A Foodie’s Guide to Đà Nẵng

Go Vietnam3 years ago

Đà Nẵng has a way of delighting visitors, especially foodies. While anyone can find their way to My Khe Beach or Marble Mountains, knowing where to go for local specialities requires inside help.

Spread between green foothills, lazy rivers and a sun-kissed coast, Đà Nẵng draws on culinary traditions from all over Central Vietnam. There’s a lot to look forward to here: seafood hauled fresh from the sea, much-loved sweets, cafes old and new, and street food that will make your mouth water. Get your virtual chopsticks ready with this guide to eating well in Đà Nẵng.

Credit: Vietnam Travel

Cafe Long

Every city in Vietnam has one or two old-school cafes, where the spirit of the city can easily be felt. In Đà Nẵng, that’s Cafe Long. Show up around seven to watch the city’s elders, doyennes, and buddies gather for a daily chat over a cup of strong robusta, brewed on the spot in tin drip filters. Come for the coffee, stay for the atmosphere.

Cafe Long

Cách Mạng Tháng Tám, Hoà Cường Nam, Hải Châu, Đà Nẵng, Vietnam

Bac My An Market

Every student in Vietnam has his or her favourite after-school snack. On simmering days in Đà Nẵng, avocado ice-cream or kem bơ offers a creamy, indulgent way to cool down. A thick scoop of blended avocado is layered with coconut ice-cream, and sprinkled with toasted coconut or jackfruit flakes - the perfect tropical treat.

Bac My An Market

25 Nguyễn Bá Lân, Bắc Mỹ An, Ngũ Hành Sơn, Đà Nẵng 550000, Vietnam

Bánh Xèo Bà Dưỡng

These turmeric-tinted crepes are made in searing hot pan, creating extra crispy edges that crackle enticingly when rolled in rice paper. Each bánh xèo is topped with pork, shrimp, onions, beansprouts and mushrooms, then folded in half like a taco. Tear off pieces, roll with herbs and lettuce leaves, and dip into peanut sauce for a mouthful of goodness.

Bánh Xèo Bà Dưỡng

K280, 23 Hoàng Diệu, Phước Ninh, Hải Châu, Đà Nẵng 550000, Vietnam

31 Lê Duẩn

Chè or sweet soup is Vietnam’s answer to guilt-free dessert. Locals in Đà Nẵng snack on chè on long afternoons and crowd these shops in the balmy evenings. Try chè with a single main ingredient such as lotus seeds or mung beans, or have fun with a mix of colourful ingredients (chè thập cẩm), all topped with crushed ice and coconut cream. Yum!

31 Lê Duẩn

31 Lê Duẩn, Hải Châu 1, Hải Châu, Đà Nẵng 550000, Vietnam

291 Nguyễn Chí Thanh

These lovely dumplings are from Hue over the Hai Van Mountains, but many Đà Nẵng residents are addicted to their succulent texture. Rice flour, shrimp, and pork are steamed in banana leaf for a glutinous bite with a hit of umami. A drop of light fish sauce heightens the taste. Order all three types and see which ones you like.

291 Nguyễn Chí Thanh

291 Nguyễn Chí Thanh, Phước Ninh, Hải Châu, Đà Nẵng 550000, Vietnam

Mi Quang Ba Vi

Careful: Love affairs with this central Vietnamese dish can be intense. Luscious rice noodles are layered over raw lettuce and sprouts. Crispy rice crackers, sliced banana blossom, and quail eggs are added, and a ladle of peanut-y broth with chicken, pork or shrimp brings the whole dish together. Try it as satisfying lunch on a hot Đà Nẵng day.

Mi Quang Ba Vi

166 Đ. Lê Đình Dương, Hải Châu 2, Hải Châu, Đà Nẵng 550000, Vietnam

1 Phan Châu Trinh

Ordering a warm bánh mì from a vendor and eating it right on the sidewalk is a classic Đà Nẵng experience. For a local favourite, track down bánh mì gà (bánh mì with chicken floss.) With just a few ingredients — mayonnaise, chili, cucumber, chicken, and pickled papaya — served in a crunchy bread roll, this simple bánh mì packs a punch.

1 Phan Châu Trinh

1 Phan Châu Trinh, Hải Châu 1, Q. Hải Châu, Đà Nẵng 550000, Vietnam

43 Factory Coffee Roastery (Specialty Roastery Coffee in Da Nang)

Coffee lover coming to Đà Nẵng will something to deepen that passion at this modern roastery just steps from the beach. 43 Factory takes its coffee seriously. Baristas in (stylish) factory overalls present brews from all over the world at airy indoor tables or outdoor booths sunken into a koi pond. The cafe also serves pastries, smoothie bowls and juice all day.

43 Factory Coffee Roastery (Specialty Roastery Coffee in Da Nang)

Lot 422, Ngô Thi Sỹ, Bắc Mỹ An, Ngũ Hành Sơn, Đà Nẵng 550000, Vietnam

113 Nguyễn Chí Thanh

There’s nothing like sitting down to a hot bowl of Đà Nẵng-style bún chả cá. The star of this dish is a tasty fish cake made of mackerel, catfish, featherback fish and black pepper. Bún chả cá in Đà Nẵng is made with a delicate broth from fish bones, pumpkin, pineapple, tomato and cabbage. Season yours with lime, chili, shallot vinegar and fresh herbs.

113 Nguyễn Chí Thanh

113 Nguyễn Chí Thanh, Hải Châu 1, Hải Châu, Đà Nẵng 550000, Vietnam

Hải sản Bé Mặn B

What’s a visit to a coastal city without a seafood feast? Set aside one meal to see how Đà Nẵng enjoys its bountiful seafood. At restaurants along the beach, seafood is chosen from live tanks, priced by weight, and prepared in simple recipes. Clams in lemongrass broth, crab in tamarind, and oysters grilled with spring onions are surefire winners.