Bot chien are fried Vietnamese rice flour cakes. Read about it here: http://migrationology.com/2015/03/bot-chien-vietnam/
When I was wandering around eating all sorts of delicious food in Saigon, one of the dishes I came across was bot chien, the Vietnamese version of a Chinese chai tow kway or a Singapore / Malaysian carrot cake. The dish is made with rice flour cakes, which include a little tapioca starch as well, which are cut into rectangles. The rice flour cakes are then fried in oil, typically lard I think, before an egg is cracked over the top of it, and then it’s seasoned with a handful of deep fried pork rinds, and some green onions, and finally a sprinkle of pepper for extra flavor.
After seeing this street food stall in Saigon, I had no choice but to sit down to give it a try. I loved everything about this particular foods stall – it was located down an alley, it was surrounded by motorbikes, it was friendly, and the owner had that wonderful motherly cook look to her. I ordered a plate, and as she got started cooking my bot chien, I got to meet a little boy and his grandmother as they hung out. One of the greatest things about eating in Saigon is all the extremely friendly and kind people that you meet.
It didn’t take long for her to assemble my plate of bot chien, and after frying up the rice cakes with the eggs, she then topped it with a handful of shredded green papaya, and then squirted on a little chili sauce. The bot chien was served with a dark sauce, which seemed to be a pretty nice balance of sweet, salty, and just slightly sour. I saw some other eaters pour the entire bowl of sauce over their plate of bot chien, but just decided to use it by the spoonful with each bite.
The bot chien was of course a bit on the greasy side, but it was extremely tasty at the same time. What I really liked was the shredded green papaya, which added a wonderful crispness and freshness to the plate. The rice flour cakes were hearty and thick, and a bit starchy. It was indeed another wonderful snack on the streets of Saigon.
Address: Hem 174 Nguyễn Thiện Thuật, just off Ban Co street, very near to Chợ Bàn Cờ Market, but you’ll find this street food snack all over Saigon
Open hours: I think throughout the day, though I’m not sure of the exact hours
Prices: 25,000 VND ($1.15)
Music in this video courtesy of Audio Network
This video was made by Mark Wiens and Ying Wiens in Thailand: http://migrationology.com/blog & http://www.eatingthaifood.com/
► Get our free food video updates: http://migrationology.com/food-news
More delicious Vietnamese food here: http://migrationology.com/2015/02/vietnamese-food-guide-saigon/
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Oh my God. Jesus Christ! The lady who cook is my mom. She left me as soon as she gave birth to me. I'd never imagined her cooking for a customer in a small alley of Vietnam. Oh My real God!!! I found out my missing brother as well in a row. He kept talking while eating Vietnamese food. Judign from his habit of tilting his head, he must be my siamese twins with me. What a coincidence! I miraculously identified two missing family members in this video. Please call the cook with mom, Mark!!
Looks really good, you were using your spoon for the chilies and the sauce I’m sure they are going to use those sauces and chilies again, I’m glad it’s not me…. lol
Lots of bicycle shopping for food very good looking food very nice healthy foods thank you for sharing.
That child at 0:39 is unbelievably beautiful! ❤️ Vietnam from Italy
This is actually Chinese in origin but the Vietnamese have transformed it over a hundred years to conform to local tastes.
Why does my mouth open as the spoon hits his lips lol
this makes me want to drop what I'm doing and head back to Vietnam.
its a shame you weren't there is the 60's. there would have been no war; just eating food.
?????
What's the Thai version called?
Lovely colors w the food. A winner.
another of my childhood food, you're killing me mate, both my stomach and my nostalgia
Mark…How do you know all these authentic dishes? Are you Vietnamese?
I can smell all the delicious smells from here. THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR LOVE OF FOOD ALWAYS MARK
Mark! I’m going to eat everything you did in Vietnam soon ! Thanks for your videos.
Its too small video..?
This food just 15.000
Wow all the food you ate in hcmc look so familiar oh yeah I was born in Saigon Kakakakakak. Anyway I like watching your videos.
I miss bot chein in saigon so much, the frozen ones available just in my country isnt the same
Vietnamese ???
This is my favorited dish, too!
wow…, good food….# 1
There is also a reddish version of this dish !
we have them in Toronto for take out
thank you very much . for introducing my country's culture … i like your video
this is my favorite Vietnamese snack! love the video!
haha i can hear a vietnamese swearing in the background :p
It is pick;ed shredded turnip/Dikon radish (NOT green papayas)!
bot chien it the king food that bot chien is my farvote food. 🙂_