I’m pretty darn lucky to have spent most of my life in the San Francisco Bay Area. It may not be the most affordable place to live, but when it comes to variety and plethora of delicious food, SF is it, especially when it comes to all types of Asian cuisine. Vietnamese food is probably the first type of southeast Asian cuisine I ever tried (…I won’t say how long it’s been because that would make me feel ancient). Like most uninitiated eaters, I stuck with the gateway specialties like phở, spring rolls, and vermicelli bowls. I then gradually ventured to clay pot-braised fish in caramel sauce, crispy rice pancakes, lemongrass grill pork skewers, crispy cabbage salads with crushed peanuts…and then practically every banh mi offering on the sandwich shop menu.
So, that’s how I’ve approached curating this list of Vietnamese recipes—starting with the classic five-beef phở Saigon, then moving on to favorites like broken rice or cơm tấm, coconut water caramel-braised shrimp, and grilled pork paste rice paper rolls. From appetizers, soups, and mains to snacks and dessert, we have the entire Vietnamese meal covered. So what are you waiting for?