First published June 2014 | Words and photos by Vietnam Coracle
This post was last updated 9 years ago. Please check the comments section for possible updates, or read more on my Updates & Accuracy page.
The Lunch Lady is Saigon’s most famous street food vendor. In addition to the quality of her food, her fame derives from her ‘rotating’ menu: she serves a different soup every day of the week. Below I’ve put together an illustrated guide to The Lunch Lady’s weekly menu. Feast your eyes on the images, find a soup you like the look of, learn the name in Vietnamese, check what day of the week it’s served, and pay a visit to the Lunch Lady’s stall to try it for yourself [MAP]. For more about The Lunch Lady take a look at my Lunch Lady Diary. (Note: the Lunch Lady may change the rotation of dishes and on some days there may be more than one soup available).
Click to see what’s on the menu: Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday
MONDAY
Soup of the day: Bún Thái
A Vietnamese take on a classic Thai dish, this soup is full of colour and packed with ‘goodies’: beef, shrimp, squid, fish balls….read more
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TUESDAY
Soup of the day: bún Mọc
Of northern origin, this soup has a pale palette of whites and grays, punctuated by the bronze of roasted shallots. A pork and mushroom based broth with a surprisingly deep and dark flavour….read more
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WEDNESDAY
Soup of the day: cà ri gà
A Vietnamese chicken curry, this dish is heavy with coconut milk, spices and ‘chunky bits’, such as potato, chicken legs, sweet potato….read more
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THURSDAY
Soup of the day: bún mắm
Striking and beautiful just to look at, let alone taste, this soup is a pungent, fish based broth with earthy undertones from long-cooked aubergine (eggplant)….read more
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FRIDAY
Soup of the day: bún bò Huế
A famous dish from the old imperial capital of Huế in Central Vietnam, this is an aromatic beef soup with a spicy kick and plenty of lemongrass….read more
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SATURDAY
Soup of the day: bánh canh cua
A deep, fishy aroma, thick noodles, and generous amounts of crab meat make this one of Vietnam’s richest soups. Potent, colourful and filling this is a luxuriant broth….read more
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SUNDAY
Soup of the day: bún riêu
A tomato and crab based broth popular throughout Vietnam, this soup is loaded with ‘good stuff’: pork slices, fish balls, tofu, crab, snails, tomatoes, and slices of cinnamon flavoured chả (a kind of meat loaf)….read more
RELATED CONTENT: The Lunch Lady: A Diary | Best Phở in Saigon | Best Cafes in Saigon
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