Top 20 Most Popular Snacks Among Young People

Grilled Small Chicken consists of grilled items such as pork belly, beef, intestines, or octopus, all marinated with a variety of spices and cooked over a fragrant charcoal grill that entices passersby. To enjoy this dish, you need to ‘get involved in the kitchen.’ In simple terms, when you visit a grilling spot, the restaurant will serve the marinated items, and you will grill them yourself. You need to turn the food regularly to ensure it's cooked well and doesn’t burn.

When you step into a grilled chicken street, the aroma of various skewers sizzling over bright red charcoal will immediately attract you. Grilled meats, grilled beans, grilled eggs, grilled mushrooms, fish balls, beef balls... You will be immersed in the world of grilled delicacies. Grilled small chicken has become a popular food culture that many love. It’s a great option for gatherings with friends as it’s easy to eat and student-friendly in terms of cost. In the evening, these small grilled chicken spots are always packed. In less than 3 minutes, you’ll be enjoying fresh, hot grilled skewers.

Stir-fried Quail Eggs with Tamarind is a delicious, rustic snack beloved by many. The rich, creamy taste of the eggs, combined with the sourness and sweetness of the seasoning, and the spicy kick from the Vietnamese coriander, create a dish that’s irresistible and loved by everyone. What makes this dish stand out is the tangy, spicy tamarind sauce that perfectly coats the quail eggs, making them look incredibly appetizing.

This snack is a popular choice, especially among the younger crowd. The boiled quail eggs are peeled and then simmered in a sweet and sour tamarind sauce, with a touch of chili, ginger, and Vietnamese coriander. It’s the perfect comfort food to warm you up on chilly winter nights. Quail eggs can be prepared in various ways, but this stir-fried version is one of the most popular.

Sweets are a popular choice for many, especially during the summer heat. A bowl of dessert costing between 10,000 to 15,000 VND can quickly refresh you on a hot day. There’s a wide variety of desserts in Vietnam, and one that became a trend in Saigon is Khuc Bach, a delicious, affordable, and popular treat among the youth.

Khuc Bach is a refreshing dessert that’s quite popular in Vietnam. Essentially, it’s a type of jelly made with various ingredients, but it’s more diverse and eaten in a unique way compared to traditional jelly. The Khuc Bach jelly has a delicate chewy texture and a creamy taste thanks to the addition of rich milk, unlike the soft tofu jelly made from soybeans. Today, Khuc Bach has been adapted with vibrant colors by adding matcha or cocoa, moving away from the traditional opaque white.

Furthermore, the sweet broth is clear and lightly sweet, made from lychee or longan, with just the right amount of rock sugar. That’s why Khuc Bach is often served with ice or chilled before eating to enhance its refreshing taste.

Refreshing beverages are not just ordinary drinks; they have become an essential part of the daily life of young people. Beyond simply quenching thirst, these drinks have evolved into a popular snack choice and an ever-loved part of the youth culture. With a variety of flavors and options, from traditional soft drinks to carbonated beverages, fresh fruit juices, and even energy drinks, young people always have countless choices to satisfy their taste buds and needs.

Refreshing beverages not only fulfill the basic need for hydration but also provide a unique flavor experience. From enjoying a sweet soda can to sipping on a glass of fresh fruit juice, each choice brings excitement and satisfaction, not only for the taste buds but also as a mental refreshment. These beverages have become social hubs, where people gather, and they offer a relief from the scorching summer heat, or simply serve as a source of inspiration and energy for the youth, helping them to play, work, or even spark creativity. With their versatility, convenience, and variety, refreshing drinks are not just beverages; they are an integral part of the modern youth lifestyle and preferences.

Since its debut, skillet bread has become a popular choice. Combining bread with a variety of other delicious ingredients, it offers a unique taste that captivates the senses. During chilly weather, many flock to hotpot or barbecue places, or gather around stalls serving fried banana cakes, sweet potato fries, and more. However, some younger crowds opt for the simplicity yet allure of skillet bread, a dish that remains as fascinating as it is satisfying. With numerous variations, you can enjoy a distinctive experience each time.

