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The sun-soaked land of Central Vietnam has birthed a rich culinary landscape, offering bold, distinctive flavors in each dish. Mytour presents a list of must-try eateries in Saigon, bringing a taste of Central Vietnam to those far from home.
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1. Quang Nam's Delightful Cuisine
Experience the flavors of Quang Nam in the heart of Saigon at Cho Do Do. Indulge in signature dishes like steamed snakehead fish with pickled mustard greens, pounded rice cakes, grilled nem, accompanied by spicy green chili and aromatic fish sauce – essential flavors of Central Vietnam.
Address: 10/14 Luong Huu Khanh, District 1
2. Hue's Culinary Wonders
For leisurely moments or intimate gatherings, visit Rat Hue to savor delightful dishes like Stir-fried baby clams with rice paper, snails, jackfruit salad with shrimp paste, stuffed bitter melon, clam soup, and banh canh soup. The restaurant is always bustling with customers captivated by the rich and unforgettable flavors of Hue.
Address: 28/2D Thanh Da Street, Ward 27, Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City.
3. Hue-Style Beef Noodle Soup
Hue-style beef noodle soup is a specialty from Hue. Locals in Hue often add a bit of fermented shrimp paste to the broth, contributing to the distinctive flavor of the dish. Bun Bo Hue is widely popular in Saigon, and a delicious bowl features a rich Hue-flavored broth and tender, sweet beef.
Addresses:
– Thanh Noi Hue-Style Beef Noodle Soup: 47A Tran Cao Van, Ward 6, District 3.
– Bun Hue Huyen Chi - 39 Nguyen Van Lac, Ward 21, Binh Thanh District.
– Hanh Hue-Style Beef Noodle Soup - 135 Banh Van Tran, Ward 7, Tan Binh District.
4. Quang-Style Noodles
Quang-style noodles are a distinctive dish from Quang Nam. The noodles are usually made from finely ground rice flour mixed with various additives to achieve a firm, chewy texture. Beneath the noodles, you'll find a variety of fresh vegetables, and on top, there's lean pork, shrimp, and chicken, all served in a broth simmered from pork bones. Additional toppings include dry-roasted peanuts, minced and pounded peanuts, finely chopped scallions, aromatic herbs, and red chili.
Addresses:
– Sam's Quang-Style Flat Rice Noodles - 8 Ca Van Thinh, Ward 11, Tan Binh District. (Near Vo Thanh Trang Street in the Bay Hien weaving area)
– Hoi Quang - 07 Phan Xich Long, Ward 3, Phu Nhuan District.
– My Son Quang-Style Flat Rice Noodles - 276 Phan Xich Long, Ward 2, Phu Nhuan District.
– Delicious Urban Quang-Style Noodles: 110 Cach Mang Thang 8, Ward 7, District 3; 50A Dinh Tien Hoang, Da Kao Ward, District 1.
5. Steamed Rice Sheets
The preparation shares many similarities with northern steamed rice sheets and those from the southern regions, but the ones from the central regions, especially Hue, have their own unique characteristics. In Hue and the central regions, 'banh uot tom chay' featuring a filling made from ground dried shrimp and golden 'chay' is highly renowned and considered a specialty of the region.
Addresses:
– Steamed Rice Sheets - 93 Nguyen Cu Trinh, Nguyen Cu Trinh Ward, District 1.
– Phu Kiet Steamed Rice Sheets - 513 Lac Long Quan, Ward 5, District 11.
– Bánh ướt 7 Hiền – 12 Ly Thuong Kiet, Ward 11, Tan Binh District.
– Steamed Rice Sheets – 21 Nguyen Cong Tru, Ward 1, District 1.
– Ut Phuong Steamed Rice Sheets – 277C Phan Dinh Phung, Ward 15, Phu Nhuan District.
