Top 9 Irresistible Savory Sticky Rice Dishes

Chicken is a beloved ingredient in many Vietnamese households, and almost every part of the chicken—from the thighs to the wings and breasts—can be used to create a variety of delicious dishes. Among them, soft-boiled chicken eggs are considered a delicacy, highly favored by food enthusiasts. One standout dish featuring this prized ingredient is the soft-boiled chicken egg sticky rice, a unique and irresistible treat.

Xôi Tân Định 310 is one of the oldest and most popular sticky rice shops in Saigon, known for serving delicious sticky rice meals throughout the evening and late-night hours. The shop specializes in savory sticky rice, with its signature dish being the soft-boiled chicken egg sticky rice. Customers can choose from three options: chicken leg sticky rice, chicken innards sticky rice, and mixed sticky rice. Despite being a modest street food stall, it attracts a large crowd. The display case is filled with various ingredients: chicken meat, chicken legs, Vietnamese sausage, Chinese sausage, chicken innards, and soft-boiled eggs, all looking incredibly tempting. The savory dried shrimp topping is perfectly seasoned, making the sticky rice even more flavorful. The soft-boiled eggs are smooth, creamy, and delicious. A box of sticky rice in the evening is enough to fill you up.

The braised pork sticky rice from the North looks absolutely mouthwatering. The sticky rice grains are soft and glossy, perfectly cooked, while the rich, flavorful braised pork pairs wonderfully with a crunchy, sweet-sour pickled cucumber. This dish also includes delicious sticky rice topped with pate, Chinese sausage, and braised pork, with the sticky rice itself being chewy and fragrant. The combination of flavors makes it a truly delicious and satisfying meal. The taste is so exceptional, your family will be sure to remember it!

Famous for its incredibly tasty braised pork sticky rice, Xôi Bà Thu (Dye Worker) is a must-visit spot for sticky rice lovers. The pork belly is marinated with rich flavors, and the meat is perfectly sliced into beautiful pieces. The soft-boiled egg is also a popular choice among customers. Additionally, you can personalize your sticky rice with a variety of toppings such as eggs, Chinese sausage, Vietnamese pork sausage, pate, or shredded chicken. The prices are quite reasonable, ranging from 35,000 to 50,000 VND per bowl, making it an affordable treat. For true food enthusiasts, spending a little extra for a high-quality serving of braised pork sticky rice is definitely worth it.

Made with the same fragrant sticky rice, the crab meat sticky rice stands out with its rich and sweet crab meat, creating a unique flavor that's only found in this dish. The crab cakes, which resemble rice paper rolls but are larger and thicker, have a beautiful golden color. The sweet, savory flavor of the crab, the slight saltiness of the fish sauce, and a hint of black pepper combine to create a more intense and satisfying taste than ordinary spring rolls. These flavors blend perfectly with the soft and aromatic sticky rice. Steamed to perfection, the sticky rice here is soft and just the right amount of chewy, remaining moist even when it cools down.

If you're in Hanoi and want to experience this special dish, head over to Xôi Bà Thảo at 41A Đường Thành, Hoàn Kiếm. Each bowl of sticky rice here comes with a variety of familiar toppings like eggs, braised pork, Chinese sausage, shredded pork, and chicken, giving you options to suit your taste. Besides the crab meat sticky rice, the restaurant is also known for its crab fried rice, which is equally popular. If you've ever tried their crab fried rice, you'll immediately notice that it's more flavorful than any fried rice you've had before.

Both crispy rice and fried sticky rice are beloved dishes made from rice that captivate many food lovers. However, while crispy rice requires a crunchy texture both inside and out, where every bite crumbles, fried sticky rice has a slightly different twist. Fried sticky rice must be crispy on the outside but soft and chewy on the inside. The exterior should be crisp but not hard, because if fried improperly, it can be tough and hard to chew. The inside must remain soft and sticky, so it blends perfectly with the filling.

Trần Khắc Chân Fried Sticky Rice serves crispy and deliciously fragrant fried sticky rice that isn’t greasy. This dish is often paired with toppings like pâté or rich braised pork, with a touch of fried shallots to enhance its richness. The fried sticky rice, wrapped with savory fillings, is easy to hold and eat, making it a convenient yet delicious meal. On a chilly evening, it's perfect to grab a serving of fried sticky rice at Trần Khắc Chân to satisfy your hunger and warm you up.

Bát Bửu Sticky Rice is a flavorful sticky rice dish cooked with soy sauce and served with a variety of toppings including char siu, dried shrimp, Chinese sausage, shiitake mushrooms, pickled radish, crispy shallots, and peanuts—hence the name 'eight treasures.' The rice here is soft and sticky, releasing a tantalizing aroma that will have your stomach grumbling at the first whiff. The taste is rich and balanced, with a perfect mix of savory and sweet. No extra seasoning is needed because it’s already delicious. The char siu is tender, the sausage is crispy, the mushrooms are slightly chewy, and the peanuts add a rich, nutty flavor that makes you crave more.

