Ngõ Nooks: On Hàng Bài, Golden Bún Cá Thái Bình in a Hole in the Wall
When a friend of mine returned home after living abroad last year, he longed for a bowl of bún cá. I suggested the classic Hanoi dish, with satisfyingly oily deep-fried fish, but he had other ideas — a fresh feast originally from Thai Binh, located almost 100 kilometers from the capital.
From Fine Dining to Comfort Food: Why Chef Thierry Mounon Followed up La Villa with La Fontaine
“Beyond awards or recognition, a restaurant is about welcoming people, creating memories and bringing joy around a table,” explains Chef Thierry Mounon of his decision to expand from French fine dining into comfort food.
What Cooking Bún Chả for My Birthday Abroad Taught Me About Vietnameseness
“Hot summer night, mid-July, when you and I were forever wild,” Lana Del Rey croons every July 15 to celebrate my birthday. Those melodramatic words consistently evoke three specific elements in my mind: Heineken or Tiger beer cans on the floor; the sweet smoky smell of bún chả and nem enlaced with the rainy air of a darkening Saigon sky; and my friends and family under the LED-lit roof of an iCool karaoke room. Such pillars uphold what I consider the quintessential Vietnamese birthday experience.
Khôi Phạm in Saigon Hẻm Gems
Hẻm Gems: Where Fish Sauce and Soy Sauce Are Not Condiments, but Gelato Flavors
Living in central Saigon as a diehard fan of ice cream and all frozen sweets, I fondly remember the late 2010s–early 2020s as the age of abundance. Back in the day, across downtown, there was always a little something for ice cream fans of all preferences.
Govi Snell in Saigon Hẻm Gems
Hẻm Gems: At Phở Chay Như, a Banquet of Vegetarian Versions of Iconic Viet Dishes
A bowl full of noodles is one of the things that make me feel lucky to be alive, and alive in Saigon in particular.
The Unifying Presence of Cái Mâm, Vietnam’s Ubiquitous, Familial Food Tray
An authentic Vietnamese meal cannot be complete without cái mâm. Mâm, a humble, circular food tray, has conducted generations of Vietnamese into a familial ritual for centuries. Once a mâm is set as the centerpiece, knees begin touching knees until the whole family sits cross-legged in a circle. One person pairs up chopsticks from the bundle and distributes them to fellow diners, while another scoops rice into bowls.
Chợ Bà Hoa Transports Central Vietnam's Universe of Crispy, Funky, Sugary Treats to Saigon
My family lives in Saigon, a long distance from our hometown in Quảng Ngãi. We only visit a few times a year, but each time is a celebration of amazing food: bánh tráng nướng with sausages, bánh gói with spicy, garlicky nước chấm, crispy fried rolls, etc. Without fail, whenever I set food in the city again, I can’t help missing it dearly.
Hẻm Gems: An Alternative Cơm Tấm From Long Xuyên for Thịt Kho Trứng Fans
When it comes to cơm tấm, most people are familiar with cơm tấm Sài Gòn, featuring grilled pork ribs as the vedette topping. But since the dish’s creation, and as it gained popularity across the Mekong delta and southern Vietnam, another cơm tấm variant emerged alongside cơm tấm Sài Gòn. This version became so cherished by the locals that it was named after its birthplace — cơm tấm Long Xuyên.
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.”
Lee Starnes in Eat & Drink
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).
Is Bánh Mì The Best Sandwich In The World?
Travel and food writer, David Farley, recently visited Vietnam on an assignment from the BBC to answer a question many others have pondered – “is bánh mì the world’s best sandwich?”
7 Of Vietnam’s Most Expensive Traditional Dishes
As Vietnam’s cities develop, there are plenty of restaurants that offer up dishes at international (read: expensive) prices. While Vietnamese food is generally considered cheap, there are a few notabl...
Saigon Ranked Among The World’s 18 Best Cities For Street Food
Lifestyle and travel site, Thrillist, has ranked Saigon as one of the world’s top 18 cities for street food, taking into account uniqueness of traditional food/drink style, quality of restaurants/bars...