6. Fish Cake Vermicelli
Fish cake vermicelli is a renowned dish from the central region with various well-known brands such as Quy Nhon, Da Nang, Nha Trang. The dish is simple with clear broth, fish cakes, and small vermicelli noodles. The delicious and famous fish cakes are made from fresh fish, ensuring a chewy texture. Common fish used include tuna, mackerel, and anchovies. Whether fried or steamed, fish cakes always have a distinctive taste: chewy, tender, and with a sweet fish flavor. In addition to the tasty fish cakes, the flavorful broth is crucial and a unique secret for each eatery.
Address:
– Bún chả cá Quy Nhơn Lệ at 2-4 Dong Nai Street, District 10.
– Bún chả cá Nha Trang at 49 Dien Bien Phu Street, District 1.
– Bún chả cá Da Nang at 321 Dien Bien Phu Street, District 3.
7. Tuna Vermicelli
Put some fresh vermicelli in a bowl, add a slice of tuna, some fresh vegetables, pour in fish sauce, and enjoy. The slightly sour taste of the broth, the spicy flavor of chili, combined with a fragrant and fatty piece of tuna, fresh vermicelli, and raw vegetables. A delicious but tongue-tingling dish that makes you savor each bite and unforgettable.
Address: Khoai Restaurant – 3A Le Quy Don, Ward 6, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City.
8. Nha Trang Style Fish Vermicelli
Fish vermicelli is a simple dish from the coastal city. It is cooked with dặm fish, a famous specialty in the Khanh Hoa coastal area. The preparation of dặm fish is not difficult; the cleaned and boiled fish is deboned, and the meat is sliced into bite-sized pieces. Alongside the dặm fish, the bowl of vermicelli also contains golden and fragrant fried pork sausage slices. It tastes even better when served with a variety of fresh vegetables, such as lettuce, bean sprouts, and herbs.
Address: Nha Trang Leaves Vermicelli – 561 Su Van Hanh, Ward 3, District 10. Open daily from 6 am to 10 pm.
9. Central Style Pancake
Unlike the larger pancakes in the South, the pancakes in the Central region are about the size of an adult's hand, with minimal filling, usually just a small shrimp or a few slices of meat, squid, accompanied by fresh herbs. Served with a sweet and savory dipping sauce, the accompanying fresh vegetables include various types such as coriander, water spinach, lettuce, and green mustard greens. The freshly poured pancakes are hot, crispy, and carry the fragrant aroma of onions, combined with the satisfying crunchiness of the batter that melts in your mouth.
Address: 2 Ton Pancake Shop – 570 Le Quang Dinh, Go Vap District. Each Central-style pancake is priced at around 8,000 VND.
10. Snakehead Fish Udon Soup
A steaming bowl of udon, tender white snakehead fish meat, and deliciously fragrant broth with the rich and distinctive flavor of the Central region make diners enchanted. Like other snakehead fish udon shops, the dish here consists of two main components: snakehead fish and udon noodles made from rice flour. Although similar in appearance, the difference in preparation brings a rich and delightful flavor. Enjoying snakehead fish udon is incomplete without a tongue-tingling spicy dipping sauce with plenty of chili.
Address: Snakehead Fish Udon Shop – 27bis Nguyen Hong, Ward 1, Go Vap District, Ho Chi Minh City. Open from 12:00 PM to around 6:00 PM, priced at 25,000 VND per bowl of snakehead fish udon.
11. Hue Cakes
Various cakes from Hue such as water fern cake, clear tapioca dumplings, pyramid-shaped rice dumplings, flat rice dumplings, and more are favored by many Saigonese. Hue cakes are perfected with a cleverly blended sweet and sour dipping sauce. When dipping into a piece of chewy cake, you'll experience a spicy, flavorful, and perfectly balanced taste.
Address: Hue Water Fern Cake Thanh Nga – Alley 45c Ky Dong, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City (opposite Ky Dong swimming pool), priced from 18,000 to 22,000 VND per serving, serving from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
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Source: Mytour Travel Handbook
Saigon Hotels
MytourNovember 17, 2015
