Southern Vietnam is home to the largest city in the country, Ho Chi Minh City.
It is the culinary hub for modern restaurants, an abundance of cafes for any budget, home to Japan Town, and an incredible reference point for showcasing the incredibly vast and delicious dishes that are found around the entire country.
Popular street food dishes found in southern Vietnam are Bánh khọt (small rice batter pancake), chả giò (fried spring rolls), Cơm tấm (broken rice with grilled pork and vegetables), and Hủ tiếu Nam Vang (Pork broth noodle soup with seafood and garlic). There is a dish that I stumbled upon and is lesser known to many but definitely deserves a mention - Bánh Bột Chiên.
Bánh Bột Chiên is an authentic street food that is sold at night by vendors dotted around Ho Chi Minh City. It is a deliciously simple dish that is bursting with flavour that is extremely satisfying and filling.
What is Bánh Bột Chiên?
Bánh Bột Chiên is a dish consisting of bite-size cubes of rice flour that is shallow fried in a good amount of oil until it results in a crispy exterior and a soft chewy interior. The foundation of this street food is made from rice flour, tapioca and water which, is sometimes made from scratch, but can also be bought in a block from the market.
As well as the delightful crispy rice cakes, eggs are also scrambled into the dish, and it is then topped with fresh green papaya and spring onions. It is served with a chilli sauce and a good portion of dark sauce that is a balance of umami (fish sauce), salty (soy sauce), sweet (sugar), and a little addition of acidity (vinegar).
Historical Origins of Bánh Bột Chiên
The exact who and when this dish was developed is unknown but it is definitely influenced by both French and Chinese cuisine. The Rice flour that is used in Bánh Bột Chiên was introduced to Vietnam in the late 19th or early 20th Century during the French colonial period. Despite the abundant fields of rice that were and is still grown in Vietnam, rice flour was an ingredient that was not commonly used in Vietnamese cuisine yet was a readily used product in French cooking and baking.
Another significant influence on Banh Bot Chien is Chinese cuisine. The frying of the rice cakes is a Chinese technique as well as the use of soy sauce in the dish. It to evokes a similarity Nian Gao (年糕), that is a symbol of good luck and prosperity that is prepared for the Lunar New Year. This particular rice cake is made from sticky rice and is made in both sweet and savoury versions.
Bánh Bột Chiên has evolved over the years with vendors in different regions of Vietnam, adding their own spin to the dish by incorporating a variety of ingredients like quails eggs, shrimp, meat, radish to the batter, and even cheese. It is quite reminiscent of the Singaporean carrot cake (chai tow kway) which has Teochew origins.
Bột Chiên51
How to Make Bánh Bột Chiên
It is not a hard dish to make and can be cooked quickly for breakfast or dinner. The rice cakes are cut and fried, then scrambled eggs are added to the mix. You are welcome to throw in some bacon or shrimp as a little addition, then top with shredded daikon, spring onions or pickles.
Here is a great recipe by Savoury Sweet Spoon you can try.
Where to try Bánh Bột Chiên in Ho Chi Minh City
Bột chiên Bà Tư
107 Đ. Nguyễn Văn Thủ, Đa Kao, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
11am-6pm
Serving a less crispy version of Bánh Bột Chiên and is plated more omelette style where the rice cake is bound with the egg. It is served with a quick daikon & carrot pickle as well as fresh grated green papaya. Bánh Bột chiên Khoai Môn is also available here.
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Bột Chiên 51
51 Nguyễn Văn Lạc, Phường 21, Bình Thạnh, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
This stall is a bit of a neighbourhood institution. The rice cake cubes are smaller than other stalls and the uncle cooks the dish with such grace and practice! You can order the dish with 1 or 2 eggs.
Open from 12pm-12am
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Bột Chiên Đạt Thành
51 Nguyễn Văn Lạc, Phường 21, Bình Thạnh, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
Open from 2pm-10pm
This place specialises in Bánh Bột Chiên but also does a Bánh Bột chiên Khoai Môn which is the taro cake version.
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There are many more places that serve this delicious street food in Ho Chi Minh City. It is full of calories and protein and there was a lot more eating of other dishes to be done while I was there. I do recommend you try it at least once while you are in this wonderful and crazy city.