Bun Dau Mam Tom: A Dish That Is Worth the Trip to Vietnam

Bun dau mam tom is a rustic and familiar dish of the capital’s residents. With its rich and distinctive flavors of shrimp paste, tofu, fragrant vermicelli noodles, and other ingredients, bun dau has become a “national dish” that delights both the locals and foreign tourists. Bun Dau Mam Tom is not for the faint-hearted, but for those who dare to try it, it can be a rewarding and addictive dish that showcases the diversity and richness of Vietnamese cuisine. In this blog post, I will take you through the food streets to discover this unique dish.

What is Bun Dau Mam Tom?

Bun dau mam tom is a famous Vietnamese dish, especially in Hanoi. This lovely dish consists of vermicelli, deep-fried tofu, and fermented shrimp paste. Traditionally, it features soft tangled rice vermicelli from Mo Village, with large pieces of tofu that are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.

To serve bun dau mam tom, you would typically find a plate or tray filled with vermicelli and tofu, accompanied by fresh herbs like perilla, mint, cucumber, lettuce, and coriander. These herbs add a lovely freshness to the meal.

The highlight of the dish is the fermented shrimp paste, called mam tom. It’s a dark purple sauce made by fermenting shrimp with salt and water. Some people may find its smell a bit strong, but wait till you taste it! It has a savory and umami flavor that can truly enhance any dish. To make the sauce even tastier, it’s often mixed with lime juice, sugar, chili, garlic, and sometimes kumquat juice. You’ll want to give it a good stir until it becomes foamy and smooth.

If you’re feeling adventurous, you can add some extra ingredients to your bun dau mam tom. Boiled pork belly, fried spring rolls, grilled pork patties, or fried fish cakes are great options. They bring more texture and flavor to the dish, taking it to the next level of satisfaction!

How To Make Bun Dau Mam Tom?

Bun Dau Mam Tom is a dish that is made up of several freshly made ingredients. The name itself already includes all the key ingredients of this dish. “Bun” refers to rice noodles, “Dau” is the term for tofu, and the star ingredient, the “drama queen” of this dish, is “Mam Tom” – fermented shrimp paste.

The essential ingredients required to make Bun Dau Mam Tom are:

Rice vermicelli noodles
Fried tofu
Fermented shrimp paste

These three ingredients form the base of the dish. However, there are several other elements that can be added to enhance the flavor and texture of the dish. Some of these include:

Pork belly
Vietnamese herbs such as perilla leaves, mint, and coriander
Crushed peanuts
Sliced cucumbers
Bean sprouts

Step-by-step guide to preparing Bun Dau Mam Tom

Prepare the dipping sauce:

In a small bowl, mix fish sauce, sugar, minced garlic, and chopped chili to taste. Adjust the flavors according to your preference.

Cook the tofu and pork belly:

Cut the tofu into small cubes and fry until golden brown.
Slice the pork belly into thin pieces and cook until crispy.

Boil the rice vermicelli noodles:

Bring a pot of water to a boil and cook the noodles according to the package instructions.
Drain and rinse with cold water to prevent sticking.

Prepare the fresh herbs and vegetables:

Wash and dry the herbs and vegetables.
Tear the herbs into small pieces and slice the vegetables into thin strips.

Serve:

Arrange the cooked tofu, pork belly, rice vermicelli noodles, fresh herbs, and vegetables on a plate.
Serve with shrimp paste (Mam Tom) and the prepared dipping sauce.

Tips and tricks for achieving the perfect dish

Soak the rice vermicelli noodles in cold water for about 30 minutes before boiling to achieve a softer texture.
Marinate the pork belly with your favorite seasonings for extra flavor.
Experiment with different combinations of fresh herbs and vegetables to find your preferred taste.

Best Places to Try

Bun dau mam tom can be found in almost every city and town in Vietnam, but the best places to try it are still in Hanoi, where it originated. Here are some of the famous bun dau mam tom restaurants in Hanoi that you should not miss:

Bun Dau Phat Loc

Have you heard of Bun Dau Phat Loc? It’s a really famous restaurant in Hanoi that’s known for its delicious bun dau mam tom. They’ve been serving this mouthwatering dish since 1984 and have won plenty of awards for their top-notch quality and service. You can find the restaurant on Phat Loc Lane in Hoan Kiem District.

What makes Bun Dau Phat Loc stand out is their tender tofu, fragrant herbs, and homemade sauce that adds an extra burst of flavor. But that’s not all—they also offer a range of other tasty dishes like fried eggs, fried pork skin, fried fish balls, and fried shrimp paste.

If you’re looking for a place to enjoy some authentic Vietnamese cuisine in Hanoi, Bun Dau Phat Loc is definitely worth a visit. You won’t be disappointed by the delicious food and friendly service. Give it a try!

Bun Dau Nguyen Khuyen

Bun Dau Nguyen Khuyen is a popular restaurant in Hanoi that has been serving bun dau mam tom since 2010. You can find it on Nguyen Khuyen Street in Dong Da District. This place has become super popular thanks to its contemporary and tidy ambiance. People simply love their crispy tofu, succulent pork belly, and zesty sauce. And wait, that’s not all! They also serve up grilled beef, grilled chicken, grilled fish, and grilled squid. So many delicious options to choose from!

Bun Dau Hang Khay

Hang Khay alleyway is quite narrow, making it challenging for two people to pass through at the same time. However, once you start exploring further, you’ll be amazed by the sight of every household selling bun dau mam tom, and everyone enjoying these delicious dishes.

The fact that people from Hanoi willingly wait in line and squeeze into such a tiny alleyway is a clear indication of how extraordinary the vermicelli and tofu with shrimp paste are at Hang Khay.

The price of a full plate of bun dau at Hang Khay is 45,000 VND, not cheap but considered worth it, with high-quality food. Bun dau mam tom at Hang Khay is sold from around 10:30 AM to 7 PM daily.

Bun Dau Mam Tom is a must-try dish for visitors to Vietnam because it offers a unique and authentic taste of Vietnam that cannot be found anywhere else. If you have a chance to visit Vietnam try it once, believe me, you won’t regret it!