Mini Vietnamese pancakes (Banh Khot)
No. 22 of my top 100 fav things in Cabra.
How do you impress a know-it-all foodie? You take them to Cabramatta and give them bun cocks. (“bun what!?!?! ….Banh Khot, prounounced “bun cock”).
This is my trump card. Even locals are impressed when I take them for a meal of banh khot. I get praises like….
“Oh these are just like the ones I use to have in Vietnam!”
“I never knew you could get these in Australia!”
“These aren’t pancakes!” – Aiden 7 years old
As you can see from the pictures below, these are yellow little crispy cakes. Calling them ‘pancakes’ can be quite misleading, as they don’t contain wheat flour (yes gluten free!) eggs or sugar.
These are typically adorned with crispy school prawns and fried shallots. These savoury little parcels are coloured with turmeric and subtly flavoured with coconut. I have seen these served at one other shop but Que Huong is famous for it. They honestly do it well. The skin is so crisp without any oiliness (fried) and centers are magically soft and moist.
Generous servings of lettuce and herbs are given to wrap them and dip into the fish sauce. I must say, this fish sauce is very very good. It’s unlike any one I’ve tasted. A Vietnamese friend of mine was so obsessed with it that she bought a tub home….seriously.
I absolutely love their “special fried chilli”….more seeds than flesh (how chilli SHOULD BE!). Just ask for extra chilli.
Many people compare it to banh xeo, because it uses the same batter however banh khot doesn’t contain mung bean, pork or bean sprouts. Nice and simple.
I find kids go nuts for these!
Eat me, eat me
Extra chilli please!
Soft centers
A bit of lettuce, herbs and a banh khot. Wah-la!
Where? Que Huong, Belvedere Arcade (look for Subway) Shop 16/70 John St, Cabramatta Ph: 9723 9916
How much? $11
This blog is looking really nice. Looking forward for more updates.
Thanks H!
after reading your blog i definately want to go to cabramatta, i have never been there before it looks amazing thanks to you
Great comment Michelle! I wish more ppl would be as open as you are.
I love banh khot. Mum used to make them all the time when I was a kid. Think I need to ask her to make them again
Hey very different to the banh khot my mum makes. This one is fried huh? The one we make at home is all white, using rice flour and then cooked over coal on a ceramic pan especially designed for banh khot. Actually its much more like the Lao ones.
Despite the pronounciation of the name Banh Khot, these pancakes look inviting.
I recently went to Que Huong and loved the Vietnamese pancakes! I came across your blog via urbanspoon after posting my experience of this great restaurant.
It’s great to come across another blogger from south-west Sydney who loves food!
http://aussiegirltravels.com/2013/04/22/how-to-eat-vietnamese-pancakes/