Two Vietnamese dishes named among world’s top 100 best dishes 2026
DNO - Two Vietnamese dishes, ‘bun bo Nam Bo’ and beef ‘pho’, have been listed among the Top 100 Best Dishes in the World 2026.
According to the latest rankings recently released by TasteAtlas, one of the world’s leading culinary guides, these dishes ranked 81st and 83rd, respectively.
The list is part of TasteAtlas’s annual awards and was compiled from 453,720 valid ratings across 11,781 dishes worldwide.
‘Bun bo Nam Bo’ earned a score of 4.4 out of 5, while beef ‘pho’received 4.34. In last year’s ranking, beef ‘pho’ was the only Vietnamese dish included, placed 91st.
In its description of ‘bun bo Nam Bo’, TasteAtlas notes that this is a traditional dish. The name holds a key to its basic ingredients and the location, ‘bun’ means noodle, ‘bo’ is for beef, and ‘Nam Bo’ refers to the South of the country.
The main ingredients include beef, rice vermicelli noodles, garlic, fresh herbs (cilantro, mint), and vegetables (carrots, cucumbers, lettuce, bean sprouts), while roasted peanuts and fried shallots are entirely optional.
The noodles, vegetables, and herbs are arranged in bowls, while the beef is stir-fried and added on top. The whole bowl is garnished with peanuts and shallots before the dish is served.
For beef ‘pho’, the guide describes it as as a Vietnamese noodle soup, Vietnam's national dish, street food, comfort food, and a way of life.
It is also one of the most beloved Vietnamese dishes in the western hemisphere due to its complex, unique flavors, and elegant simplicity.
This beef-based version of ‘pho’ is prepared with assorted cuts and parts of beef - the stock is made from beef bones, shank, ox tail, and neck.
Meanwhile, the toppings include thinly sliced fatty brisket, flank, eye-round steak, tripe, cooked and raw beef, tendon, or beef balls, but the latter version is not that popular in Vietnam.
Beef ‘pho’ is usually flavored with dried spices such as cinnamon, star anise, cloves, cardamom, and coriander.
The dish is served piping hot in a bowl along with rice noodles, and it's typically topped with cilantro, sliced onions, and chopped green onions.
On the side, you can often find a platter with bean sprouts, lime wedges, and sliced hot peppers so each person can add the garnishes to his or her liking.
Hoisin and Sriracha sauces are also often-seen staples on the side.
Vietnamese cuisine ranked 16th globally, with other notable dishes including ‘banh mi’, ‘bo nhung giam’, ‘cha ca La Vong’, ‘mi Quang’, and ‘thit kho Tau’.
This year’s No.1 dish is Vori-vori, a traditional Paraguayan soup made from corn flour mixed with cheese, cooked in chicken broth with vegetables and herbs.
Italy, Turkey, Japan, Greece, Thailand, and China were among the countries with the most entries in the top 100.