Embark on a Culinary Journey in Da Lat with 6 Unmissable Specialties

As the weather transitions to winter, it's a positive sign for you to start an extended trip to Da Lat. Da Lat attracts visitors not only with its cool and refreshing weather, continuous pine hills, or vibrant floral seasons but also with mountainous street food that makes people want to return again and again. 

Below are 6 local specialty dishes you must not miss when traveling to Da Lat in this city of love!

Embark on a Culinary Journey in Da Lat with 6 Unmissable Specialties

1. Grilled Pork Sausage (Nem Nuong)

Made from minced pork tightly skewered on a stick, grilled to perfection, and served with crispy rice paper rolls, pickled vegetables, and fresh herbs, nem nuong becomes a must-try when traveling to Da Lat. The highlight is the dipping sauce made from liver, shrimp, meat, and ground beans, creating a very special blend. You can find delicious nem nuong stalls on Phan Dinh Phung Street. Da Lat is famous for Bà Hùng's nem nuong.

The grilled pork sausage here is reputed to be even more delicious than in Ninh Hoa. The dipping sauce is rich in meaty flavor, and the cool atmosphere of Da Lat enhances the grilled dishes' appeal. Priced at around 30,000 VND per serving.

2. Grilled Rice Paper

Referred to as the Vietnamese Pizza but priced at only 10,000 to 15,000 VND each, grilled rice paper easily becomes an affordable and familiar snack. Perfectly suited for the mild year-round weather of the mountainous city, this simple yet nostalgic treat warms the chilly Da Lat nights. Bite into a piece of grilled rice paper to savor the rich taste of eggs, the aroma of onions, and the crunchiness of the grilled rice paper blended with the spicy and flavorful taste of chili sauce.

3. Mini Savory Rice Cakes

Da Lat's mini savory rice cakes resemble those from the Central region. The cake is made from sticky rice flour, slightly chewy, with a sauce made from shrimp, finely minced meat, and crispy fried pork skin. These cakes are often enjoyed with small aromatic beef or pork skewers. This dish is most famous on Phan Dinh Phung Street. The price of the mini savory rice cakes is around 5,000 VND per cup.

4. Xap Xap

This unique dish, surprisingly simple, yet mysteriously uncommon in many provinces nationwide, finds its popularity predominantly in Da Lat. Da Lat's shredded papaya salad is crafted from young papaya thinly shredded into strands, beef, beef liver, or lung, marinated in five-spice powder, and a touch of cinnamon leaves. Finally, it's drizzled with pre-prepared sweet and sour fish sauce with added chili, then mixed together for a delightful feast.

5. Vietnamese Meatball Baguette

Certainly, anyone who has been here is no stranger to this renowned meatball baguette. The baguette is always warmed over a small charcoal stove to maintain its crispiness and warmth, served with a spicy meatball sauce, a bit of sour papaya, and fresh herbs. You can find the incredibly famous meatball baguette shop in Da Lat located at the intersection of Hoang Dieu and Tran Nhat Duat. One can call this meatball baguette one of the local 'specialties.' Especially noteworthy, the price for one meatball is only 2,000 VND, the baguette is 2,000 VND each, and a complete portion is only 10,000 VND—a remarkably affordable option for a breakfast feast.

6. Stuffed Snail with Meat

This dish is highly acclaimed by the locals in Da Lat, particularly at the shop 33 on Hai Ba Trung Street. The snail meat is stuffed with minced pork, finely chopped, and enhanced with a few slices of lemongrass to eliminate any odors, making you crave it as soon as you lay eyes on this aromatic snail bowl. The owner shared that the uniqueness of this dish lies in the dipping sauce, prepared with the traditional recipe from the first-generation shop owner. Sometimes, you may have to wait 5 – 10 minutes for an available spot. The price per portion is approximately 50,000 VND.

By Hieu Vo/Traveltimes.vn

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Reference: Travel Handbook by Mytour