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With its diverse landscapes, ranging from beaches, mountains, plains to lagoons, Phu Yen’s local specialties are equally varied. Let’s explore the 10 most remarkable dishes this place has to offer!
Ô Loan Blood Clams
Ô Loan Lagoon is famous not only for its scenic beauty but also for its abundant aquatic resources. What truly sets this area apart, however, is the blood clam. This is considered one of Phu Yen’s most renowned specialties, unmatched anywhere else. Ô Loan blood clams are sweet, rich, and flavorful, with thick, fresh meat. There are many ways to enjoy blood clams, such as steaming with lemongrass, cooking in porridge, grilling, or stir-frying with tamarind. One particularly special dish is the blood clam blood pudding, a delightful treat that not everyone knows how to prepare.
Some popular places to try Ô Loan blood clams in Phu Yen:
Năm Ánh Seafood: 303 Hung Vuong, Tuy Hoa City, Phu Yen.
Thuy Kieu Seafood: Ô Loan Lagoon, An Hai Commune, Tuy An District, Phu Yen.
Ocean Tuna Eyes
In addition to Ô Loan blood clams, ocean tuna eyes are one of the most famous specialties in Phu Yen. Food enthusiasts visiting this area cannot miss this dish, which is both intimidating yet irresistibly delicious. The eyes of ocean tuna are quite large, each weighing about 100-200g. The tuna eyes are prepared in many ways such as stewing, cooking in porridge, soup, or hotpot. In Phu Yen, what makes this dish stand out is the tuna eyes simmered with traditional Chinese medicine. The tuna eyes are placed in a small clay pot with jujube, goji berries, some vegetables, and spices.
Some great places to enjoy ocean tuna eyes in Phu Yen:
Mrs. Tam’s Restaurant: 289-293C Le Duan, Ward 7, Tuy Hoa, Phu Yen.
Chuc Xiu Seafood: 5 Doc Lap, Tuy Hoa, Phu Yen.
Canary Seafood Restaurant: 29 Mai Xuan Thuong, Ward 5, Tuy Hoa, Phu Yen.
Chop Chai Mountain Goat
Chop Chai Mountain Goat is a renowned specialty of Phu Yen. On the slopes of Chop Chai Mountain in the outskirts of Tuy Hoa city, goats are raised in large numbers. They graze on natural grass, which makes their meat incredibly tender and flavorful. Locals prepare many delicious dishes from Chop Chai goat meat. One of the most popular dishes is steamed goat served with hoary basil leaves. In addition to the hoary basil, this dish is often accompanied by greens, cilantro, banana blossoms... Other preparations include hotpot, grilled goat, lemon marinated goat, ginger steamed goat, and goat grilled in wild betel leaves.
Some popular places to try Chop Chai Mountain Goat in Phu Yen:
Chop Chai Goat Hotpot: 664 Nguyen Tat Thanh, Binh Kien, Tuy Hoa, Phu Yen.
Fresh Goat Restaurant Tuy Hoa: Hồ Xuan Huong Street (behind the Hung Vuong electronics store), Ward 7, Tuy Hoa, Phu Yen.
Grilled Grouper
Grouper is known for its firm, lean, and sweet meat, which is why it has become one of the most famous delicacies in Phu Yen. To enhance Central Vietnam's cuisine, grouper is prepared in various ways. A standout dish is grilled grouper. The fish is sliced into thick pieces, seasoned with spices, and grilled over hot coals. Despite its simplicity, this dish has won the hearts of many visitors to the area.
Some popular places to try grilled grouper in Phu Yen:
Phoenix Seafood: Bach Dang Seawall, Tuy Hoa, Phu Yen.
Floating Restaurant Bon Thinh: Vung Ro, Dong Hoa, Phu Yen.
Squid Vermicelli
While squid vermicelli in Van Ninh (Khanh Hoa) leans toward the sweet taste of squid, the squid vermicelli in Phu Yen has a subtle sour flavor. This dish, although simple, has left a lasting impression on many visitors. The ingredients for Phu Yen's squid vermicelli include vermicelli noodles, cuttlefish, tomatoes, pineapple, onions, scallions, bean sprouts, and various fresh herbs. The dish is not only tempting because of its fresh ingredients but also because the broth is infused with the fragrance of pineapple and the vibrant color of tomatoes.
Some popular places to try squid vermicelli in Phu Yen:
Hoang Linh Restaurant: 166 Hung Vuong, Tuy Hoa, Phu Yen.
Dat Phu Restaurant: 169 Le Thanh Ton, Tuy Hoa, Phu Yen.
