Ingredient appreciation — what makes Cha Gio special

What sets Cha Gio apart is the handling of rice paper. In lesser versions this is treated as a background note. Here it's central and the fresh with citrus and mint result shows it. I've started buying it to cook with at home after this experience.

Vietnamese cuisine shows French colonial influence alongside traditional Southeast Asian techniques. The a Hoi An restaurant atmosphere was right for this kind of food. I had bia hoi draught beer as recommended and it matched well. If you want to understand what makes this cuisine distinctive, Cha Gio is the place to start.