Bún Cá Chấm

Bún cá chấm is a Hanoian dish in Vietnam that serves golden fried fish with rice noodles, fish sauce, and a bowl of soup.

Truc Tran (Kris)

By Truc Tran (Kris)

Lastest Updated May 27, 2024
Verified by A-Z Cuisines Team
  • Street Food
  • Traditional
Home » Dishes A-Z » Bún Cá Chấm

Fact: In Hanoi, Bún Cá Chấm Gốc Đa is a popular spot for the locals to get bún cá chấm at a fair price.

Basic Information

Bún Cá Chấm: Basic Information

Pronunciation

/boon kaa chum/

Alternative Name(s)

No

Dish Type

Noodle soups

Course

Main Course

Mealtime

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Popular Variations

No
Origin and Region

Bún Cá Chấm: Origin and Region

Origin

Vietnam

Continent’s Region

Southeast Asia

Country’s Region

Northern Vietnam

Associated Region

Hanoi
Vietnam Map
Ingredients and Preparation

Bún Cá Chấm: Ingredients and Preparation

Main Ingredients

Vermicelli rice noodles, fried fish, diluted fish sauce

Main Cooking Method

Frying and boiling

Preparation Process

Descale and prepare fish, fry until golden, prepare a broth with pork or fish bones, and serve with dipping sauce.
A Deep Dive

Bún Cá Chấm: A Deep Dive

Cultural Significance

A cherished dish in Hanoi

Taste

Savory, sour

Texture

Crunchy, soft

Aroma

Fragrant

Color

Yellow fish

Serving Style

On plates with fish and noodles served separately with soup and sauce on the side

Serving Temperature

Hot

Accompaniment

Fresh vegetables, pickled bamboo shoots.

Occasions

On any occasions

Seasons

Year-round

Special Diets

Gluten-free

Calories

Unspecified

Popularity

Hanoi

Popular Similar Dishes

  1. Bún Chả
  2. Chả Cá Lã Vọng

Popular Dining Area

Street food stalls, casual dining establishments in Hanoi

Bún cá chấm is a Vietnamese dish that features golden fried pieces of fish paired with vermicelli rice noodles, diluted sweet and sour fish sauce, and a warm bowl of soup. This specialty of Hanoi is prized for its crunchy profile along with a perfect balance of flavor from the soup and dipping sauce.

Bun Ca Cham Overview

As a traditional dish, bún cá chấm often makes use of white meat fish like tilapia, perch, or red tilapia. Normally, Vietnamese descale and remove the meat from the fishbone before washing it with white wine to remove any fishy odor for frying.

For the soup, this street food dish is made using pork or fish bones for its natural sweetness. Furthermore, the broth is also infused with pineapple, dill, and tomato cuts for a touch of sourness while providing a colorful look.

Another inseparable factor is the diluted fish sauce concoction which incorporates fish sauce with water, sugar, kumquat or lime juice, and garlic.

Don’t forget to uncover all the pros and cons that people often encounter when eating bún chá chấm along with some common inquiries about it. Also, I’ve prepared for you some dishes sharing a similar concept with bún cá chấm.

Key Points

  • Bún cá chấm is a Vietnamese dish of fried fish and vermicelli rice noodles, served with a soup and a fish sauce dip.
  • The dish is a specialty of Hanoi, and it has a crunchy and balanced flavor.

Bún Cá Chấm Images

Pros and Cons of Eating Bún Cá Chấm

These are a few good and bad features that you should be aware of before eating bún cá chấm:

Pros

  • Balanced meal: It typically contains a good balance of macronutrients – protein from fish, carbohydrates from noodles, and vitamins and minerals from herbs and vegetables.
  • Fresh ingredients: Often made with fresh ingredients, including fresh herbs and vegetables, which contribute to a healthier diet.
  • Versatility: This dish is enjoyed in both hot and cold weather, making it a versatile meal option throughout the year.
  • Satiety: High in protein and fiber, it’s quite filling, helping to control hunger and reduce snacking between meals.

Cons

  • Choking hazard: Some fish pieces come with small bones, which is dangerous for kids to eat.
  • Allergens: Fish is a common allergen, and the dish is potentially not suitable for those with seafood allergies.

Make sure to stick around to find out more about what others think about bún cá chấm through some of the common inquiries that many often wonder about.

Bún Cá Chấm FAQs

The dish itself is not inherently spicy, but it’s customized with fresh chili sauce in the dipping sauce to add heat.

You can eat it by dipping the noodles and fish into the sauce or by pouring the sauce over the noodles and fish, then mixing everything together.

It’s best to store the components separately in the refrigerator and reheat the broth and fish before serving.

No, while it can be enjoyed at any time, people typically vary their meals throughout the year rather than eating this dish exclusively.

Similar Dishes of Bún Cá Chấm

Bun Cha

Bún Chả

Bún chả is a traditional Vietnamese dish of Hanoi with grilled pork soaked in a diluted fish sauce to serve with rice noodles and greens.

Cha Ca La Vong

Chả Cá Lã Vọng

Chả cá Lã Vọng is a traditional Vietnamese dish consisting of grilled turmeric-marinated fish served with rice vermicelli.

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Truc Tran (Kris)

Truc Tran (Kris)

Senior Food Editor

Expertise

Home Cooking, Meal Planning, Recipe Development, Baking and Pastry, Food Editor, Cooking-video Maker, Vietnamese Food Evaluation Expert

Education

  • Hospitality (Commercial Cookery) at TasTAFE
  • Culinary Arts at Kendall College (Australia Branch in Sydney)
  • Vietnamese Cuisine Head Chef at HNAAu School (Vietnam, International Joint Training Program)
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Truc Tran (Kris), an experienced food writer and editor, is great at exploring and describing global cuisines, from simple street food to fancy dining. In her writing, she skillfully mixes different flavors, cooking methods, and culinary traditions, showing the unique character of various cultures through their food and drinks. On azcuisines.com, Kris highlights her knowledge, especially in Asian cuisine and worldwide traditional dishes.

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