Bún Thịt Nướng Recipe (Vietnamese Grilled Pork & Rice Noodles)

This is love in a bowl. If you’ve had bún thịt nướng you know what I’m talking about.

You have your sweet bits, sour bits, caramelization, some crunch, and aromatic herbs in a single, colorful arrangement. This was one of the more popular dishes at my mom’s restaurant back in the day!

Depending in which restaurant you order your grilled pork with noodles (bún thịt nướng), you’ll find that it’s presented in different ways.

bowl of bun thit nuong with dipping sauce

For the most part, ingredients are the same, and they’re both eaten with prepared fish sauce (nước chấm).

Thịt nướng litererally means baked or barbecued meat and in this case it’s traditionally barbecued, and the meat is always pork. You could probably do this with beef or chicken if you prefer and it would work too.

Bún (pronounced like boon) means noodles, and for this dish it’s a rice vermicelli noodle which is sold in small packages as dried rice sticks.

How to assemble a bowl of Vietnamese grilled pork with noodles (bun thit nuong) step by step

Presentation Variations

Southern Vietnam

The presentation of bún thịt nướng in the pictorial above follows the Southern Vietnamese style. You usually eat it by mixing everything including the fish sauce. I like to keep the dipping sauce separate, so there isn’t a pool of the sauce at the bottom.

It helps to control the amount of sauce per bite, cuz ya know, I’m crazy like that. I do the same thing with my salads, desserts (chè), or whatever foods that come in layers. Why mix it all up when you can make little combos of your own to enjoy the flavors more?

The bowl is finally garnished with chopped peanuts and then scallions onions in oil (mở hành which is tempting to just dump a ton of it on). I like mine with egg rolls (chả giò) on top too if you have the time to make em! I also like adding cucumbers, which is a Southern ingredient.

Northern Vietnam

In the North, the presentation is slightly different. The rice noodles and vegetables each arrive on their own plate. The meat is put in a small bowl, swimming in prepared fish sauce.

The meat is additionally paired with a pork sausage, called cha (the dish is called bun cha instead). Đồ chua (pickled carrots and daikon) is added on top of the bowl of meat. Northerners eat this by building each bite in their personal bowl, which I guess is more in line with my eating philosophy..

Thịt nướng in Huế, the central region, is a whole other beast for a whole otha post.

However you decide to serve yours, you’re in for a treat!

Some differences in the marinade also really affect the flavor of the meat. Only Southerners use lemon grass in the marinade.

Some recipes for this dish also call for sesame oil, or sesame seeds, but those do not follow Northern or Southern tradition (it’s possibly influenced from the central region).

Marinading Tips

bun thit nuong marinade ingredients

Chop and prep all of your ingredients and combine in a bowl before adding the meat. This makes sure it mixes more evenly.

mixing marinade and aromatics

Add the pork to the mixture and mix. Pork shoulder has a nice balance of fat for this, but may vary by piece so the ratio of fat is up to you! Marinate for at least 1 hour, but for better results marinate overnight.

adding pork to the bowl to marinade

Cooking the Pork

Thịt nướng is usually barbecued, with a wire grilling basket like this one. If you want to make it traditionally, grill it over charcoals. I made this in the oven because it’s a lot easier and it is still delicious. If you have time, barbecuing it is worth the extra effort.

Rice Noodles

boiled and drained rice noodles

The noodles come in small, medium, and large noodle thickness for about $1.50 per pack. I prefer small and medium thickness for this dish–these thinner ones also cook much faster.

You can find these noodles at many Asian supermarkets, but I don’t think I’ve seen these at any American ones. American ones will have pho noodles, which aren’t what we’re looking for here. Simply boil the dried rice vermicelli (bún) according to the package instructions.

The large thickness ones will work if you have no other option, but isn’t ideal for this dish.

Dipping Sauce

Don’t forget to prepare some super simple fish sauce for this bowl too. The meat is marinaded but the veggies and noodles still need seasoning–the dish is simply incomplete and underseasoned unless you add this!

A bowl of Vietnamese grilled pork with vermicelli noodles, eggrolls with fresh and pickled veggies (bun thit nuong) | HungryHuy.com

Lots of people will drizzle this over the bowl before eating, but I like to have control over each bite and dip the meat in befor each bite. I eat slower than most folks and I don’t want the noodles to get all sogged up :).

Now that you’ve had an earful of information, time to eat!

bun thit nuong Pinterest image
bowl of bun thit nuong with dipping sauce

Bún Thịt Nướng Recipe (Vietnamese Grilled Pork & Rice Noodles)

4.99 from 154 votes
Vietnamese bún thịt nướng is a delicious combination of grillled pork, noodles, veggies, and fish sauce.
You have your sweet bits, sour bits, caramelization, some crunch, and aromatic herbs in a colorful bowl. And it's easy to make
BY: Hungry Huy
Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 25 minutes
Marinading: 1 hour
Total: 1 hour 45 minutes
SERVINGS: 4 bowls

Ingredients

  • 1.5 lb (680.4 g) pork shoulder sliced (any cut will do)
  • 1 package rice noodles small or medium thickness
  • 4-6 egg rolls optional

Marinade

  • 3 tbsp shallots minced
  • 1.5 tbsp garlic minced
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 tbsp fish sauce
  • 1/2 tbsp thick soy sauce
  • 1/2 tbsp pepper
  • 3 tbsp neutral cooking oil

