Da Nang is a city located in central Vietnam, famous for its beautiful beaches and scenic spots. In terms of cuisine, Da Nang plays a crucial role in introducing and developing Vietnamese food worldwide. This city is a melting pot of various culinary cultures, creating a unique and rich culinary style.

This article aims to introduce the most outstanding dishes that visitors should try when coming to Da Nang. These delectable dishes capture the essence of Da Nang’s culture and popularity in a vibrant way.

Mi Quang

Mi Quang is a signature dish of Quang Nam, but it has become popular in Da Nang. This dish consists of yellow noodles, pork, shrimp, quail eggs, and sesame rice crackers. Mi Quang is unique due to its rich broth, typically made from pork and shrimp bones, which creates a rich and enticing flavor.

Price Range: 30.000 VND – 50.000 VND (1.17 USD – 2 USD)

Recommended Places: 

  • Mi Quang Ba Mua (95A Nguyen Tri Phuong)
  • Mi Quang 1A (1A Hai Phong)

Bun Cha Ca

Bun Cha Ca is a noodle dish with fish cake, a specialty of Da Nang’s coastal area. The fish cake is made from fresh fish, perfectly seasoned, and fried to a crisp. The broth is light and flavorful, simmered from fish bones and added with a bit of shrimp paste, creating a unique taste.

Price Range: 25.000 VND – 40.000 VND (1 USD – 1.57USD)

Recommended Places: 

  • Bun Cha Ca Ba Hoa (27 Le Hong Phong)
  • Bun Cha Ca Han (109 Nguyen Chi Thanh)

Banh Xeo

Banh Xeo is a famous Central Vietnamese pancake. The pancake is made from rice flour, coconut milk, and turmeric, creating an attractive yellow color. The filling typically includes shrimp, pork, and bean sprouts with fresh herbs and sweet and sour fish sauce. This dish is crispy, fragrant, and very appealing.

Price Range: 15.000 VND – 30.000 VND (0.58 USD – 1.17USD)

Recommended Places: 

  • Banh Xeo Ba Duong (280/23 Hoang Dieu)
  • Banh Xeo Lipton (280/21 Hoang Dieu)

Banh Trang Cuon Thit Heo

Banh Trang Cuon Thit Heo is a delicate and elegant dish. Thin slices of boiled pork are rolled in rice paper with fresh herbs, vermicelli, and cucumber. This dish is often dipped in fermented fish sauce, creating a rich and unforgettable flavor.

Price Range: 40.000 – 70.000 VND (1.57 USD – 2.74USD)

Recommended Places: 

  • Banh Trang Cuon Thit Heo Mau (35 Do Thuc Tinh)
  • Banh Trang Cuon Thit Heo Dai Loc (97 Tran Quoc Toan)

Bun Thit Nuong

Bun Thit Nuong is an appealing grilled pork noodle dish. The pork is marinated and grilled to perfection. This dish also includes vermicelli, fresh herbs, roasted peanuts, and sweet and sour fish sauce. The fragrant grilled pork combined with noodles and herbs creates a perfect dish.

Price Range: 25.000 – 40.000 VND (1 USD – 1.75 USD)

Recommended Places: 

  • Bun Thit Nuong Nam Hien (46 Phan Thanh)
  • Bun Thit Nuong Ba Trai (194 Dong Da)

Com Hen

Com Hen is a rustic but very attractive mussel rice dish. The rice is mixed with stir-fried mussels, aromatic herbs, roasted peanuts, and sweet and sour fish sauce. This dish is not only delicious but also nutritious, and loved by many.

Price Range: 15.000 – 30.000 VND (0.58 USD – 1.17 USD)

Recommended Places: 

  • Com Hen Ong Ich Khiem (95 Ong Ich Khiem)
  • Com Hen Ngo Gia Tu (39 Ngo Gia Tu)

Nem Lui

Nem Lui is a unique lemongrass skewer dish with finely ground pork seasoned and wrapped around lemongrass stalks. The nem is grilled until golden and fragrant with the aroma of lemongrass and spices. This dish is often rolled in rice paper with fresh herbs and dipped in sweet and sour fish sauce.

Price Range: 20.000 – 35.000 VND per skewer (0.78 USD – 1.37 USD)

Recommended Places: 

  • Quan Phu Hong (22 Pham Hong Thai)
  • Quan Ba Ngoc Hue (228 Dong Da)

Cha Ca La Vong

Cha Ca La Vong is a famous grilled fish dish with fish marinated in turmeric and dill, then grilled or fried. This dish is usually served on a hot pan, accompanied by vermicelli, aromatic herbs, and shrimp paste. The distinctive flavors of turmeric and dill make this dish incredibly appealing.

Price Range: 50.000 – 100.000 VND  (1.96 USD – 3.92 USD)

Recommended Places: 

  • Cha Ca La Vong An Khai (101-103 Le Loi)
  • Ngu Pho (219 Tran Phu)

Goi Ca

Goi Ca is a delicious fresh fish salad, often made from raw or grilled fish. The fish is thinly sliced and mixed with aromatic herbs, onions, roasted peanuts, and sweet and sour fish sauce. Goi Ca is not only tasty but also nutritious, and very popular in Da Nang. Some well-known places to enjoy this dish are seaside eateries or seafood specialty restaurants.

Price Range: 40.000 – 80.000 VND  (1.57 USD – 3.14 USD)

Recommended Places: 

  • Goi Ca Nam O Thanh Huongi (1029 Nguyen Luong Bang)
  • Goi Ca Ba My (11 Mai Lao Bang)

Banh Beo

Banh Beo is a rustic but very tasty steamed rice cake dish. The cake is made from rice flour, steamed, and topped with ground-dried shrimp, crispy fried shallots, and scallion oil. Banh Beo is usually eaten with sweet and sour fish sauce, creating a rich and appealing flavor.

Price Range: 10.000 – 20.000 VND per plate  (0.39 USD – 20.000 USD)

Recommended Places: 

  • Quan Tam (291 Nguyen Chi Thanh)
  • Banh Beo Ba Be (100 Hoang Van Thu)

Each dish has its own distinct flavor, creating a diverse and rich culinary picture of Da Nang, satisfying even the most discerning diners.

In the list of must-try dishes, Mi Quang stands out with its rich broth and golden noodles, while Bun Cha Ca impresses with fresh fish cake and light broth. Banh Xeo is a crispy, fragrant pancake, while Banh Trang Cuon Thit Heo is elegant with boiled pork rolled in rice paper with fresh herbs and rich fermented fish sauce. Bun Thit Nuong attracts with delicious grilled pork combined with noodles and fresh herbs. Com Hen is a rustic but nutritious mussel rice dish, while Nem Lui is appealing with grilled pork on lemongrass skewers. Cha Ca La Vong has the unique flavors of turmeric and dill, while Goi Ca is a delicious, crispy fish salad. Finally, Banh Beo with its soft rice cakes, dried shrimp, and scallion oil is a must-try dish.

Visitors should take the time to explore Da Nang’s cuisine at local eateries, night markets, and famous restaurants. Try the above dishes to better understand the culture and people of Da Nang. Don’t forget to bring back beautiful culinary memories when leaving this city.