Vietnam

Grilled pork patty with green papaya, fish sauce dipping, fresh herbs, rice vermicelli, and lettuce.

Bun Cha is not the same as grilled pork vermicelli bowl (bun thit nuong) commonly found in Seattle’s Vietnamese restaurants. Bun cha is popular in northern regions of Vietnam due to it’s origins from the capital city, Hanoi, whereas bun thit nuong is a variation that is found in southern Vietnam. When served, Bun Cha has the meat separated from the noodles sitting inside a sweet dipping sauce with some green papayas, whereas Bun Thit Nuong has the noodles topped with the meat in a bowl together, and a sweet chili sauce drizzled over the noodles.

Bun Cha is a dish that is made with marinated, grilled pork slices and grilled pork patties (known as cha). It is usually served with a side of leafy vegetables like lettuce and other Vietnamese herbs.