Top 10 Delicious, Nutritious, and Affordable Breakfast Dishes in Lý Sơn that You Can't Miss

Rice cakes, a popular dish in Central Vietnam, are also widely enjoyed in the southern regions. Comprising rice flour cakes, minced shrimp topping, and a dipping sauce with fish sauce as the main ingredient, these cakes are often directly poured onto the cake without the need for dipping. However, Lý Sơn offers a unique and enticing version known as Vegan Bloating Rice Cake, distinct from the traditional cakes we usually find elsewhere. This vegan version is aromatic, flavorful, and satisfyingly rich without the use of any oil or fat. When eaten, immerse the cake into the special orange dipping sauce sprinkled with fried shallots and scallions. What's more, it comes at a very affordable price, only 5,000 VND for 3 bowls.

Rice cake, also known as glutinous rice doughnut, is a traditional Vietnamese cake that expresses the gratitude of descendants to their ancestors and the land of the country. The cake is usually made from finely ground glutinous rice, with the possibility of sweet or savory fillings such as mung beans and coconut threads. This type of cake is widespread in the northern provinces, especially during festive occasions like Tet.

However, little is known that in Lý Sơn, the rice cake is also delicious and a popular breakfast choice. The finger-sized cakes are white, round, and soft, resembling floating cakes. The rice cake reveals a filling of fragrant and rich mung bean inside. Enjoyed with a dipping sauce made of soy sauce and crushed peanuts, each bite of the chewy and flavorful cake with the rich dipping sauce makes it a mouthwatering experience. You can find this dish in many small stalls along the streets.

Fish cake, a common dish found everywhere. However, not every place serves fish cake as sweet and chewy as in Lý Sơn. Lý Sơn fish cake is handcrafted to preserve the natural flavor of the fish. Red grouper fish is cleaned, separated, seasoned with Lý Sơn's unique spices, then minced and either steamed or fried for various dishes, including the famous fish cake noodle soup - a dish that leaves a lasting impression in Quang region.

The natural sweetness of the fish cake in the noodle bowl doesn't come from excessive seasoning but from the pure taste of the fish. The broth, simmered from bones and fish, contributes to a natural sweetness. The owner adds aromatic herbs, tomatoes, and pickled vegetables, making the broth not only delicious but also visually appealing. The bowl of fish cake noodle soup comes with fresh herbs like onions, cilantro, bean sprouts, a squeeze of lime, and a touch of chili, ensuring an unforgettable culinary experience.

Sea urchins are marine echinoderms with a spiky appearance, often found in seaweed-covered or coral-rich areas. Catching sea urchins is a meticulous process; fishermen carefully select rocky areas and use iron hooks to avoid getting pricked, as the spines can cause pain. Due to its delightful and unique aroma after various preparations, sea urchins have become a specialty of Lý Sơn, often served as a treat to guests. Some distinctive dishes made from this marine creature include eating raw sea urchin with wasabi, grilling with scallion oil, steaming with eggs, or simmering with rice. A simple yet delicious dish is Lý Sơn sea urchin congee.

A bowl of piping hot congee exudes a fragrant aroma of onions, pepper, and, most notably, the sea flavor from the fresh sea urchins. The congee is made with high-quality, fragrant, and tender rice, combined with fresh sea urchins from the sea. The sea urchins are cooked to perfection, retaining their freshness and sweetness without losing their essence. All flavors blend harmoniously, creating a nutrient-rich dish. This is truly one of the island's most unique culinary delights.

If you've ever tasted the Green Bean Thorn Leaf Cake on Lý Sơn Island, you'll never forget the distinct flavor of this renowned garlic specialty.

These pyramid-shaped cakes have a black exterior made from thorn leaves, encasing a green bean filling. The cakes are wrapped in banana leaves. The green bean filling is made from roasted and finely ground peanuts or mung beans mixed with sugar. The cakes are steamed in a bamboo steamer like sticky rice. From the moment the water boils until the cakes are cooked, it takes about a short while. When eating, you can't hastily remove the leaf; you must delicately peel it off into individual fibers to prevent the cake from sticking. The revealed cake is black, smooth, and resembles jelly. It has a sweet taste from sugar, a fragrant chewiness from glutinous rice and thorn leaves, and a rich nuttiness from the bean filling. It's a delightful treat that won't make you feel overwhelmed.

This dish is not only delicious but also affordable, priced at only 5000 VND each. Since the cakes are wrapped in banana leaves, they can be preserved for a long time. Besides being a breakfast option, you can also buy them as gifts for your loved ones.

Together with fish noodle soup, crab noodle soup with garlic is a renowned and highly popular dish on this beautiful island. Unlike the northern version, the crab broth in Lý Sơn will dissolve in the soup, allowing you to savor the aroma and the crab's sweetness in every bite.

In Lý Sơn, the crab part is made into individual pieces and placed in the noodle bowl. When eating, the crab's taste doesn't mix with other ingredients. For those who enjoy the sensation of biting into juicy crab meat, combined with the aroma of dried onions and crab; a bowl of Lý Sơn crab noodle soup will provide you with a complete experience.

To enjoy this dish, you can ride a motorbike around the small alleys on the island, and you may come across local noodle stalls. The price for a bowl of noodle soup ranges from 15,000 to 25,000 VND.