Top dishes in Southeast Asia: A culinary journey
Asian cuisine is ranked among the finest in the world. When visiting Southeast Asia, one of the highlights is to indulge in the local exquisite and diverse cuisine. In the skilled hands of local chefs, simple ingredients are transformed into extraordinary culinary masterpieces.
Here are some of the top dishes you must try when visiting one of our destinations.
VIETNAM 
1. Phở (Vietnamese rice noodles)
A quintessential Vietnamese dish, Phở is a fragrant soup consisting of broth, rice noodles, herbs, and meat, typically beef (phở bò) or chicken (phở gà. The secret to a good pho is the bone broth that has been infused with star anise, cloe, and cinnamon, simmer on the stovetop to lend a natural sweetness. This dish is found on almost every street corner, and is often enjoyed as a breakfast dish but can be eaten at any time of day
2. Bánh Mì
This popular Vietnamese sandwich is a fusion of French and Vietnamese culinary traditions. It includes a crispy baguette traditionally filled with a variety of ingredients like pork, pâté, pickled vegetables, cilantro, and chili. There are more variety of fillings such as crispy skin pork, roasted chicken, all waiting for you to discover.
3. Gỏi cuốn (Summer rolls)
If you are familiar with the famous fried spring rolls, summer rolls is its fresh food twin. Packed with flavor yet very light, these translucent spring rolls are made with shrimp, herbs, pork, rice vermicelli, and other ingredients wrapped in rice paper. They are typically served with a peanut dipping sauce or fish sauce (nước mắm). A harmony of flavor, a refreshing treat in the summer.
Laos
1. Larb (Laap, Larp)
Considered the national dish of Laos, Larb is a spicy salad made with minced meat (chicken, beef, duck, fish, or pork), lime juice, fish sauce, herbs, and ground rice. Traditionally, Lao people considered laab to be an auspicious and lucky dish because meat was not readily available. A herbaceous, meaty salad, this appetising fare is a flavour bomb with spicy, sour and piquant notes that’s traditionally eaten with sticky rice.
2. Tam Mak Hoong (Papaya Salad)
A traditional Lao salad made from shredded green papaya, tomatoes, chilies, lime juice, fish sauce, and sometimes fermented fish sauce or crab paste. It’s a perfect blend of spicy, sour, and salty flavors. “Tam” in Laos means to “mash and mix” which is why you’ll always see this Lao favorite made in a mortar and pestle.
3. Khao Niew (Sticky Rice)
Sticky rice is a staple in Lao cuisine and is often served in small woven baskets. It’s usually eaten with the hands and pairs well with a variety of dishes, especially larb and grilled meats. There are also a variety of dipping sauce usually served with sticky rice, such as smoky aubergine (djeo mak kua), medium-spiced tomato (tomato len) and the thick chilli paste (djeo mak bet)
Cambodia
1. Amok Trey (Fish Amok)
This beloved Cambodian dish consists of fish coated in a thick coconut milk curry, flavored with lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, and turmeric. It’s traditionally steamed in banana leaves for a boost of fragrance. It’s light, fresh and with amazing bright flavors. Perfect served with rice, or sides of your choice.
2. Nom Banh Chok (Khmer Noodles)
A popular breakfast dish, Nom Banh Chok features lightly fermened rice noodles topped with a green fish curry, made with lemongrass, turmeric, and kaffir lime leaves. It’s garnished with fresh herbs, bean sprouts, and cucumbers. The curry broth is rich, with a delicate balance between sweetness and umami, and a distinct citrusy flavor that’s so prevalent in Cambodian cuisine.
3. Lok Lak
A flavorful stir-fry dish, Lok Lak typically consists of marinated beef served with rice, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, and a dipping sauce made from lime juice and black pepper. he beef is typically seasoned with soy sauce, oyster sauce, garlic, and black pepper. The dish is often accompanied by a dipping sauce made with lime juice, black pepper, and salt. It’s a flavorful and savory dish with a delightful mix of textures and tastes.
Thailand
1. Pad Thai
One of the most famous Thai dishes, Pad Thai is a stir-fried noodle dish made with rice noodles, eggs, tofu, shrimp or chicken, bean sprouts, peanuts, and lime, all tossed in a tamarind sauce. This dish is a delicate balance between umami, sourness, and sweetness, an entrance to the various spices that Thailand has to offer.
2. Tom Yum Goong (Hot and Sour Soup)
A fragrant and spicy soup made with shrimp, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, galangal, lime juice, fish sauce, and chilies. It’s known for its distinct hot and sour flavors. Tom Yum is well-known for being served in restaurants, street stalls and food courts in Thailand, which makes it a very accessible dish to try.
3. Som Tum (Green Papaya Salad)
A staple in Thai cuisine, Som Tum is made from shredded unripe papaya, tomatoes, chilies, garlic, lime –juice, fish sauce, and palm sugar. The salad combines crunchy strips of unripe green papaya with fresh chiles, pungent garlic, savory dried shrimp, roasted peanuts, long beans, and tomatoes, all of which are tossed with a salty-sour-sweet dressing made with fish sauce, lime juice, and palm sugar.
China
1. Crossing the Bridge Noodles (过桥米线)
Crossing the Bridge Noodles is perhaps the most famous dish from Yunnan. This dish is a culinary experience as much as it is a meal. It starts with a large bowl of piping hot broth, often made with chicken or pork bones, and then comes the fun part—you add the ingredients yourself. The broth is so hot that it cooks the thin rice noodles, slices of raw meat, quail eggs, and an assortment of vegetables and herbs right in the bowl. The result is a rich, aromatic soup that’s both comforting and flavorful.
2. Yunnan-style Steamed Pot Chicken (汽锅鸡)
Yunnan-style Steamed Pot Chicken, or Qiguo Ji, is a unique dish that showcases the province’s rich tradition of slow-cooking. This dish is prepared using a special Yunnan clay pot with a hollow chimney-like tube in the middle, which allows steam to circulate evenly. The chicken, usually seasoned with mushrooms, Chinese herbs, and spices, is placed inside the pot and steamed for hours. The result is tender, succulent chicken in a clear, flavorful broth.Yunnan’s culinary tradition.
3. Yunnan Ham (宣威火腿)
Yunnan Ham, specifically from Xuanwei, is another iconic dish that highlights the region’s culinary prowess. Known as one of the top three hams in China, Xuanwei Ham is famed for its rich, savory flavor and firm texture. Yunnan Ham is incredibly versatile and is often used as a base ingredient in various dishes, from soups to stir-fries.
These dishes not only represent the rich culinary traditions of Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, and China, but also provide a delicious insight into the flavors and ingredients that define Southeast Asian cuisine. Each dish tells a story of cultural heritage and local ingredients, making them must-try items for any food enthusiast traveling in the region.
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