Top 15 Must-Try Dishes in Da Nang

Chicken rice is a dish found throughout Vietnam, but in Da Nang, it is prepared with a unique Central Vietnamese twist. Diners can choose from various types of chicken rice, such as shredded chicken rice, crispy chicken rice, roasted chicken rice, or boiled chicken rice, all of which are available at most chicken rice restaurants in Da Nang.

Shredded chicken rice typically costs around 35k, with the thigh option being slightly more expensive. The dish is served with fragrant lime leaves and a rich, oily mix that enhances the taste. If you're not a fan of the oily dressing, be sure to ask for it without. Another popular choice is the fried chicken rice, where the chicken is coated in a savory sauce, crispy on the outside yet juicy inside, offering a deep, satisfying flavor. You can also try the delicious dish with chicken offal simmered with eggs—a must-try combo!

The fried crispy chicken rice is particularly tasty, with a perfectly crisped skin and a rich sauce that you can customize to your liking, adding layers of flavor. This is one dish you shouldn't miss when visiting Da Nang, as its distinctive taste is hard to find elsewhere.

Simple, everyday dishes like Bánh Bèo, Bánh Nậm, Bánh Lọc (both wrapped and unwrapped), and Ram Ít are the perfect choice to switch things up for a family meal. While these types of cakes share names with their Hue counterparts, Da Nang’s versions have been uniquely adapted to the region’s own style.

My personal favorite is Bánh Bèo—soft, chewy cakes topped with savory shrimp and crispy bread crumbs, paired with a sweet-salty fish sauce. The Bánh Lọc is similarly chewy, filled with flavorful shrimp and braised pork belly, and accompanied by a deliciously thick, aromatic fish sauce. The homemade fried shallot oil adds a crunchy texture and richness that makes it even more irresistible. Each place has its own twist on these dishes, making them special in their own way, ensuring customers keep coming back for more. So, if you ever find yourself in Da Nang, be sure to visit one of the spots I recommend and savor the unique flavors!

Mì Quảng is a signature dish from Quảng Nam, but when you enjoy it in Da Nang, you can still experience the authentic flavors. It is also a popular dish in Central Vietnam. The noodles are similar to northern Pho, made from finely ground rice flour and formed into thin layers around 2mm thick, which are then cut into strips. Like Cao Lầu, Mì Quảng is typically served with fresh herbs, pork, chicken, shrimp, and sometimes egg.

In Da Nang, chicken Mì Quảng is especially popular due to the rich, flavorful marination of the chicken, which makes it both tender and sweet. The next attraction of this dish is the bowl of fresh, crunchy greens that accompany it—banana blossom, bean sprouts, basil, mint, lettuce, and more. You can even ask for extra greens for free if you're a fan of them!

Many restaurants also offer variations like Mì Quảng with shrimp, pork, frog, or snakehead fish, each adding its own twist to the dish. But regardless of the topping, Mì Quảng is always an unforgettable experience.

When you visit Da Nang, you'll have the chance to savor authentic Central Vietnamese flavors, including the beloved Grilled Pork in Rice Paper, often served with a rich, flavorful fermented shrimp paste dipping sauce. This dish is typically wrapped in Đại Lộc rice paper, accompanied by fresh herbs, cucumber, green banana, and notably, a rice flour-based leaf cake. The combination of fresh greens, the richness of the pork, the chewy texture of the rice paper, and the bold taste of the shrimp paste creates a flavor profile that is unforgettable.

If you want to experience this unique dish in the heart of Da Nang, try it with a dash of salty, spicy shrimp paste, combined with the sweetness of the vegetables, the savory pork, and a touch of sour green mango and cucumber. The experience will linger in your memory and make you yearn for it each time you return to Da Nang.

Here are some popular and highly recommended places to enjoy this dish. When you're in Da Nang, don't miss out on these hotspots to get the full experience of this local delicacy. We hope you have an amazing time savoring it!

When traveling in Da Nang, it's hard to forget the irresistible Grilled Pork Vermicelli or Grilled Pork Rolls, often wrapped in delicate rice paper. This dish is typically served with either a savory peanut sauce or a tangy-sweet fish sauce, depending on your preference. It's a perfect choice for an afternoon snack or a light dinner.

