Vietnam also has some of the most delectable cuisines in the entire globe along with jaw-dropping natural beauty and fascinating cultural and historical sites. Here are our top 10 must-try Vietnamese Foods in Sydney to help you choose from among the vast array of possibilities. Some of them—like ph, bánh m, and bánh ch—are so well-liked that you might even see people waiting in line to eat them.
Pho: Vietnamese Noodle Soup
This noodle soup is the most popular Vietnamese dish in Sydney since it is inexpensive and delicious. Phở (pronounced “fuh”), a food that originated in northern Vietnam in the late 19th or early 20th century, entered mainstream cuisine, becoming Vietnam’s national dish, and is today well-liked everywhere from the US to Sydney.
In a chicken or beef broth, flat white rice noodles are used to make Phở. The meal is typically accompanied by Thai basil, coriander, lime, chile, green onions, etc. so that the guest can season the soup to their own taste. It is also served with thin slices of chicken or beef. The flavours of sweet, sour, salty, and spicy are all well-balanced. A good Phở broth takes several hours to prepare and has spices like cinnamon and anise. It is clear but tasty.
In Vietnam, there are two main varieties of Phở: Phở bo, which is prepared from simmering cattle bones, oxtails, and flank steak, and ph gà, which is produced from simmering a whole chicken. Of course, vegetarian and tofu ph alternatives are available, and you may find them in Vietnamese restaurants like The Hanoi.
Banh cun: Vietnamese Steamed Rice Rolls
Vietnamese steamed rice rolls, also known as Bánh cuốn, are thin sheets of steamed rice batter loaded with seasoned ground pork and finely chopped wood ear mushrooms. They are a common street meal that is typically served for breakfast in Vietnam. Typically, the dish is served with sweet fish sauce, a variety of fresh herbs and vegetables, crispy fried shallots, and optional sausages.
Bánh cuốn’s allure stems not just from its mouthwatering flavour but also from how it is prepared. The process of creating these incredibly thin and translucent sheets of rice batter demands specific abilities, and it is fascinating to witness. A scoop of batter made with rice flour and flavoured with the familiar aroma of just-cooked rice is uniformly placed over a steamer, covered with a lid, and cooked to perfection (usually in a matter of seconds). The cook then skilfully lifts the rice sheet out of the steamer and transfers it to a tray so that it can be filled with ground pork and mushrooms.
Goi cun: Vietnamese Spring Roll
Gỏi cuốn, or Vietnamese spring rolls, is one of the world’s 50 finest dishes because it is healthy, light, and flavorful. Traditionally, the components for this snack are wrapped in rice paper along with boiling pork, shrimp, fresh herbs, veggies, and rice vermicelli. It is served chilled with a delectable dipping sauce, such as peanut sauce, hoisin sauce, or fish sauce, making it the perfect summertime snack.
In Vietnam, one may find various types of Gỏi cuốn. Other common fillings besides pork and shrimp include fish, pan-fried seafood, beef, sausages, eggs, and even tofu (for vegetarians). In southern Vietnam, the term “salad rolls” or “Gỏi cuốn” is typically used. While they are referred to as “grilled rolls” in the north, they are known as just “paper rolls” in central Vietnam,
Che: Vietnamese Sweet Desserts
If you have a sweet tooth and enjoy sweets, Vietnam has an abundance of options. The word “chè,” which also refers to any traditional sweet soup, drink, or pudding, is used to describe sweet treats in Vietnamese.
Chè comes in several forms and can include a variety of ingredients, including sticky rice, coconut cream, grass jelly, and tapioca fruit. The most well-known chè desserts include chè bà ba (sweet potato, taro, and cassava dessert), chè băp (sweet corn pudding), chè trôi nươc (sweet glutinous rice dumplings), and chè ba màu (three coloured desserts), which are made of mung bean paste, red beans, and jelly and topped with coconut milk.
They are typically offered at street stalls and grocery stores in plastic cups or mugs and are either served hot or cold. Chè is available throughout the year, but on hot days it tastes the best when paired with a scoop of crushed ice.
Bun Cha: Grilled Pork with Rice Vermicelli Noodles
Bún Chả, a traditional Hanoi dish made of grilled pork belly, rice noodles, fresh veggies, and herbs, is a locals’ all-time favourite. It is readily available at street stalls and Vietnamese restaurants like The Hanoi. Soon after former US president Barack Obama and late celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain ate it as supper in 2016, the meal quickly gained international fame.
