Shaking Beef Salad / Gỏi Bò Lúc Lắc

Vietnamese drinking culture is up there with some of the all-time greats; you could spend hours on end with all the uncles and aunties drinking Heneiken and Remy Martin until you pass out. For me though, the best thing about drinking with Vietnamese people is the “đồ nhậu”, which is translated to drinking food.
In Vietnamese culture, you never really need a reason to eat and drink together; it’s just a way of life and a way to build community and friendship. Sharing delicious shareable snacks while drinking is absolutely elite and a great way to make sure that you don’t get too hungover the next day.

Shaking beef salad is one of my favorite drinking food dishes, and it could also be a main dish on its own, served with rice. Sharing is caring, though, and this, in salad form shared with friends, is what it’s all about.

What is Shaking Beef?

Bo Luc Lac, often referred to as “shaking beef,” is a beloved Vietnamese dish. This dish features succulent cubes of marinated beef that’s, seared in a hot wok or skillet. The unique name “shaking beef” stems from the vigorous tossing or shaking motion employed during cooking, allowing the beef to quickly caramelize on the exterior while preserving its tender juiciness within.