Vegetables

  • green leaf lettuce
  • mint rau thơm
  • Vietnamese perilla tiá tô
  • Vietnamese balm kinh giới
  • cucumbers sliced

Garnish

  • pickled daikon and carrots (đồ chua)
  • 1/2 tbsp scallion in oil (mở hành)
  • 1/2 tbsp crushed peanuts

Instructions 

  • Slice the uncooked pork thinly, about 1/8". It helps to slightly freeze it beforehand.
  • Mince garlic and shallots. Mix in a bowl with sugar, fish sauce, thick soy sauce, pepper, and oil until sugar dissolves.
  • Marinate the meat for 1 hour, or overnight for better results.
  • Bake the pork at 375 F for 10-15 minutes or until about 80% cooked. Finish cooking by broiling in the oven until a nice golden brown color develops, flipping the pieces midway. Don't take your eyes off the broiler!
  • Assemble your bowl with veggies, noodles, and garnish. Many like to mix the whole bowl up and pour the fish sauce on top, but I like to make individual bites and sauce it slowly.
Nutrition Facts
Bún Thịt Nướng Recipe (Vietnamese Grilled Pork & Rice Noodles)
Serving Size
 
0 g
Amount per Serving
Calories
215
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
7
g
11
%
Saturated Fat
 
3
g
19
%
Cholesterol
 
70
mg
23
%
Sodium
 
434
mg
19
%
Potassium
 
414
mg
12
%
Carbohydrates
 
15
g
5
%
Fiber
 
1
g
4
%
Sugar
 
13
g
14
%
Protein
 
21
g
42
%
Vitamin C
 
2
mg
2
%
Calcium
 
26
mg
3
%
Iron
 
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine: Vietnamese
Keyword: bbq, grilled, noodles, pork, rice noodles
Did you cook this recipe?Tag @HungryHuy or #hungryhuy–I’d love to see it!

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168 comments on “Bún Thịt Nướng Recipe (Vietnamese Grilled Pork & Rice Noodles)

  1. Feminine 23 says:

    OMG I’m dying for this. Will try your way of marinating 🙂

    1. Huy says:

      Success–getting you into the kitchen! 🙂

      1. PaperPatti says:

        5 stars
        I’m giving this 5 stars & I haven’t tasted it yet! : ) I just put the marinading pork in the frig. I did add about a tsp of sesame seeds because when you mentioned them it sounded good. Can’t wait to prepare this delicious dish. I’m wondering if you have a recipe for Vietnamese Noodles with Lemongrass Chicken (Bun Ga Nuong) & if you have a preference for fresh lemongrass vs. lemongrass powder or paste? Thanks for posting & all of the helpful pictures!

      2. Huy says:

        Hey Patti, no recipe for that one yet. I typically use fresh and frozen lemongrass to get the flavor as fresh as possible. Thanks for sharing as well!

  2. Le To Quynh says:

    Toàn là thịt không thấy cọng bún nào. Hihi. Cám ơn anh Huy đã chia sẻ ^^

    1. Huy says:

      Ăn kiểu Mỹ mà 🙂

  3. Briana E. says:

    5 stars
    This is the dish of my dream. I have most of these ingredients, I am going to run off to the store and pick up the rest right away so I can make this and no longer have to go out to eat it! I am so happy I found your site, everything you make is a favorite for me.

  4. Kevin @ Closet Cooking says:

    That looks so nice and fresh and tasty!

    1. Huy says:

      Thanks Kevin!!

  5. Julia | JuliasAlbum.com says:

    As always, you do not disappoint. Another recipe to bookmark.

  6. J&J says:

    At what temperature to bake the pork?

    1. Huy says:

      Ah sorry I missed that! You can bake around 375 and check the meat for doneness as it cooks. You just want to cook it almost all the way through before broiling it.

  7. Linda says:

    Ah, just came back from the gym and these photos are making me hungry. The marinade sounds delicious. Your knowledge about the different regions is really impressive too. I think I’d like it with lemongrass—does that make me more of a Northerner? 😉

    1. Huy says:

      Haha, that it does!

  8. Julia says:

    How many servings for this recipe?

    1. Huy says:

      You can get about 4-6 servings, depending on how much pork you want!

  9. Ellen says:

    Hi, Huy- about how large are your shallots? In the pic, it looks about the size of a quarter cup. Shallots from my Asian market are huge, whereas the ones at my American markets are just about the size of 2-3 garlic cloves.

    1. Huy says:

      Hey Ellen, the one used here is almost the size of a full bulb of garlic, so more likely the Asian variety. I wouldn’t be too afraid of over-shalloting though.

  10. Jacqueline says:

    Hi Huy! What part of the pig you use? Perhaps the shoulder?

    1. Huy says:

      Hi Jacqueline, yep shoulder for this recipe.

  11. Vy says:

    Sorry, I’m not familiar with “thick soy sauce.” Is that like the Golden Mountain Seasoning Sauce tuong gia vi?

    1. Huy says:

      Hi Vy, thick soy sauce is basically molasses and sugar used to add color only. I get mine in a jar, and it lasts forever. If you don’t have an asian market nearby to get it, I have a post that shows you how to make caramel sauce for color.

  12. Tish says:

    5 stars
    Hi,

    Just wanted to let you know that I tried your recipe as well as the recipe for nước chấm and it was…DELICIOUS! Thanks for sharing! 🙂

    1. Huy says:

      Glad you enjoyed it! Isn’t it so simple?

