Seeing that my blood is technically 84% Vietnamese and Katherine is 61%, here are my thoughts on the 10 most popular Vietnamese food dishes.
- Pho is delicious. Easy to eat, and very filling. A staple of the Vietnamese diet. If I were truly Asian, I would bleed the color of Pho.
- Eggrolls served with vermicelli noodles, fresh herbs, and a dipping sauce. This is delicious, but tastes especially good with my mom’s uniquely patented eggrolls.
- Fresh spring rolls made with rice paper and filled with shrimp, herbs, pork, and vermicelli noodles, often served with peanut dipping sauce. My favorite are the ones from Brodard’s, a delicious taste in my mouth.
- Hoi An-style chicken rice. It’s alright, but I prefer Vietnamese fried at Nha Ha 1.99.
- Bun Bo Hue: A spicy beef noodle, it’s alright but holds no candle to the taste of Pho.
- Cao Lau features thick rice noodles, crispy pork, and local greens, served with a unique broth. I haven’t tried this.
- Banh Mi: Vietnamese sandwiches made with a French baguette, filled with various ingredients like grilled meat, pate, cucumber, cilantro, and mayonnaise. This is yummy sometimes, but the ones at Lee’s Sandwiches fail in comparison to the tenderness of Carrot {& Daikon.
- Goi Du Du: Green papaya salad, typically mixed with herbs, chili, peanuts, and a tangy dressing. Pretty good actually.
- Broken rice served with grilled meats. One of my favorites to eat growing up.
- Cha Ca: Hanoi-style turmeric fish. Not a fan of fish.
