Chicken rice dishes from North to South Vietnam have undergone surprising transformations, with each region offering a unique flavor that leaves diners wanting more with every bite.
Vietnam boasts many regional variations of chicken rice , each with its own unique and appealing flavor. Although they share the same main ingredients—rice and chicken—the preparation, marinating, and dipping sauces vary considerably.
Below are some famous versions of chicken rice that you absolutely must try on your culinary journey across Vietnam.
Fried rice with roasted chicken
Fried rice with roasted chicken in Hanoi embodies the essence of street food. The special feature lies in the technique of frying the rice: white rice is fried in chicken fat until fluffy and light yellow. The chicken, roasted with ginger, is flavorful, hot, and offers a harmonious balance of spicy, salty, and sweet tastes. It's often served with pickled mustard greens to balance the richness and stimulate the appetite.
A plate of island-style rice served with ginger-roasted chicken, roasted quail, pickled vegetables... Photo: Island Rice with Ginger-Roasted Chicken and Roasted Quail - Tong Duy Tan
Tong Duy Tan food street (Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi) is considered the birthplace of the famous stir-fried rice with roasted chicken. This dish quickly became popular throughout the Old Quarter. The price for a serving of stir-fried rice with roasted chicken is around 100,000 VND.
Suggested places to eat include Loan Mai, Duy Hai, and Phuong Dung restaurants on Tong Duy Tan street, or Huong restaurant on Nui Truc street, which sells from evening until 3 am. Besides fried rice with roasted chicken, these restaurants also offer fried rice with beef stir-fried with pickled vegetables, braised fish with fried rice, sweet and sour pork ribs with fried rice, etc. Side dishes include roasted quail, pickled vegetables, and sour clam soup.
Hainanese Chicken Rice
Hainanese chicken rice originates from Hainan Island (China) and became widely popular in Singapore before gaining popularity in Vietnam.
The rice, cooked in chicken broth and chicken fat, has a rich, fragrant flavor. The chicken is usually tender, boiled until soft, with golden-brown skin, and served with a savory ginger-garlic-chili dipping sauce that balances the richness of the chicken fat.
Hainanese chicken rice is the perfect combination of the light, creamy taste of rice and the sweet, chewy texture of chicken.
Quang Nam-style chicken rice
In Quang Nam province ( Da Nang ), free-range chicken is famous for its fragrant, sweet, and firm meat, forming the foundation for two renowned chicken rice brands: Hoi An and Tam Ky.
Hoi An chicken rice has become a signature dish of the ancient town's cuisine. The rice is cooked with high-quality rice, chicken broth, and fresh turmeric, with added chicken fat to make the grains fluffy, slightly rich, and fragrant. The chicken is boiled, shredded, and mixed with onions, coriander, and spices. A special feature of this dish is the rich chili-garlic fish sauce, often served with a side of pickled papaya or cucumber salad.
When finished, the rice is served on a plate, topped with shredded chicken according to taste, and accompanied by Vietnamese coriander and basil – two herbs that are almost indispensable to creating the authentic taste of Quang Nam-style chicken rice. The dish is often served with green chili and pickled vegetables to enhance the flavor and balance the richness.
Some famous chicken rice restaurants in Hoi An include Ba Nga, Ba Buoi, and Anh Xi... The prices here are quite affordable, averaging only 25,000 - 65,000 VND per plate.
Chicken rice is an iconic dish of Hoi An ancient town.
Tam Ky chicken rice also has a golden yellow color due to being cooked in chicken broth, but the chicken is usually marinated with richer spices and served with sweet and sour fish sauce. The chicken is usually chopped into large pieces or shredded instead of being finely shredded like in Hoi An chicken rice.
The difference is that the dish comes with a bowl of chicken broth cooked with sour leaves, along with various pickled vegetables such as pickled mustard greens or tomatoes, making the overall plate of rice more varied and easy to eat.
When visiting Quang Nam province, tourists who want to enjoy authentic Tam Ky chicken rice can visit Tam Duyen, Nguyet, Ba Minh, or Ba Luan restaurants.
Tam Ky chicken rice features chicken meat that is typically chopped or shredded into large pieces and marinated with rich flavors. Photo: Linh Boo
Phu Yen Chicken Rice
Phu Yen (Dak Lak) chicken rice has an interesting variation. The rice is lightly fried with garlic before being cooked with chicken broth, resulting in a fluffy texture and the aroma of fried garlic.
Rice is usually served with chopped or shredded chicken, pickled vegetables, and Vietnamese coriander. A special feature of Phu Yen chicken rice is the sweet and sour pickled onions served alongside, and a bowl of characteristic fish sauce with finely ground garlic and chili.
Some restaurants recommended by diners include Thien Huong and Tuyet Nhung on Le Thanh Ton Street.
Chicken rice is a famous dish in Phu Yen.
Chicken rice with crispy skin
Deep-fried chicken rice is a popular dish in Ho Chi Minh City. The chicken is deep-fried until the skin is crispy, while the meat inside remains tender and juicy. The rice is usually fried with eggs to make it fluffy and an attractive golden color, and is served with soy sauce or chili sauce.
In Ho Chi Minh City, diners can mention a series of famous chicken rice restaurants known for their unique variations, such as Gáy Sớm, Su Su, Quán Chín, or Chú Năm. The common price ranges from 40,000 to 60,000 VND.
Fried chicken rice. Photo: Early Morning Chicken Rice.