  13. Semimoonman says:

    Thank you, thank you, thank you! This recipe solves two problems for me: 1) where to get good bun in rural Vermont and 2) what to do with all those “fresh ham steaks” from our pig. I’ve tried a few other recipes and nothing has worked close to this well.

    This is delicious. I ended up skewering and grilling these over low heat. I’ll be making more soon.

    1. Huy says:

      Ah I’m glad it worked out for you so well, Semi moon man. Grilling is doin it right!

  14. Michelle says:

    Can you use dark soy sauce to replace the thick soy sauce? Can’t wait to try this recipe!

    1. Huy says:

      Hi Michelle! I think dark soy sauce is a denser, deeper colored sauce with sodium. You’d probably have to adjust the recipe slightly to use this as a substitute (I’ve never tried).

      Thick soy sauce is for color. If you don’t have it you can follow my caramel color recipe to replace it. Hope that helps!

  15. Nanchak says:

    Great recipe! One of my favorite dishes. One question, will Indonesian kecap manis work for the soy sauce? Thanks!

    1. Huy says:

      I’m not familiar with kecap manis, so I’m not sure, sorry! It sounds like a thick, sugar-added soy sauce though so may be able to adjust the recipe to use it.

      1. sundevilpeg says:

        5 stars
        Let me jump in here – kecap manis is pretty much the same as thick soy sauce. Your result will be identical.

  16. le binh says:

    great blog! can’t wait to try this one out!

  17. leojas says:

    what type of lettuce did you use? (romaine ? butter? leaf?)

    1. Huy says:

      I use leaf lettuce since I’m used to the smell and combo with Vietnamese herbs and flavors. Haven’t tried it with romaine lettuce or butter lettuce though, it might work too!

      1. leojas says:

        I made this recipe today. It came out so good. Thank you Huy.

      2. Huy says:

        I’m so happy to hear it came out well!! I’d love to see pics of it or if you ever cook more recipes in the future 🙂

  18. stephanie says:

    I am excited to try this recipe this weekend but am wondering about how to cook the pork in the oven. Review above mentioned 375 for 10-15 minutes but do i just lay it out on a baking pan? thank you!

    1. Huy says:

      Hey Stephanie, sorry it wasn’t made clearer! Yes 375 for 10-15 minutes on a baking pan but don’t cook it all the way–crank it to broil to take it to the finish line to get some nice color on it. All times will vary depending on how far your tray is from the top, your oven, meat thickness, etc. so I’d use the times as an estimate. Hope that helps!

  19. Lyndsey Myers says:

    5 stars
    This was AMAZING. I couldn’t get my hands on thick soy sauce, so I excluded it. I actually used a little bit of Kitchen Bouquet (unconventional, yes) to provide a darker, more caramel color to the pork. Otherwise, grilled the pork whole on a gas grill and sliced to service. It was absolutely delicious.

    1. Huy says:

      Lyndsey, I’m glad you liked it! Thanks for the tip too–I’m sure it’ll help folks out who don’t have thick soy sauce on hand. Just gotta make sure to adjust the rest of the seasoning to not make it too salty.

    2. DC Matthews says:

      5 stars
      I have never had the meat with soy sauce. Seems all the restaurants in Little Saigon and surrounding ( California) just do the fish sauce and the rest . also some use mint and cilantro shredded leaf lettuce and julienned cucumber in the base w/ pickled veggies and peanuts on top. I love perilla/shiso so I am growing it now, but that is hard to come by. Basil can also add flavor as a sub.

      1. Huy says:

        Hello DC! The ‘thick soy sauce’ is basically just color for the marinade and not for dipping. It doesn’t add a soy sauce flavor. So yes! You are correct about how these shops typically serve it.

        Awesome solution for foods you don’t have access to–just grow it yourself 🙂

  20. Alex says:

    5 stars
    I made it and it was like heaven in my mouth! The best meat I’ve ever had.
    Thank you:)

    1. Huy says:

      Killer, Alex! I’m glad you enjoyed it–you must be getting this by the truckload in Vietnam though, no? 🙂

  21. Bryan says:

    Huy, This evening my wife and I went to my favorite restaurant and I ordered this dish for both of us. I explained I have this dish two to three times a week for lunch. As we had dinner she told me she loved this dish. We just arrived home and I found this recipe. Going shopping tomorrow so I can let the meat marinade overnight and have it for dinner the next night. Love the pictures and simple instructions. Thanks!!! Bryan

    1. Huy says:

      Wow Bryan, 2-3 times a week for lunch–you’re a fanatic! Thanks and I’m glad you enjoyed the post.

      You could probably make 1 batch large enough to eat for a whole week, hah! Even though eating out is fun too. Hope it turns out as good as your restaurant 🙂

  22. Ryan says:

    Hey, love the recipe. Would this also work with pork chop if it were thinly sliced?

    1. Huy says:

      Hey Ryan, thank you! I imagine it should be ok without mods. If it’s pretty thick, the marinade as formulated may need adjustment or more time to have the same effect. Hope that helps.

  23. Amanda Vuu says:

    What kind of pork works best?

    Thanks!

  24. Tony says:

    When you call for “1 shallot” are you referring to the entire shallot, or one bulb from the shallot? I just wanted to make sure, because I’ve seen this presented both ways in recipes.

    Thanks!

    1. Huy says:

      Hey Tony sorry for the confusion, I’ve updated the recipe to be more accurate. It should be 3 tablespoons of minced shallots and 1.5 tablespoons of minced garlic. Hope that helps!