Each restaurant may add its own unique toppings, such as crispy, flavorful fried pork skin or roasted peanuts that add an extra crunch. The peanut sauce is homemade, roasted to perfection, and bursting with fragrance. The chili sauce has a sweet, spicy kick that pairs wonderfully with the coconut rice paper from back in the day. Additionally, the grilled pork is seasoned to perfection, offering a delightful aroma as it sizzles on the grill, making the dish even more appetizing before you take your first bite.

If you're in Da Nang, don't miss the chance to experience how the local version of Grilled Pork Vermicelli stands out from others.

Fish Cake Noodles (Bún Chả Cá) is a beloved breakfast specialty in Da Nang, known for its rich, delicate broth made with vegetables like cabbage, tomatoes, pumpkin, and fresh bamboo shoots. The fish cakes are made from minced fish, which is mixed without any added flour, resulting in a firm, natural sweetness. A squeeze of lime and a bit of shrimp paste elevate the flavor, making it the perfect bowl of noodles to enjoy in the morning.

The broth is light yet full of flavor, a perfect representation of Central Vietnam's tastes. The fish cakes are large, thick, and filling, practically overflowing the bowl, while the fresh crab cakes add even more depth to the dish. To top it off, crispy fried pork skin and soft, delicious pork fat give this dish its signature taste, making it a truly unique take on Fish Cake Noodles.

Bánh Xèo and Nem Lụi are both top choices in Da Nang's vibrant culinary scene. Both dishes are typically enjoyed with a rich dipping sauce, either a thick soy sauce or a spicy, tangy fish sauce, depending on personal taste. Unlike the southern version of Bánh Xèo, the Da Nang variety carries a distinct Central Vietnamese flavor, and when paired with Nem Lụi, it creates a perfect balance of crispy and chewy textures that are neither greasy nor overwhelming.

Nem Lụi is particularly flavorful, thick, and fragrant with pork, without any excessive starch or filler. The skewers are grilled fresh upon order, rather than being pre-cooked. Bánh Xèo is crispy and freshly fried, made to order so it stays hot and crunchy, unlike those that are pre-made and reheated. The accompanying peanut dipping sauce is warm, rich, and aromatic, but for those who prefer, a traditional fish sauce dip is also available.

Stir-Fried Pork Entrails with Turmeric Noodles (Bún Lòng Xào Nghệ) is sure to be a unique dish for many visitors to Da Nang. As the name suggests, this dish combines short-cut rice noodles stir-fried with pork entrails, all topped with a vibrant golden hue from fresh turmeric.

The entrails are rich, fatty, and incredibly fragrant, combined with turmeric noodles that have a slight heat from the restaurant's signature chili sauce. The dish is also served with crispy fried spring rolls stuffed with carrots, sweet potatoes, and minced meat—an absolutely delicious addition. The noodles are perfectly seasoned, savory and robust, while the stir-fried entrails are crispy and chewy, with an aromatic flavor that blends beautifully with the fresh turmeric. For me, the dish would benefit from even more turmeric to enhance its fragrance and a bit more heat for an extra kick.

This is considered one of the standout dishes that leaves a lasting impression on diners.

Grilled Banana Sweet Soup (Chè Chuối Nướng) is a popular snack in Da Nang, especially on chilly days. This unique dessert is made by wrapping bananas in a layer of sticky rice, then encasing them in banana leaves before grilling them. Served hot, it’s paired with coconut milk that’s kept at a perfect warm temperature, delivering a rich, sweet flavor that melts in your mouth—an experience you won’t forget.

The bananas are coated with a chewy layer of sticky rice and grilled over charcoal, creating a deliciously fragrant treat. The dish is topped with crushed peanuts, and the coconut milk has a perfectly balanced sweetness and richness, neither too sweet nor too fatty. It’s a warm, comforting dish that's just right for those colder moments.

This is a unique, tasty, and somewhat unusual dessert that should definitely be on your list when visiting Da Nang.

Bánh Đập, also known as cracked rice paper, is a delightful snack with a unique twist. It’s a Da Nang specialty that combines a thin sheet of rice paper with a soft layer of rice dough. When served, the rice paper is cracked open and typically dipped in a flavorful shrimp paste sauce, giving it the name "Bánh Đập" or "cracked cake".

