The local guide to find authentic Banh Xeo Vietnamese crepes in Ho Chi Minh

Vietnam’s cuisine contains many kinds of cakes, from the vegan one to the meat version. And in this article, we will tell you about the Banh Xeo crepes.  

People said that food is the heart of culture. Believe me, food can “talk”. It’s the shortest way to discover the culture of any country. Thus, if you’ve arrived in Vietnam or you are considering traveling to Vietnam in near future, this article may help you to reach the Vietnamese soul then.

As you know, Vietnam is an agricultural country thanks to tropical and natural conditions. Therefore, Vietnamese cuisine also specializes in this local tradition.

Besides Pho (Vietnamese soup), Banh Mi (Vietnamese baguette Sandwich), Bun Bo Hue (Hue style beef noodles), Com Tam (Broken Rice), Xoi (Sticky rice), Bun Dau Mam Tom (Noodles with tofu and fermented shrimp paste) …, Vietnamese Banh Xeo Crepe is also one of the best Vietnam specialties.

And if you are looking for a perfect made-from-rice meal, definitely it’s Banh Xeo Vietnamese crepes.

Traditionally, Vietnamese usually cook Banh Xeo on weekends or in traditional family events. In the eyes of Vietnamese children, there’s nothing happier than sitting next to the stove and waiting for the first Banh Xeo on cold and rainy days.

So what is Vietnamese Banh Xeo crepe?

Banh Xeo Vietnamese crepe or Banh Xeo is a popular and favorite dish in Vietnam.

It is a crepe made of rice flour, commonly stuffed with thinly sliced pork, whole shrimp, and bean sprouts; and can be pan-fried into a circle-shape or fold into a half-circle-shape.

Actually, in Vietnamese, “banh” means cake and “xeo” means sizzling. It is named by the loud sound made when people pour the flour mixture into a hot pan.

You can eat only Banh Xeo or wrap it with a rice paper roll filled in different types of raw vegetables and have the dish with mixed fish sauce.

Some foreign customers said that Banh Xeo looks like a “salad roll” with messy ingredients but good taste. Some others really enjoy “weird” raw vegetables. And others love mixed fish sauce even fish sauce is a bit kind of smelly.

If you have a chance to travel throughout Vietnam, try Banh Xeo in any area you’ll stop by. To be honest, they will make you surprised. Banh Xeo has many different versions but still special and delicious then.

How different Banh Xeo crepe is due to different regions in Vietnam?

Still being called “Banh Xeo”; however, this dish is varied by region.

As far as you know, Vietnam is divided into 3 main parts: North, Middle (Central) and South. And due to the geographical differences, people vary their cooking styles, spices. So do Vietnamese Banh Xeo crepes! It can have many different recipes and tastes.

In the South of Vietnam, especially Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta area, Banh Xeo has the biggest size in Vietnam.

The cook fries Banh Xeo in a very big cast iron fan. Therefore, its size is big as a large dish and yellow in color. The secret is adding a little turmeric powder into the rice flour to create beautiful yellow color.

Moreover, besides egg, local people usually add coconut milk to the rice flour to make it super delicious. The main ingredients are bean sprouts, mung beans, shrimp, and pork.

The fish sauce is a bit sweet and sour. Also, an accompaniment is provided a dish of mixed vegetables.

In the Central region, we cook Banh Xeo on clay molds to make a smaller size crepe.

The ingredients are a little bit different from those in the Southern part. There is no turmeric powder in the flour mixture. People just sometimes add eggs to that mixture. Therefore, Banh Xeo has a white color and sometimes yellow (with an egg base).

Additionally, instead of wrapping Banh Xeo with vegetables, locals in some provinces in the Central part usually use moistened rice paper. You can try to feel the taste of crispy Banh Xeo and soft moistened rice paper in just one bite.

Believe me, It’ll be an unforgettable experience for eating Banh Xeo and rice paper for the first time.

People in the North of Vietnam also prepare Banh Xeo for their family party and reunion at weekends or rainy days. But they don’t add coconut milk, then the cake lasts crispy much longer.

Served vegetables are chosen from the popular vegetables in their areas. Well, it’s hard to find any other dish that can be combined with any kinds of vegetables only Banh Xeo in Vietnam.

Believe me, Banh Xeo is one of the dishes you must give a try in Vietnam!

Where to find the authentic Vietnamese Banh Xeo crepes in Ho Chi Minh City?

There is no denying the fact that Ho Chi Minh City is a most special city. It gathered many people from different areas in Vietnam.