  25. Ann B. says:

    5 stars
    Thank you for sharing this recipe. This recipe is authentic Vietnamese cuisine that was very easy for me to make. The flavor profile brought me right back home. All of my American friends also loved the dish 🙂

    1. Huy says:

      Awesome Ann! Yep its pretty easy to make, and it’s safe enough for Americans to hang with if they aren’t afraid of fish sauce :). Thank you for sharing

  26. Tony says:

    Huy oi,lam on goi ve email cach lam thit nuong bang tien Viet. Cam on rat nhieu !

  27. marco says:

    5 stars
    love this recipe, know it since some time and need to rate it with 5* 🙂 good to see you back on track with the blog. regards from zurich, marco

    1. Huy says:

      Marco–I appreciate the kind words and thanks for the rating! I fell off the posting wagon a bit but I’m back. Didn’t know anyone was missing these posts hehe ;). You have great food photos and styling!

  28. Kimberly Tran says:

    Thanks for the recipe! You noted using pork shoulder over pork butt, but I believe that those are the same thing, as the pork shoulder consists of the pork butt and picnic.

    Maybe I’m just crazy, but I always thought the thit was marinated in ginger as well. I always felt that there was a distinct aroma to it.

    1. Kimberly Tran says:

      I forgot to ask– Is Hoisin sauce a suitable substitute for the thick soy sauce?

      1. Huy says:

        Hi Kimberly!

        Yep those cuts are the same. I went for one without any skin or bones. I’m not sure if others put ginger in this. I’ve seen lemongrass sometimes though.

        Don’t swap the thick soy sauce with hoisin. The thick soy sauce is just for adding color, so if you can’t buy it, substitute with homemade caramel color instead (which to me, tastes better than thick soy sauce).

      2. Kimberly Tran says:

        I’m hesitant to try the caramel color because I am not a fan of sweet tasting foods (such as honey ham, sweet BBQ sauce, etc). Do you feel that it sweetens the meat?

      3. Huy says:

        Honey ham is pretty dang sweet to me, but I do like BBQ sauce. This recipe isn’t nearly as sweet as those.

        As you darken the caramel more it will taste slightly more bitter vs sweet. Also you can cut down the amount of caramel color in the marinade too. Hope that helps!

  29. Aislinn says:

    4 stars
    I used this recipe for the pork marinade to go along with my left-over summer roll veggies. It was excellent!

    1. Huy says:

      Rolls sound good right about now :). Glad you enjoyed it and thank you for sharing.

  30. Laura says:

    Wow – this looks so amazing! I really love your photography as well. I ate Bun for the first time in Seattle at Green Leaf Vietnamese, and it was mind blowingly good. I need to make this ASAP!

  31. Carol says:

    I made this dish last year and it was so,so delicious. I am back for the recipe because I am craving it again. I am getting ready to pickle the carrots. I couldn’t find any daikon at the store today, but when I find some I will pickle them. I am going to make several batches so that I can have them on hand when I need them since this recipe is a bit time consuming. It is worth the work though.

  32. AntoniaB says:

    5 stars
    Just wanted to thank you for this – my husband and I love it with the sauce! I discovered it when I bought pork shoulder that was very fatty and was searching for a new recipe. I’m a vegetarian so make mine with tofu – delish.

  33. Stephanie says:

    Hello there,

    It was about time that I leave you a comment for one of my favorite recipe.
    I have To say I did it at least 4 times already as it is, about to do it again for a famill diner In a few days 😉
    I even use the marinade recipe for my banh mì, which I already did 3 Times, so I can say I really tried out your recipe, following it relegiously LOL

    Thanks for sharing such a great and authentic recipe!
    Warm greetings from France.

  34. My says:

    5 stars
    Omg, this is one of my favorite Vietnamese dishes, and I’m drooling over here already! I think I definitely must give it a try in the near future!
    Your blog is amazing, I love it! Greetings from Germany!

    1. Huy says:

      Hey My, hello from the States! Glad to hear you liked the post–give it a shot and let me know how it turns out 🙂

  35. Hollie M says:

    5 stars
    Hi Huy,
    I was intrigued by your bio because we have so many similarities in our life stories. I am also first born generation here and my parents also had a restaurant (ours was in Vietnam). I grew up with absolutely no appreciation for my mom’s 4-5 course meals which always included a soup and a green vegetable dish. The dinners I looked forward to was the rare occasion we got to have Big Macs (because they were on special for $0.99!) Lol! But fast forward to my adult life with my own children, I’m trying to cook dishes for them that I was so fortunate to grow up with.
    Which brings me to your Bun Thit Nuong recipe! Simply amazing!!! My mom, who NEVER likes or compliments anyone’s food, was quite surprised and impressed! She ate her entire bowl! This was the first time I’ve ever cooked her a Vietnamese dish. My nephew, who is only 4, ate 3 bowls!! I love the flavor of the marinade. Thank you so very much or sharing your recipes! I’m actually making your Ga Kho tonight and bought all the ingredients to make your Ca Ri Ga after. I really appreciate you sharing your recipes to all of us! I can’t thank you enough! From one American born Vietnamese to another, THANK YOU HUY 😉

  36. Michael Simpson says:

    5 stars
    I was looking for a Vietnamese BBQ pork recipe a couple of weeks ago and I found your website and recipe. I tried it and it was great. That night I used pork ternderloin sliced 1/2 inch thick on the diaganal and cooked in a hot pan 2 minutes each side till good dark color. I’m having friends over on friday night and am going to do it for them. Perhaps spring rolls as well. And some kind of asian dessert. Thanks for being there,

  37. Lacey says:

    This was incredible. My boyfriend is demanding I make it once a week now. Also, I’m making a mason jar full of nuoc cham. Great recipe. We spent a month in Vietnam last year and have been missing the food ever since. Thank you so much!

