Famous for its grilled pork and flavorful accompaniments, Nghe An’s bún chả chấm chẻo (grilled pork with rice noodles and peanut dipping sauce) offers a unique twist on the beloved Vietnamese dish.

A distinctive specialty of Nghe An

Unlike bún chả Hanoi (grilled pork with sweet and tangy fish sauce), bún chả vuông of Ninh Binh, or the Southern-style bún thịt nướng, Nghe An’s version features a rich and creamy dipping sauce called chẻo.

This signature peanut-based sauce is a hallmark of Nghe An cuisine, made from roasted peanuts, bone broth, sugarcane molasses, lemongrass, garlic, chili, and annatto oil for added color.

Each establishment boasts its own secret recipe to achieve the smooth, nutty flavor and thick texture that perfectly complements the grilled pork and rice noodles.

The soul of the dish: Chẻo

Nguyen Lan, owner of a popular bún chả nướng stall in Vinh City, explains that the sauce is made by grinding roasted peanuts into a paste, then cooking it with bone broth until it reaches a creamy consistency.

Seasonings are added, and in some variations, minced meat is included to enhance the richness.

“The sauce has a characteristic nutty flavor from the peanuts, balanced with the savoriness of the broth and a hint of spiciness from chili and lemongrass. It’s less salty than the fish sauce used in Northern-style bún chả, but it pairs harmoniously with the richly marinated grilled pork,” Lan shares.

The grilled pork, an essential component, is prepared using pork shoulder, which has a perfect balance of lean meat and fat. The pork is marinated with ingredients like lemongrass, garlic, shallots, annatto, five-spice powder, and sesame seeds before being grilled over charcoal to ensure it remains tender and flavorful.

A refreshing and versatile dish

The dish is served with fresh herbs, pickled papaya, and rice noodles, offering a refreshing balance that cuts through the richness of the grilled pork and sauce.

Diners can enjoy bún chả chấm chẻo in several ways: dipping the noodles and pork into the sauce, pouring the sauce over the noodles, or wrapping the ingredients in rice paper to create rolls.

For those unfamiliar with chẻo, some restaurants also provide a traditional sweet-sour fish sauce as an alternative.

A local favorite with accessible prices

With prices ranging from 35,000 to 50,000 VND ($1.50 to $2.10) per serving, bún chả chấm chẻo is a budget-friendly treat.

Popular spots to enjoy this Nghe An specialty in Vinh City include:

Bún chả nướng bà Hạnh
Bún chả bà Chằn
Quán bún chả Lan Vinh
Bún chả Đô Lương
Quán bà Chắt
Bún chả Hoa Mai

Many diners rave about the dish’s refreshing and satisfying flavors, often noting that even after several servings, they still crave more.

If you’re visiting Nghe An or Vinh City, be sure to savor this unique take on Vietnam’s beloved bún chả.

Thao Trinh