What To Serve With Pho: 10 Sides You NEED To Try!
Searching for recipes or quick, no fuss ideas for what to serve with pho? I’ve got you! This steamy bowl of heavenly Vietnamese goodness is a meal in its own right, but those with a hearty appetite might want to add a side dish or two to make sure everyone leaves the table full and satisfied.
What to serve with pho
The most delicious choices for what to serve with pho include banh mi sandwiches, salt and pepper squid, bang bang prawn salad, and steamed barbecue pork buns. These will turn your tempting Vietnamese soup into a dinner fit for a king!
We’re going to take a look at these recipes and other ideas in more depth…
1. Veggie stuffed Vietnamese spring rolls
Vietnamese spring rolls are made with light rice paper wrappers, making them more colourful and vibrant than their Chinese counterparts.
When prepared with a little love and patience, they’re visually quite stunning, and look so good on the table.
This recipe for Vietnamese spring rolls contains shrimp, veggies, herbs, and rice noodles, though you can choose your own ingredients based on your personal preferences and what’s available to you.
2. Banh mi sandwiches
Soup and a sandwich, but make it Vietnamese!
Many of us enjoy this yummy combination at lunchtime, and it’s made all the more tempting when you bring banh mi into the mix.
This traditional sandwich is made with crispy baguette, and stuffed with meats, mayonnaise, pickles, chilli, and fresh herbs. It’s fresh, light, spicy, and delicious.
3. Salt and pepper squid
This recipe for salt and pepper squid is a real treat, and it makes a wonderful side dish for pho.
The squid is tender yet crisp, and the addition of a handful of fresh chillis makes it sing.
Don’t let the deep frying process put you off. It can be a daunting cooking technique, but as long as you take a little time to prepare in advance, it doesn’t have to be too tricky or messy!
4. Bang bang prawn salad
This bang bang prawn salad incorporates all the colours of the rainbow, and it’s also keto and paleo friendly.
Not a seafood lover? No problem, you could easily substitute the prawns for steak or chicken and still have a tasty side dish.
The spicy sriracha sauce is the star of the show here, and I like to make a few extra portions to keep in the fridge for a day or two. Add it to salads or grilled meats to perk them up!
5. Barbecue pork buns
Dim sum pairs so well with a bowl of pho, and I love these steamed barbecue pork buns.
Plan to make a couple of buns per person, and serve with some steamed greens. This makes for a really filling meal with such a variety of flavours and textures. Yum!
6. Sweet potato fritters
These sweet potato fritters are oven baked, super crispy, and can be on the table with just 15 to 20 minutes of prep.
They’re a little like onion bhajis in terms of texture, but the flavour is completely unique. Think sweet, creamy, and deeply savoury at the same time.
You can serve them as a starter if you like, or just as a side dish to add to the table.
7. Vietnamese sticky ribs
There’s nothing better than rolling up your sleeves and tucking into a portion of these sticky pork ribs!
They’re slowly braised in a coconut marinade until deliciously melty and tender, and the sweet sauce makes them super addictive.
8. Crispy Vietnamese fish cakes
The traditional British fish cake gets an exciting Vietnamese inspired makeover in this recipe, and the addition of yellow curry paste gives a mild spicy kick.
Vietnamese fish cakes can be assembled the day before and kept covered in the fridge until you’re ready to cook them, making them a handy option if you like to batch cook or just get organised for the week ahead.
9. Vietnamese pickles
Vietnamese pickles are a super speedy choice for what to serve with pho.
When you get the brining just right, you’ll achieve a perfect balance between sweet and savoury flavours.
These are also amazing in a banh mi sandwich, so you could make up a big jar and keep them in the fridge, so you’re never too far away from a delicious lunchtime indulgence.
10. Vietnamese coffee
So our final option isn’t a side dish in the most traditional sense, but in my opinion it’s the absolute best way to round off your meal!
Vietnamese coffee is rich, flavourful, and sweet, and tends to be more bitter than other roasts. I like to add a dash of cinnamon to mine, and it’s a great alternative to a dessert.
Choosing the best side dishes for pho
You can make a bowl of Vietnamese pho into a filling meal by adding a side dish or two. Some popular choices for what to serve with pho include:
- Veggie stuffed spring rolls
- Sweet potato fritters
- Salt and pepper squid
- Sticky ribs
- Vietnamese pickles
Pho is a meal that’s best enjoyed with friends, so add your sides to the middle of the table on sharing platters, and get stuck in!