Skillet bread is also an excellent meal for quenching hunger. The crispy toasted bread pairs perfectly with tomato sauce, sausages, eggs, and a touch of fresh herbs. The highlight is the sauce, served in a small skillet, giving the dish its name. The soft bread, combined with the creamy sauce and a side of refreshing salad, creates an impeccable harmony of flavors.

Vietnamese sizzling pancake is a traditional dish that is well-loved and deeply familiar to us. Today, this dish has gained international recognition and is frequently mentioned by foreign visitors to Vietnam. The sizzling pancake has also been adapted to suit different tastes and regional customs, but it consistently retains its unique flavor. It leaves an unforgettable impression on anyone who tastes it, even if it's just once.

Sizzling pancakes have been around for a long time, yet they remain incredibly popular. Depending on the region, the preparation and ingredients may vary, giving each version its own distinct flavor. The golden-brown crispy exterior holds a filling of pork, shrimp, and bean sprouts, served with fresh herbs and a tangy dipping sauce. In major cities like Hanoi and Da Nang, you can easily find some of the best sizzling pancake stalls.

Sweet potato balls are a delicious treat made from sweet potatoes that you simply cannot miss. Instead of enjoying sweet potatoes in the usual ways—fried, roasted, boiled, or steamed—sweet potato balls offer a perfect twist to change up your taste experience. These golden, elongated pieces resemble large silkworm cocoons. The crispy outer layer contrasts with the soft, sweet, and creamy filling inside, enriched with coconut milk. This dish is not only beloved by adults but also a favorite among children.

The sweet potatoes are boiled, mashed, and mixed with rice flour before being shaped into small round balls, similar to sticky rice dumplings. They are then fried in hot oil until golden and crispy. Sweet potato balls are easy to eat and help stimulate digestion. At an affordable price of around 15,000 to 20,000 VND per plate, they are a popular snack choice among students.

Flan, also known as caramel custard, is made by steaming a mixture of eggs, milk, and caramel syrup. Although this dessert originates from Europe, it has become popular around the world.

Flan comes in various flavors such as classic egg and milk, matcha, chocolate, and cheese. The texture is incredibly smooth, rich, and aromatic. Each bite feels like the flan melts in your mouth. It's especially delightful when paired with a strong coffee, ice cubes, and a generous drizzle of creamy coconut milk—truly a perfect combination.

Though it's been around for quite some time, the fruit platter remains a beloved snack, especially among young people during hot summer days.

The South of Vietnam is a paradise for a wide variety of delicious and nutritious fruits. Dishes made from these fruits are particularly cherished by the people of Saigon and food lovers throughout the country. To create a fruit platter, all you need to do is mix a selection of fresh fruits, add some ice, a splash of fresh milk, and a drizzle of fragrant syrup. The result is a refreshing and vibrant dish that has earned its fame in the food streets across the nation.

Grilled rice paper is one of the simplest yet most delicious snacks to make. With basic ingredients like shredded rice paper, fried shrimp, and various additional toppings depending on the seller—such as crispy beef lungs, Vietnamese coriander, shredded sour papaya, soy sauce, and peanuts—it creates a tasty and aromatic dish when mixed together with sweet tamarind fish sauce and fresh herbs. The result is a flavor-packed snack that you can never get enough of.

As for fried rice paper, it is now a popular street food in Saigon, and you can find it almost anywhere. The rice paper used for this dish is usually the same kind used for rolling fresh spring rolls, but when grilled, it loses its usual flavor and becomes wonderfully crispy. The fried rice paper is topped with fried shallots, seasoned shrimp paste, a bit of minced meat, and grilled meat slices, perfectly balanced in flavor and texture. The crispy crunch of the rice paper combined with the savory toppings creates a mouthwatering experience that's irresistible to both women and men alike.

When it comes to snacks, bubble tea is a must-try. Bubble tea is everywhere, from street-side stalls to well-known tea shop chains. Regardless of where you get it, the average price for a cup of bubble tea is usually around 30,000 VND, making it an affordable option for students. Today, bubble tea comes in a variety of flavors, ranging from classic milk tea with tapioca pearls to fruit-flavored teas and even cheese-topped bubble teas, allowing you to explore different tastes.