  38. Bruce E Cunningham says:

    5 stars
    A mouth filling delightful recipe that satisfies all who taste it. Have tried several version but this is the best of them all. I did use pork butt, cut slightly thicker and roasted in the oven. Will do again and again.

    Thank you.

  39. Melissa says:

    5 stars
    Thank you very very much for this post! I made this last night and nearly cried it came out so perfectly. This is my favorite Vietnamese dish and I don’t know why it took me so long to recreate it at home. Flawless recipe. Thank you thank you thank you!

    1. Huy says:

      Melissa–that’s very sweet, so happy this worked out for you! Thanks for reading and for sharing the experience on your blog too 🙂

  40. Rafa says:

    5 stars
    Huy, thanks for this recipe. It was my first attempt ever at a Vietnamese dish and it was a success. Easy to follow instructions and, my-oh-my, what a delicious treat it turned out to be. 🙂

    1. Huy says:

      Rafa–I’m honored that your first try at a Vietnamese dish was from here! Glad you enjoyed it 🙂

  41. Alex says:

    5 stars
    Tried the recipe today and it was great. Wish I could post a pic of what it looked like 😛
    Thank you for the recipes! Keep’em coming!

    1. Huy says:

      Hey Alex, glad it worked out for you! Thanks for reading 🙂

  42. MartPoz says:

    Hey Huy, I’m so happy I found your site. I have been
    Deliriously looking for the recipe for Pho with BBQ
    Pork and egg rolls that has all the intoxicating Flavors
    And head spinning notes of this dish that I became
    Addicted to at Lemon Grass Vietnameise Restaraunt
    Here in St. Louis Mo. I just finished putting the Marinade together and it struck me. If You use black pepper or
    Cracked red or Sechzuion? So I will know if I should
    Use black pepper again next time. Thank you for
    Sharing these Very Special Recipes.

    1. Huy says:

      Hey MartPoz! I’ve only tried using black pepper in this recipe 🙂

  43. Nic says:

    Hi Huy

    What kind of pork is good? I mean which kind of cut?

    Thanks!

  44. AMP says:

    5 stars
    Having lived for over 20 years in Hawaii, I have been spoiled by eating authentic Vietnamese foods from small ‘hole in the wall’ places. I have tried so many Vietnamese restaurants in my new home here in Florida and none are authentic so I must now learn how to make my ‘comfort food’ at home. This recipe is outstanding… but I added a bit more fish sauce and molasses (my Asian store doesn’t carry the thick soy sauce at the moment). THANK YOU HUY!!! Now I am not deprived of one of my favorite dishes.
    Do you have an authentic recipe for avocado shakes?

  45. Lacey says:

    5 stars
    I’ve been making this in batches and making freezer bags of the raw meat in marinade. It’s turned out flawlessly every time. Thanks a billion for this recipe! Now if I could figure out how to make the French baguettes the way the Vietnamese do, I’d be set!(i’ve gotten baguettes at bakeries, just not the same :(…) I’ve had a baguette and curry craving!

  46. Christi Z says:

    5 stars
    This has been my absolute favorite Vietnamese dish since I can remember. I’ve searched forever for a recipe for the pork and nothing ever came close… That is until I found yours! Perfection as always! Thanks for yet another keeper and go to recipe. Talk about love in a bowl!

  47. Benbobbi says:

    5 stars
    Yep, I made this marinated pork part of this recipe last night. It was fantastic and easy! I used the pork to make soft tacos with a mango, red onion, cilantro salsa as well as a simple carrot, daikon, rice vinegar, sugar relish. So yummy, even my picky Japanese 93 year old mom loved them! It’s a keeper. Thanks for the recipe.

  48. Lien Case says:

    5 stars
    Thank you for sharing great recipes and great pics

    1. Huy says:

      Sure thing Lien!

  49. Shan says:

    5 stars
    Gorgeous photography and light, Huy! I like how you thoughtfully provided steps in how to layer and present this dish. I love cooking at home but I’m clueless when it comes to presenting and plating food. You’ve earned a new follower.

  50. Jay says:

    5 stars
    I tried this dish in ’95 in Costa Mesa Calif. at a Vietnamese restaurant, The Vietnam Pearl. (Hi Sabrina:) I was so bored with American cuisine, having been born/raised in The U.S., and served in The U.S. Army – I’ve heard about Vietnam! I was a little/LOT skeptical at first, I think the fish sauce smell threw me, but I Fell In Love With This Dish! I have tried other Vietnamese restaurants take on this dish – but it never comes close because they don’t BBQ the pork (burn it), which gives it a delicious character. Anyway – Enough talking – I’m off to the store with this list of ingredients and I will report back with my delicious results!

  51. Adriana Gutierrez says:

    5 stars
    I absolutely love this recipe! It’s easy to follow and delicious. My boyfriend is Vietnamese and he loves when I make this for him! He says it taste just like a Vietnamese restaurant. I really appreciate it, will definitely continue scoping out your website for more recipes.

  52. Marlene says:

    5 stars
    My family loves this recipe. Thanks for posting and for including details like about the wire basket. That was a missing piece of the puzzle for me in making this dish.

