Buzz
Phu Quoc's delectable dishes are a must-try for travelers. On the 'pearl island,' you'll enjoy various mouthwatering specialties like herring salad, sea cucumber soup, jumping snail, Hàm Ninh stingray, and Phu Quoc sea urchin... Once you've had a taste, you'll find it hard to forget the rich and savory flavors.
Delicious dishes in Phu Quoc
1. Herring salad
Phu Quoc is a stunning island in Kiên Giang province, making catching herring fish quite effortless. The locals clean the fish, slice it thinly, then mix it with dried onions, lime, and thinly sliced chili. You can enjoy herring with rice paper, locally grown greens, and dried coconut.
The refreshing and sweet flavor of herring salad will linger in your memory whenever you think of Phu Quoc. You can savor this dish at most delicious eateries in Phu Quoc like Sông Xanh restaurant (30/4 street, Ward 1, Duong Dong town), Trùng Dương Marina restaurant (30/4 street, Duong Dong town), Blue Ocean Restaurant (Ham Ninh bridge, Ham Ninh town)...
2. Sea snail
Sea snails are two layers of meat connecting two pieces of marine snail. Unlike the snails of common types of snails, sea snails are as big as coins and have a thick layer of meat up to half a finger's width. Locals can turn sea snails into many delicious dishes such as stir-fried with oyster mushrooms, straw mushrooms, onions, and mustard greens. However, to fully enjoy the original delicious flavor, you should seek out grilled sea snails with salt and chili. This dish is excellently prepared by Phu Quoc seafood restaurants.
Marine snails are marinated with coarse salt and finely ground red chili. When eaten, marine snails are threaded with a few coconut leaves and grilled over glowing red coals. The salty taste of the salt, the tongue-tickling spiciness of the chili blends with the sweetness of the marine snails, making the dish even more flavorful and enticing. In this dish, marine snails achieve the perfect balance of chewiness and crispiness.
3. Jumping snails
Phu Quoc has many types of jumping snails, the most popular of which are white jumping snails and red jumping snails. Local people turn jumping snails into many delicious dishes such as boiled snails with lemongrass, grilled jumping snails, jumping snails in chili sauce… Among them, jumping snails in chili sauce are suitable for eating with rice, while jumping snails mixed with banana flowers are always the perfect appetizer on the drinking table.
Many Phu Quoc seafood restaurants often prepare dishes from jumping snails to attract diners. It's wonderful to spend the evening with family, enjoying jumping snails, drinking sim wine, chatting happily, and listening to the sound of the waves.
4. Ham Ninh grouper
Phu Quoc has various types of grouper, but the grouper in the fishing village of Ham Ninh is a famous specialty. The grouper here is relatively small, only about the size of newly born grouper in the Central region, with a total weight of about 6 – 7 fish per kilogram. Tourists visiting Phu Quoc often enjoy many delicious dishes made from Ham Ninh grouper, but boiled grouper remains a Phu Quoc specialty dish that attracts many diners.
When boiled, the grouper will have a bright red color, firm flesh, and if dipped in salt and pepper lime, the grouper will bring an irresistibly delicious flavor. You can visit most restaurants in Phu Quoc to enjoy delicious dishes made from Ham Ninh grouper.
5. Phu Quoc sea cucumber
One of the delicious dishes in Phu Quoc that attracts visitors from near and far. Sea cucumbers are small spherical creatures with many spines protruding around them, usually living in areas with many coral reefs, underwater rocks, and caves to feed on seaweed, algae, especially sea lettuce.
The people of Phu Quoc have three ways to prepare sea cucumbers, which are cooking porridge, grilling, or marinating with lime.
Sea cucumber porridge has a rich, creamy taste and a distinctive aroma, considered a nutritious food that helps restore health quickly after sea trips or long, tiring journeys. The most common way to prepare sea cucumbers in Phu Quoc is grilling. The chef will cut the sea cucumbers in half and grill them over a flaming fire. To enjoy, diners simply dip them in salt and pepper lime and savor the fragrant, creamy sea cucumber meat. Marinated sea cucumbers with lime are also a specialty dish served by restaurants in Phu Quoc. Just add lime and chili slices to the half 'sphere' and you'll have a delicious dish.
6. Grilled sea cucumber with satay sauce
Grilled sea cucumber with satay sauce is one of the delicious dishes for spice lovers. The flavor of this grilled sea cucumber dish is irresistible with each piece of chewy, spicy meat soaked in deep spices.
Grilled sea cucumber with satay sauce (Photo: collected)
This dish is perfect for gatherings with friends. Cooking grilled sea cucumber with satay sauce is not difficult, as long as you choose fresh sea cucumbers, ensuring a sweet taste of the meat and a rich flavor of the eggs.
