Vietnam, the country of rice cultivation par excellence, offers an infinite variety of traditional dishes that highlight Vietnamese sticky rice in all its forms. Among these preparations, “xôi” or sticky rice, occupies a special place in the hearts and on the table of the Vietnamese. This versatile dish can be served for breakfast as well as as an accompaniment to main meals or as a snack and is a must-have dish during your trip to Vietnam .
Here’s a look at Vietnam’s delicious and famous sticky rice dishes
Xôi Xéo
“Xôi xéo” is undoubtedly one of the most popular versions of sticky rice in Vietnamese cuisine . It is distinguished by its yellow color obtained thanks to turmeric. It is generally served with fried onions, strips of chicken or pork. It’s a flavorful dish that combines the sweetness of sticky rice with the crunch of onions and the rich taste of meat.
Xôi Lạc
“xôi lạc” is characterized by the addition of boiled and shelled peanuts to glutinous rice. This simple but effective blend offers a unique crunchy texture and a slightly sweet and salty taste at the same time.
Xôi Gấc
“xôi gấc” is particularly appreciated during festivals and special occasions, notably the Lunar New Year (Têt). The rice is mixed with the pulp of the Gac fruit, giving it a natural bright red color and a slightly sweet taste. “Xôi gấc” is often served with chicken or pork, making it a delicious dish thanks to the harmony between the sticky rice and the meat.
Xôi Ngũ Sắc
“Xôi ngũ sắc” or five-colored sticky rice is a visually impressive dish. As the name suggests, this dish features five different colors, normally obtained naturally through various ingredients like Gac fruit, pandanus leaves, turmeric and red radish . Each color represents an element of the five elements of life energy and brings a unique flavor to the dish. Here are the five colors and the ingredients commonly used to obtain them:
Red : Gac fruit (Momordica cochinchinensis), often used in Asian cuisine for its bright red color. It is rich in antioxidants and adds a natural red color to rice.
Green : Pandanus leaves (Pandanus amaryllifolius) are used to obtain a green hue. They are known for their sweet, subtle aroma which is often used in desserts and sweet dishes in Southeast Asia.
Yellow : Turmeric (Curcuma longa) gives a bright yellow color. It is a common spice in many Asian dishes and is known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Purple : Red radish or other ingredients like natural purple glutinous rice can be used to achieve a purple hue. The red radish provides a vibrant color without significantly altering the taste of the dish.
Blue : The butterfly pea flower (Clitoria ternatea) can be used to create a natural blue color. This flower is often used in Southeast Asia to color foods and drinks.
Xôi Mặn
Unlike other versions, « xôi mặn » is a version of sticky rice eaten with toppings such as sausages, spring rolls, fried eggs, pork and pickles. .
“Xôi mặn” is often eaten as a complete meal, particularly popular for breakfast or dinner.
Xôi Vò
“Xôi vò” is a type of Vietnamese sticky rice where the sticky rice is mixed with bean grains. This process gives glutinous rice a unique texture and rich taste. After the sticky rice is steamed, the mung bean grains are mixed through, giving the dish its characteristic « vò » texture which means « to rub » or « to mash », referring to the method of preparation where the sticky rice is mixed or rubbed with the mung beans.
“xôi vò” often accompanied by sugar, grated coconut, or even meat such as pork. Its delicately sweet flavor, its slightly crunchy texture due to the mung beans, and the richness of the coconut milk (sometimes used in its preparation) make it a popular dish for breakfast or as a snack throughout the day.
Xôi Chim
This dish consists of steamed sticky rice mixed with pigeon meat
The uniqueness of this dish lies in the method of preparation and seasoning of the pigeon meat, as well as in the way it is combined with the sticky rice.
To prepare “xôi chim”, pigeon meat is often boiled or steamed then shredded into small pieces. These pieces of meat are then sautéed with onions, garlic, and a variety of spices. This mixture is then combined with sticky rice that has been steamed until tender but still slightly sticky.
Example of restaurant
Xoi Yen Hanoi – Famous brand of sticky rice in Hanoi
Xoi Yen is one of the famous and delicious late night sticky rice restaurants in Hanoi . This long-standing sticky rice restaurant is a familiar stop for sticky rice lovers. The restaurant’s menu is extremely varied, from white glutinous rice dishes such as: corn glutinous rice, peanut glutinous rice, to Hanoi salted glutinous rice such as: Hanoi braised meat glutinous rice, the chicken and mushroom sticky rice, the mixed sticky rice…the whole dish is extremely attractive. . The sticky rice here is soft, fragrant, always hot, and a variety of toppings provides many choices for diners. For many residents of the capital, Hanoi Sticky Rice Restaurant – Yen Sticky Rice is not only a menu for a solid breakfast, but can also replace the main meals and snacks of the day.