This particular vendor’s version is incredibly crispy and thin, making it the best version of Bánh Đập I’ve tasted. The texture is crunchy and delicate, with the perfect balance of flavor from the dipping sauce. This street food is a true Da Nang classic, often found at roadside stalls covered in plastic for hygiene, where older ladies serve it to passersby. Be sure to stop by and support these vendors when you’re in town, and enjoy the full Da Nang street food experience.

For many visitors to Da Nang, Durian Thai-style sweet soup (Chè Thái sầu riêng) is a must-try dish, famous for its irresistible taste. This dessert is also commonly packaged as a gift. If you're not a fan of durian, don't worry – you can enjoy the durian-free version, which still delivers a creamy, coconut-rich flavor.

The sweet, rich coconut milk combined with chewy coconut jelly makes each bowl of this dessert a real treat. The bowls are always overflowing with coconut jelly, strands of coconut, and a generous portion of durian. The flan served with it is silky and indulgent, and when paired with crushed coconut, it’s simply delightful. The unique combination of coconut sweetness and the aromatic durian makes it a truly unforgettable experience.

Moreover, this dessert is a beloved souvenir for many, often taken home by visitors as a tasty reminder of their time in Da Nang.

Lettuce-wrapped spring rolls (Ram cuốn cải) are a beloved street food, commonly found along the streets of Da Nang, especially around Ông Ích Khiên and Lê Duẫn. While this dish is ubiquitous, finding a place that serves it just right can be a bit tricky for those craving the perfect bite.

This dish is almost a street food staple in Da Nang, made by wrapping crispy spring rolls in soft rice paper, accompanied by fresh lettuce and pickled vegetables, then dipped in a sweet and sour chili sauce. The crunchy spring rolls melt in your mouth, creating a satisfying contrast with the fresh veggies.

The spring rolls here are particularly crispy and stay crunchy for a long time. The dipping sauce is an essential part of this dish, and in my opinion, it’s the best I’ve ever tasted. The fresh, abundant greens served alongside add to the dish’s appeal, making it a true highlight for anyone who loves fresh, flavorful street food.

Grilled rice paper sandwiches (Bánh tráng kẹp) in Da Nang are quite similar to the grilled rice paper snacks found in other regions. This street food combines rice paper with a variety of basic ingredients such as quail eggs, dried beef, and pâté. It's a favorite among both locals and tourists, typically costing between 10,000 - 20,000 VND. You can enjoy it either crispy and grilled or soft and slightly wet, depending on your preference for the perfect flavor.

While there are many places in Da Nang serving this dish, there are a few spots that stand out due to their excellent customer service. Even when crowded, the staff works efficiently, and the food consistently tastes better than at other locations. Whether you're a local or a visitor, this is a must-try street food experience in Da Nang!

Cao Lầu is a unique dish from Hoi An, but it can be found throughout Da Nang as well. The noodles are carefully crafted to achieve a slightly chewy, yet tender texture. The fresh greens served with the dish are handpicked daily from the market and washed thoroughly to ensure they stay vibrant and clean. The broth is perfectly balanced – neither too watery nor too thick – creating a deliciously rich and satisfying taste. This dish, once a specialty from the ancient port city of Faifo, remains a treasured delicacy to this day.

The noodles have a pleasantly chewy texture, and the broth is a savory combination of soy and fish sauce. Tender pieces of pork are served, along with crispy fried pork skin that provides a delightful crunch. A plate of fresh, clean greens accompanies the dish, and a sprinkle of chili powder adds a nice kick. For those who prefer a stronger flavor, a dash of fish sauce or soy sauce can be added. Be sure to try this mouthwatering dish if you're in Da Nang!

Mắm noodle soup in Da Nang leaves a lasting impression with its pungent, flavorful mắm nêm sauce made from fresh seafood. The dish is typically served with various options, including pork, crispy roasted pork, or even grilled pork and is complemented by a mix of fresh herbs. The addition of young jackfruit, a key ingredient, makes this dish stand out.

The mắm is expertly prepared—rich in flavor without being overly salty. The roasted pork here is particularly delicious, with just the right balance of lean meat and fat, and the crispy skin adds a perfect crunch. Another great pairing is bánh đập, which goes wonderfully with the mắm sauce.

While the aroma of the mắm noodle soup may not be the most enticing at first, once you taste the mắm nêm, it’s a whole new experience—spicy, savory, and incredibly fragrant. The perfect mix of seasonings by the owners, alongside the fresh toppings, make this a must-try dish in Da Nang for any fan of bold flavors!