  53. Chieu says:

    It was delicious. Thank you. Need a video on how to cut the meat though.

    1. Huy says:

      Glad to hear it worked out Chieu! Thanks for the tip, yea you can take that many different ways if you decide to skewer it or not but I agree its a detail I’m lacking here.

  54. Tracy says:

    5 stars
    This recipe is so good! My kids absolutely love it!

  55. Cara says:

    5 stars
    I just have a question.
    Since you said the thick soy-sauce is for color only, where does the flavor come from? The fish sauce and sugar?
    And what do you mean by neutral oil? could I use olive oil for that?
    Thank you so much for the recipe, I am in love with Viet cuisine these days.

    1. Huy says:

      Great to hear from you Cara! The flavor comes from everything else in the marinade. Neutral oils are ones that don’t impart a strong flavor–olive oils tend to be strong.

  56. Erika says:

    5 stars
    This is the first recipe I’ve tried from your collection of recipes and I absolutely loved this! A lot of fun in the preparation and the flavors are amazing. I look forward to making more. Thank you!

  57. CJ says:

    5 stars
    I made bún thịt nướng for the first time using your recipe and it was delish! My husband thought it was better than the restaurant! 😀

  58. Ai Tang says:

    5 stars
    Hi Huy,

    Thank you for sharing this great way of recipe. my 3 kids plus the ”big” kid love the spring roll. I made from other web site. they did not like them. You got 6 STARS.

    Thank you again.

    Ai

  59. Preston Phillips says:

    5 stars
    This was my favorite meal at our local Vietnamese restaurant until it closed last year. I was very sad but now I can make it myself. It was even better than at the restaurant! Thank you!

  60. Anna says:

    4 stars
    What kind of pork do you use?

  61. Nancy says:

    5 stars
    This looks amazing! My favorite Vietnamese dish with manageable step-by-step instructions! Thank you for this and can’t wait to try this in the next couple days.

  62. Maggie says:

    5 stars
    I am so glad I found your recipe online! I used pork chops (I pounded on the meat to tenderize it and cut them into smaller pieces) and cooked them in a non stick pan instead of the oven. There’s some oil splashing around the stove top but all that’s well worth it since it tasted terrific! This pork has became our whole family’s all time favorite dish! My kids always ask me for more whenever I make this. Thank you for making these easy to follow and tasty recipes!

  63. Jim says:

    5 stars
    I made this Bún Thịt Nướng last night and it was absolutely amazing. I made the egg rolls, the pickled daikon and Carrots and the scallion oil. Everything turned out great and my wife and I loved it. I was not able to get the Menlo brand wrappers for the egg rolls and they got a little dark instead of the golden brown. This is such a great meal thank you, Huy!

  64. Noodle says:

    I loved Bun Cha when I was in Hanoi! Those pork sausage patties were delicious… as I remember, it wasn’t a fish sauce, but rather a kind light, sweetish clear broth at room temperature that went in the bowl. With the huge platter of noodles and leaves on the side

  65. Leah says:

    I tried this pork marinade and barbecued it. Delicious! Thank you! I added lemongrass to mine. First time using it and it smelled amazing!

    1. Huy says:

      Thanks for writing and trying it out Leah, lots of tasty eats on your IG!

  66. Dylan says:

    The recipe isn’t showing up on this page anymore by the way!

    1. Huy says:

      Fixed, thanks!

  67. Trenton says:

    5 stars
    So, Bun Thit Nuong is my favorite Vietnamese dish… but I’d never made it… Yesterday, I used your recipe to make Thit Nuong. My wife had never had Bun Thit Nuong, while I have been a fan for years. She loved it. This came out AWESOME. I also used the marinade on chicken (Ga Nuong) which my son said was better than the pork, so everyone was happy! Thank you for putting this on the internet. I hope you have much success!

  68. Callie Martin says:

    5 stars
    Oh so good! Very much like our favorite pho place. The whole recipe is perfect, from cook times to ingredients to techniques. The only problem was the fault of this writer. I can’t slice the meat thin enough 🙂
    And the leftover scallions in oil are delicious with a little salt on thick sliced toast in the morning. I can’t wait to try more of your recipes!

    1. Huy says:

      Hey Callie glad you liked it. Great tip on the scallions and oil–that would be great with scrambled eggs on that toast as well!

      To get thinner slices, try freezing your meat for a bit, then slicing with the sharpest knife ya got! It will mush less, letting you get much thinner slices.

  69. Thuy Nguyen says:

    5 stars
    Hi Huy! I am a Vietnamese student. I am very excited about all your food recipes. Currently, I have been designing a final project about “Cookbook” for my semester. I want to introduce Vietnamese food to foreigners in the US. I was finding Vietnameses food pictures on all websites, but there were no pictures that I really like and want to use for my design. I see your website has almost pictures of Vietnamese food that I need. Can I use your pictures for my design, please? I need your allowance for using the right. I am looking forward to relying from you as soon as you are possible. Thank you Huy!

  70. Sandy says:

    5 stars
    Easy to follow recipe and even good with chicken!

    1. Huy says:

      Thanks Sandy, glad you like it! 🙂

  71. MP says:

    Please share pictures of Asian vegetables and herbs that you use in your amazing recipes. It helps to show the pictures to Viet-Thai-Chinese Grocery Store sales clerks rather than describing it to them. Thank you!
    I already get regular recipe updates from your authentic collections.

