Vietnamese migration to the US (and other countries in the world) starting from 1975 when South Viet Nam fell over to the North. More and more Americans are getting familiar to Pho, a National Vietnamese dish that can be eaten during any time of the day. However, I have come to know that many people are still not familiar to Vietnamese cuisine in general. A lot have not even tried it yet even though DFW has the 3rd largest Vietnamese population in the US. I have to admit that not even one Vietnamese restaurant that I have tried here in the US can come close to what I have used to in Viet Nam, but some are pretty good.
One thing to keep in mind about Vietnamese food is that each restaurant has their own specialty. So you have to know where to go and for which food.
Another note is that if a Vietnamese restaurant has dishes that sound and taste like Chinese food, they’re Chinese food.
Important:
Vietnamese food usually need to be eaten in a certain way. Please ask the waiters/waitresses if you have never eaten a Vietnamese dish before.
Below are a few popular dishes. See Wikipedia for a still incomplete but longer list.
1) Pho
Rice noodle in Beef broth.
One thing to keep in mind is if the Pho soup tastes like beef soup, it’s NOT Pho.
Note that restaurants in the US tend to give you a long list of choices of meat. However, the original version is "Tai" only which is Steak meat. Adding any other kind of meat (except for beef ball) will change the taste of Pho. Talking about beef ball, you should try Vietnamese beef balls.
Just like every other Vietnamese dishes, it comes with a dish of raw vegetables. For Pho, it's usually basil, bean sprouts, lime, chili/Jalapeno and saw leaf herb. If this is your first time, I would recommend adding a few of each and eat together with the rice noodle. For the saw leaf herb, you would have to break them up very small (a few time smaller than the basil leaf).
On the table, you should find at least 1 chili paste and 1 hoisin sauce.
I usually mix these 2 in a small dish. Chili paste 3 times more than hoisin sauce.
Some people just use chili paste or just hoisin sauce. This is for dipping the meats that come with Pho.
Pho Bang (Jupiter and Walnut in Garland) is worth a try.
Note that restaurants in the US tend to give you a long list of choices of meat. However, the original version is "Tai" only which is Steak meat. Adding any other kind of meat (except for beef ball) will change the taste of Pho. Talking about beef ball, you should try Vietnamese beef balls.
Just like every other Vietnamese dishes, it comes with a dish of raw vegetables. For Pho, it's usually basil, bean sprouts, lime, chili/Jalapeno and saw leaf herb. If this is your first time, I would recommend adding a few of each and eat together with the rice noodle. For the saw leaf herb, you would have to break them up very small (a few time smaller than the basil leaf).
On the table, you should find at least 1 chili paste and 1 hoisin sauce.
I usually mix these 2 in a small dish. Chili paste 3 times more than hoisin sauce.
Some people just use chili paste or just hoisin sauce. This is for dipping the meats that come with Pho.
Pho Bang (Jupiter and Walnut in Garland) is worth a try.
2) Hu Tieu
Chinese/Cambodia influenced Rice noodle soup. Pork based soup.
This is not for everyone since I still can’t find one that I can call good.
But there is a Hu Tieu place on Walnut in Garland that you can try.
3) Com Tam
Broken rice with pork chop or grilled meat.
I always like the pork chop version but it’s very hard to find one that is truly good.
The one in Saigon Mall food court is worth a try. (Beltline and Jupiter in Garland).
When ever in doubt, pick the grill pork instead.
Also, if the restaurant offer shredded pork meat and skin with Com Tam, give that a try and you wont regret.
It's important that you pour the Nuoc cham (fish sauce) that come with the dish seperately on the rice and mix everything (except for the meat) really well. If this is your first time, pour a little and see how it taste. I usually dump the whole thing in the dish. :-)
Important: Insist on getting the broken rice and NOT the normal jasmine rice. There is a big difference in taste and texture between broken rice and normal rice. That's why we call this dish Com Tam which literally translated "Broken Rice"
Also, if the restaurant offer shredded pork meat and skin with Com Tam, give that a try and you wont regret.
It's important that you pour the Nuoc cham (fish sauce) that come with the dish seperately on the rice and mix everything (except for the meat) really well. If this is your first time, pour a little and see how it taste. I usually dump the whole thing in the dish. :-)
Important: Insist on getting the broken rice and NOT the normal jasmine rice. There is a big difference in taste and texture between broken rice and normal rice. That's why we call this dish Com Tam which literally translated "Broken Rice"
4) Ca Phe Sua Da (literally Iced coffee and milk)
Vietnamese Coffee (French coffee with Condensed milk)
Try it out and you'll know why people calling it Vietnamese coffee and not French coffee with condensed milk.