If you want to taste this delicious Bát Bửu sticky rice, head over to Bát Bửu Sticky Rice at 95A Lý Chiêu Hoàng, District 6, HCMC. The rice is cooked just right, served with rich char siu, flavorful Chinese sausage, and fragrant lotus seeds, creating a unique and special flavor. The moment you take a bite, the distinctive taste of oyster sauce, soy sauce, and crispy shallots will spread from your mouth to your nose. The slightly salty taste of pickled radish also does wonders for awakening your taste buds. This is definitely a great snack or afternoon treat for those craving Chinese food.

Alongside the classic chicken sticky rice with various toppings, pigeon sticky rice may sound unfamiliar, but its taste rivals that of other savory sticky rice dishes, and it’s incredibly nutritious. Pigeon Sticky Rice is a unique and flavorful dish. The combination of the rich, fatty pigeon meat and the sticky, fragrant rice creates a perfect harmony that lingers in your memory after just one bite. The rice is soft and glossy, while the pigeon meat absorbs the spices perfectly, maintaining its sweetness and aroma.

Xôi Cô Chang is the go-to place for anyone craving pigeon sticky rice in the morning. This shop is always packed, especially with office workers from nearby businesses. A serving at Xôi Cô Chang isn't the cheapest, but it’s certainly not expensive either. Each portion is substantial, featuring both eggs and sausage. The eggs are particularly praised for their quality and are considered the highlight of the dish. If you want to experience the best pigeon sticky rice, Xôi Cô Chang should be at the top of your list!

Ant Egg Sticky Rice is a unique dish from the Tay people. This specialty is made from simple, natural ingredients found in the mountainous regions where the Tay people live. The flavor of this dish comes from its pure, clean ingredients and the expert hands of the Tay people. The special aroma of this sticky rice, cooked with glutinous rice, is complemented by the rich, chewy texture and a subtle sweetness, with the crispy sound of ant eggs adding a fun twist to each bite.

However, the appearance of the dish might not be the most appetizing for some, as the main ingredient is the eggs of forest ants. To truly enjoy it, you need to be brave, as it is often referred to as a “delicacy not for the faint of heart.” The charm of this dish lies in its natural, clean ingredients, and the skilled preparation of the Tay people, making it an unforgettable experience.

When it comes to sticky rice, names like corn sticky rice, coconut sticky rice, peanut sticky rice, or mixed sticky rice with meats, pate, or eggs are common, especially in Hanoi and Saigon. But one sticky rice dish stands out with its unusual combination—bamboo shoot sticky rice, a unique specialty from Kon Tum. The essential ingredients for this dish are glutinous rice and fresh bamboo shoots. Despite its simplicity, the preparation is quite meticulous. The bamboo shoots are harvested from the forest, peeled, cleaned, and chopped into bite-sized pieces. After removing the bitter taste, they are stir-fried with seasonings to absorb all the flavors. Known for their love of spicy food, the people of Kon Tum add just the right amount of sourness and heat to the bamboo shoots, sometimes even incorporating chilies into the dish.

Le Loi Bamboo Shoot Rice Shop is a popular breakfast spot for tourists in Kon Tum. However, if you want to try this dish, you must get there early. The shop is simple, with just a glass display holding ingredients, a few plastic chairs, and pots of rice and soup on the side. It would be a shame to visit Kon Tum without tasting the bamboo shoot sticky rice here, with its delightful balance of sour, sweet, and spicy flavors—a truly one-of-a-kind experience that can only be found in Kon Tum.

Char Siu Sticky Rice is a delightful dish wrapped in a layer of banana leaves and then paper, which helps retain its warmth. The sticky rice is perfectly moist and not dry, topped with a rich meat sauce and a sprinkle of crispy pork floss. The final touch is a layer of sweet, tender char siu pork. The sticky rice is soft and chewy, complemented by the savory, sweet char siu, and the flavorful sauce, with a hint of fat from the green onion oil. This dish is balanced with the tangy pickled vegetables that cut through the richness, making it a truly irresistible meal.

Bà Chiểu Sticky Rice Stall serves three types of sticky rice: char siu, chicken, and mixed rice. Since its opening, the stall has been bustling with customers. The standout dish here is the char siu sticky rice and the chicken sticky rice, both of which are generously served. The char siu slices are thin and tender, the marinated chicken is perfectly seasoned and crispy, and the rice is fragrant and sticky. The addition of savory red pork floss and green onion oil makes every bite memorable. This is a must-try spot that has earned its loyal following.