Fortunately, each of the local people brought their own culture and integrated into the new culture. Therefore, Ho Chi Minh City is the only city that has all versions of Vietnamese Banh Xeo listed above.

There are many ways to discover Vietnamese Banh Xeo. You can book a Saigon Food Tour to travel around the city, and try all kinds of Banh Xeo just in one or two days. Additionally, you can gather in a group of friends and discover new things or even just rent a bike and enjoy traveling yourself.

Banh Xeo has many ways to enjoy, too. You can find Banh Xeo in many alleys or traditional markets. Also can try Banh Xeo in some flea markets.

Banh Xeo can be served for not only breakfast but also for lunch and dinner. There will be more choices about time for you to try then.

However, there are some famous places you should stop by for the first time to find Vietnamese Banh Xeo crepes:

1. Banh Xeo 46A

Address: 46A Dinh Cong Trang S.t, District 1, HCMC

It is named by the address number of the food stall. Banh Xeo 46A is not only famous for one of the longest traditional Banh Xeo selling but also best-known with the traditional taste of Banh Xeo.

Unfortunately, you may have to stay in a line waiting in “Banh Xeo rush hour”. So, please be patient to wait and try this special dish.

I think it might be a fun game to see how patient you are. Who says that can’t wait for a “lifetime” to try one of the best Banh Xeo in the world?

2. Banh Xeo Muoi Xiem

Address 1: 204 Nguyen Trai S.t, District 1, HCMC
Address 2: 213 Bis Nam Ky Khoi Nghia S.t, District 1, HCMC

Muoi Xiem is also a famous brand of Banh Xeo not only in Vietnam but also in USA and some other countries. This brand has achieved many honor awards in many national and international food festivals.

Hence, many foreign and Vietnamese customers choose this restaurant to enjoy Banh Xeo.

A good point of this place is that besides the traditional version, you can make your own recipe of Banh Xeo by choosing and including many kinds of mushrooms. This is a perfect recommendation to those who are vegetarians.

3. An La Ghien

Address 1: 74 Suong Nguyet Anh S.t, District 1, HCMC
Address 2: 100 Cao Thang S.t, District 3, HCMC

An La Ghien is also highly recommended for foreigners who want to try different Banh Xeo fillings, especially vegetarians. This restaurant offers more than ten different types of Banh Xeo fillings at a very reasonable price.

4. Banh Xeo Mien Tay

Address: 31/6 Hoang Hoa Tham S.t, Tan Binh District, HCMC

Banh Xeo Mien Tay is a special version of Mekong Delta.

Let’s try a big and beautiful yellow Banh Xeo stuffed with many different ingredients and feel the smell of fresh vegetables. It’s never too expensive to explore Mekong Delta culture but not have to move far away, just in Ho Chi Minh City.

5. Banh Xeo Ba Hai

Address: 64 Nguyen Trong Tuyen S.t, Phu Nhuan District, HCMC

Banh Xeo Ba Hai is somehow more special than other restaurants by the served vegetables.

Instead of using common vegetables as other places, the restaurant uses raw vegetables – those collected from forests.

This place is serving more than twelve types of Banh Xeo suitable for vegetarian options.

Here are some advice for you on the way to discover Banh Xeo taste:

Firstly, every version has its own special taste; you need to try as much as possible to feel how tasty they are.

Secondly, better to eat Banh Xeo when they are hot

Thirdly, Banh Xeo is a perfect choice for cold and rainy days. Just imagine how warm you’ll feel by sitting in a cozy restaurant, watching how the chef cooks and eating a hot Banh Xeo.

Lastly, it’s true that you can eat well in Vietnam with very little money. Banh Xeo and most dishes in Vietnam have reasonable prices for you to enjoy. So, don’t need to be so serious in choosing a Banh Xeo restaurant here.

Final sayings,

Though different from ingredients and fish sauce or served vegetables, all Vietnamese Banh Xeo versions are enjoyed by thousands of foreign visitors.

Let me tell you a secret. People love having meals with both delicious dishes and a cozy environment, so do Vietnamese.

A Saigon Kiss girl is holding Banh Xeo 

If you want to taste a real Vietnamese environment, let’s find a small food stall with friendly hosts!

You can have a fun time to watch, talk to them, listen to their daily conversations and enjoy Banh Xeo. That’s the sound of Vietnamese life and the taste of Vietnamese cuisine.

Hope you’ll have a nice trip and find the best dish in Vietnam! Having limited time in Vietnam but still want to explore this local tasty food, check the award-winning food tour in Ho Chi Minh of Saigon Kiss team.