Vietnamese Grilled Pork (Bún Thịt Nướng) Recipe

Vietnamese Grilled Pork (Bún Thịt Nướng): Your New Obsession! – Have you ever had one of those meals that just sticks with you? That’s what happened the first time I tried Vietnamese Grilled Pork — or bún thịt nướng as it’s authentically called.

Vietnamese Grilled Pork (Bún Thịt Nướng)

Lumina Liu

Authentic Vietnamese Grilled Pork (Bún Thịt Nướng) with tender marinated pork slices, served over rice vermicelli with fresh vegetables and herbs. This traditional Vietnamese dish combines sweet, savory, and aromatic flavors for a delicious and healthy meal that's perfect for any occasion.

4.8 from 278 votes

Prep Time 1 Hour 30 Minutes

Cook Time 20 Minutes

Total Time 1 Hour 50 Minutes

Course Main Course

Cuisine Vietnamese

Servings 4 servings

Calories 425 calories kcal

Ingredients

 

• 1.5 pounds sliced pork
• 1 package thin rice vermicelli
• 4-6 egg rolls
• 3 tablespoons minced shallots
• 1.5 tablespoons minced garlic
• ¼ cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon fish sauce
• ½ tablespoon thick soy sauce
• ½ tablespoon pepper
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• Sliced cucumber
• Mint leaves
• Crushed peanuts

Instructions

 

1. Slice the uncooked pork thinly, about ⅛ inch. It helps to slightly freeze it (optional).
2. Mince garlic and shallots. Mix in a bowl with sugar, fish sauce, thick soy sauce, pepper, and oil until sugar dissolves.
3. Marinate the meat for 1 hour, or overnight for better results.
4. Bake the pork at 375F for 10-15 minutes or until about 80% cooked. Finish cooking by broiling in the oven until a nice golden brown color develops, flipping the pieces midway.
5. Assemble your bowl with veggies, noodles, and garnish. Many like to mix the whole bowl up and pour the fish sauce on top, but I like to make individual bites and sauce it slowly.

Nutrition

Calories: 425.00 caloriesFat: 15.00 gCarbohydrates: 48.00 gFiber: 2.00 gProtein: 29.00 gSaturated Fat: 4.00 g

Keyword Vietnamese Grilled Pork, Bún Thịt Nướng, Vietnamese noodle bowl, grilled pork recipe, rice vermicelli dish

Trust me, this dish is about to become your new weeknight hero!

I still remember my first bite of this incredible Vietnamese grilled pork recipe. The perfect balance of sweet, savory, and that hint of char… seriously life-changing! And now I get to share this little piece of culinary magic with you.

What Makes This Vietnamese Grilled Pork Special?

Bún thịt nướng isn’t just another grilled meat dish. It’s a beautiful symphony of flavors and textures that somehow manages to be both comforting and exciting at the same time.

The star of the show? Thinly sliced pork marinated in a mixture that’s downright addictive — garlic, shallots, sugar, fish sauce… Yeah, it’s a lot of bold flavors coming together to create something magical.

But what really makes this Vietnamese grilled pork recipe special is how it all comes together in the final bowl — tender noodles, fresh veggies, and that incredible pork with just the right amount of char.

Ingredients You’ll Need For Authentic Bún Thịt Nướng

Ready to dive into this Vietnamese grilled pork adventure? Let’s gather everything we need:

For the marinated pork:

• 1.5 pounds pork, thinly sliced (about ⅛” thick)
• 3 tablespoons minced shallots
• 1.5 tablespoons minced garlic
• ¼ cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon fish sauce
• ½ tablespoon thick soy sauce
• ½ tablespoon pepper
• 3 tablespoons olive oil

For serving:

• 1 package thin rice vermicelli noodles
• 4-6 egg rolls (optional but highly recommended!)
• Sliced cucumber
• Fresh mint leaves
• Crushed peanuts

The Secret Behind Perfect Vietnamese Grilled Pork

The absolute magic of this bún thịt nướng recipe comes down to two crucial elements: the marinade and the cooking technique.

First, let’s talk about that marinade. It might look simple, but don’t be fooled! The combination of minced shallots and garlic creates an aromatic base that infuses every slice of pork. The sugar doesn’t just add sweetness — it helps create that gorgeous caramelization that makes Vietnamese grilled pork so irresistible.

And the fish sauce? That’s your umami bomb right there! If you’re new to fish sauce, don’t be intimidated by the strong smell — once it’s cooked, it transforms into this incredible savory flavor that’s darn close to magical.

But here’s the kicker about this Vietnamese grilled pork recipe — the thin slicing technique. By cutting the meat to just about ⅛” thick, you’re creating the perfect canvas for that marinade to work its wonders in record time. Plus, thin slices cook quickly and evenly, giving you that perfect juicy interior with crispy, caramelized edges.