Bubble tea is a versatile drink found in many cultures, blending tea and milk in several ways. Each type of bubble tea differs depending on the ratio of ingredients, preparation methods, and additional toppings like chewy pearls, fruit bits, or cheese foam.

Tteokbokki is a traditional Korean rice cake dish that is also a popular street food sold at many roadside stalls (pojangmacha). It originated from a royal court dish called 'tteok jjim', which was made by grilling thin slices of rice cakes, meat, eggs, and spices.

Modern tteokbokki is made from a type of rice cake called garaetteok, stir-fried with ingredients like beef, bean sprouts, onions, mushrooms, carrots, fish cakes, and spicy gochujang sauce. This dish is often very spicy and is best enjoyed hot, making it the perfect comfort food for the cold weather of Korea.

Today, tteokbokki has become a beloved street food in Korea, and it has made its way to Vietnam as well. In major cities across Vietnam, Korean restaurants serve this flavorful and spicy rice cake dish, which has gained popularity for its unique taste. Known for being quite spicy, tteokbokki features chewy rice cakes mixed with fish cakes and a sweet and sour sauce, topped with kimchi. The spiciness of the sauce, the richness of the rice cakes, and the chewiness of the fish cakes make it the perfect dish to enjoy on a rainy day, leaving a lasting impression of Korean culture.

Fried meatballs have long been a favorite snack, loved not only for their delicious taste but also for their affordability, making them a go-to choice for many. Fish balls, beef balls, shrimp balls, okra, tofu... are threaded onto skewers and deep-fried in hot oil until golden and crispy. These treats are often served with chili sauce and sweet soy sauce, offering a perfect balance of spiciness, saltiness, and a delightful crunchy texture. Some places even serve them with pickled radishes, carrots, and cucumbers, adding a refreshing twist. Despite their simple ingredients, fried meatballs are a beloved snack for many.

On weekends, when you’re feeling a bit low on cash but still want to enjoy a snack on the streets and soak in the atmosphere, fried meatballs are the perfect solution. Inexpensive and delicious, a simple skewer of fried fish balls can easily satisfy your cravings for street food, while also fueling your wanderlust as you explore the streets.

Tamarind Shrimp is a popular snack in Vietnamese cuisine, especially beloved by young people for its unique flavor. This dish offers an exciting combination of sourness from tamarind, spiciness from chili, and the rich aroma of shrimp. To make tamarind shrimp, the shrimp is cleaned, then stir-fried with garlic and seasonings until they become firm. Next, tamarind paste, soy sauce, sugar, and chili are added to create the signature flavor. As the sauce thickens and the shrimp absorbs all the flavors, the dish becomes rich, savory, and utterly delicious.

Tamarind shrimp is typically enjoyed as a snack, especially when paired with beer or soft drinks. The sourness of tamarind and the sweetness of shrimp blend together beautifully, making this dish a popular choice among young food lovers.

Spiral Potato is a fun and unique snack that originated in South Korea and quickly became a favorite among young people. What sets this dish apart and captures attention is the shape of the potato, which is sliced and fried to form a captivating spiral. The process starts with cutting the potatoes into thin slices, then rolling them into spirals. Once deep-fried to a crispy golden brown, each spiral is topped with a rich layer of cheese, creating the perfect harmony between the sweet flavor of the potato, the creamy cheese, and the crispy potato skin.

With its distinctive shape and delicious taste, spiral potato is not just a tasty treat but also a fantastic snack or dessert to enjoy with friends, especially when paired with mayo, ketchup, or spicy chili sauce. This combination not only delivers a unique culinary experience but also enhances the appeal and style of this dish.

Salted Fried Chicken Cartilage is a popular street food in Vietnam, particularly loved by the younger generation. This dish is made from chicken cartilage, which is deep-fried to a crisp and seasoned with salt, chili, and other spices to create a unique and tantalizing flavor. The preparation process begins by cleaning the cartilage, which is then marinated with salt, pepper, chili, and other seasonings. After marinating, the cartilage is fried in hot oil until it turns golden and crispy.

