The literal translation of the word “bánh xèo” is “sizzling pastry” or more specifically, “sizzling pancake,” according to Wikipedia. Some people call it the “Vietnamese crepe”; however, I prefer to call the food by a unique name instead of using other cultures to identify my own cultural food. In Vietnamese, “bánh” means “pastry” or “bread” while the word “xèo” means “sizzling.” Translate it any way you want, but this dish is recognizable by its bright yellow color and thin circular shape.