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Grilled calf is one of Da Nang's famous specialties known for its tender, fragrant, and non-chewy taste. Wondering what to eat with grilled calf? How to enjoy it? Check out the details in the article below!
Da Nang – a name not unfamiliar to travel enthusiasts. This is the place not to be missed with long, green beaches, fresh air, and delicious cuisine.
In addition to familiar Da Nang specialties like Quang noodles, Cao Lau... there's a dish not everyone knows, that's grilled calf at Cau Mong. Ranked alongside Quang noodles, grilled calf at Cau Mong will surely bring you interesting culinary experiences, alongside famous tourist destinations here such as My Khe beach, Golden Bridge Da Nang, Ba Na Hill...
If you've never tasted the delicious dish from Da Nang - grilled calf at Cau Mong, let's explore with PasGo Blog.
1. Grilled calf at Cau Mong – renowned specialty of Da Nang
Setting foot in the beautiful city of Da Nang, you'll surely be amazed by its rich culinary culture. Passing through Da Nang Bridge and a few small streets, it won't be difficult for you to find a restaurant selling grilled calf at Cau Mong.
Cau Mong is a place in Dien Phuong commune (Dien Ban district, Quang Nam province), known for its famous grilled calf dish. Due to its fame, many restaurants in other provinces have opened and named themselves after Cau Mong Grilled Calf. However, if you want to taste authentic Cau Mong grilled calf, you must eat at Cau Mong itself to meet the standard.
Only calves weighing under 30kg are used in this dish, as only then the calf meat is tender enough, not too tough. Calves are typically raised on sugarcane to impart a fragrant aroma to the meat, and after grilling, it turns white.
At first glance, grilled calf seems simple, but it's actually a closely guarded secret recipe that isn't easily revealed to outsiders. Grilled calf must meet the standard of both layers of meat, rare and cooked, with just the right amount of moisture, and the skin must be translucent, crispy yet tender.
To preserve the freshness, sweetness, and tenderness of each piece of calf meat, the chef only begins to slice the meat when there's an order. When slicing, the chef must use a sharp knife, slice quickly and evenly to keep both the meat and skin intact.
Finally, when plated, the slices of grilled calf must be cut just right, not too thick nor too thin, to suit all diners from young to old.
2. Essential accompaniments for Cau Mong Grilled Calf
For first-time diners of this dish, you'll surely be stimulated both visually and gustatorily by the evenly sliced and beautifully decorated plate of grilled calf.
The accompaniments for this dish are also varied and abundant, such as: green bananas, sour star fruits, papaya, pickled cucumbers, raw vegetables, bean sprouts, rice paper... especially Tra Que vegetables, characteristic of Hoi An land - green leaves, fresh and cool, surely won't disappoint you.
Bananas, sour star fruits, and pickled cucumbers are thinly sliced for easy eating, while green papaya is pickled sweet and sour to enhance the dish's flavor and reduce the greasiness when eating a lot. Therefore, these vegetables are indispensable in the specialty dish of Cau Mong Grilled Calf in Da Nang.
However, it would be a real oversight not to mention the premium fish sauce accompanying Cau Mong Grilled Calf. Still boasting the rich flavor of the sea, but the fish sauce here has been meticulously prepared, reducing the saltiness, enhancing the seasoning to attract even the most discerning guests back.
As shared by Da Nang locals, although Cau Mong Grilled Calf is delicious on its own, without the premium fish sauce, it's like losing half of its deliciousness. Standard fish sauce must have the right level of saltiness, retaining the characteristic aroma of sea fish, the sweetness of sugar, the mild sourness of lime, and a hint of spicy chili.
3. The authentic way to enjoy Cau Mong Grilled Calf in Da Nang
To fully savor the flavor of this Da Nang delicacy, you must eat it the way locals do. Before eating, don't forget to squeeze lime juice onto the meat. Then, take a piece of rice paper in your hand, layer with raw vegetables, a few slices of green banana, pickled papaya, a slice of grilled calf, roll tightly, and dip into the pre-prepared fish sauce.
The slice of grilled calf is not overshadowed by smoke, the sweet and tender taste of calf meat is still preserved, blending with the accompanying raw vegetables, creating a unique flavor that no other dish can achieve.
The more you chew, the more the dish melts in your mouth, and it's also when the sweet taste of the meat, the rich flavor of fish sauce, the fresh taste of raw vegetables gradually spread from the tip of the tongue down the throat, stimulating diners to eat more. After enjoying this dish, you'll surely find it hard to forget its natural taste and will want to try it again every time you return to Da Nang. So, where to eat delicious grilled calf in Da Nang?
Famous spots for Cau Mong Grilled Calf in Da Nang
- Rô Restaurant
• Location: 8 Bac Son, Dist. Cam Le, Da Nang
• Opening Hours: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM / Price Range: 100,000 – 300,000 VND
- Ngoc Lan Restaurant
• Location: 895 Ngo Quyen, Dist. Son Tra, Da Nang
• Opening Hours: 9:00 AM – 10:30 PM / Price Range: 50,000 – 300,000 VND
- Cau Mong Grilled Calf Restaurant – Dien Bien Phu
• Location: 100 Dien Bien Phu, Dist. Thanh Khe, Da Nang
• Opening Hours: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM / Price Range: 50,000 – 110,000 VND
- Huong Restaurant
• Location: 18 Le Quy Don, Dist. Hai Chau, Da Nang
• Opening Hours: 8:30 AM – 9:00 PM / Price Range: 50,000 – 300,000 VND
- Lao Hac Grilled Calf Restaurant
• Location: 56 Le Tan Trung, Dist. Son Tra, Da Nang
• Opening Hours: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM / Price Range: 150,000 – 380,000 VND
Don't forget to visit the specialty restaurants in Da Nang listed on PasGo - Bookings & Deals to enjoy many other delicious Da Nang dishes besides Cau Mong Grilled Calf.
Hope with the information about Cau Mong Grilled Calf, you won't have to worry about 'what to eat in Da Nang or what specialties Da Nang has?' when visiting this beautiful land. Don't forget to add this Cau Mong Grilled Calf dish to your must-try list!
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