Bún, or rice vermicelli, ought to be airy, chewy, and thin. They come in different dishes. Chả, typically served with broth and grilled pork, is the dish’s main ingredient. Bún Chả is served with a dipping sauce composed of fish sauce, vinegar, and sugar. Since each chef may use a different amount of ingredients, the taste differs from restaurant to restaurant. Bún Chả comes with a basket of vegetables and herbs, including lettuce, Thai basil, fish mint, cilantro, and cilantro/coriander, just like many other Vietnamese dishes.
Banh Mi: Vietnamese Sandwich
Bánh Mì is a Vietnamese dish that is heavily influenced by French culinary history and is the most famous Franco-Vietnamese culinary union involving flavours, tastes, and ingredients from the two countries. It is heavily influenced by French culinary history. It is one of the best sandwiches, and it is well-liked all around the world. Bánh m, a Vietnamese sandwich made of a split baguette loaded with meat like pig or chicken and pickled vegetables (such as carrot and daikon) and topped with cucumber, cilantro, and jalapeno, is known to most people even though its literal meaning is “simply plain baguette or bread.” Depending on what region of the country you’re in, you’ll also like various Bánh Mì variations, such as those stuffed with tofu or eggs.
Banh xeo: Crispy Vietnamese Crêpes
A Vietnamese restaurant like The Hanoi lets you experience the enticing aromas of a wide range of dishes. Bánh xèo is a sizzling pancake that is reminiscent of a crepe in flavour and one Vietnamese meal that you can not only smell but also hear being prepared. In addition to savoury contents and a sweet and sour dipping sauce, bánh xèo has a crunchy crepe edge.
It is referred to as ” bánh xèo” (sizzling pancake) since it makes a sizzling sound when the batter is placed into the hot skillet. The batter gives the crepe its golden colour by combining rice flour, coconut milk, and turmeric powder. Most frequently served with lettuce, mint, Thai basil, fish mint, and sauces such as peanut sauce, bánh xèo is packed with pork belly, whole shrimp, chopped green onion, bean sprouts, and mung beans.
Com tam: Vietnamese Broken Rice with Grilled Pork
The national capital of Vietnam and its characteristic dish is Cơm tấm. It is prepared from broken rice that, in the past, couldn’t be sold and was either consumed by Vietnamese farmers or fed to livestock. Tam denotes broken rice grains, while com denotes cooked rice. These flawed rice grains have been transformed over time by the creative Vietnamese people into a delectable Vietnamese dish that is available at The Hanoi restaurant in Sydney.
Even though broken rice is smaller than regular rice, it has a similar texture and flavour. As one of the best Vietnamese dishes in Sydney, cơm tấm may have a wide variety of toppings, including grilled pork chop, steaming pork, deep-fried fish patties, fried eggs, and pork skin. The meal is typically garnished with fragrant ingredients, including mint, lime, and spring onions. In addition, the dish may come with pickled vegetables, tomato and cucumber slices, and a dipping sauce.
Cha Ca: Grilled Fish with Turmeric and Dill
One of Hanoi’s most well-known dishes is called Ch cá, which is just grilled fish with dill and turmeric. The Hanoi restaurant, one of the finest Vietnamese restaurants in Sydney, specialises in this cuisine, which is a signature dish from the Old Quarter of Vietnam.
Sliced snakehead fish is first marinated for at least an hour in a mixture of fish sauce, turmeric, garlic, shallot, and galangal. Before being served, it is then grilled and deep-fried in oil with dill. When you order the dish in a typical Vietnamese restaurant, you will receive a hot pan with marinated fish and toppings such as rice vermicelli, herbs, roasted peanuts, chile, and mắm nêm (a fermented shrimp paste). The turmeric marinade will turn the fish and dill a golden colour while they cook in the pan, and you can then smell the fragrant air filled with the herbs. It is ready when it starts to sizzle.
Lau: Vietnamese Hot Pot
The Vietnamese hot pot, known as Lẩu, is comparable to the Chinese version and consists of a boiling metal stockpot set in the middle of the dining table. It makes a wonderful dish for dinner parties and is a favourite of the Vietnamese in the winter. The fact that you can include any combination of meat and vegetables would make this a fantastic dinner.
Before you place your order, the broth, which is commonly prepared from chicken bones or pork ribs, is pre-cooked. In order to cook your chosen food in it quickly—typically in only a few minutes—it is kept boiling in the pot. Ingredients such as sliced beef, fish, chicken, pork, or mutton, rice vermicelli, dumplings, fresh vegetables, tofu skin, mushrooms, shellfish, etc. are all arranged around the pot. Choose your favourite ingredients, simmer them in the stock, and then serve them with a flavorful dipping sauce consisting of lime, chile, garlic, and salt.
If you are not in the mood to go out, you can still enjoy these delicious cuisines from the comfort of your home. All these Vietnamese foods are available to order online from The Hanoi Restaurant.
