The Best Grilled Chicken in the World Comes from Vietnam
Lemongrass Grilled Chicken Rice (Cơm gà nướng sả) is my absolute go-to order at Vietnamese restaurants in North America. Why? Because nowhere else serves such tender, juicy, and flavor-packed grilled chicken! Vancouver has no shortage of amazing Vietnamese spots, but my current favorite lemongrass chicken rice comes from Bun Cha Ca Hoang Yen. As long as it’s on their menu, I can’t bring myself to order anything else. 😅 The dish features skin-on, boneless chicken thighs, grilled to crispy perfection on the outside while staying unbelievably moist inside. The marinade is next-level—probably something like the legendary Korean-style soy-marinated chicken (닭갈비). The lemongrass and fish sauce combo creates a savory-sweet umami bomb, so good that you won’t even need extra dipping sauce. Topped with scallions and served with fluffy, fragrant broken rice, this plate is pure food heaven. And let’s not forget the thick tomato slices and shredded lettuce on the side, balancing out the richness. The portion size? Ridiculously generous. Two massive chicken thighs, a mountain of rice, and enough veggies to feed a small army. A regular-sized meal for me? More like two meals for most people. 🤯 Oh, and their noodle soups are elite too—my personal favorite is the Crab Tomato Noodle Soup (Bún riêu cua), with a broth so rich and flavorful it’ll make your taste buds dance. But here’s the shocker—after moving to Tokyo, I discovered that lemongrass grilled chicken rice doesn’t exist in Japanese Vietnamese restaurants! According to ChatGPT-sensei, this dish is actually a Southern Vietnamese home-cooked specialty. Since many Vietnamese immigrants in North America came from South Vietnam (post-1975), the cuisine here leans heavily toward lemongrass-heavy, grilled meats, and sweet-savory marinades. Meanwhile, Japan’s Vietnamese food scene is newer and more diverse, with a stronger Northern Vietnamese influence—meaning more pho and fewer rice dishes. Tokyo friends, if you know a spot that serves this, PLEASE send me the deets! 😭 📍 Bun Cha Ca Hoang Yen P.S. They have two locations, but the one at 4883 Kingsway has the most consistently perfect chicken—always juicy, never dry. 🔥 Pro Tip: If you’re in Vancouver, DO NOT sleep on this place. It’s a hidden gem with flavors that’ll make you question every other grilled chicken you’ve ever had. What’s your favorite Vietnamese dish? Drop your recs below! 👇 #VancouverEats #VancouverFoodie #VietnameseFood #VietnameseGrilledChicken #ComGaNuongXa #VancouverPho #BurnabyEats #BurnabyLife #HiddenGems #VancouverRestaurants #FoodieAdventure #MustTryVancouver