The distinctive feature of salted fried chicken cartilage is the combination of its crispy texture and the bold salty, spicy seasoning. It is typically enjoyed as a tasty snack, often paired with soft drinks or lemonade to balance the flavors. With its signature flavor and simple preparation, salted fried chicken cartilage has quickly become a beloved snack among young people and street food enthusiasts in Vietnam.

Crispy Pork Skin with Fish Sauce is a popular snack in Vietnamese cuisine, especially beloved by young people. Although simple to make, this dish is surprisingly delightful. To prepare this dish, people typically use either dried or fresh pork skin, cutting it into bite-sized pieces before deep-frying it in hot oil. What makes this dish unique is the special fish sauce mixture that’s used to coat the crispy pork skin. The fish sauce is blended with sugar, garlic, chili, and other spices according to individual tastes. Once the pork skin is golden and crispy, the fish sauce mixture is heated until the sugar dissolves, then poured over the pork skin to give it a glossy finish and rich flavor. This savory snack is often enjoyed with fresh vegetables like herbs, carrots, and chili or served alongside white rice. With its sweet, salty, and distinct flavors, this dish is a beloved Vietnamese treat, especially among the youth during casual hangouts, dates, or social gatherings.

Snail dishes are a well-known and beloved part of Vietnamese cuisine, enjoyed across both rural and urban areas. These dishes are highly versatile, with chefs preparing snails in many different ways, each with its own unique flavor, depending on the chef's creativity. Stir-fried snails, in particular, are a crowd favorite due to their aromatic and rich taste, enhanced by a mix of delicious seasonings.

From spicy stir-fried snails, snails stir-fried with bananas and tofu, to boiled snails or snails cooked with tamarind, these are all popular snack options for young people. After a long day of classes, snails are the perfect comfort food to satisfy hunger. Or, in the evening, visiting a local restaurant for a plate of snails and some light conversation with friends makes for a fun and memorable experience.

Although snails are considered a cooling food, they are commonly paired with chili, lemongrass, ginger, tofu, and a bit of freshly grated coconut, creating a flavor profile that is both tantalizing and satisfying. Snails are also packed with vitamins that promote good health. Affordable and popular among all ages, snails are a much-loved snack. However, it’s best not to pair them with noodles or corn.

Chicken feet are a popular and humble ingredient loved by many in Vietnam for their crispy and flavorful texture. They are used in a variety of dishes such as stews, fried dishes, and steamed preparations. Common dishes include grilled chicken feet, crispy fried chicken feet, or a tangy chicken feet salad. Recently, a new trendy dish has risen in popularity: sweet and sour pickled chicken feet. This dish is simple to prepare at home. Just clean the chicken feet, boil them with salt, and refrigerate for two hours.

Chicken feet are then marinated in a sweet and sour brine made with lemongrass, chili, ginger, and vinegar. Depending on personal preference, the marinade can be adjusted, and after sitting in the fridge for 2 to 3 days, the dish is ready to eat. This sweet and sour pickled chicken feet dish has become a hit among young people. It’s so easy to make that you can either prepare it at home or find a nearby store or delivery service to satisfy your cravings.

Spicy noodles have quickly become one of the most popular snacks in recent times. Spice is an essential element in many cuisines, awakening the taste buds and making food more enjoyable. In colder regions like Korea, spicy dishes not only tantalize the taste buds but also help to warm the body, counteracting the cold weather. Korean spicy noodles made their way to Vietnam and rapidly gained popularity among the youth. Young people love to challenge themselves by trying different spice levels, ranging from 1 to 7, to see how much heat they can handle. Eating spicy noodles on a chilly day is an unbeatable experience.

However, it's important to choose the right spice level to match your tolerance, as the aftereffects can be intense. For an authentic and delicious Korean spicy noodle experience, head to a renowned Korean restaurant. This dish has become so popular that it can now be found in many major cities, especially in student districts where it's frequently visited.