Vietnamese cuisine has become very famous all over the world for its delicious and unique dishes. You can easily remember and name typical Vietnamese dishes such as Pho, Banh Mi, Bun Cha, etc. But besides these iconic dishes, Vietnam also has a lot of dishes. other features. Especially in Boston, which has one of the largest Vietnamese communities in the US. Here we will introduce to you 5 famous Vietnamese foods in Boston that you must try.
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What Is The Best Vietnamese Food In Boston?
1. Vietnamese Sugar Cane Shrimp (Chạo Tôm)
The first dish on our list of the best Vietnamese food in Boston is Vietnamese sugar cane shrimp.
Chao tom is a Central Vietnamese dish consisting of a piece of shrimp paste on a piece of sugar cane. It’s served in a variety of ways, so it’s not uncommon to see it listed in several areas of a Vietnamese restaurant’s menu; For example, diners can find it on its own in an appetizer as a roll with raw vegetables and pickled vegetables or as one of the ingredients of the main dish like vermicelli or noodles. Although sugar cane cannot be eaten, it can be chewed to feel the very pleasant sweetness.
Shrimp Chao has a very special flavor that is different from grilled meat. It is very fragrant, delicious and not boring. This dish is loved by both adults and children.
Pho Pasteur (682 Washington St., Chinatown) serves banh cuon chao tom thit nuong, which translates to “steamed shrimp bread with sugar cane and grilled pork.” It was in appetizers, but the servings were plentiful. It is eaten with banh cuon, which are very thin noodles that are braided together and served with a variety of vegetables and meat. Currently, Pho Pasteur offers take-out, delivery and door-to-door service.
Special vermicelli (special vermicelli combo) at Pho Le is served with vermicelli, typical of the meat vermicelli bowls commonly found in many Vietnamese restaurants. But what sets Pho Le’s version apart is that it comes with crispy spring rolls, grilled shrimp and perfectly grilled chao tom, along with grilled chicken, beef or pork for your choice. Currently, Pho Le offers take-out, delivery and door-to-door service.
2. Beef Poached (Bò Kho)
This is a very popular Vietnamese food in Boston in winter.
The ideal dish for Vietnamese people’s cold days is stewed soup. Bo Kho is a stew with lemongrass, ginger and other aromatics, made from beef and carrots, and served with noodles or French bread. Braised beef lovers should check out more braised dishes, such as braised beef (caramelized pork) and ca kho (caramelized braised fish). Surely you will not be disappointed because Vietnam is the land of extremely rich braised dishes.
Pho 1 Brighton (1799 Commonwealth Ave., Brighton) offers Chinese braised beef with a tangy sour taste from lemongrass and ketchup. . It also offers three more great Vietnamese soups: mi seafood (seafood egg vermicelli), Hue beef vermicelli (bun bo and rice from Ho Chi Minh City) and pho (chicken and rice vermicelli) (shrimp and rice soup) pork with clear broth). Pho 1 Brighton currently offers takeout, delivery and indoor seating.
You can buy Bo Kho at Pho Basil (177 Massachusetts Ave., Fenway) with vermicelli or dumplings. Because Bo Kho can be classified as a soup or a stew, you can customize your experience by using noodles or rice. You cannot mistake it for spring rolls (fried spring rolls) or call cuon as an appetizer when accompanied by Bo Kho (rice rolls with filling). Pho Basil currently offers takeout, delivery and indoor seating.
3. Crab Paste Vermicelli Soup (Bún Riêu)
Bun Rieu is a Vietnamese soup in which vermicelli and crab paste is a mixture of crab and eggs that are put into a tomato-based broth. The toppings include fried tofu, a seafood ingredient (such as shrimp), green onions, cilantro, and lemon.
Different from bun cha and bun bo or other popular vermicelli in Vietnam. Bun Rieu will bring you a different experience with soft and fatty crab sauce, and clear and fragrant broth. This dish is simple, but to have a delicious vermicelli noodle dish requires high cooking skills because crab vermicelli if not handled well will have a fishy smell.
Bun Rieu at Anh Hong restaurant (291 Adams St., Dorchester) has lots of fresh tomatoes and lots of fried tofu pieces, creating a pleasant porosity. Anh Hong’s version includes bits of imitation crab in addition to fish.
Anh Hong Restaurant currently offers takeout, delivery, and indoor seating.
Hien Vuong restaurant (1487 Dorchester Ave., Dorchester) also serves vermicelli, with a combination of crab and giant eggs and has a distinctive deep flavor. Hien Vuong restaurant currently offers takeaway food.
4. Stuffed Pancake & Bloating Fern-Shaped Cake (Banh Cuon & Banh Beo)
This is Vietnamese food in Boston that when you enjoy them you will feel the taste of Vietnamese street food.
Steamed rice rolls and cakes are created by steaming a blend of rice flour and tapioca flour, which results in soft and chewy rolls and cakes. In Vietnam, these dishes come in a variety of sauces, fillings, and toppings; two to try in Boston are ball cuon and ball leopard.
“Banh” (as in banh mi) translates loosely to bread or cake and is frequently used to describe Vietnamese meals. “Cuon” translates to “rolled” in banh cuon, and they are steamed rice rolls loaded with wood ear mushrooms and minced pork, and often accompanied by cha lua, a Vietnamese sausage, as well as fresh components like cucumbers and bean sprouts. Banh beo are tiny, circular steamed rice flour cakes with fried pork fat and dried shrimp on top. Both of these dishes are served with a fish sauce dipping sauce.
The banh cuon at Ba Le Restaurant (1052 Dorchester Ave., Dorchester) is fantastic. The rice rolls are steamed to be warm and tender, and they are served with crispy Vietnamese egg rolls and Vietnamese pork sausage. Order this with a cup of sugarcane juice (nuoc mia) if it’s in season – it’s a sweet and refreshing contrast to the salty fish sauce that comes with the banh cuon. Currently, Ba Le offers takeout (order over the phone or in person).
Pho Le serves banh beo (1356 Dorchester Ave., Dorchester). It’s a great appetizer to share with guests, but it may also be eaten as a meal on its own. Pho Le’s banh beo is a delicious combination of rice cakes, garnishes, and fresh green onions. Currently, Pho Le offers takeaway, delivery, and indoor dining.
5. Fruit Smoothies (Sinh Tố)
Vietnam is a paradise of fresh tropical fruits, so using fruit to make delicious smoothies and juices is always popular.
Fruit smoothies are always a good choice at a Vietnamese restaurant when accompanying any of these dishes. Condensed milk, also used in Vietnamese iced coffee, is what makes a delicious and appealing Vietnamese fruit smoothie. Different Vietnamese restaurants serve a variety of flavors, but some of the most popular are jackfruit, mango, avocado, and lychee.
A delicious jackfruit smoothie is available at 163 Vietnamese Sandwiches & Bubble Tea (66 Harrison Ave., Chinatown). For those who have never eaten jackfruit, it has a strong flavor that is described as a cross between mango, banana, apple, and pineapple. It’s hard to compare, but try it with some banh cuon or any of its savory treats. Takeout is available now at 163 Vietnamese Sandwiches & Bubble Tea.
Conclusion
In Boston, you will easily find a Vietnamese restaurant with delicious and beautiful dishes. But don’t limit yourself to familiar dishes, because Vietnam has a very unique and rich cuisine. Choosing the best Vietnamese food in Boston is difficult, but we have introduced you to 5 unique and delicious Vietnamese dishes. Try and feel their taste.
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