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Besides its pristine and romantic beauty, Phu Quoc also enchants visitors with unique and exotic delicacies. Among them, the famous mackerel salad is a must-try specialty exclusive to the Pearl Island. If you're visiting Phu Quoc and want to taste the delicious and authentic mackerel salad but don't know where to go, let Mytour guide you to 8 places serving delectable and affordable Phu Quoc mackerel salad.
1. Introduction to Phu Quoc Mackerel Salad
Phu Quoc mackerel salad is a renowned specialty of the island's coastal area. Freshly caught mackerel is cleaned, sliced thinly, and marinated in a mixture of lime juice, sliced chili, finely chopped onions, roasted peanuts, and spices, creating a unique and flavorful salad. Phu Quoc mackerel salad is often served with wild vegetables, shredded coconut, and thin rice paper.
Savoring this salad, simply take a rice paper, add vegetables and salad, then roll it up and dip it in a sauce made from peanuts, garlic, and fragrant chili. The natural sweetness of the fish, combined with a hint of lime, the spiciness of chili, the richness of coconut, all blended with a flavorful dipping sauce, creates a distinctive taste found only in Phu Quoc. Enjoying mackerel salad with a glass of warm sim wine on Pearl Island will surely leave you with an unforgettable experience.
Explore more: 10+ Best Seafood Restaurants in Phu Quoc
2. Top Phu Quoc Mackerel Salad Restaurants
In Phu Quoc, there are numerous places offering delicious mackerel salad, but not all ensure an authentic taste. Below are the most ideal names for you to visit.
Welcome to Xin Chào Restaurant
- Address: 66 Tran Hung Dao, Duong Dong Town, Phu Quoc, Kien Giang
- Opening hours: 8:00 AM – 11:00 PM
- Price range: 60,000VND – 500,000VND
Xin Chào is one of the most beloved restaurants in Phu Quoc. The restaurant is renowned for its elegant yet cozy ambiance, with a breathtaking ocean view. The dark brown furniture, designed in a classic style, combined with comfortable cushions, ensures you the most relaxing and enjoyable moments.
Photo: Xin Chào Restaurant Phu Quoc
At Xin Chào Restaurant, you can choose to sit indoors or in the spacious outdoor area with a refreshing breeze. Both areas offer splendid views of Phu Quoc Island's sea. Here, you can enjoy the delicious gỏi cá trích (herring salad) while admiring the beauty of sunrise or sunset. Moreover, the restaurant's ambiance provides a stunning backdrop for your Instagram-worthy photos.
Photo: Xin Chào Restaurant Phu Quoc
Gỏi cá trích Phú Quốc is one of the most popular dishes at Xin Chào. Made from fresh herring, delicately seasoned, and served with unique ingredients like coconut shreds, wild vegetables, ... In addition, the restaurant's menu features many other delicious seafood dishes such as shrimp, squid, crab, grouper, ... all creatively prepared and beautifully presented.
Song Xanh Restaurant
- Address: 217 30/4 Street, Duong Dong Town, Phu Quoc, Kien Giang
- Opening Hours: 3:00 PM – 11:00 PM
- Price Range: 100,000VND – 550,000VND
If you want to taste authentic Phu Quoc herring salad, you can't miss Sông Xanh Restaurant. The restaurant impresses tourists with its blend of classical, elegant architecture and modern, unique touches. The interior is simple yet elegant, meticulously arranged. The highlight of Sông Xanh Restaurant is the sparkling lanterns, creating a mystical, warm, and incredibly captivating atmosphere.
Photo: Collected
Many people visit Sông Xanh Restaurant just for its irresistibly delicious herring salad. The salad features fresh herring, roasted peanuts, dried coconut, various vegetables, perfectly seasoned. Prepared by experienced chefs, the dish retains the unique sweetness of ocean herring without any fishiness. The fish meat is rich, chewy, especially delightful when eaten with rice paper, vermicelli, and fresh herbs.
Photo: Collection
In addition to herring salad, the restaurant offers over 300 diverse dishes made from fresh seafood. The dishes here are elaborately prepared, meticulously seasoned, beautifully decorated, ensuring that you will remember them after just one try. Among them are specialties like Sông Xanh mushroom hot pot, fish stew, spicy onion fish, crispy fried fish fillet with tamarind sauce, grilled razor clams with salt and chili, grilled abalones, and more.
Ra Khơi Restaurant
- Address: 217 30/4 Street, Duong Dong Town, Phu Quoc, Kien Giang
- Opening Hours: 3:00 PM – 11:00 PM
- Price Range: 50,000VND – 200,000VND
Ra Khơi is one of the oldest restaurants in Phu Quoc. The restaurant not only attracts tourists but also serves as a familiar spot for locals to enjoy the herring salad. The restaurant's atmosphere is quite simple but spacious and airy.
Photo: Collection
Phu Quoc herring salad is considered the highlight of the restaurant's menu. The salad is perfectly seasoned, with fresh and sweet fish complemented by grated coconut and a flavorful, spicy dipping sauce that tantalizes the taste buds. A plate of herring salad at Ra Khơi costs 100,000VND, very affordable for you to enjoy this famous specialty.
Photo: Collection
Furthermore, Ra Khơi restaurant offers many other tempting dishes such as grilled cheese-covered mantis shrimp, Thai squid salad, grilled ponyfish, spicy lobster, salt-roasted lobster, sautéed crab claws with satay sauce, vinegar-dipped squid, and grilled oysters with scallion oil. Prices may vary depending on the season, so be sure to ask the staff before ordering.
