From crispy shrimp crackers to durian popsicles, these are the treats you need.
Whenever I get in a Vietnamese grocery fund , I ’m overwhelmed with this sudden sensation like I ’m a Pisces external respiration underwater — the atmosphere heavyset with the signally pungent , fish tank - comparable funk of the seafood counter . This Proustian scent retentivity send me back to a second where I ’m a kid again , grocery shopping with Mom .
The maritime aroma is a welcome signaling that you ’re in the good place . It means you ’ll find live Pisces the Fishes tanks of fresh catfish in the back ( springy shrimp and lobster , if you ’re prosperous ) alongside trays of mackerel - on - ice , quick to be late fry to prescribe and eaten at home with piquant - sour - sweet homemade nước chấm with fresh unslaked lime .
Here , you ’ll come across difficult - to - chance , fragrantVietnamese herbs , spices , and sauce ; 50 - lb handbag ofThree Ladies brand jasmine rice ; import Vietnamese Artocarpus heterophyllus ; and spongy new bean curd from the local tofu Lord who might fry and top the tender tofu withThree Crabs blade fish sauce - laced scallion fossil oil . When you shop for Vietnamese groceries , remember : Three Crabs , Three Ladies .
Design by Chineme Elobuike and Manali Doshi for Thrillist
My favorite gangway has always been the snack aisle , where a attractively multicultural selection of imported snack from all around the world look : Vietnamese shrimp snacks , tamarind surd confect from Thailand , buttery French biscuits , Indonesian coffee confect , Korean onion ringing and choco pies . It ’s an experience that feels distinctly American .
Growing up Vietnamese American in Southern California in semi - close propinquity to Little Saigon ( the diasporic “ Das Kapital ” of post - war Vietnamese immigrant in the States ) and Gardena , I ’ve been ball up by Vietnamese - owned grocery shop and pan - Asian mega - markets .
Pick up these multicultural snacks andpantry necessity — favorites from my puerility — on your next trip to the Vietnamese grocery store or any Asian specialty grocer nearby .
Our favorite Vietnamese snacks and drinks
Coco Rico coconut tree sodaIt’ssoVietnamese and “ absorption food ” of us that one of our secret star ingredient to cook with is a carbonated coconut - flavour soda from Puerto Rico . Somehow found in most every Vietnamese pantry and every Vietnamese grocery shop , we drink Coco Rico straight up or manipulate it down with Pisces the Fishes sauce into a coconut - scented , caramelizedbraising liquid state for pork barrel belly(we’re win over the carbonation tenderize the core ) .
Durian meth ointment popsAh yes , durian , the “ king of fruits”—notoriously banned from hotel and public transportation for its overpowering , so - call “ nauseating ” smell . Some the great unwashed say it smells like garbage ; Anthony Bourdain once said it taste like “ French - kiss your dead grandmother . ” It ’s a multi - superimposed , complex , acquired taste that I recover much milder and easily approachable for first - timers in ice cream ice lolly form . My infrangible favorite ice pops are from the Tropical Ice stigma , which also comes in a formative tub .
Amira tamarind hard candyAt my grandma ’s house in Westminster , California , more often than not , her dining table centrepiece was a ornamental crystal sports stadium overflowing with these individually wrapped tamarind - flavored Thai hard candies . They ’re at the same time tart and just a tad odoriferous — quite refreshing after a meal . Some Vietnamese restaurants let in these with your check instead of those chalky Mentha piperita rest no one ever want .
Design by Chineme Elobuike and Manali Doshi for Thrillist
Vinacafe 3 - in-1 Vietnamese instant coffee mixFor your average extremely caffeinated Vietnamese someone , only an radical - concentrated Vietnamese coffee made from aphin drip filterand condensed Milk River will do . But in a hurry , this clamant coffee mix is second best and most - loved by members of my family . Vinacafe are pre - sugared instant coffee packs flux with pulverized cream pitcher . Just add up water . During finals week back in the day , I ’d pour two pocketbook in one mug and get so caffeinated I was much glowing .
Marco Polo peewee snacksUnlike Korean firebrand Nongshim ’s more democratic ridgedShrimp Crackersor Japanese brand Calbee’sShrimp Chips , these shrimp snacks from the Philippines are greasy , light , puffier , and more finespun . Texturally , they ’re similar toBanh Phong Tom Dac Biet — matte , dense , hard rectangle and ovals made of tapioca amylum and prawn powder that draw up into airy crisps when you cast off them in hot oil . My favorite flavor is theGarlic & OnionandBar - B - Que — somehow they taste like neither flavor description , but I really do n’t mind .
Bánh pâté chaud ( or patê sô)Golden brown , flaky , and pantry with a fat ground pork center ( sometimes made with frozen pea ) , these French - Vietnamese puff pastry dough essence pie can be found under a raging lamp if your Vietnamese grocer has a bakery heel counter . My pa and I always pick up a few of these — some for later on , some for snack ASAP straight out of the brown paper bag they add up in . For breakfast , they ’re perfect with ahot Vietnamese coffee .
