Sometimes, balancing your need for halal food with your love for cultural cuisine can be challenging. However, you can still enjoy Vietnamese food while following your diet. Here are some tips to help you get pork-free dishes in Vietnam.
Finding Halal Certified Restaurants
Though plenty of restaurants in Vietnam serve halal food, finding legit ones can be a difficult task. You’ll want to try and steer clear of street vendors because the ingredients are not guaranteed. While their food may look delicious, it is difficult to tell the protein source. Some even prioritize using pork as it is more economical than beef.
Thankfully, Vietnam does have a halal certification board. They visit restaurants and ensure that the owners comply with the rules. In the main cities, these restaurants should be fairly easy to find. If you plan on heading to more remote areas, you will need to do more research. Check out this list of excellent Halal restaurants in Vietnam.
Best Pork-free Dishes in Vietnam
There are plenty of delicious Vietnamese halal foods that you should try while you are in the country. First, you should try Pho, which is one of the most popular noodle dishes in Vietnam. The main ingredient is flavorful broth cooked with beef bones and other herbs, served with rice noodles, and topped with beef slices or beef balls. There is also a chicken version and a vegetarian version. Again, many restaurants will make a point of serving the best Pho. Because of this, when you order this item, you can expect to get a good meal.
Another great option for you to try is Bo Luc Lac. This is the Vietnamese take on a classic, beefsteak. Often, the beef will be placed into buns, as small cubes, alongside a sunny-side-up egg, sometimes with paté and pork sausages, you can always opt these ingredients out.
Other pork-free dishes in Vietnam we would recommend are Banh Mi Cha Ca (Vietnamese baguette but with fried fish cakes instead of pork—remember to ask for no cold cuts such as Cha Lua), Bo Kho (beef stew, usually eaten with baguette or rice noodles), and Bun Dau (vermicelli with fried tofu and fermented shrimp paste—remember to opt out of the meat and cold cuts).
Suppose you’re new to Vietnamese food and are not familiar with ordering food in Vietnam. In that case, another option is to visit Vegetarian Restaurants in Vietnam for a stress-free and authentic taste of Vietnamese cuisine.
Making Your Own Food
If you struggle to find any halal restaurants, you might need to make your own food. Thankfully, this will be fairly easy in Vietnam as plenty of markets serve fresh fruits and vegetables.
If you want to use meat, you will need to do your research. If there is a high Muslim population in the area, you should be able to find a butcher that provides halal meat. If not, you might need to make a request. Most butchers will be able to order some for you.
Once you have your ingredients, you’ll be able to create a delicious meal. One of the tastiest ways to cook your food will be on a charcoal grill. This will allow you to infuse the food with a rich, smoky flavor. If you want to know what to look for, check out this charcoal grills compilation.
Conclusion on Pork-free Dishes in Vietnam
When you visit Vietnam, you’ll experience plenty of delicious foods. This cuisine is known for its rich flavors. Plus, it’s one of the healthiest types of food in the world. Hopefully, you now have a better idea of the type of halal foods you can enjoy when you go on holiday in Vietnam. Or you can stay at home and make your tasty food combinations.