Many Vietnamese dishes listed in TasteAtlas' 2023 rankings

Pho: Top 100 most popular foods in the world

Ranked 46th among the 100 most popular foods in the world and 7th among the 50 most popular street foods in the world, Pho (a kind of Vietnamese noodle soup) showed its appeal to global food lovers.

TasteAtlas noted that Pho is not only a national dish but also a way of life for Vietnamese people. It is also one of the most beloved Vietnamese dishes in the western hemisphere, due to its complex, unique flavours, and elegant simplicity, according to the website.

'Pho' is not only a national dish but also a way of life for Vietnamese people. (Photo: TasteAtlas)

Although it is classified as a soup, pho is served as the main course and no two bowls of it ever taste the same. Traditionally, there are two kinds of pho including chicken and beef noodle soup. The addition of herbs and spices accentuates the flavours. Pho Bac, made in the northern parts of the country, and Pho Nam, which is made in the southern parts of the country, have differences. While Pho Bac has a clear, simple, delicate flavour and spices, without the herbs and garnishes, Pho Nam consists of added spices, bean sprouts, various toppings, fish, and hoisin sauce.

Banh mi: Top 50 most popular street foods in the world

Ranked 29th in the list of the 50 most popular street foods in the world, TasteAtlas said banh mi is a popular Vietnamese sandwich in all three regions. Today banh mi has become a symbol of Vietnamese cuisine, thanks to its unique taste and variety in ingredients and processing methods.

'Banh mi' listed among the 50 most popular street foods in the world (Screenshot)

According to TasteAtlas, in the beginning, most banh mi sandwiches consisted of bread, meat, and seasonings, with no added vegetables.

Today, the possibilities are virtually limitless - the sandwiches are stuffed with cold cuts, French butter, fresh mayonnaise, liver pâté, cucumbers, cilantro, pickles, oyster sauce, garlic...and the list goes on. The bread should be light, with a delicate crust and a tender, chewy, and soft interior, with a slightly sweet flavour.

Top 50 Most Popular Freshwater fish dishes in the world

In the list of 50 most popular freshwater fish dishes in the world, TasteAtlas honoured five fish dishes of Vietnam, including caramelised fish in a clay pot (Ca kho to), ranking fifth, grilled snakehead fish (Ca loc nuong trui) standing in the 16th position, and deep-fried elephant ear fish (ca tai tuong chien xu) at 22nd place.

'Ca kho to' is a Vietnamese speciality made with fatty fish cuts that are braised in traditional clay pots. (Screenshot)

According to TasteAtlas, ca kho to is a Vietnamese speciality made with fatty fish cuts that are braised in traditional clay pots. The dish is usually prepared with catfish or snakehead, which is braised and caramelised in a combination of fish sauce, sugar, and coconut water, while other additions include sliced scallions, onions, or garlic. Meanwhile, ca loc nuong trui is made with a combination of snakehead fish, basil, bananas, mangos, cucumbers, carrots, and green onions, said the website.

Ca tai tuong chien xu is a traditional Vietnamese dish originating from the Mekong Delta area and is made by deep-frying elephant ear fish until it becomes crispy and fully cooked, and then it can be served as it is.

Vietnamese coffee: Top 50 most popular coffees in the world

Vietnamese coffees are listed among 50 most popular coffees in the world. (Screenshot)

Coffee culture is an important part of daily life in Vietnam. Vietnam is currently one of the largest coffee producers, as well as the leading producer and exporter of the Robusta coffee variety. Robusta is also the most commonly used variety in Vietnam. From black coffee, the Vietnamese created many other attractive kinds of coffee.

In the list of 50 most popular coffees in the world, Vietnamese coffees occupied four positions including ca phe phin (a kind of traditional Vietnamese coffee) and Vietnamese iced coffee (ranked 15th), egg coffee (32nd) and yoghurt coffee (47th).

Egg coffee ranked 32nd among 50 most popular coffees in the world. (Screenshot)

TasteAtlas provided reviews of dishes around the world based on the opinions of culinary experts as well as global readers. The position of the dishes is subject to change as TasteAtlas readers continue to vote based on their actual experiences to date.

It can be said that TasteAtlas’ rankings for Vietnamese dishes, proved that Vietnam’s cuisine has a certain position on the global culinary map.