Vietnamese Grilled Pork Patties with Vermicelli Bún Chả Hanoi

Our bún chả Hanoi brings a mouthwatering combination of grilled pork patties (chả) and pork slices in a punchy dipping sauce served with vermicelli noodles (bún) and an abundance of fresh herbs.

Having been born and grown up in Hanoi, my dad loves northern Vietnamese food. His all time favorite dish, bypassing even pho, is bún chả, a specialty of Hanoi with a mouthwatering combination of grilled pork patties (chả) and pork belly in a punch dipping sauce served with vermicelli noodles (bún), and an abundance of fresh herbs.  My dad reminisced how the smoke wafting from the charcoal grills alone made him salivate everyday he biked home from school in Hanoi’s Old Quarter. This iconic dish earned an international spotlight when President Obama and Anthony Bourdain were seen enjoying a meal on an episode of Parts Unknown. It was a proud moment for me as a Vietnamese! Every family has their own version of bún chả Hanoi, and I couldn’t be more excited to share our family recipe with you.

What Kind of Meat to Use

Traditional bún chả Hanoi has both grilled pork patties and sliced fatty pork or pork belly. With both my parents having high cholesterol, we typically use sliced pork butt which has some fat but not as fatty as pork belly. For the pork patties, I like to use ground pork butt which is a bit fattier compared to other cuts. If you’re using lean ground pork, make sure to add twenty to twenty five percent pork fat to keep the patties moist. Refrigerate both the pork mixture for patties and sliced pork for 2 hours to let the flavor develop.

Tips for Grilling Meat

When it comes to grilling, the charcoal grill takes the flavor to the next level. Using a grill pan over the stove or roasting it in the oven won’t give you that authentic bún chả Hanoi experience. Take the pork patties and marinated pork out of the fridge and bring it to room temperature for 30 minutes before grilling, allowing the meat to cook more evenly from edge center. 

Place the coals on one side of the grill, let the temperature rise to about 375-400 degrees F before tossing any meat on it. Start the pork on the hot side of the grill which will sear the meat and begin to caramelize the sugar. Move the meat to the cooler side to let them finish cooking. By using indirect heat, the result is a tender piece of meat without the seared black marks signaling inconsistent cooking. 

How to Make the Pickled Vegetables

I use a simple mixture of water, sugar, and rice vinegar for the pickle juice. Cut the carrot into thin slices crosswise. Slice the green papaya into 1 inch long and ⅛ inch thick. Pickle them for 2 hours until you’re ready to eat.

What to Serve Meat With

Traditional bún chả Hanoi is served with vermicelli noodles along with lettuce and herbs like Vietnamese mint (rau răm), Thai basil (húng quế ), peppermint (húng lui), and Vietnamese perilla (tiá tô), pickled carrot and green papaya, and a sweet and tangy dipping sauce (nuoc cham). 

How to Eat Bún Chả

In Saigon, bún thịt nướng is served in a bowl whereas the herbs, noodles, and meat are presented separately in Hanoi. Both the grilled pork and pork patties are plunged into the dipping sauce where the smoky flavor and juices from the meat bring a wonderful depth of flavor. To eat, use your chopsticks to grab some noodles and herbs, dip them in the dipping sauce, pick up some of the meat, and slurp everything up. For convenience, I just pile everything in a bowl.

Bún chả Hanoi is hands down one of my favorite Northern Vietnamese dishes. The smoky, flavorful, tender meat along with noodles and fresh herbs are a feast for the senses. Your taste buds will rejoice the moment you slurp up everything in one bite. Having eaten bun cha for over 70 years, my dad is quite particular about how bún chả Hanoi tastes. My dad gave me his stamp of approval for this dish which was a special moment in my culinary journey. With my recipe you can make this iconic Vietnamese dish in the comfort of your kitchen!