Vietnamese pancake: A healthy and crispy dish to satisfy your taste buds

Vietnamese pancake is among the top dishes that you should try when visiting the country. It has many variations depending on the tastes and traditions of each locality.

Vietnamese crispy pancakes can be enjoyed at any time of the day (Source: Collected)

Vietnamese food allures visitors with its tastes and diversity. Vietnamese pancake is no exception. There are many pancake variations throughout the country. Although all of them are healthy and crispy, each variation has its own ingredients and special tastes. You definitely should try the dish at least once on your Vietnam trip!

1. Vietnamese Pancake - What is it? 

Vietnamese pancake goes by the name “bánh xèo” in Vietnamese, as ‘xèo’ means the sizzling sound made when the rice batter is poured into a hot frying pan. It is also known as crispy Vietnamese pancake. The dish was introduced into Vietnam by the French during the French colonial period between 1858 and 1946. Since then, it has become a popular street food with many variations throughout the country.

The dish has a crispy layer made of turmeric powder and rice flour, stuffed with various fillings like mung beans and meat or seafood, which is served with lots of vegetables and bean sprouts. There are 2 main styles to make the layer of the pancake: crispy thin layer and thick layer. The turmeric powder brings along an eye-catching bright yellow colour for the dish.

There is also a sweet and sour dipping sauce and some herbs that help enhance the flavours. The sauce is a good blend of spices, including light dipping sauce, sugar, lime juice, garlic and chilli. 

Vietnamese pancake is a pride of Vietnamese cuisine (Source: Collected)

2. Top 5 must-try crispy Vietnamese pancakes 

Each region in this S-shaped country has its own unique variation of Vietnamese pancakes. Below are the 5 most popular variations, which mostly differ in fillings.

2.1. Vietnamese pancake mix

Vietnamese pancake mix has a wide range of ingredients, such as shrimp, squid, pork, mushrooms, etc., which nicely blend together. Experienced chefs even use beer for the flour mixture to make the crust crispy for longer. 

The light dipping sauce includes water, sugar, fish sauce, lemon juice, garlic, and chilli. The dish is served with fresh vegetables and herbs. All the vegetables and small pieces of the pancake should be wrapped inside rice paper to make rolls.

Vietnamese pancake mix is popular everywhere in Vietnam (Source: Collected)

2.2. Vietnamese pancakes with prawns

Boiled prawns are the highlight for this variation of Vietnamese pancakes, which can be enriched with thin slices of pork belly, onions, bean sprouts, cucumber, and herbs like mint, coriander, perilla, basil, etc. This variation is more popular in coastal areas, where fresh prawns are more available.

Vietnamese pancakes with prawns are a delicacy of the coastal areas (Source: Collected)

2.3. Vietnamese seafood pancake

The fillings for seafood pancake Vietnam should include shrimp, squid, eggs, onions, shallots, carrots, coconut milk, fresh bean sprouts and, of course, flour. The dipping sauce for this variation is made of fish sauce, sugar, coconut milk, chilli, garlic, and lime juice.

Vietnamese seafood pancakes contain many nutrients (Source: Collected)

2.4. Vietnamese pancake for vegetarians

For this variation, all ingredients should be vegan, including flour, soya milk, onion, tofu, coconut milk, mung bean, mushroom, carrot, chilli, garlic, lemon, and herbs. The sauce is made of soya sauce instead of fish sauce. The fillings are cut into slices before being stirred in fat to taste. 

If you are a vegan, you can still enjoy Vietnamese pancake vegetarian (Source: Collected)

3. How to eat Vietnamese pancakes properly?

You can eat Vietnamese pancakes with chopsticks or bare hands. You can take a piece of banh xeo and put it on thin rice paper, add fresh herbs, then roll them tightly. Remember to dip the roll into the sauce before enjoying it.

Vietnamese pancake ingredients nicely blend together, creating a unique taste (Source: Collected)

4. Where to find the best Vietnamese pancakes?

While you are in the major cities of Vietnam, remember to try Vietnamese pancakes to see how they differ across regions.

4.1. Vietnamese pancakes in Hanoi

Hanoi’s people prepare Vietnamese pancakes the same way as those in Southern Vietnam do. The fillings may include some more slices of Indian taro and green mango.

Banh Xeo Hang Bo

• Address: 22 Hang Bo, Hoan Kiem District

• Opening hours: 2 pm – 7 pm

• Price range: VND30,000

Quan An Ngon

• Address: 18 Phan Boi Chau, Hoan Kiem District

• Opening hours: 11 am – 9:30 pm

• Price range: VND50,000

Banh xeo Sau Phuoc

• Address: 74 Cau Dat, Hoan Kiem District

• Opening hours: 10:45 pm - 8:30 pm

• Price range: VND50,000 – 100,000

Vietnamese rice pancake in Hanoi may contain slices of Indian taro and green mango (Source: Collected)

4.2. Vietnamese pancakes in Hoi An

In Central Vietnam, Vietnamese pancakes are white and much smaller than those in other regions.

Banh Xeo Co Anh - Song Hoai

• Address: No. 32, 18/8 Street, Minh An Ward

• Opening hours: 9 am - 9 pm

• Price range: VND35,000

Banh Xeo Dai Loc

• Address: 224 To Huu, Cam Le Ward

• Opening hours: 9 am - 9 pm

• Price range: VND30,000

Banh Xeo Muoi Mai

• Address: 2 Le Van Huu, Tan An Ward

• Opening hours: 9 am - 9 pm

• Price range: VND30,000

Vietnamese pancakes in Hoi An are smaller than those in other regions (Source: Collected)

4.3. Vietnamese pancaes in Nha Trang

Banh Xeo Chao Nha Trang

• Address: 87 Hoang Van Thu, Van Thanh

• Opening hours: 6 am - 10 pm

• Price: from VND30,000

Quan Banh Xeo Thap Ba

• Address: No. 749, 2/4 Street, Vinh Tho

• Opening hours: all day

• Price: from VND30,000/person

Banh Xeo Chao 85

• Address: 81 To Hien Thanh, Tan Lap

• Opening time: 10 am - 9 pm

• Price range: from VND30,000

You can try Vietnamese seafood pancake in Nha Trang (Source: Collected)

4.4. Vietnamese pancakes in Saigon

In Southern Vietnam, Vietnamese pancakes are bigger in size with a lot of vegetables and bean sprouts.

Banh xeo Ngoc Son

• Address: 103 Ngo Quyen Street, District 5

• Opening hours: 9 am - 9 pm

• Price range: from VND50,000 - 90,000

Banh xeo Ba Hai

• Address: 49 Nguyen Trong Tuyen, Phu Nhuan District

• Opening hours: 10 am - 10 pm

• Price range: from VND30,000

Banh xeo An Quan

• Address: 71/5 Mac Thi Buoi, District 1

• Opening hours: 9 am - 9 pm

• Price range: from VND30,000

Banh xeo Muoi Xiem 

• Address: 225 Nguyen Trai, District 1

• Opening hours: 9 am - 9 pm

• Price range: from VND30,000

Vietnamese pancake is an impressive dish in Sai Gon (Source: Collected)

Traveling around Vietnam, you can find a lot of interesting things in terms of food, culture, and people. To explore the beauty of the S-shaped country to the fullest, you should stay and recharge your energy at a comfortable accommodation. 

Vietnamese cuisine has made its name all over the world. But only in Vietnam can you try the most authentic dishes. Vietnamese pancakes, in particular, have many variations for you to try, which are all crispy and healthy.

Reference: https://vinpearl.com/en/pancake-vietnam-a-healthy-and-crispy-dish-to-satisfy-your-taste-buds