7. Grilled ocean mantis shrimp
Grilled ocean mantis shrimp is a rustic dish deeply rooted in the coastal communities, reflecting the essence of Vietnam. It's a specialty of the Con Dao region.
Image of delicious grilled ocean mantis shrimp (Photo: collected)
Shrimp just needs to be cleaned, then lightly seasoned before being placed on a red-hot charcoal grill. Ocean mantis shrimp is rich in nutrients, with firm and sweet meat, carrying the distinctive aroma of the sea.
8. Phu Quoc trumpet shell
True to its name, trumpet shell has a distinctive fragrance. Many people think it smells like pandan leaves, but the truth is, you can only fully appreciate its flavor when you taste it yourself.
Phu Quoc trumpet shell (Photo: collected)
There are many different ways to prepare trumpet shell. You can steam, grill, boil, coat with crispy flour, make salads, or cook in spicy and sour tamarind sauce. And the most popular dish in Phu Quoc is grilled trumpet shell served with salt and pepper or chili salt.
9. Grilled Hat Ni shrimp
Being a specialty abundant in the waters of Phu Quoc, the flesh of Hat Ni shrimp is pure white, delicious, and very tender. Even if you eat a lot, you won't feel overwhelmed.
Grilled Hat Ni shrimp (Photo: collected)
Hat Ni shrimp is a top-notch seafood dish, chosen by top chefs to showcase their talents.
10. Grouper fish
Grouper fish is one of the high-quality and special seafood of Phu Quoc Island. This species mainly inhabits muddy and sandy areas in the brackish water zone. An average grouper fish weighs from 5 to 15 kg.
Grouper fish hotpot (Photo: collected)
The flesh of grouper fish is white, firm, and sweet, especially the thick layer that is fatty and not fishy. You can prepare many delicious dishes from it. The simplest is to fry until golden and serve with garlic chili fish sauce. There are also grilled grouper fish with salt and chili, fried grouper fish with fish sauce, grouper fish hotpot, etc.
11. Sea snail
Compared to other snails, the conch snail has a unique appearance, often found around the islands in the Southwest sea. Seafood enthusiasts appreciate this type of snail for its rich and sweet meat.
Conch snail dish (Photo: collected)
Conch snails can be prepared in various ways such as in broth, stir-fried with garlic, boiled, mixed in salads, or steamed with ginger. If you prefer boiled, it's quite simple: just put all the snails in a pot, add some water, salt, a few slices of lemongrass, cover and cook for about 15 minutes until cooked.
12. Phu Quoc straw mushrooms
As usual, after each rain, mushroom pickers venture into the forest to check where mushrooms grow. This type of straw mushroom grows quickly but also wilts fast, so they must be harvested within a week after the rain.
Phu Quoc straw mushrooms (Photo: collected)
After being harvested, straw mushrooms need to have their dirty roots removed, washed clean, boiled until cooked, and then soaked in cold water. Additionally, before cooking, sauté garlic with cooking oil for fragrance, stir-fry the mushrooms, season with salt, and they're ready to be stored in the fridge. Alternatively, during sunny days, you can dry the mushrooms to preserve them for longer.
13. Grilled snakehead fish
A choice dish for many tourists visiting Phu Quoc Island. To enjoy this fish dish at its best, it's essential to select fresh snakehead fish; if it's starting to spoil, it won't taste good.
Specialty grilled snakehead fish (Photo: collected)
The fish should be caught without using a hook to preserve its gut integrity, simply rinsed briefly in seawater and left to drain. Once the charcoal is glowing red, place the grill on top and arrange a few snakehead fish. Don't overcrowd the grill; just a few fish will do as this dish is meant to be savored slowly, with charcoal aroma, while waiting for the fish to cook.
14. Phu Quoc steamed green pepper chicken
Image of steamed green pepper chicken dish (Photo: collected)
If you're feeling weary of seafood dishes, you can switch it up with steamed green pepper chicken. Phu Quoc is famous for its fragrant pepper, which makes the steamed chicken dish more enticing and delicious.
15. Grilled leatherjacket fish
Grilled salt and chili leatherjacket fish (Photo: collected)
Also known as leatherjacket fish, despite its unattractive appearance, it has tender, white, and fragrant flesh, reminiscent of chicken meat. This dish is easy to prepare, simply clean the fish, marinate it with spices, then grill it directly or wrap it in silver paper.
Travelers will experience the rich aroma and delicious flavor of this dish. Grilled leatherjacket fish can be dipped in chili salt or lemon pepper, offering a delightful taste similar to tasty chicken.
Phu Quoc cuisine is quite diverse, satisfying all visitors who come here. The dishes mentioned above are just a few among the delicious dishes in Phu Quoc. Enjoying these dishes, you will savor the delicious flavors, mainly from various seafood options.