Step-by-Step: Making Vietnamese Grilled Pork At Home

Prepping the Pork

First things first — let’s get that pork sliced properly! A little pro tip? Pop the pork in the freezer for about 20 minutes before slicing. This firms it up just enough to make those thin ⅛” slices way easier to achieve. Your Vietnamese grilled pork depends on these thin slices for maximum flavor absorption!

Once sliced, set the meat aside while we work on the marinade magic.

Creating the Marinade

This is where the flavor foundation of your bún thịt nướng gets built! In a bowl, combine the minced garlic and shallots with the sugar, fish sauce, thick soy sauce, pepper, and oil. Mix everything together until the sugar completely dissolves — this is important! Undissolved sugar won’t properly caramelize when cooking.

The marinade might seem simple, but these few ingredients create the signature flavor profile that makes Vietnamese grilled pork so addictive.

Marinating Time

Now, coat every slice of pork with that gorgeous marinade. Make sure each piece gets thoroughly covered — no slice left behind! For a decent Vietnamese grilled pork, you’ll want to marinate for at least 1 hour. But for a mind-blowing bún thịt nướng? Give it an overnight marinade. Those extra hours make a HUGE difference!

Cover the bowl and refrigerate. The longer it sits, the more the flavors penetrate the meat.

The Two-Step Cooking Method

Here’s where my approach to this Vietnamese grilled pork recipe might differ from others — and I promise it’s worth it! Instead of just grilling, we’re going to use a two-step cooking method that gives you perfectly cooked pork every single time.

First, preheat your oven to 375°F. Spread the marinated pork evenly on a baking sheet and bake for about 10-15 minutes until it’s about 80% cooked through.

Then comes the game-changing step — switch your oven to broil! This mimics the traditional grilling method and creates that beautiful caramelization and slight char that makes authentic bún thịt nướng so special. Just make sure to flip the pieces halfway through broiling to get even coloring.

Assembling Your Bún Thịt Nướng Bowl

This is where the fun really begins — and where your Vietnamese grilled pork really shines!

Preparing the Components

While your pork is cooking, cook the rice vermicelli according to package directions. Usually, this just involves soaking in hot water until tender, which takes around 5-7 minutes. Drain well and set aside.

If you’re including egg rolls (and I highly recommend you do!), prepare those according to their instructions.

Slice your cucumbers, wash the mint leaves, and crush some peanuts for topping.

Building the Perfect Bowl

Start with a base of the rice vermicelli noodles — they’re the perfect neutral canvas for all the flavors to come.

Add your freshly cooked Vietnamese grilled pork on top. Don’t be stingy here — this is the star of the show!

Arrange your cucumber slices around the edge of the bowl, add a few egg rolls if you’re using them, and sprinkle generously with fresh mint leaves and crushed peanuts.

My Personal Touch to Vietnamese Grilled Pork

Everyone has their own way of enjoying bún thịt nướng, and that’s part of what makes this dish so special. Traditionally, many people mix everything together and pour fish sauce over the top.

But here’s my personal preference — I like to build each bite individually, controlling exactly how much of each component I get in every mouthful. And I sauce as I go rather than all at once. This way, the noodles stay firm and the Vietnamese grilled pork maintains its perfect texture throughout the entire meal.

That said, there’s no wrong way to enjoy this dish! Part of the joy of cooking is finding your own perfect way to enjoy the results.

Why This Vietnamese Grilled Pork Recipe Works Every Time

I’ve made this bún thịt nướng recipe more times than I can count, and it’s become one of my most reliable crowd-pleasers. Why? Because it strikes that perfect balance between impressive and achievable.

The thin-sliced pork cooks quickly and evenly, so you don’t need to worry about tough or dry meat. The marinade ingredients are widely available now in most grocery stores (even the fish sauce!).

And the two-step cooking method gives you restaurant-quality results without needing a traditional grill.

Plus, it’s incredibly versatile! The Vietnamese grilled pork is amazing in these traditional bowls, but the leftovers (if you have any!) are fantastic in sandwiches, salads, or even scrambled with eggs for breakfast.

Ready to Try This Vietnamese Grilled Pork Recipe?

So there you have it — everything you need to know to make incredible bún thịt nướng at home! This Vietnamese grilled pork recipe might seem like it has a few steps, but I promise each one is simple and the end result is SO worth it.

Have you tried making Vietnamese food at home before? Let me know how this recipe turns out for you! I’m betting this bún thịt nướng will quickly become a regular in your cooking rotation — it certainly has in mine!

Now go get cooking, and prepare for your kitchen to smell AMAZING!