Zen Restaurant
- Address: 30/4 Street, Block 1, Duong Dong Town, Phu Quoc, Kien Giang
- Opening hours: 8:00 AM – 11:00 PM
- Price range: 150,000VND – 400,000VND
Phu Quoc herring salad at Zen Restaurant leaves many tourists with lingering memories of its fresh and sweet taste. Not only that, but the restaurant's ambiance also impresses with its traditional design style and unique decoration. From brick walls, columns to interior, all use warm brown tones, exuding elegance and sophistication. The spacious space combined with simple, familiar leafy roofs creates a cool feeling for diners.
Photo: Collection
The herring salad at Zen Restaurant is meticulously prepared and beautifully decorated. The highlight of the dish is the spicy dipping sauce that adds an extra layer of flavor, complementing the freshness of the fish and making the dish even more enticing. Situated on the prosperous Phu Quoc Island, Zen Restaurant offers a variety of fresh and high-quality seafood dishes. From shrimp, fish, squid, crab to snails, each dish has its own unique flavor and is incredibly satisfying, ensuring you won't forget your way back home.
Apple Garden Restaurant Phu Quoc
- Address: 1 Tran Hung Dao, Duong Dong Town, Phu Quoc, Kien Giang
- Opening hours: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Price range: 40,000VND – 330,000VND
If you're seeking a seaside restaurant with authentic Phu Quoc herring salad, then Apple Garden is the ideal suggestion. The restaurant is situated within a large area, surrounded by lush gardens, ensuring a constantly fresh and pleasant atmosphere. Apple Garden's space is quite extensive, accommodating up to 80 people. The restaurant's standout feature is its professional and enthusiastic staff, always ready to assist guests.
Photo: Collection
When you visit Apple Garden Restaurant, you must try the refreshing herring salad, a perfect choice for an appetizer. The fresh and delicious herring, combined harmoniously with other ingredients, creates a memorable culinary experience. In addition to this tasty specialty, the restaurant is also renowned for dishes like herring salad with pomelo, fried silver pomfret, steamed shrimp with coconut water, squid hot pot, seafood hot pot, and more.
Vietnamese Restaurant
- Address: 261 Nguyen Trung Truc, Duong Dong Town, Phu Quoc, Kien Giang
- Opening Hours: 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- Price Range: 13,000VND – 250,000VND
Vietnamese Restaurant is renowned for offering delicious Phu Quoc herring salad at very affordable prices. Fresh herring, caught from the waters of Phu Quoc, is meticulously prepared with ingredients like lime, onions, coconut rice, cilantro, roasted peanuts, and seasoned with just the right amount of spices. The herring salad at this restaurant is typically served with forest vegetables and sweet-sour fish sauce.
Photo: Collection
When indulging, you'll wrap the herring salad and forest vegetables in rice paper, dipping them in fish sauce for an even richer and more enticing flavor. The sweet and savory taste of herring, the crunchy texture of peanuts, the creamy coconut, the fragrant onions and cilantro combine to create a delicious flavor, ready to please even the most discerning palates. In addition to the herring salad, the restaurant also offers many other delicious dishes such as mushroom soup, steamed pepper chicken, Hàm Ninh mantis shrimp,...
Night Market Phu Quoc
- Address: Night Market Dinh Cau, Duong Dong Town, Phu Quoc, Kien Giang
- Opening Hours: 6:00 PM – 12:00 AM
- Price Range: 60,000VND – 200,000VND
The Phu Quoc Night Market drives many young people crazy not only for its unique snacks but also for its delicious, rich local specialties. Stepping inside the market, you'll easily spot stalls offering Phu Quoc herring salad with eye-catching ingredients. The herring salad here is made from fresh ingredients caught from the sea, ensuring the natural sweetness of the fish.
The only downside of the stalls in the market is that they tend to get crowded, and the space is somewhat limited due to their proximity. However, the stall owners are very friendly and hospitable, and the food is prepared quickly, ensuring prompt service as soon as you place your order. After enjoying the flavorful herring salad, you can visit many other stalls in the market to try skewers, fresh shrimp noodle soup, grilled seafood, and many other snacks.
Clam Shell Eatery
- Address: 30/4 Street, Duong Dong Town, Phu Quoc, Kien Giang
- Opening Hours: 6:00 PM – 12:00 AM
- Price Range: 50,000VND – 220,000VND
Clam Shell Eatery is a local seafood joint known for its top-notch dishes. Despite its modest setting, the food quality here is unmatched. The menu offers a variety of tasty snacks at affordable prices, including snails, clams, mussels, oysters, razor clams, scallops, squid, crab, and mantis shrimp, cooked in various styles such as steaming, boiling, stir-frying, grilling, tamarind stewing, and congee. Notably, the herring salad is a favorite among diners.
Photo: Collection
The ingredients for making Phu Quoc herring salad at the restaurant are very fresh and delicious. When enjoying, you can clearly feel the sweet taste of the fish, combined with Phu Quoc fish sauce to increase its attractiveness. In addition to seafood, the beef dishes at the restaurant are also famous. You can freely choose dishes like beef hotpot, beef stir-fried with lemongrass and chili, beef luc lac, beef with crispy rice paper, grilled beef wrapped in betel leaves, and more.
When visiting Phu Quoc, besides relaxing and enjoying the beautiful scenery, don't forget to taste the famous Phu Quoc herring salad. With family and friends, visit these 8 top places for Phu Quoc herring salad to experience the distinct culinary flavors of the Pearl Island. Keep following Mytour for more great dining destinations across the country.
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