Design by Chineme Elobuike and Manali Doshi for Thrillist
Kopiko coffee firmly candyDid I say Vietnamese citizenry love coffee ? Indonesian firebrand Kopiko makes these beautiful singly wrap coffee - flavour operose confect that are savourless and rectangular with legato , rounded edges . This is a heavy gruelling confect ; it go impossibly long and shatters into piercing shard if you ’re a tough - confect - cruncher like me . The depth of their dark coffee smell is unmatched ; the creaminess of the Cappuccino version is almost unctuous . It ’s a deary of my grandma , dad , and uncles because it has such a solid umber flavor that it sort of tastes like Vietnamese umber . These indeed have some caffein kvetch to them . You ’ve been discourage .
express mirth moo-cow cheeseflower wedgesOne of my luncheon bucket favorites as a child is la vache qui rit ( French ) or con bò cười ( Vietnamese ): severally roll , super sonant , modest , creamy Swiss cheese wedge . You simply pull the violent lozenge and peel back the foil to reveal the most dear small high mallow wedge - for - one . Evidence of French colonization , this cheese is incredibly popular in Vietnam and among Vietnamese - American immigrants likewise ; we eat them instantly out of the hydrofoil or spread it atop a croissant .
Formosan fruit jelly cupsI ca n’t think of a sweet gelatinous bite advantageously than this . TheseWilly Wonka - esque loving cup may expect like jello , but they ’re chewier , juicier , a little pulpy , and a thousand times more scrumptious . you may find them in plastic jars of colorfulassorted yield flavors , or single flavors likelychee(the packaging literally say , “ This mathematical product Is Unbelievably Delicious ” ) . Look for the ones that say “ coconut jelly”—it means chewy little cubes ofnata de cocowill be suspended at the bottom for a material delicacy .
Crispy Elmer Rice crackers with pork barrel flossOne of the most habit-forming crunchy - spicy - piquant - fatty - sweet Vietnamese snack ever produce , cơm cháy chiên giòn , or Vietnamese crispy rice crackers , are normally made with leftover Sir Tim Rice at home , deep fry to a golden crisp and go past withchà bông ( pork floss ) and a syrupy , fresh chile - Pisces the Fishes sauce drizzle . fortunately , you could jump all that and find these in plastic to - go containers near the checkout line of work at the Vietnamese market . ( If you have n’t had pork dental floss before , suppose of it as a light , fluffier , spun cotton plant candy - comparable version of substance jerky . )
Gallic Maggi mollify with the red capVietnamese masses do n’t traditionally use soy sauce , at least not the Nipponese and Formosan salt - forward version . Instead , we consider this grim , fragile , umami - packed Swiss seasoning our legendary furore condiment and pantry staple . Vietnamese folk of all generation believe the French - made version is superior ; it ’s almost always more expensive than the Chinese , Mexican , Swiss , and German versions , readsArome Saveuron the front , and has a ruby ceiling . It ’s so popular that there ’s evenknockoffswith an Eiffel tower logotype so be wary .
My favourite way to habituate Maggi is simple : On a garlicky fried bollock with lacey , crispy border over steaming - hot rice , I ’ll rate a pat of European butter on top and finish it with white-hot pepper and generous drop of Maggi .
Where to shop for Vietnamese products
Naturally a culture of culinary crossing , Vietnamese people frequent for groceries and imported buttery essential at Vietnamese - owned markets , Asiatic American super - grocer , Thai grocery stores , Formosan markets , and Korean supermarket alike .
If you live in a large urban center , Taiwanese - owned pan - Asiatic grocer99 Ranch Marketis a favorite of Vietnamese Americans and has been amplify on the East Coast for the past couple years.99 Ranch Market ’s online shophas a fairly dependable excerpt of condiments , instant noodles , and the aforementioned Vinacafe instant coffee . Plus , I ’ve found quite a few Vietnamese necessary onWeee ! , ane - grocer showtime - upspecializing in Asiatic and Latinx ingredients .
Thuan Phat(also known as Shun Phat ) is one of the largest Vietnamese - Chinese mega - market chains , with several locations in California and a few stores in Texas , Oregon , and Nevada . Another smashing multi - state Asiatic grocery option is Korean - own chainH Mart . Formosa Markethas a few East Coast locating , such as in Boston and Lexington .
While there are n’t any nationwide Vietnamese supermarket chemical chain , I ’d advocate searching “ Vietnamese grocery ” on Yelp — results may vary between Chinese , Thai , and Korean markets , but you ’ll usually retrieve something close to what you ’re looking for . It ’s how I foundBangluck Marketin Hollywood ’s Thai Town .
For a chaotic , passing Vietnamese - American market risky venture , check outABC Supermarketin Westminster , California . It ’s one of my grandma and dad ’s favourite grocery computer memory . It ’s push as hell , has next to zero parking , aggressive drivers , and some of the bad reviews . But ! It has everything Vietnamese you could ever need , is always cheap , and is adjacent to a bakery , two fruit stands , anAsian barbecue meat shop class , and a busyBánh Mì & Chè Cali Bakery . Trust us : Park at the coin bank and pass .
