Now that we are back to our busy working lives after COVID-19 social distancing, we all need a place for convenient, tasty, and affordable meals to munch on.
From banh mi to rice to spaghetti, Circle K caters to all tastes. And over the years, Circle K Vietnam has evolved from being just a late night snack stop to being the go-to place for those who need a decent carb fix any time of the day, but don’t have time to cook or can’t afford to eat in a restaurant. Here are 15 hot and delicious meals you can find there.
Image credit: The Smart Local Vietnam
Dim sum is a quick pick-me-up in the morning, and each portion at Circle K has 2 pork buns (shumai) and 2 dumplings to hit the spot.
The filling of each pork bun is succulent, with a mild sweet flavor. The rice skin of the dumplings, on the other hand, is a bit thicker than usual, which gives its tender filling a firmer bite. Drizzle chilli sauce on top of the dim sum for a thrilling spicy kick.
One portion is good for breakfast. Or to fill your stomach with a fuller meal, you can go for 2 portions.
Price: VND12,000 (~USD0.51) per portion
Image credit: The Smart Local Vietnam
Xôi refers to glutinous rice dishes, and cadé is a thick and sticky sauce made from coconut milk, egg yolk, durian, sugar, and flour.
Unlike the popular way the dish is served at street stalls where cadé is poured onto the sticky rice, Circle K’s Xôi Cadé places the cadé inside the sticky rice.
Though firmer in texture compared to the original home-cooked version, the cadé still gives the soft sticky rice a buttery, milky, and sweet flavor that makes for an aromatic and light breakfast to eat on the run.
Price: VND12,000 (~USD0.51)
Image credit: The Smart Local Vietnam
As the name suggests, the sticky rice (Xôi) is neatly wrapped with banana leaf (lá chuối) and steamed.
Despite its nondescript appearance, the dish has a complex assortment of ingredients hidden inside the sticky rice which can only be revealed after several bites. The fillings include quail eggs, shredded pork, shredded mushroom, and tiny fried shrimps.
These ingredients are salty and savory, but nicely balanced by the mild taste and delicate texture of the sticky rice.
Price: VND12,000 (~USD0.51)
Steamed bun with quail eggs
Image credit: The Smart Local Vietnam
Steamy and fluffy, these buns are served straight out of a steam box. There is a variety of flavors and sizes to choose from. You can choose from small buns with taro paste (VND6,000, ~USD0.26) if you’re not a big eater but need something sweet to start the day, or a bigger steamed bun with salted egg (VND17,000, ~USD0.73) for a more sumptuous breakfast.
Regardless of flavor, every bun packs a powerful punch as it is filled with moist sweetness in every bite.
Price: VND6,000-VND24,000 (~USD0.26-USD1.03)
Image credit: Circle K Vietnam
It would be amiss to not include banh mi in the list of must-have breakfasts in Vietnam, especially Circle K’s in particular.
For banh mi with fried eggs (VND11,000,~USD0.47), you can tell the cook how many eggs you’d like in your banh mi and how you want your eggs cooked. The eggs are then fried on the spot before being stuffed into your banh mi to make sure the combination tastes fresh and hot.
Aside from egg, you can choose sardine or grilled meat rolls (VND15,000,~USD0.64) to stuff inside your banh mi.
A heap of tomatoes, herbs, and spices will then be added for a crunchy and flavorful bite. The banh mi is crusty on the outside and soft on the inside. Cheap, tasty, and portable, this dish is a perfect breakfast on the go.
Price: VND11,000-VND15,000 (~USD0.51-USD0.64)
Image credit: The Smart Local Vietnam
As close as you can get to a typical home-cooked meal without having to cook, this is a no-fuss cooked-to-order dish with simple but hearty ingredients, including a fried egg, a sausage cut into small pieces, cucumber, and tomato.
Cheap, delicious, and quick to refuel your energy levels, this is probably the most-ordered meal in Circle K over the years
Price: VND27,000 (~USD1.15)
Image credit: The Smart Local Vietnam
Bánh giò, or steamed rice cake, is made from rice dough and stuffed with a generous serving of minced pork, shallots, quail eggs, and ground wood ear mushrooms.
Image credit: @kem.ngon.ngon.ngon
The cake is formed into a pyramid shape, then wrapped and steamed inside a banana leaf until the aroma and green color of the leaf are blended into the cake.
Fluffy and hearty in every bite, bánh giò makes for an ideal lunch for a light eater.
