Whether you're at a Vietnamese pho joint, takeaway deli/baker, or a formal restaurant, the range of dishes fall into a common repertoire. Pho411 and I collaborated on this list to help you navigate the often times vast array of options!
Appetizers
Beef Dipped in Vinegar - Bò Nhúng Dắm
Classic Silky Vietnamese Sausage - Chả Lụa
Fermented Pork Sausage - Nem Chua
Fried Spring (Imperial) Rolls - Chả Giò
Grilled Sugarcane Shrimp - Chạo Tôm
Shredded Pork Salad Rolls - Gỏi Cuốn Bì
Toasted Dried Squid - Khô Mực
Salad Rolls in Rice Paper - Gỏi Cuốn
Savory Bánh and Snacks
Baguette / Bread - Bánh Mì
Beef Stew with Baguette - Bánh Mì Bò Kho
Crispy Rice, Coconut and Shrimp Cakes - Bánh Khọt
Curry with Baguette - Bánh Mì Cà Ri
Mini Steamed Rice Pancakes - Bánh Bèo
Pate Chaud - Bánh Pa-Tê Sô
Steamed Meat Buns - Bánh Bao
Steamed Rice Rolls - Bánh Cuốn
Steamed Rice Sheets - Bánh Ướt
Tet Sticky Rice Cake (Cylinder) - Bánh Tét
Tet Sticky Rice Cakes (Square) - Bánh chưng
Vietnamese Baguette Sandwich - Bánh Mì Thịt
Salads
Lotus Stem Salad - Gỏi Ngó Sen
Mango Salad - Gỏi Xoài
Papaya Salad - Gỏi Đu Đủ
Soups
Asparagus and Crab Soup - Súp Măng Cua
Chicken Congee – Cháo Gà
Fish Congee - Cháo Cá
Offal Congee - Cháo Lòng
Plain Congee – Cháo
Tamarind Fish Soup - Canh Chua
Noodle Dishes (Dry, with broth, stir-fried)
Angel Hair Vermicelli - Bánh Hỏi
Bamboo Shoot and Duck Vermicelli Soup - Bún Măng Vịt
Crab and Tomato Vermicelli Soup - Bún Riêu
Crispy Noodles with Stir-fried Vegetables - Mì Xào Dòn Rau Cải
Glass Noodles - Hủ Tiếu
Glass Noodles Stir - fried with Vegetables - Hủ Tiếu Xào Rau Cải
Grilled Chicken Vermicelli - Bún Gà Nướng
Grilled Pork Angel Hair Vermicelli - Bánh Hỏi Thịt Nướng
Grilled Pork Vermicelli - Bún Thịt Nướng
Hanoi Grilled Pork Vermicelli - Bún Chả Hà Nội
Hanoi Vermicelli Soup - Bún Thang
Mekong Seafood Vermicelli Soup - Bún Mắm
My Tho Seafood Glass Noodles - Hủ Tiếu Mỷ Tho
Pho - Phở
Quang Noodles - Mì Quảng
“Silkworm” Noodles - Bánh Tằm
Roasted Duck Egg Noodle Soup - Mì Vịt Tiềm
Spicy Hue Vermicelli Soup - Bún Bò Huế
Spring Roll Vermicelli - Bún Chả Giò
Vietnamese Hand-cut Rice Noodles - Bánh Canh
Wonton Noodle Soup - Mì Hoàng Thánh
Rice Plates
Broken Rice - Cơm Tấm
Fried Rice - Cơm Chiên
Jumbo Shrimp Rice - Cơm Tôm Càng Rim
Plain Boiled Rice - Cơm
Rice with Grilled Pork Chop - Cơm Sườn
Rice with Hainan Chicken - Cơm Gà Hải Nạm
Rice with Stir-fried Lemongrass Chicken - Cơm Gà Xào Xã Ớt
Rice with Stir-fried Vegetables - Cơm Xào Rau Cải Sizzling
Crepes - Bánh Xèo
Entrees and Sides
7 Courses of Beef - Bò 7 Món
Claypot Fish with Caramel Sauce - Cá Kho Tộ
Congealed Duck Blood - Tiết Canh
Curry - Cà Ri
Grilled Beef in Betel Leaves - Bò Lá Lốt
Grilled Lemongrass Chicken - Gà Nướng Xã
Hot Pot - Lẩu
Pork Meatballs - Xíu Mại
Rare Lime Beef - Bò Tái Chanh
Shaking Beef - Bò Lúc Lắc
Simmered Pork and Eggs - Thịt Heo Kho với Trứng
Spicy Stir-fried Lemongrass Beef - Bò Xào Xã Ớt
Stir-fried Water Spinach - Rau Muống Xào
Stir-fried Mixed Vegetables - Rau Xào Thập Cẩm
Vietnamese Beef Stew - Bo Kho
Beverages
Beer - Bia
Coffee - Cà Phê
Egg Yolk Soda Drink - Soda Sữa Hột Gà
Fruit Shakes - Sinh Tố Trái Cây
Hot Coffee with Condensed Milk - Cà Phê Sữa Nóng
Lime Soda Drink - Soda Đá Chanh
Pennywort Juice - Rau Má
Pickled Lime Soda Drink - Soda Đá Chanh Muối
Salty Preserved Plum Drink - Soda Xí Muội
Sugarcane Juice - Nước Miá
Vietnamese Iced Coffee with Condensed Milk - Cà Phê Sữa Đá
Desserts/Sweets
Baked Honey Comb Rice Cake - Bánh Bò Nướng
Cassava and Coconut Cake - Bánh Khoai Mì
Flan - Bánh Flan
Fried Banana - Chuôí Chiên
Layered Pandan Cake - Bánh Da Lợn
Moon Cake - Bánh Trung Thu
Sticky Rice - Xôi
Sticky Rice Dumplings in Ginger Syrup - Chè Xôi Nước
Sweet Corn Soup - Chè Bấp
Sweet Fermented Rice - Cơm Rượu
Sweet Fried Bread (Fritters) - Bánh Tiêu
Taro Cake - Bánh Khoai Môn
Three Color Bean Drink/Sweet soup - Chè Ba Màu
Misc. menu terms:
Dishes with Fermented Fish/Shrimp Sauce - Mắm
Dipping Sauces - Nước Chấm
Vietnamese sausages - Chả
Fresh Produce - Đồ Tươi
Fruits - Trái Cây
Half- hatched Duck Eggs - Hột Vịt Lộn
Mixed Pickled Vegetables - Đồ Chua
Rice Paper - Bánh Tráng
Related pages:
- Sections of a Menu: How a Vietnamese restaurant menu is organizes. What types of food do you usually see? What are they?
- Cooking Methods, Seasonings, and Ingredients: If you don't recognize a dish, this page will help you translate the menu descriptions. How is something cooked? What kinds of seasonings or dipping sauce is served with it? What are the featured vegetables and fruits? From there you can imagine the flavors. Or, ask informed questions!
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