Enjoy The Best of Vietnamese Cuisine with TasteAtlas' Updated Rankings

Introduction

Vietnamese cuisine has long been a favorite among foodies worldwide. Recently, the well-known online food and travel guide TasteAtlas has published its curated list of the 26 Vietnamese snacks that are a must-try, showcasing the nation's culinary gems and honoring its thriving street food culture.

Why TasteAtlas Features Top Picks for Vietnamese Cuisine

Based in Zagreb, Croatia, TasteAtlas is a culinary travel guide dedicated to discovering and conserving traditional cuisines from around the globe. It combines authentic recipes, professional reviews, and in-depth articles on classic foods and ingredients by fusing food journalism with cultural studies.

Every so often, TasteAtlas updates its food rankings

This platform provides an interactive map with nearly 10,000 dining options and 9,000 eateries, and since its establishment, it has been promoting a greater understanding of local food heritage and celebrating regional culinary traditions.

Top Vietnamese Cuisine Highlights from TasteAtlas

The well-known food website published a ranking as of July 15 based on 1,241 user ratings, of which the platform verified 889 as legitimate. This list focuses on light meals that are commonly served as Vietnamese street food, and includes only dishes that received a rating of at least 3.4 out of 5 points.

• With a score of 4.3/5, cha gio, also called nem ran in Northern provinces, comes in first place. This national favorite is made with a filling of pork, shrimp, and vegetables wrapped in rice paper and deep-fried until crispy and golden brown.

Cha gio comes in different varieties depending on the province

• Coming in second is chao tom, a dish originating from Hue, made by wrapping seasoned shrimp paste around sugarcane sticks and then steaming, grilling, or frying them.

Originally reserved for special occasions, chao tom is now a familiar Vietnamese street food. When eating this dish, you can either chomp on the entire stick or remove the shrimp paste, wrap it in herbs, dip it in fish sauce, and enjoy.

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• With a score of 4.2 out of 5, banh xeo also ranks highly on the list. Made with rice flour, turmeric, and coconut milk, this Vietnamese street food consists of a thin, crispy crepe that is filled with shrimp, pork, and bean sprouts before being folded in half.

Banh xeo is wrapped with herbs and meat, then dipped in a savory sauce

• Goi cuon (fresh spring rolls), banh bao (steamed buns), chuoi chien (fried bananas), banh ran (gluten-filled rice balls), banh khot (mini savory pancakes), and banh tom (shrimp fritters) are other well-liked dishes that scored 4.0 or higher.
• Interestingly, some previously criticized dishes like nem chua (fermented pork roll, 3.4/5), pho cuon (fresh rice noodle rolls, 3.4/5), and banh can (mini pancakes, 3.5/5), which appeared on TasteAtlas’ June list of “39 Worst Dishes in Vietnam,” now make a comeback with improved scores.
• Along with regional specialties like banh uot (steamed rice rolls), banh cong (mung bean cakes), and banh hat de (chestnut cakes), the updated list also highlights a variety of traditional sweets, such as banh cam (sesame balls), banh tieu (hollow fried bread), banh it (sticky rice dumplings), and che ba mau (three-color dessert).

Chestnut cake is a popular local treat in Sapa

While TasteAtlas doesn’t disclose detailed scoring criteria, it notes that results are aggregated from verified users. The website uses filters to eliminate reviews that are biased or fraudulent, and it gives preference to reviews from users who are thought to be knowledgeable about food.

Why Vietnamese Cuisine Is So Well-Loved

Well-Balanced Flavours

Vietnamese cuisine's vivid flavors and use of fresh ingredients make it stand out on the world culinary map. In particular, its exceptional taste balance is what makes it so appealing. Vietnamese often combine all sweet, sour, salty, spicy, and umami flavors in a single dish to create a complex yet well-balanced flavor profile.

Freshness And Healthiness

Vietnamese cuisine is also renowned for its lightness and health-conscious approach, partially due to its preference for steaming, boiling, and light stir-frying over deep-frying or heavy sauces.

There are lots of vegetables in Vietnamese cuisine

What further distinguishes Vietnamese food, compared to the cuisines of other Southeast Asian countries like Thailand, is its generous use of fresh herbs, not just as garnishes, but as core ingredients. Thai basil, mint, perilla, and coriander are eaten raw to enhance dishes‘ fresh and herby flavor.

The Magic Of Fish Sauce

The importance of fish sauce in Vietnamese cooking is one of its most distinctive features. Used in everything from marinades to dipping sauces, it offers a rich, savory umami flavor and serves a similar function to that of salt or soy sauce in other cultures.

Interactivity And Diversity

There's also the interactive aspect of Vietnamese cuisine, which adds to its allure. Many of the dishes are meant to be put together by the diner, such as dipping fresh spring rolls into sauce, wrapping crispy banh xeo in lettuce with herbs, or personalizing a bowl of pho with lime, chili, and condiments. In addition to catering to individual taste preferences, this do-it-yourself approach also promotes group eating.

Vietnamese people like their food to be customizable in every bite

Another thing is that Vietnamese cuisine varies by region. Foods in the north are typically lighter and have a more subdued taste. While the southern region prefers strong and sweet dishes, Central Vietnam is known for its complex and spicy specialties. No matter where you are in this country, there is always something new to discover thanks to this geographic diversity.

Where to Find the Best Vietnamese Cuisine

For First-Time Visitors

We advise you to start with reputable eateries if you're new to Vietnamese food and want to introduce yourself gradually. There are many Michelin-starred restaurants in Vietnam's major cities and popular tourist destinations that serve traditional cuisine with a contemporary twist, catering to Westerners' taste buds.

These eateries are suitable for first-time visitors, as their menus offer both traditional Vietnamese dishes and more familiar continental-style options.

For Authentic Local Experiences

Prepare to venture off the usual route, though, if you're yearning for genuinely authentic Vietnamese cuisine. Dig deep into busy marketplaces, street-side stalls, and small family-run restaurants, the kind of places that might have only a few plastic chairs doubling as seats and tables, but will offer you some of the most flavorful and memorable dishes you’ve ever tasted.

A Hanoi food tour is one of the top experiences recommended to visitors in Vietnam

You can either learn some basic Vietnamese phrases and go exploring on your own, or get yourself a local guide to help you navigate around. It might take a little more effort doing it like this, but discovering these hidden gems is an incredibly rewarding experience, and will often lead to the most memorable meals of your trip.

Conclusion

In short, a food tour is arguably the best way to learn about authentic Vietnam. After all, the most immersive way to experience a nation's culture and pace of everyday life is undoubtedly through its cuisine. For example, a Hanoi food tour will provide you with a culinary exploration of the city's history of migration, war, and modernization, all of which are fascinating to learn about.

That said, if you need further advice or a helping hand to plan your curated tour to discover Vietnamese cuisine, our team of local experts at Asia King Travel is always here to assist.

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