Price: VND11,000-VND15,000 (~USD0.47-0.64)
Image credit: @___linhmoon
Onigiri, or rice balls in triangular shapes, are simple and tasty light meal items originating from Japan. There are different flavors to choose from at Circle K, such as tuna and chicken mayo, and Japanese minced beef. The main ingredients are contained inside the rice ball, which is then wrapped with a sheet of seaweed.
The rice is steam-cooked japonica rice, so it’s soft and sticky in texture and mildly sweet in flavor. The seaweed wrapping, on the other hand, gives the ball a light saltiness.
Price: VND12,000 (~USD0.51)
Image credit: The Smart Local Vietnam
For convenience store food, Circle K’s rice with braised pork slices (Cơm thịt ba rọi kho tiêu) is beyond expectations. In fact, it was specially recommended to me by a Circle K staff member.
Braised pork slices are the main fillings of the dish, and come with shredded tomatoes and onions as sides. The pork is tender with a decent amount of fat attached to it, sprinkled with pepper, and drenched in delicious meat sauce. Simply microwave the entire dish that comes in a bowl.
Price: VND28,000 (~USD1.20)
Image credit: The Smart Local Vietnam
The savory spaghetti here is worth a try, with its pasta nicely cooked to a good consistency, drenched in tomato sauce that’s lightly sweet. Even though there’s only a bit of minced meat and tomato slices that goes along with the pasta, this is still a pasta fix that won’t break the bank.
Price: VND33,000 (~USD1.41)
Image adapted from: @quynhanh_yun
A dinner dish with instant noodles blanched in boiling water, this comes with a fried egg, a sausage cut into pieces, and scallions to make for a full and easy evening meal.
Tasty and cheap, this dish is cooked right on the spot. Instead of just a bowl of plain instant noodles, the fried egg and a sausage thrown into the bowl level up the meal and make you fuller.
Price: VND20,000 (~USD0.85)
Image credit: @ha.phuong.1811
End your meal on a sweet note by checking out the popular black hōjicha-flavored Cornetto ice cream from Walls.
Featuring grey ice cream sitting on top of a black cone, this chic ice cream is worthy of a spot on your Insta feed.
The earthy note in the hōjicha tea is subtle, while the chocolate flavor takes centrestage, followed by the milkiness of the ice cream.
Price: VND22,000 (~USD0.94)
Image credit: The Smart Local Vietnam
If you don’t have a sweet tooth, try sour mango slices, a favorite midday snack among Vietnamese office workers. Unripe mango is packed in convenient tubs, with each slice washed, peeled, and ready to eat. The slices are served with tangy spicy salt, boasting an intense flavor when you dip each slice in it.
Some swear by the addictive punch of acidity that numbs the tongue.
Image credit: The Smart Local Vietnam
Apart from mango, there are also other fresh fruits to choose from, such as cherry, apple, and pomelo.
Price: VND18,000 (~USD0.77)
This harmonious combination of sweet and sour black sticky rice and yogurt makes for a flavorful dessert.
Image credit: The Smart Local Vietnam
The soft and chewy black sticky rice, or nếp cẩm, by itself is popular among Vietnamese. Mixed with the milky, smooth yogurt, this dessert can refresh you immediately.
Price: VND13,000 (~USD0.56)
Image credit: The Smart Local Vietnam
Colorful in appearance and fruity in flavor, the icy cold Froster is another great option for beating the summer heat. Made of shaved ice and fruit juice, Froster has a powdery and snow-like texture, giving you a refreshing mouthfeel.
The drink comes in various flavors such as strawberry, apple, and blackberry. You can choose one that suits your taste or mix them up for a unique flavor.
Price: VND12,000-VND15,000 (~USD0.51-USD0.64)
For a filling yet affordable meal, especially on a hot day when you need something icy to chase down your food, you can opt for one of 3 combo meals at only VND20,000 (~USD0.85) each. You can choose from:
COMBO A: Banh mi with a fried egg and iced coffee
Image adapted from Circle K Vietnam (left, right)
COMBO B: Instant noodles with a fried egg and iced lemon tea
Image adapted from Circle K Vietnam (left, right)
COMBO C: Steamed rice cake and iced coffee
Image adapted from Circle K Vietnam (left, right)
Many of us often find ourselves stuck at the office or school from dusk till dawn, and don’t have enough time to pack a meal from home. When this happens, we don’t have many options for a hot fresh meal any time of day besides convenience stores, which can be found in every corner in a city.
Instead of just eating junk food the next time you’re hungry, get a fulfilling and affordable carb fix in any Circle K Vietnam store, with full meal options ranging from breakfast to lunch to desserts.
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Cover image credit: The Smart Local Vietnam
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