Saigon is a place with the culinary cultural interference of many regions in the world. Many foreign dishes are well received by locals. In addition to old Chinese dishes, Saigon is also famous for foreign snacks that young people love.
Japanese takoyaki
Octopus ball-shaped Japanese snack (takoyaki) is a typical fast food of Osaka region (Japan). Takoyaki appears in many Japanese comics and became a popular dish in Vietnam, sold at a sidewalk vendor counters or in the restaurants.
For 15,000 – 30,000 VND, visitors on Vietnam food tours will have a few takoyaki balls which will make you full. The snack is made of a wheat flour-based batter and filled with many ingredients consisting of minced octopus, chicken eggs, green onion, pickled ginger and cabbage. The cake is processed into the large special molded pan. When eating, you will feel the crispness of the crust and toughness of the octopus. Outside, the cake is sprinkled with little seaweed, a little thin dried tuna chips, sprinkle with takoyaki sauce or soy sauce and mayonnaise.
Bubble milk tea
Bubble milk tea was born in Taichung (Taiwan) in the early 1980s. At that time, tea vendors wanted to make their tea unique, tried adding sweet bubble made from cassava and fruit and milk.
This newness has become a trend that has spread to the whole world until now. Bubble milk tea has been introduced to Vietnam since the early 2000s. In the past, milk tea was popularly sold in shops near schools and vendors at a low price. Today, there are many famous milk tea brands and many different flavors. Although it is more expensive, this snack still does not cool down in young people.
Kimbap Korea
Dishes are sold a lot in restaurants in the city center but tourist on Vietnam food tour can still find them at some sidewalk shops at affordable prices. Kimbap in Saigon are often made from fresh ingredients such as fish eggs, crab sticks, avocados …
The delicacy of delicious kimbap is that the rolls tightly wrapped. When sold to the guests, the owner will cut the medium pieces. On top of the surface is sprinkled with white sesame, a little bit of decorative vegetables makes the dish more beautiful. The price of a popular meal varies from 20,000 to 40,000 VND.
Thai pancakes
Pancakes originating from Europe are popular street food in Thailand. Thai pancakes have a strange Asian-European flavor, and the difference is in the crispier and cut square pieces. When processing, instead of pouring thin powder coated on the pan, Thai people use a thin piece of dough that is rolled and then fried.
People also use coconut water instead of milk to make bread crumbs to bring more typical Thai flavor. Thai pancakes appear in Vietnam from a few small strollers on the sidewalks of tourist areas a few years ago, now becoming an easy-to-find snack in Saigon streets, for VND 10,000-30,000 a cake.
Vermicelli with prahok of Cambodia
The imported dish from Cambodia is composed mainly of snakehead fish meat and broth cooked from prohoc sauce, also known as a beef sauce, speciality of the Khmer. Vermicelli has an eye-catching yellow color from turmeric and the aroma from spices such as fruit and weed.
This Cambodian specialty has been sold in Saigon for nearly half a century, in Le Hong Phong market, District 10. Although it has an unpleasant smell, the dish is still popular for travellers on food walking tour. Each bowl costs about VND 30,000.
For more information/details: Hanoi street food, Hanoi traditional food, Hanoi cooking class