Address :
1. 35B Nguyen Huu Huan, Ly Thai To, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
Opening hours: 06:00 – 00:00
2. 29A Tran Hung Dao, Phan Chu Trinh, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
Opening hours: 6:30 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Reference price: 20,000 – 70,000 VND
Bánh Khúc Quân
If we mention the delicious and famous sticky rice address in Hanoi, how can we miss the Khuc sticky rice store at 35 Cau Go? This sticky rice shop has been renowned for more than ten years in the Old Quarter. The sticky rice here is appreciated by diners thanks to the meticulous and careful selection of ingredients. Sticky rice for sticky rice should be velvety sticky rice, pork belly as a filling should be fresh and richly marinated. With careful selection of ingredients and cooking processes, it’s easy to see why this Hanoi sticky rice restaurant is so loved by diners.
Address: 35 Cau Go, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
Opening hours: 5:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Reference price: 19,000 – 34,000 VND/piece
Xôi Gia Truyền Bà Thu – Hanoi’s sticky rice shop is extremely popular
Coming to Hanoi and asking where ancient sticky rice is delicious, the answer is definitely Ba Thu sticky rice. This glutinous rice shop is quite old and is associated with many people’s memories of Hanoi. Even though it’s just a sidewalk with just a few plastic chairs, it never has any customers. The store opened first thing in the morning and by noon it was completely sold out.
The two main dishes that make Ms. Thu’s sticky rice restaurant in Hanoi famous are sticky rice with braised meat and peach spring rolls. The glutinous rice grains are tender and the accompanying meat is richly marinated. In particular, the price of glutinous rice here is extremely affordable, and the shop owner is always friendly and enthusiastic. With only a cart and a row of plastic chairs, the sticky rice shop is always full of customers.
Address: 57 Tho Nhuom, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
Opening hours: 6:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Reference price: 10,000 – 25,000 VND
Xôi Sườn Cay
If you’re not sure what to eat while traveling to Hanoi, stop by 628 Truong Chinh to taste the irresistibly fragrant and spicy short rib sticky rice. The menu here is quite varied, but the “trump point” of the restaurant is the lovely sticky rice with ribs and spicy sauce. The glutinous rice grains are soft, not dry at all, the roasted ribs are delicious and fragrant. What makes this sticky rice dish appealing is the spicy sauce sprinkled over the sticky rice that can’t be as delicious anywhere else.
In addition to spicy rib sticky rice, you can also change the taste with: Hanoi chicken sticky rice, meat sticky rice, egg sticky rice, pate sticky rice… However, the small point Negative of the restaurant is that the space is quite tight. This is why many diners choose to eat takeout rather than eat in.
Address: 628 Truong Chinh, Dong Da District, Hanoi
Opening hours: 4:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.
Reference price: 30,000 – 40,000 VND
Quán Xôi Bự – Hanoi’s sticky rice restaurant is always crowded with diners
When we talk about the delicious sticky rice in Hanoi, how can we ignore the big sticky rice on Lo Duc Street? Even though the space is not too big, it is always clean and neat. The restaurant’s menu is very varied with sticky white rice combined with all kinds of toppings such as: pigeon, braised meat, fish cakes, squid cakes, shrimp roe and perch. A portion of glutinous rice here is quite filling, the grains of glutinous rice are soft, and there are also pickles to eat to relieve boredom.
Address: 61 Lo Duc, Hai Ba Trung District, Hanoi
Opening hours: 6:30 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Reference price: 10,000 – 30,000 VND
Cửa Hàng Xôi Lộc
If you are a fan of Hanoi sticky rice, stop by 68 Ta Quang Buu, here you will find the best sticky rice with fried meat in the Bach Khoa region. Loc’s sticky rice space is quite small, with just a few plastic chairs, but the quality of the food is unmatched. In addition to the famous Hanoi dish – sticky rice with fried meat, you can try sticky rice with pâté, sticky rice with chicken, mixed sticky rice or sticky rice with shrimp paste. The customers here are mainly students, so the price of glutinous rice dishes is quite « cheap ». With just 20,000 VND, you can immediately have a hearty and firm glutinous rice meal for the morning.
Address: 68 Ta Quang Buu, Hai Ba Trung District, Hanoi
Opening hours: 6:30 p.m. – 11:45 p.m. (Closed Sunday)
Reference price: 20,000 – 40,000 VND
– For an authentic experience, it is also recommended to explore local markets and street vendors in Vietnam, where xôi is often sold. This place can offer a wide variety of xôi, ranging from sweet to savory, and are perfect for tasting the diversity of this iconic Vietnamese dish.
Sticky rice is an iconic Vietnamese dish that perfectly illustrates the richness and diversity of Vietnamese cuisine. Whether in its sweet or savory version, Vietnamese sticky rice is a true celebration of flavors and textures. It’s a must-see for anyone wanting to explore Vietnamese gastronomy.
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