Nha Trang has an impressive culinary scene, rivaling its own reputation as a beachy party city. Being famous for its marine treasures, of course, Nha Trang’s seafood is legendary, but the resort town has more to offer foodies than crab legs and coastlines.
Here are 5 of the best and most famous specialty foods that shouldn’t be missed on any trip to Nha Trang.
Seafood Feast
Crabs and clams; shrimp, squid, and shellfish; fresh, fermented, steamed, or stir-fried… the seafood in Nha Trang, however, it’s prepared, is widely considered the best seafood in the country. Just north of the Tran Phu bridge, a string of seafood restaurants lines the ocean road. Point to the catch you crave from the live display swimming in buckets or chilling on ice. The waiter will charge you for your choice by kilogram and ask you how you want it cooked. Spend the evening here with a group of friends, feasting on the freshest possible seafood while the ocean wind sets the mood.
“The seafood in Nha Trang is the best in the country, and an oceanfront seafood restaurant is where you can sample it all.”
Bún Cá Sứa – Jellyfish Vermicelli Noodle Soup
Nothing’s better for breakfast in Nha Trang than a steaming hot bowl of jellyfish noodle soup. Bun cá sứa is a vermicelli soup dish topped with jellyfish meat, grilled fish, and vegetables. The clear broth is elegantly simple and served with chili and fresh lemon. The acidity and bite pairs brilliantly with the slight brine and just a few drops elevates the entire bowl.
Bún cá is eaten throughout the country, but bún cá sứa is one of Nha Trang’s most famous attractions, rarely found outside the city. Just as no trip to Hue would be complete without a namesake bowl of bún bò Huế, so too is a bowl of bún cá sứa an imperative in Nha Trang.
“Depending on how you cook it, jellyfish can have a texture similar to squid or even be somewhat crunchy.”
Nem Nướng – Grilled Fermented Pork Rolls
Nem nướng is an award-winning specialty of Khánh Hòa province. These fun finger foods are made by grilling spiced and fermented pork sausages. Making these is a dining experience, a participatory meal that’s best enjoyed with friends.
Pop the sausages on the tabletop grill while the coals are hot. Then roll them up neatly in rice paper with lettuce, herbs, and rice noodles. Dip in a specialty shrimp-peanut sauce to complete the culinary combination.
“Nem nướng is as much about the experience of grilling and making as it is about eating.”
Bánh Căn – Rice Flour Pancakes
Bánh căn is found in other parts of Vietnam, but its iteration in Nha Trang is unique. These tiny rice flour pancakes are cooked individually in little circular clay pans. Each pancake is then served with a variety of toppings, from shrimp and squid to dried or fresh meat. Quail egg is an extremely popular bánh căn topping in Nha Trang, and can be found everywhere in the city. The miniature eggs seem a perfect fit for the miniature pancakes.
Pork meatballs, fried pork skins, scallions, and shredded green mango are served together as a side dish. Toss them together with dressing and enjoy… but beware! Bánh căn is small enough and tasty enough to be devoured endlessly, bite after ravenous bite.
“Each tiny banh is cooked individually then topped with meat, seafood, or egg.”
Bò Lạc Cảnh – Lạc Cảnh Beef
Lạc Cảnh is a restaurant that serves grilled beef so famous that the dish is named after the restaurant itself. They do have other dishes on the menu, but most everyone comes for the Bò Lạc Cảnh.
The beef marinade uses a top-secret recipe that consists of honey and at least ten different spices. After being marinated, the beef is cut into small pieces, each one a fragrant, juicy, bite-sized morsel. The traditional oven will be set up in the center of the table with a grill over hot embers, and the plate of raw beef will be served along with fresh vegetables and a chili-lime-salt dipping sauce. Pop the marinated beef strips on the grill and wait for about 15 minutes for each piece to be cooked to tender perfection. The complex, sweet and spicy flavor is elevated exponentially when grilled over hot charcoal. Dab the melt-in-your-mouth beef in the dipping sauce, and then pair the sweet-salty-spicy-citrus pieces with cool vegetables for an absolutely unforgettable dining experience.
The most famous bò lạc cảnh comes from its namesake restaurant, Quan Bò Nướng Lạc Cảnh, but it’s not the only place that serves it. As alternatives, head to 44 Nguyen Binh Khiem Nha Trang to enjoy this must-eat Nha Trang specialty.
“Like nem nướng, bò Lạc Cảnh is a dining experience to be shared with friends.”