    1. Huy says:

      Hey MP, interesting, never thought about the other Asian places that would have different names for it. I may make an herb guide for this purpose in the future. Thanks!

  72. Sara says:

    5 stars
    Thank you for sharing this recipe! It was PERFECT!!! Tasted just like the pork I get in restaurants!
    I put the pork on bamboo skewers and cooked it on the grill. Next time, I will follow your directions and cook it in the oven. So glad there are leftovers!!! Can’t wait to eat it for dinner again tonight!

    Also loved your Nước Chấm recipe. Best one I’ve ever made!!!!

    1. Huy Vu2 says:

      Thank you for sharing Sara–grilling def takes it up a notch if you have time, glad you liked the recipes!

  73. Vanessa says:

    5 stars
    Hi Huy! We are in shelter-in-place here in the Bay Area due to COVID-19. One of my kids is turning 15 today and we can’t go to his favorite (Vietnamese) restaurant because of the situation. His birthday food wish was … you guessed it: grilled pork and noodles. Your recipe yielded the PERFECT at home rendition! Thank you so much, this made his day; in fact, the whole family’s day :).

    1. Huy Vu says:

      Hey Vanessa, that’s so cool that it made his day!! Mom doin right by her kid 🙂 Thanks for sharing!

  74. RJ says:

    5 stars
    So good! I tried making this today for lunch. I’ve been trying to get a bit more creative with my meals since I have more time now (I’m on day 16 of shelter-in-place haha). I swapped tofu for pork since I didn’t have any meat at home, and just pan fried it to get a good crust and it still turned out delicious! Thank you so much!

    1. Huy Vu says:

      Yess I always welcome a good vegetarian swap, thanks for the tip RJ!

  75. Joline says:

    5 stars
    Omg, this recipe was utterly amazing! 🙌🏻 I normally don’t leave comments on recipes that I’ve tried, but this dish…just wow 🤩🤤 I took the time to make the scallion oil, the pickled carrots and daikon (my store didn’t have daikon, unfortunately, so I just used a few little red radishes), and the nuoc cham, all of which were spot on in the flavor department. The oven/broiler method worked perfectly, too. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

    1. Huy Vu says:

      Wow thanks so much for sharing Joline glad you enjoyed it! Nice work on the kitchen improv too 🙂

  76. Egan says:

    5 stars
    Thanks for sharing this recipe! Since shelter-in-place, my cravings for Vietnamese cuisine has heightened. I’m so glad to come upon your site. Your bbq pork and fish sauce recipe is better than what is available to me here in San Francisco. This recipe has become a regular item every week. Look forward to exploring your other recipes!!

    1. Huy Vu says:

      Thanks for the kind words Egan! Wondering what the Viet food scene is like there these days–most of my Asian food memories in San Francisco are at Chinese and dumpling restaurants.

  77. Stephanie Jensen says:

    5 stars
    So delicious!!! Your directions were so great and the results were perfect!!

  78. vivian says:

    5 stars
    Wow! I usually don’t take the time to comment on recipes, but I felt like this one really deserved some kudos. The only modification that I made was adding lemongrass and I used beef instead of pork, but the recipe was still delicious. I’m looking forward to trying the rest of Huy’s recipes. Looks like I’ve found my trusted source for Vietnamese recipes here : )

    1. Hungry Huy says:

      Thanks for sharing Vivian!

  79. Michele Marrs says:

    5 stars
    Made this last night for the family and was incredible. Tasted like what we get at a restaurant. I made both pork and chicken with the marinade. Next time will marinade overnight vs 3-4 hours. Excited to try your other recipes.

    1. Hungry Huy says:

      Glad you liked it Michele, thanks! And yesss, adjust and repeat to get it to match your taste perfectly.

  80. Alice says:

    Question – is it 1/2 tbsp of ground black pepper? I ask because that seems like a lot of pepper

    1. Hungry Huy says:

      Hey Alice, yep! You can omit this entirely if you’d like though.

  81. Zac Cihak says:

    5 stars
    This is a fantastic recipe, I’ve made it many times and it never fails to impress.

    I appreciate all of your recipes Huy. I love Vietnamese food, your recipes have taught me how to build the flavor profiles and given me the knowledge to get creative.

  82. Kathy says:

    Also, could we use the same marinade on shrimp?

    1. Hungry Huy says:

      Hey Kathy, you probably could but I would not marinate it for more than 15-20 minutes before cooking if so!

  83. Melissa says:

    5 stars
    That is my favorite food. I will make it. Thank you for sharing

  84. Elizabeth says:

    5 stars
    This makes me hungry! Thank you…amazing recipe.

  85. the_muffintop_cyclist says:

    I have been making this for almost 7 years, since i found Huy’s recipe. It is the best I have ever tried. Even my vietnamese friend’s mom loves it, says i should be viet!
    Two things I do though:
    1) I use Maggi Asian sauce in place of the soy sauce
    2) I make a large batch of 4-5+ lbs of meat, and then divide it into bags and vacuum seal them and stick them in the freezer to marinate. Thaw a bag of meat in the morning, charbroil it in the evening, perfect!

    This is the only Vietnamese cooking site I even go to anymore. Thanks Huy!

