Vietnamese Appetizers Ottawa — Starters & Small Plates at Vietnam Palace

In Vietnamese cuisine, starters aren’t an afterthought — they’re a celebration in their own right. The appetizer tradition draws on centuries of technique: fragrant grilling, careful wrapping, precise frying, and the art of assembling fresh ingredients into bites that deliver complete flavour stories. At Vietnam Palace Restaurant in Ottawa’s Chinatown, our appetizer menu showcases the breadth and creativity of Vietnamese small plate cooking.

The Vietnamese Appetizer Philosophy

Vietnamese starters are built on balance — a recurring theme throughout Vietnamese cuisine. Hot and cool, crispy and fresh, rich and bright. Most Vietnamese appetizers involve a combination of textures and temperatures: a fried element, fresh herbs, pickled vegetables, and a dipping sauce that ties it all together.

These dishes are also designed to be shared. Order a spread of starters, place them in the centre of the table, and let everyone reach and sample. This is how Vietnamese families eat, and it’s one of the reasons communal dining at Vietnam Palace feels so different from a typical restaurant experience.

Chả Tôm — Grilled Shrimp on Sugar Cane

Chả Tôm is one of the most distinctive Vietnamese appetizers: shrimp paste moulded around a sugar cane stalk and grilled over charcoal until golden. The sugar cane imparts a subtle sweetness to the shrimp as it cooks, and the meat peels off the cane in one satisfying pull. Wrapped in fresh rice paper with herbs and dipped in peanut sauce, it’s an interactive, aromatic experience. This dish is rare outside of Vietnamese restaurants that know what they’re doing.

Bánh Cuốn — Steamed Rice Roll

Bánh Cuốn is a northern Vietnamese specialty: gossamer-thin rice sheets steamed to silky softness, then rolled around a filling of seasoned minced pork and wood ear mushrooms. The rolls are served with crispy fried shallots on top (for textural contrast) and a dipping sauce of diluted fish sauce with fresh chili and lime.

Bánh Cuốn requires skill to make — the rice batter must be the right consistency, the steaming precise, the rolling done quickly. When executed well, as ours is, it’s one of the most delicate and refined dishes in Vietnamese cuisine.

Nem Nướng — Grilled Pork Meatballs

Nem Nướng are Vietnamese pork meatballs — seasoned with garlic, fish sauce, and sugar, then skewered and grilled over charcoal until caramelized and juicy. They’re served as part of a DIY wrapping platter: rice paper wrappers, vermicelli noodles, fresh herbs, cucumber, and pickled daikon await assembly. You build your own fresh roll, then dip it in tương hoisin or nước chấm.

Nem Nướng is one of the most interactive, fun starters on our menu — a favourite for groups and first-time visitors alike.

Đậu Hũ Chiên — Crispy Fried Tofu

Đậu Hũ Chiên (fried tofu) is a deceptively simple dish that Vietnam Palace does exceptionally well. The tofu is pressed to remove excess moisture, then fried until the outside is crisp and golden while the interior remains soft and custardy. It’s served with a sauce for dipping — typically a sweet chili sauce or a lemongrass-infused soy sauce.

Don’t underestimate this dish. Properly made fried tofu, with its textural contrast and clean flavour, is one of the most satisfying things on any Vietnamese menu. It’s also a great option for vegetarian diners.

Spring Rolls: A Category of Their Own

Our spring rolls deserve their own spotlight — we’ve written a full guide to our spring rolls in Ottawa, covering both crispy fried Chả Giò and fresh Gỏi Cuốn (summer rolls). They’re among our most ordered items and a staple of any appetizer spread at Vietnam Palace.

Build Your Appetizer Spread

We recommend ordering 3–4 appetizers for a table of four, combining textures and proteins. A good spread might be: Chả Tôm, Bánh Cuốn, Nem Nướng, and a plate of fresh spring rolls. Add our vermicelli bowls as a light main, or go straight to a bowl of phở.

For the full picture of what our kitchen offers, explore our complete menu and Vietnamese food guide for Ottawa.

Visit Vietnam Palace in Ottawa Chinatown

We’re at 819 Somerset St W, family-run since 1989. 671 Google reviews, 4.3 stars, and decades of expertise in Vietnamese cooking. Our appetizers set the tone for everything that follows.

Hours: Monday 11am–10pm | Tuesday CLOSED | Wednesday–Friday 11am–10pm | Saturday 10am–10pm | Sunday 11am–10pm
Phone: (613) 238-6758

Also explore: Chinatown Restaurant Ottawa | About Vietnam Palace | Vietnam Palace Blog