Street food Cao Lau — the authentic version

The best Cao Lau I've ever had came from a street stall, not a restaurant. The clean and deeply savoury intensity was completely different — more direct and uncompromised. lemongrass was used without hesitation, the way it should be.

Vietnamese cuisine shows French colonial influence alongside traditional Southeast Asian techniques. The a street banh mi counter setting meant eating standing up or on a low stool, which is how this food is supposed to be encountered. Vietnamese iced coffee was sold right next to it. Don't wait to find the 'right' restaurant. Find the street version first.