What is Bún Thịt Nướng, what makes it great and where can you get it in Saigon?
What?
I remember clearly the first time I tried bún thịt nướng. Me and a friend had been wiggling our way down Vietnam for a week or two on our wobbly, Chinese-made, fake Honda Wins. After a few beers in Huế, looking for something to soak up the booze, we stumbled upon a street-vendor offering a noodle dish we were yet to try. We were about 3 mouthfuls in when we both proclaimed that this was our new favourite food. The subsequent weeks were spent hunting out anywhere and everywhere that sold it.
To this day, bún thịt nướng remains one of my favourite dishes. It’s an example of what’s so great about Vietnamese cuisine: well-balanced, healthy, simple and flavoursome (yet not overpoweringly so). It really hits the spot on those hot Saigon days where a steamy bowl of noodle-soup just doesn’t have the same appeal.
So, what’s in it? Bún thịt nướng is a cold dish, comprised of vermicelli noodles (bún), grilled pork (thịt nướng), fried spring rolls (chả giò), peanuts, pickled carrots and salad (normally basil, mint and lettuce). As with countless Vietnamese dishes, it’s topped off with fish sauce and chilli (left on the side to be added to your liking).
What makes for a good bowl of bún thịt nướng? Tender, freshly cooked meat, a nice fish sauce and well-cooked spring rolls. Some of the best spring rolls I’ve ever eaten have been whilst tucking into a bowl of bún thịt nướng.
Where?
Saigon has no shortage of great spots to eat bún thịt nướng. Here are some of my personal favourites:
Bún Thịt Nướng Kiều Bảo
For me, this is probably the best bún thịt nướng in Saigon. What’s certain is that it’s definitely the best value. A big bowl with a decent helping of tender meat and some perfectly cooked spring rolls, all topped off with their garlicky fish sauce, will only set you back 26k VND. Salad is served on the side here for you to add to your liking. Be sure to try the nước sâm (mixed herbal cold tea) too.
Open: 11am-9pm every day. 139 Đường Đề Thám, Phường Cô Giang, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh
Bún Thịt Nướng Chị Tuyền
Just round the corner from Kiều Bảo you’ll find Bún Thịt Nướng Chị Tuyền, another great spot. Expect consistently tasty spring rolls and a good helping of peanuts. I’ve never gone to Chị Tuyền and left hungry or disappointed.
Open: 7am-9pm every day. 175C Cô Giang, Phường Cô Giang, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh
Quán Bún Thịt Nướng Cây Mận
Situated on one of my favourite street-food roads, Quán Bún Thịt Nướng Cây Mận sells the best bún thịt nướng I’ve had in Bình Thạnh district. The highlight: some of the crispiest spring rolls I’ve had in a long time (best enjoyed with a big douse of fish sauce). They also offer BBQ beef in beetle leaves (bò lá lốt) and freshly squeezed sugarcane juice (nước mía) – yummy. My top tip – aim to catch the lunch rush to get the freshest ingredients.
Open: 7am-9.30pm every day. 324 Bùi Đình Tuý, Phường 24, Bình Thạnh, Hồ Chí Minh
Bún Thịt Nướng Hoàng Văn
We agree with Streatery that Hoàng Văn is one of the best spots in town. Tasty spring rolls, piles of fresh veg and flavoursome fish sauce by the bucketload make this a must-visit.
Open: 10am-10pm every day. 137 Chấn Hưng, Phường 6, Tân Bình, Hồ Chí Minh
To view the locations, click in the top right and search for ‘Bún Thịt Nướng’.