Tasty Vietnamese Food: A Guide to 6 Dishes You Need to Try

What makes tasty Vietnamese food so appealing? Fresh herbs, slow-cooked broths, and the way every dish balances texture and taste. If you are curious about what Vietnamese food to try, this guide covers some of the tastiest Vietnamese dishes - what goes into each one and who they are for.

What Vietnamese Food to Try: 6 Dishes to Start With

Phở (Beef Noodle Soup)

Pho is a noodle soup built on a beef bone broth simmered for up to 24 hours. It comes with flat rice noodles, thinly sliced beef - rare, well-done, or both - and fresh herbs on the side. The depth of a good pho comes from its broth: clear yet deeply savory. When the rice noodles are handmade fresh daily, the texture becomes noticeably softer. A bowl starts from 14.80€. Pho is a natural starting point for anyone new to Vietnamese food. For more, read our guide to pho in Paris.

Bò Bún (Beef Vermicelli Bowl)

Bò Bún is a cold noodle dish combining stir-fried beef, fried chicken spring rolls, fresh vermicelli, mango, bean sprouts, mint, coriander, crushed peanuts, fried shallots, and a homemade sweet-sour dipping sauce. It is a dish of contrasts - warm meat over cool noodles, crispy rolls beside soft herbs, tangy sauce cutting through savory beef. A serving is 17.80€. Reviewer Siân described her Bò Bún as "really tasty" and the meal as filling without feeling heavy. Read more about the noodle tradition behind Bò Bún.

Gỏi Cuốn (Fresh Spring Rolls)

Gỏi Cuốn are unfried rice paper rolls filled with steamed shrimp, stir-fried beef, or sautéed tofu alongside fresh salad greens. Served cold, they are one of the lightest dishes on a Vietnamese menu - soft, chewy rice paper wrapping crunchy vegetables. A plate starts from 7.80€. Gỏi Cuốn are a gentle starting point for first-time diners.

Cơm Xì Xèo (Sizzling Beef Rice)

Cơm Xì Xèo arrives on a hot cast-iron pan - rare beef, corn, and black pepper sauce sizzling as it is served. The rice is ST25, a Vietnamese variety recognized as the world's finest rice in 2019. The aroma of black pepper and the sear of the pan make this a popular Vietnamese food pick for anyone who enjoys bold, hearty flavors. Priced at 16.80€.

Bánh Bao (Steamed Bun)

Bánh Bao is a soft, pillowy steamed bun filled with seasoned minced pork. The dough has a slight sweetness that wraps around a savory, well-spiced filling. At 7.80€, it is one of the most affordable ways to try Vietnamese food - satisfying as a snack or starter. Learn more in our guide to Bánh Bao.

Bánh Trôi (Glutinous Rice Balls in Ginger Water)

Bánh Trôi is a warm dessert - soft glutinous rice balls filled with red bean paste, served in homemade hot ginger water. The chewy dough, sweet filling, and aromatic ginger create a comforting finish to any meal. A serving is 7.80€. It suits anyone who prefers desserts that are warm and not overly sweet.

What Makes Vietnamese Food So Tasty?

A few things stand out across the dishes above. Vietnamese food relies on fresh herbs - mint, coriander, bean sprouts, cucumber - that appear alongside nearly every main course. Broths are built through slow cooking, like the 24-hour beef bone broth for phở. Homemade sauces such as the sweet-sour nước chấm bring tangy, sweet, and savory into one condiment. And textures constantly shift within a single dish - crispy spring rolls next to soft noodles, sizzling beef over fluffy rice, chewy rice paper wrapping crunchy greens. These layered flavors are what make tasty Vietnamese dishes feel exciting without being heavy. As reviewer Corazon Paris noted, the flavors are "perfectly balanced, and not oily."

Tasty Vietnamese Food to Try in Paris

If you are looking for Vietnamese food in Paris, Ha Noi 1988 serves the dishes covered in this guide across several locations in central Paris.

At Ha Noi 1988 on Île de la Cité (72 Quai des Orfèvres, 75001), near Notre-Dame, you will find the full menu - phở, Bò Bún, Gỏi Cuốn, Cơm Xì Xèo, Bánh Bao, and Bánh Trôi - along with a weekday set lunch at 18.80€ that includes a starter, main, and dessert or drink.

For dedicated pho lovers, Ha Noi 1988 Sao Vàng on Île Saint-Louis (16 Rue le Regrattier, 75004) offers the widest selection of phở, including the Phở Sốt Vang - a Vietnamese-French fusion with boeuf bourguignon-style braised beef, priced at 17.80€.

For a lighter stop, Ha Noi 1988 Cà Phê in the Latin Quarter (35 Rue Galande, 75005) pairs Vietnamese coffee with Bò Bún (10.80€) and Bánh Bao (6€). You can reserve a table here.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some tasty Vietnamese foods to try? Popular choices include phở (beef noodle soup), Bò Bún (beef vermicelli bowl), Gỏi Cuốn (fresh spring rolls), Cơm Xì Xèo (sizzling beef rice), Bánh Bao (steamed bun), and Bánh Trôi (glutinous rice balls in ginger water).

What Vietnamese food should I try first? Phở is a natural starting point - it is one of the most popular Vietnamese foods, with a savory flavor that appeals to most palates. Gỏi Cuốn also make a light, approachable first taste.

What makes Vietnamese food so flavorful? Fresh herbs, slow-cooked broths, homemade dipping sauces that balance sweet, tangy, and savory, and a constant contrast of textures - crispy, soft, chewy, and crunchy elements within the same dish.

Where can I try Vietnamese food in Paris? Ha Noi 1988 has locations on Île de la Cité near Notre-Dame, Île Saint-Louis, Le Marais, and the Latin Quarter - serving tasty Vietnamese dishes from phở to Bò Bún and desserts. Reserve a table.