Ca Phe Sua Da usually come with a tall glass with ice cubes, a filter already filled with coffee and hot water sitting on top of a cup which contain condensed milk. You will need to wait until all the water has dripped down to the cup below. When the water in the filter is empty, remove the filter from the cup and put it on the cover that come with the filter. Use a spoon stir the cup with coffee and condensed milk inside. Stir until all condensed milk has dissolved then pour everything into the glass filled with ice. ENJOY!
Note:
That if you don't like iced drink, you can opt for Ca Phe Sua (Coffee and milk).
Warning:
The coffee is as strong or stronger than most espresso. If you have never drink espresso before, please take small sips and see how it goes.
Try it out and you'll know why people calling it Vietnamese coffee and not French coffee with condensed milk.
Ca Phe Sua Da usually come with a tall glass with ice cubes, a filter already filled with coffee and hot water sitting on top of a cup which contain condensed milk. You will need to wait until all the water has dripped down to the cup below. When the water in the filter is empty, remove the filter from the cup and put it on the cover that come with the filter. Use a spoon stir the cup with coffee and condensed milk inside. Stir until all condensed milk has dissolved then pour everything into the glass filled with ice. ENJOY!
Note:
That if you don't like iced drink, you can opt for Ca Phe Sua (Coffee and milk).
Warning:
The coffee is as strong or stronger than most espresso. If you have never drink espresso before, please take small sips and see how it goes.
See the picture from Wikipedia on how it's supposed to look like.
Wikipedia - Vietnamese Iced Coffee
5) Bun
A kind of rice noodle that is used to eat dry with Nuoc Cham poured over and mixed with beansprouts and fresh vegetables..
Grilled pork is popular but a number of other choices of meat is available including Vietnamese eggroll and Jumbo shrimp (A fresh water shrimp that can be as big as a lobster in size with 2 skinny and long claws. You have to go to Viet Nam to eat this fresh.).
6) Goi Cuon
Vietnamese Spring roll (aka Summer roll)
Contains shrimp, pork (sometimes Cha lua), noodle, fresh vegetables and eaten with peanut sauce.
7) Cha Gio
Vietnamese Egg Roll – Eaten with fresh vegetables and Nuoc Cham.
Use a piece of lettuce as a wrapping paper, put an egg roll inside and add a little bit of each mints that come with it. Carefully wrap the lettuce and dip one end in Nuoc Cham and take a bite from that end. Dip again before taking another bite.
Use a piece of lettuce as a wrapping paper, put an egg roll inside and add a little bit of each mints that come with it. Carefully wrap the lettuce and dip one end in Nuoc Cham and take a bite from that end. Dip again before taking another bite.
Bistro B (Audelia and Walnut in Garland) sells 4 for $1 (for take out only and does not come with anything else beside the egg rolls). It's pretty decent. Eat in is more expensive.
8) Che
Sweet drinks or pudding.
Many restaurants and supermarkets sell a variety of Che.
Check out "Che Hong Kong" in the food court next to Hong Kong Supermarket (Audelia and Walnut in Garland).
Che 3 Mau (3 color sweet drink) is one of the most popular Che.
It is an iced drink with a few kind of beans, jelly, coconut milk, peanuts and others.
Give this a try and you won't regret it.
Check out "Che Hong Kong" in the food court next to Hong Kong Supermarket (Audelia and Walnut in Garland).
Che 3 Mau (3 color sweet drink) is one of the most popular Che.
It is an iced drink with a few kind of beans, jelly, coconut milk, peanuts and others.
Give this a try and you won't regret it.
9) Banh Mi Thit Nguoi
Vietnamese sandwiches which contain homemade pate, butter, soy sauce, Vietnamese ham (Cha lua), other cold cut meat, cucumber, cilantro, Jalapeno and shredded carrot and white radish pickles.
Quoc Bao (Jupiter and Walnut in Garland) is the best around here.
I hope after trying out these dishes, you would be more venturous and try other dishes.
Check out this link for the best Vietnamese in DFW by DallasNews.
Update (2/7/201):
I have recently started a list of my own best Vietnamese restaurants in Dallas Fort Forth. Check it here.
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