In the article "First destination for a journey to discover Asian cuisine: Vietnam", the famous American travel website suggested that tourists should enjoy banh xeo and goi cuon - two typical dishes of Vietnam. Banh xeo is described as "a thin pancake with a crispy golden crust, with a variety of fillings from shrimp, squid and meat or goi cuon, fresh spring rolls served with vegetables".
“Asia’s diverse culinary map offers a sumptuous feast for the palate, with each country offering its own unique flavors and dishes,” says TravelPulse. As for Vietnamese specialties, the US travel site suggests warming up with a hot bowl of pho. Then there’s banh xeo, a thin pancake with a crispy golden crust. These are dishes that showcase a harmonious blend of flavors and fresh ingredients.
Banh xeo is a traditional dish that has long been a pure and familiar dish in the lives of every Vietnamese person. This dish is present almost everywhere in the S-shaped strip of land. In each province, banh xeo will have different sizes, fillings or dipping sauces. However, southern banh xeo is considered to have the most distinctive flavor with a crispy crust, delicious fillings and rich flavor.
Banh xeo impresses with its golden, crispy crust made from diluted rice flour, coconut milk and turmeric. The fillings vary depending on the region, usually shrimp, pork, bean sprouts, mushrooms, etc. Banh xeo is served with raw vegetables, vermicelli, dipped in sweet and sour fish sauce mixed with chili, garlic, and lemon, creating a harmonious flavor that stimulates the taste buds.
Dishes imbued with Vietnamese cultural identity
To eat banh xeo, people usually peel each piece of cake, put it in rice paper, add raw vegetables such as lettuce, herbs, bean sprouts, perilla, lettuce... and eat it with a rich sweet and sour dipping sauce. Diners will immediately feel the delicious fatty flavor with all the sour, spicy, salty and sweet flavors "dancing" in the mouth.
Dishes popular with foreigners
Banh xeo has many variations in different regions of Vietnam, such as Central Vietnamese banh xeo, Western Vietnamese banh xeo, Northern Vietnamese banh xeo... each region has different ways of making and spices. However, Southern Vietnamese banh xeo is considered to have the most distinctive flavor with a crispy crust, delicious filling and rich flavor, bringing a delicious and rich feeling to your meal. Banh xeo is often considered a light dish, popular in meals, parties or snacks.
Banh Xeo was also voted by CNN as one of the most favorite street foods in 2016. When Michelin landed in Vietnam, the guide also continuously added long-standing banh xeo restaurants to the Bib Gourmand list (affordable good restaurants). When mentioning this dish, some tourists compare banh beo to French crêpes.