    1. Hungry Huy says:

      Great tips, thank you for sharing! “you should be Viet” though LOL

  86. Gabriella B says:

    5 stars
    LOVE this! I’ve been dying for a bun bowl from my fav Vietnamese place since this pandemic started and finally broke down and tried this recipe! aside from the many steps it was so easy! the meat marinade was inspired. I think I finally found a use for the perilla taking over my garden. So tasty

    1. Hungry Huy says:

      Glad to hear and jealous about the perilla Gabriella! 🙂

  87. brandia tanaka says:

    This was great!!! I marinated more meat than we used the first time, and have made it three times in a week. At the third time we just heated the meat on a pan on the stovetop. Thanks.

    1. Hungry Huy says:

      Wow three times in a week must be a new record Brandia! Thank you 🙂

  88. Kat W says:

    Any thoughts on if you can make the noodles ahead of time and keep in the fridge for several days of servings?

    1. Hungry Huy says:

      Hey Kat! Yep you can boil all the noodles ahead of time, they keep well in the fridge for a few days.

  89. Suze says:

    5 stars
    I made for dinner tonight with homemade dipping sauce. Excellent and so easy to make! Next time I’ll made egg rolls to add to it. Posted pictures on social media to make my friends jealous. Thank you for sharing.

    1. Hungry Huy says:

      Lol glad you enjoyed it Suze. Evil move (and extra points!) for making your friends jealous. Yess the egg rolls add to the variety, great to eat on their own later too. Thanks for sharing!

  90. Teddy Dellesky says:

    5 stars
    My middle son requested this dish for his 17th birthday. I’ve made this dish many times before but plan to use this recipe this time (It looks great, btw!)

    Its cold here in Ohio, so I may opt, sadly (the charcoal flavor is essential IMO), for the oven. I plan to have the butcher cut some shoulder w/o the bone or as steaks and then I will cut it to size at home.

    Any tips on how to cut the shoulder would be greatly appreciated. Chunks? Strips? My concern is the thickness of the pork vs. the cook time and temp.

    I want to get this right with the temp. and time to make sure I get the fat to render before charring under the broiler.

    Any input would be greatly appreciated!

    1. Hungry Huy says:

      Hey Teddy! I prefer to slice the meat in thin bite-sized pieces because it’s easy to eat and for nostalgic reasons :). This is a ready to eat bowl, so you don’t want the pieces so large you have to knife and fork it. If you’re only marinating for an hour, then yup another reason to keep the slices not too thick.

  91. Constance says:

    5 stars
    Thank you!! The marinade turned out really well and it is sooooo delicious! Well, I did add a little habanero sauce when I marinated overnight, but it was quite easy with the noodles. My presentation is rather much less pretty, but perhaps that will come with time.

    1. Hungry Huy says:

      Spicing things up with the habañero, I like it! Thanks for sharing Constance 🙂

  92. Eliot says:

    5 stars
    I’m not a cook, but I managed to impress my family with this recipe. Thank you!

    1. Huy @ Hungry Huy says:

      Nice work Eliot! 🙂

  93. Alla says:

    5 stars
    I tried this Recipe with pork and it is amazing but I would like to know if I can use chicken instead of pork

    1. Huy @ Hungry Huy says:

      You sure can, Alla! You can increase the amount of oil to 2-3 tbsp per lb of meat, and brush some more oil on while cooking if the chicken is looking dry.

  94. Lance Henderson says:

    5 stars
    I have followed your recipe several times over the years. I’d have liked to consider it (with yellow pancake) one of my signature meals for entertaining. With the COVID era winding down and outdoor dining among friends a possibility, I find myself at your website again. Thank you.

    1. Huy @ Hungry Huy says:

      So cool to hear from a long time reader, thanks for revisiting, Lance!

  95. Kat says:

    5 stars
    Hi Huy,
    I’ve used this recipe many times and it is ALWAYS swoons my guests. My husband has stated on many occasions how yummy it tastes. I usually use pork shoulder but when I went to Costco I totally forgot and got pork loin instead.. Do you think it’ll still taste as yummy? Thanks!

    1. Huy @ Hungry Huy says:

      Sorry for the late reply, you can get by with just about any cut as long as its cooked properly! For tougher to cook cuts I’d slice them a little thinner.

  96. Ann-Marie says:

    5 stars
    We’ve made this twice now, since lockdown we can’t get to our favourite Vietnamese restaurant so we’ve been having a crack at your recipe. Sensational!! My husband makes the spring rolls while I do the rest. Honestly a taste sensation, kids adore it, very happy family thank you! We’re so keen to try your other recipes.

    1. Huy @ Hungry Huy says:

      Teamworking a recipe, my favorite 🙂 Glad the family likes it Ann-Marie, thanks for commenting!

  97. Tracy says:

    5 stars
    I first tried this recipe in 2020, and to this day, I’m still using it! Just made a batch last night, and it’s delicious as always. Thank you for this!!

    1. Huy @ Hungry Huy says:

      That’s so cool to hear Tracy, keep comin back to visit ya hear 🙂

  98. Megan says:

    5 stars
    My family has enjoyed this recipe 4X now. It is SO GOOD!
    With a couple pre-made additions (added pickled daikon + carrots and sliced spring roll), it looked like a complete restaurant dish.
    The last time I made these with banh hoi noodles, really like the texture.
    Would love to try other regional recipes you may have for bun thit nuong. One of the most memorable I have eaten was in Hue (Lac Thien), it was def more saucey.
    Love your site, you are my go-to #1 for all Vietnamese recipes. 🙂

    1. Huy @ Hungry Huy says:

      Thanks Megan 🙂 yess I love banh hoi noodles too. Though not really traditional for this dish, it is essentially the same haha

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