Three Vietnamese dishes among 100 world's best rated meat

Bun cha (grilled pork with rice noodles), bo nhung giam (beef in vinegar hot pot) and bo kho (Vietnamese beef stew) are three Vietnamese dishes among 100 world's best rated meat voted by famous culinary information site Taste Atlas.

Accordingly, bun cha, one of the most well-known Vietnamese dishes, was ranked 76th in the list.

The dish combines three elements: a bowl of grilled pork meatballs served in a cold broth, a plate of rice noodles, and a combination of various fresh greens such as perilla leaves, lettuce, coriander, and morning glory.

"Bun cha is a pork and noodle dish that is intricately connected to Hanoi, where it is believed to have originated," Taste Atlas wrote.

It added: "Although bun cha or similar varieties can be found in other parts of Vietnam, the local Hanoi version is held in high regard. Not much is known about its history or origin, but the dish became internationally recognized in 2016 when it was featured on the show Parts Unknown – in which the host Anthony Bourdain enjoyed bún chả together with the former president Barack Obama."

The dish enterd the world's top 10 best thanks to The Travel readers in July, 2022.

In mid June, bun cha was featured in the Platinum Jubilee Cookbook to mark the 70th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II on February 6, 1952.

Meanwhile, bo nhung giam (beef in vinegar hot pot) was ranked 16th in the list.

According to Taste Atlas, "Bo nhung giam is a Vietnamese version of a hot pot that is traditionally served communal style."

In its basic form, the dish consists of a vinegar-flavored broth that may also include coconut milk or coconut water, lemongrass, onions, or other additions, while typical accompaniments include thinly sliced raw beef and an assortment of fresh vegetables and herbs such as bean sprouts, daikon, lettuce, cucumbers, mint, basil, and perilla leaves.

"Although the name (bò) suggests the dish is exclusively made with beef, it can also include other types of protein such as squids or shrimps. Additional elements include rice paper sheets, which are used as wrappers, and typically nước chấm and mắm nêm dipping sauces," it added.

Bo kho, placed 11th, is a popular Vietnamese beef stew that can be consumed on its own or accompanied by a baguette on the side. It can also be served over noodles, and it is customary to serve a variety fresh herbs on the side.

"The dish includes ingredients such as diced beef, carrots, lemongrass, cinnamon, chili, pepper, garlic, and shallots, all of them simmered in a spicy and aromatic broth," Taste Atlas wrote.

According to Taste Atlas, "the origins of bò kho are still a mystery, although it is believed that the dish has many influences, from both the East and the West."

"In rural areas of Vietnam, the stew is usually much spicier than in urban areas. It is traditionally consumed for breakfast, garnished with chopped green onions, coriander, and onions," it added.

The best meat dish on the list is Asado (lit. roast; roasted), considered an epitome of Argentinean gastronomy and culture.

Asado traditionally features a wide selection of grilled meats, mainly beef, which Argentina is most known for. The meat is cooked on a special brick-built grill called la parrilla, and the fire can either be made with charcoal (parrilla al carbón) or wood (parrilla a leña) which is more typical for the countryside and known as asado criollo, a term that indicates a more rustic, traditional style of grilling.