Vietnamese Rice Plates in Flushing: A Guide to Every Plate at Nón Lá Express
If you’re searching for Vietnamese rice plates in Flushing, you already know the feeling: you want something more filling than a sandwich and more substantial than soup, but you still want it fast. That’s exactly the meal a Vietnamese rice plate is built for — grilled or wok-seared meat, a mound of rice, pickles and herbs on the side, and a little bowl of nuoc cham to pull it all together.
At Nón Lá Express, inside Tangram in Downtown Flushing, there are five Vietnamese rice dishes on the menu. This guide walks through each one — what’s on the plate, how it tastes, and who it’s for — so you can order the right plate the first time.
Vietnamese Rice Plates at a Glance
Shaking Beef Rice (Bò Lúc Lắc) — best for bold, savory flavor. Wok-seared beef with garlic, onions and peppers.
Lemongrass Beef Rice (Bò Nướng Sả) — best for a special meal. Grilled ribeye in a fragrant lemongrass marinade.
Pork Chop Rice (Cơm Sườn Nướng) — best for a classic. A grilled, lemongrass-marinated pork chop.
Smoked Paprika Chicken Rice (Cơm Gà Paprika) — best for something different. Grilled chicken glazed with smoked paprika.
Rice Vermicelli Bowl (Bún Thịt Nướng) — best for a lighter, cooler meal. Rice noodles, herbs and pickles with your choice of topping.
Every rice plate is served with white rice, pickled vegetables, fresh herbs and a side of nuoc cham.
What Makes a Great Vietnamese Rice Plate?
A good rice plate is all about balance. The meat brings the richness — charred from the grill or seared hot in a wok. The rice soaks up the juices. Meanwhile, the pickled vegetables cut through the richness with something sharp and crunchy, and the fresh herbs keep every bite bright.
Then there’s nuoc cham, the sweet, sour and salty dipping sauce that sits at the center of Vietnamese cooking. Spoon it over the rice or dip each bite — either way, it’s what turns grilled meat and rice into a complete dish.
That combination is why rice plates are an everyday Vietnamese meal. They’re hearty enough for dinner, quick enough for lunch, and they travel well if you’re taking food home.
The Five Vietnamese Rice Dishes at Nón Lá Express
Shaking Beef Rice (Bò Lúc Lắc) — best for bold, savory flavor
Shaking beef gets its name from the way the cubes of beef are tossed — “shaken” — in a very hot wok so every side sears. Ours is wok-seared beef tossed with garlic, onions and peppers, served over rice. It’s savory, garlicky and deeply satisfying, which makes bò lúc lắc the plate to order when you’re properly hungry.
Lemongrass Beef Rice (Bò Nướng Sả) — best for a special meal
If you’ve been looking for lemongrass beef in Flushing, this is the one. We marinate ribeye in fragrant lemongrass, then grill it so the edges caramelize. The result is tender, smoky and aromatic. As a result, it’s the most indulgent plate on the menu — a good choice when lunch is a treat rather than a refuel.
Pork Chop Rice (Cơm Sườn Nướng) — best for a classic
Grilled pork chop over rice is one of the most familiar Vietnamese rice plates there is. Our pork chop is marinated in lemongrass and grilled, so it comes to the table juicy, slightly sweet and charred at the edges. If you’re new to Vietnamese pork chop rice, start here — it’s simple, generous and easy to love.
Smoked Paprika Chicken Rice (Cơm Gà Paprika) — best for something different
This is our own twist on a grilled chicken rice plate. The chicken is grilled and glazed with smoked paprika, which gives it a warm, smoky depth. It’s a lighter option than the beef plates, but it still has plenty of flavor — especially with a drizzle of nuoc cham over the rice.
Rice Vermicelli Bowl (Bún Thịt Nướng) — best for a lighter, cooler meal
Not every Vietnamese rice bowl is built on steamed rice. Bún thịt nướng swaps it for cool rice vermicelli noodles, layered with fresh herbs and pickles. You choose the topping: spring rolls, pork, chicken or ribeye. It’s fresh, textured and refreshing, so it’s a great pick on a warm day or whenever you want something that won’t weigh you down.
Rice Plates or Pho: Which Should You Order?
Both are Vietnamese staples, but they answer different cravings. Pho is a noodle soup — warm, aromatic and comforting, and the broth is the star. A rice plate, by contrast, is all about the grilled or seared meat, with rice and pickles to balance it.
Choose pho when you want something soothing. Choose a rice plate when you want something hearty and savory. Can’t decide? Our guide to the best pho in Flushing, Queens breaks down all five of our phở bowls.
A Quick Vietnamese Lunch in Downtown Flushing
Rice plates are made for a busy day. Because every plate is made to order and served quickly, it works as a weekday lunch, a dinner after shopping at Tangram, or takeout on a night you don’t want to cook.
On weekdays, the Lunch Special makes it a full meal: from Monday to Friday, 11 AM to 3 PM, pair any noodle or main — including every rice plate here — with a half portion of any appetizer and any drink.
What to Order With Your Rice Plate
A starter turns a rice plate into a feast. Try crispy spring rolls — seasoned pork, shrimp, mushrooms and vermicelli in a golden wrapper, served with nuoc cham. For something fresher, summer rolls pack shrimp, vermicelli, lettuce and herbs into rice paper with a peanut dip. Additionally, the lemongrass chicken wings are marinated in lemongrass and garlic, then fried crisp.
To drink, go for a Vietnamese iced coffee, a freshly pressed sugarcane juice, or a salted limeade over ice — our guide to Vietnamese drinks in Flushing explains each one. You can see everything on the full Nón Lá Express menu.
Where to Find Vietnamese Food in Flushing
Nón Lá Express is inside Tangram Food Hall, Stall FH17, at 133-33 39th Avenue, Flushing, NY 11354. We’re open Monday to Sunday, 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Call us at (347) 690-1999, or order online for pickup.
Rice plates are one part of a bigger menu. Between phở, rice dishes, burgers, appetizers and signature drinks, there’s something for everyone at the table. You can also read more about Nón Lá Express, or learn about the history of nuoc cham.
Vietnamese Rice Plates in Flushing: Common Questions
What is a Vietnamese rice plate?
A Vietnamese rice plate is grilled or wok-seared meat served over rice with pickled vegetables, fresh herbs and nuoc cham. At Nón Lá Express, every rice plate comes with all four.
What is shaking beef?
Shaking beef, or bò lúc lắc, is cubed beef tossed in a very hot wok so it sears on every side. Ours is wok-seared with garlic, onions and peppers and served over rice.
Which rice plate should I order if I’ve never had Vietnamese food?
Start with the Pork Chop Rice. A lemongrass-marinated, grilled pork chop over rice is familiar, generous and a great introduction to Vietnamese flavors.
What’s the difference between bún thịt nướng and a rice plate?
A rice plate is built on steamed white rice. Bún thịt nướng uses cool rice vermicelli noodles instead, with herbs and pickles, so it eats lighter and fresher.
Where can I get Vietnamese rice dishes near Tangram mall?
Nón Lá Express is inside Tangram itself, at Stall FH17, so you can get a Vietnamese rice plate without leaving the building.
Ready for Your Next Vietnamese Rice Plate?
Next time you’re hungry in Flushing, pick your plate: savory shaking beef, lemongrass ribeye, a classic grilled pork chop, smoked paprika chicken, or a cool vermicelli bowl. Then add the nuoc cham and dig in.
Visit Nón Lá Express inside Tangram, or order online for Vietnamese rice plates in Flushing, Queens.
