Three Vietnamese dishes among world's 100 best rated breakfasts

Vietnamese dishes bo kho (Vietnamese beef stew), bun bo Hue (Hue noodle soup) and banh cuon (steamed rice rolls stuffed with pork and mushrooms) have been named among the world's 100 best rated breakfasts voted for by famous culinary information site Taste Atlas.

Accordingly, bo kho was ranked sixth on the list.

"Bo kho 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 of 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.

"The origins of bo 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.

In March, Taste Atlas named bo kho in 11th position in the top 100 world's best rated meat.

Meanwhile, bun bo Hue (Hue noodle soup), placed 61th in the list, "is a staple Vietnamese soup that is traditionally consumed for breakfast, consisting of pork and beef bone broth, bun noodles, lemongrass, shrimp paste, lime juice, and a variety of herbs."

"The soup is much spicier than most Vietnamese soups, and its flavor is often described as rich and complex," Taste Atlas said.

According to the culinary information site: "It originated in the city of Hue, but not much is known about its exact origins or inventor. Usual additions include sliced brisket or crab balls, but every cook makes the dish with slight variations. Many believe that bun bo Hue found its way into mainstream society by way of royal order, and it was influenced by the imperial court's cuisine."

Finally, "banh cuon is a popular Vietnamese street food item consisting of steamed rice rolls stuffed with pork (banh cuon nhan thit), mushrooms (banh cuon Thanh Tri), or both (banh cuon Hanoi).

Banh cuon is a typical Vietnamese dish, with a thin, soft and supple coated cake crust wrapped with different fillings inside.

Traditional banh cuon with a filling of minced meat, wood ear and some black fungus is seasoned and pre-cooked. Each plate of banh cuon is covered with crispy fried onions.

The dish, ranked 96th on the list, is usually served with a fried shallot dip, sweet and sour fish sauce (nuoc mam chua ngot), a variety of fresh herbs, and a lime-based sauce on the side.

"It takes a special kind of skill to prepare these steamed rolls which should always be extremely thin and translucent. Banh cuon is usually consumed for breakfast in Vietnam, while a similar version of the dish is also present in Thai cuisine, where it is known as khao phan," it commented.

In early February, banh cuon was named among the world's top 10 meals in 2023 by leading Australian travel site Traveller.

Ben Groundwater, Traveller's writer, commented: "The food of Vietnam is just incredible. Everything is good, from the noodle soups to the grilled meats to the herby salads to the turmeric-heavy pancakes."

"The dish I really want to explore in 2023, however, is banh cuon. There's a certain magic to the way these big sheets of steamed rice noodles are made, before they're wrapped around savoury fillings and served with herbs and sauce," he said.

The best breakfast dish on the list was Roti canai, "a traditional pan-fried flatbread made with flour, water, eggs, and fat of Indian origin, also consumed in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei, and Thailand. The dough for roti canai is repeatedly folded, so the final product has a layered texture, a soft interior, and a crispy outer layer."