Top 19 Vietnamese Rice Dishes

Cơm tấm is a traditional dish that's typically sold as street food. It consists of broken and imperfect rice grains that were traditionally chucked away after the milling process, but nowadays it's a signature dish of Ho Chi Minh City. Broken rice has a texture that's similar to normal rice, just smaller. When served, cơm tấm is accompanied by numerous toppings such as fried eggs, shredded pork skin, grilled pork chops, or deep-fried fish patties. The usual garnishes include lime wedges, chopped spring onions, and mint, while accompaniments served on the side include sliced tomatoes and cucumbers, pickled vegetables, or dipping sauces. Local cơm tấm eateries are easily found because they usually have a coal-fired grill on the street, dispersing the smoke scented with lemongrass and charred meat, a result of preparing the accompaniments for broken rice. In the past, these broken rice grains were usually used as animal feed or eaten by the farmers and their families.Expand

Cơm chiên is the Vietnamese take on fried rice. The dish is very versatile because almost anything can be added to the rice to enrich it, but it's usually prepared with white rice, garlic, salt, and pepper. The rice is cooked and it's then stir-fried in hot oil. Cơm chiên is served while still hot, and it can be enriched with various vegetables, eggs, or sausage meat. Soy sauce or fish sauce can be used as a seasoning, while chopped spring onions provide extra texture and a nice visual contrast to the rice.Expand

Cơm tấm sườn is a classic dish from South Vietnam. It consists of grilled pork served on top of broken rice. The combination is often topped with a mix of stir-fried onions and pickles, and it's accompanied by fish sauce for dipping. The pork is typically marinated in lemongrass, pepper, garlic, and fish sauce before it's grilled. This dish is usually served in the morning for breakfast.Expand

Bánh bèo is a popular Vietnamese steamed cake consisting of key ingredients such as rice flour, fish sauce with green chili peppers, and either shrimps or pork. Additionally, noodles, roasted peanuts, or fried onions can be added to the cake in order to improve its flavors. Apart from savory cakes, there are also sweet versions which are almost exclusively available in Hội An. Bánh bèo is traditionally served in a porcelain bowl with a bamboo spoon for consumption. Some people refer to it as the Vietnamese version of tapas, and it is believed that the most important characteristic of a good bánh bèo is an indentation in its center which is used for holding the flavorful, savory stuffings.Expand

In its basic form, this simple Vietnamese dish consists of sticky rice topped with fried or boiled chicken, and it's traditionally served on a banana leaf. Variations may include tinted and flavored rice, fried and fresh vegetables, or xá xíu (Chinese roast pork). The dish is usually finished off with a sprinkle of ground shrimp and a drizzle of chili sauce. Xôi Gà is served in restaurants, but it is mostly enjoyed as a nutritious and cheap street food option.Expand

Bánh tét is a South Vietnamese specialty, a sticky rice cake that can be either savory or sweet. It is made from glutinous rice stuffed with a mung bean or pork filling and wrapped in a banana leaf. The whole concoction is then boiled or steamed, the banana leaf is removed, and the log-shaped cake is sliced into cylindrical pieces. Banana leaves are used because they impart a unique aroma and flavor to the rice, reminiscent of tea. The cake will often be wrapped in plastic with a red or gold ribbon tied around it in order to make bánh tét look more festive, because it is traditionally prepared and served for the Vietnamese Lunar New Year celebration. It is recommended to serve this rice cake with a cup of hot tea.Expand

The main ingredients of this traditional Vietnamese rice cake are glutinous rice, mung beans, fatty pork and spices such as salt, pepper, green onions and nước mắm (fish sauce). The pork is seasoned, tucked into the rice and bean paste, wrapped in lá dong (a leafy plant), giang strings (a type of bamboo) or banana leaves, and then boiled. Sometimes, in order to give the resulting wrap a better shape, square wooden molds are used. Bánh chưng has a valuable cultural and historical meaning. Served for tết, the Vietnamese New Year, it is said to have been created by a Vietnamese prince, Lang Liêu, along with bánh giầy. The two dishes symbolized the Earth and the sky and were made as a sign of respect for the ancestors. Nowadays bánh chưng is still placed in family altars as an honorary token for the ancestors. As for the way it is enjoyed, the cake is unwrapped from the leaves and can be served at room temperature or warm.Expand

Cơm lam is prepared by stuffing sticky rice into bamboo tubes which are first wrapped in banana leaves and then roasted over hot coals. It was invented as a convenient and portable dish that was intended for long journeys, and its origin is usually associated with Northern and Northwest Vietnam, especially in Sapa, though similar techniques and dishes can be found in Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Thailand. Cơm lam is typically served with grilled pork or chicken, and it is usually sprinkled with sesame seeds or roasted peanuts.Expand

This traditional Vietnamese treat combines sticky rice and gấc—a deep red Asian fruit. The fruit purée is mixed with rice, and the mixture is steamed, usually with the addition of coconut milk and sugar. Xôi gấc is characterized by its unusual red hue, which is believed to bring prosperity and good fortune, and that's the reason why the dish is usually served on various special occasions, including weddings and Lunar New Year. Although they are subtly sweet, these rice cakes are typically served with savory dishes such as rước (dried pork) and chả lụa pork sausage.Expand

Cơm cháy is a traditional dish and a specialty of Ninh Binh. The dish is made from steamed rice that's sliced into flat and round shapes. The rice needs to be glutinous Huong rice, with round and pure grains. It is then dried in the sun for a few times and preserved in dark and cold space to keep the flavor and avoid the development of mold. After the drying, the slices of rice are fried in hot oil until the rice develops a crisp texture. Cơm cháy is typically served with goat meat, beef, pig's heart, carrots, and mushrooms.Expand