For the beef 300 g beef sirloin or flank (thinly sliced) 1 tbsp oyster sauce 1½ tsp fish sauce 1 tsp sugar ½ tsp black pepper (ground) 2 cloves garlic (minced, for the marinade) 1 clove garlic (minced, for frying) 2 tsp oil (for the marinade) 2 tbsp oil (for stir-frying) For the dressing 4 tbsp fish sauce 3 tbsp sugar juice from 2 limes 300 ml water 1 clove garlic (minced) chili as desired For the bowls 400 g dried rice vermicelli 100 g bean sprouts 1 cucumber (julienned) 1 small carrot (julienned) 1 cup fresh herbs (lettuce, Vietnamese mint, cilantro, roughly chopped) 3 tbsp roasted peanuts (crushed) 2 tbsp fried shallots water as needed (for boiling)