến Tre's Coconut Candy via My Grandma's Family Tales
Hometown treats encapsulate within them the flavors of memories, reminding us of a land we haven’t visited for a long time. I open the jar of coconut candies from my mother and my hometown, and immediately breathe in a familiar scent reminiscent of our kitchen back then. I thought to myself: so this is the feeling of yearning people often talk about when referring to home.
Hẻm Gems: Time-Tested Sâm Bổ Lượng Versus Wacky Quail Eggs in a Dessert
As a kid, my mom would often buy me chè when the weather was too hot to keep me from drinking Coca-Cola. Chè made by Hoa people always got my attention, thanks to its distinctive presentation. Though, to get to it, I would usually drive to Chợ Lớn, which is fine, but it often involves traversing through traffic jams. So when I discovered Chè Sâm Bổ Lượng 399 on a random Google search, a long-established chè shop run by a Hoa family just 7 minutes from my office, I had to check it out.
The Unbearable Lightness of An Giang's Bánh Bò Thốt Nốt Chảo
Some simple delights can capture the flavor of an entire region.
Thi Nguyễn in Snack Attack
In Bánh Củ Cải, a Curious Slice of Bạc Liêu's Teochew Heritage
You know a dish is special when it can spark conversation with a stranger on a bus. Halfway through the scrumptious bánh củ cải (radish cake) from our last-minute trip to the market, I shared the other half with my mom. "You're full?" asked a lady in the bunk next to us, which was then followed by a long discussion. I came home with several handy tips on how to recreate and elevate the already flavorful treat.
Ngõ Nooks: This Modern Co-op Serves up One of Hanoi's Best Skewer Bánh Mì
Hợp Tác Xã Thịt Xiên is more than just a bánh mì eatery, it’s a place to rekindle your childhood nostalgia and take in the ambiance of the street.
Tokyo Restaurant Serves Up Chocolate Ramen For Valentine’s Day
We’ve seen plenty of culinary oddities come out of Japan over the years from cat wine to Burger King’s “Black Burger.” Well, it’s time to add yet another unique dish to the list - chocolate ramen (Tsu...
[Video] “Waterfall” Fried Chicken In District 3
Street food aficionado, Mark Wiens, made his way through Vietnam last December to sample some of the city’s famous culinary offerings.
Bird’s Nest Beer Makes Its Debut In Vietnam
A new spin on beer has been introduced in Vietnam, and we’re not talking about the recent craft beer debut in Saigon. Saigon Anpha has released a new bird’s nest beer on January 26 in order to capital...
Weekly Voucher Giveaways Presented by Slapdish And Saigoneer
Saigoneer has teamed up with Slapdish to provide our users with free food and drinks at some of Saigon’s most popular restaurants. This week features American-style burgers from Chuck’s, cocktails at ...
[Video] How To Cook Miến Gà
Sure, miến gà can be found at plenty of restaurants around Saigon and perhaps you’ve found a great place to grab a bowl of the chicken noodle soup. But what’s more impressive than being in the kn...
Will Fake Dog Meat Replace The Real Thing In Vietnam?
Journalist Elisabeth Rosen recently penned an interesting piece on fake dog meat (giả cầy), examining its role in Vietnam’s culinary history and its growing popularity as Western media and increased ...
[Video] Inside A Vietnamese Tea Processing Plant
Tea, like coffee is a ubiquitous drink in Vietnam. While each dominates the local market, there is an opportunity to position these locally-grown products as a high-end export if processing can be ref...
[Video] The Phở Song
A few months ago, expats in Da Nang made a music video about mì Quảng, professing their love for the central region’s iconic soup. Viet Kieu, Richie Le and friends have whipped up a similar, albeit fl...
Hẻm Gems: 70 Years of Hủ Tiếu Down a Saigon Alley
At the corner of a dead-end alley and the crowded pub street of Ton That Thiep among neon signs of nearby bars and restaurants, an eatery with an old hand-painted sign reading “Thanh Xuan” might come ...
[Video] This Is How You Make A Phở Burger
We got the phở burrito, the phở cocktail and the phở dumpling. What other twist on the Vietnamese staple is missing from this list? Yup, the phở burger.
[Video] New York’s Annual Trứng Vịt Lộn Eating Competition
The annual Balut (A.K.A trứng vịt lộn) Eating Contest just took place in New York City where contestants were tasked with eating as many of the duck fetuses as possible in a 5-minute window.
This Is What Happens When You Mix Dumplings And Phở
American chefs continue to show their love of phở by twisting it into everything from cocktails to burritos. While the above concoctions claim both fans and detractors, this new creation out...
[Video] You Don’t Have to Be White to Butcher the Vietnamese Language
White people aren’t the only ones who mangle the Vietnamese language.
[Video] How White People Order Vietnamese Food
Many poke fun at white American’s for showing off appreciation for ethnic food. After all, if you want to be cool in the eyes of others, what better way that to spin off a few words in another languag...
Herbs: The Unsung Heroes Of Vietnamese Cuisine
People travel to Vietnam from all over the world for the country’s culinary magic. But while broths, meats and noodles are often play the leading role, the unsung heroes of Vietnamese cuisine are fres...
[Video] Anthony Bourdain Returns To Vietnam To Film “Parts Unknown” Episode
Celebrity chef and Vietnam enthusiast, Anthony Bourdain recently traveled to Huế to film an episode for his Emmy-winning CNN TV series, “Parts Unknown.”
The Hidden Gems of Binh Tay Market
Among the busy streets of District 6, Binh Tay, Cho Lon’s central market, sits in all its hectic glory.
Behold: The Phở Burrito
Vietnamese food has gained enormous popularity in the US to the point where phở has recently been added to the Merriam-Webster dictionary. While dishes like bánh mì and phở please the A...
The Different Faces Of Bánh Cuốn
A favorite breakfast for many Vietnamese, bánh cuốn (steamed roll) is a quick and delicious day starter. While the traditional is always a crowd pleaser, let’s take a look at some interesting ren...
The Best Amarone Wine In Saigon
If you like wine, especially the Italian variety, you must try Amarone, one of those gems that was discovered by accident (think champagne).