Dong Fish Cake
The dong fish, which resembles a small iguana, is commonly found in the sandy coastal areas of Phu Yen and central provinces of Vietnam. In late spring and early summer, the dong fish enters its breeding season, becoming plump, meaty, and flavorful. This is the best time to prepare dong fish cake. The fish meat is finely chopped, seasoned, then wrapped in thin rice paper and deep-fried until crispy. The crispy dong fish cake is served with a variety of fresh vegetables, thinly sliced cucumber, and a bowl of sweet and sour dipping sauce made with fish sauce, chili, and garlic. This simple yet delicious dish is a beloved specialty of Phu Yen.
Some places to try Dong Fish Cake in Phu Yen:
Linh Dong Fish Cake Restaurant: 90A Nguyen Cong Tru, Ward 3, Tuy Hoa, Phu Yen.
Grilled Nem 92: 92 Nguyen Cong Tru, Ward 3, Tuy Hoa, Phu Yen.
Mini Banh Beo
While Banh Beo is common in many places, the mini Banh Beo in Phu Yen has a distinctive touch. The Banh Beo is made from rice sourced from Tuy Hoa’s fertile fields, where the rice has the perfect balance of softness—not too sticky or dry. The rice is soaked to soften, ground into a fine paste, mixed with a pinch of salt, and stirred with warm water. After letting the mixture rest for a few hours, the batter is ladled into small cups, steamed for a few minutes until ready. The topping consists of dried shredded pork, crispy fried bread, and fried onion oil. The dish is served with a sweet and sour fish sauce dipping sauce, simple yet delicious.
Some delicious places for Mini Banh Beo in Phu Yen:
Hot Banh Beo in Phu Yen: 94 Le Trung Kien Street, Ward 1, Tuy Hoa, Phu Yen.
Banh Beo of Ms. Mai: 152 Ly Thuong Kiet Street, Ward 6, Tuy Hoa, Phu Yen.
Phu Yen Chicken Rice
In Phu Yen, chickens are raised freely in nature, resulting in firm, sweet meat. The chicken is boiled to extract the broth, which is then used to cook the rice, along with a bit of ground turmeric for aroma and a vibrant color. Additionally, a dipping sauce is made by blending fish sauce, lime, sugar, garlic, and chili into a flavorful mixture. The sauce also includes some minced chicken to add richness. Phu Yen's chicken rice is served with sliced cucumbers, cilantro, and Vietnamese coriander. What makes it even more special is the pickled onions. Typically, the onions are pickled with lime and sugar the night before, ready to serve the next day.
Some delicious Chicken Rice places in Phu Yen:
Tuyet Nhung Restaurant: 189 Le Thanh Ton Street, Ward 3, Tuy Hoa, Phu Yen.
Heavenly Chicken Rice Restaurant: 211 Le Thanh Ton Street, Ward 4, Tuy Hoa, Phu Yen.
Phuong Chicken Rice Restaurant: Tran Quy Cap Street, Ward 3, Tuy Hoa, Phu Yen.
Chive Cake Soup
Chive cake soup is a familiar dish in the Central South region, but the way it is prepared in Phu Yen is a bit different. The noodles are made from rice flour, creating chewy, aromatic strands that don’t fall apart during cooking. The fish cakes can be made from various types of fish such as mackerel, anchovy, or garfish. The fish must be fresh to create the best flavor. The fish is mashed and seasoned with spices before being shaped into small, bite-sized pieces, which are either steamed or fried to golden perfection. A complete bowl of chive cake soup includes several pieces of fish cake, quail eggs, a rich broth, and a generous layer of finely chopped chives on top.
Some places to try chive cake soup in Phu Yen:
Thanh Tam Restaurant: 53 Dien Bien Phu Street, Ward 7, Tuy Hoa, Phu Yen.
Ms. Thi's Chive Cake Soup: 81B Tran Phu Street, Ward 7, Tuy Hoa, Phu Yen.
Xu Nau Restaurant: 222 Truong Chinh Street, Ward 7, Tuy Hoa, Phu Yen.
Sun-dried Beef with Ant Salt
Son Hoa, a mountainous district, has a favorable climate for the local yellow cattle to thrive. This is the key ingredient for the famous Phu Yen specialty, sun-dried beef with ant salt. To prepare authentic sun-dried beef, the best cuts of beef like the shoulder and tenderloin are chosen. The beef is cleaned, sliced, and marinated with onion, garlic, chili, pepper, fish sauce, and salt.
After marinating, the beef is dried under the sun. Depending on the intensity of the sun, the drying time may vary. When ready to eat, the beef is grilled to perfection and then tenderized. This dish is served with a unique ant salt dipping sauce. The special seasoning is made by the E-de people, where golden ants and their eggs are roasted and ground with chili, salt, herbs, and leaves, creating a truly distinctive dipping sauce.
Some places to try sun-dried beef with ant salt:
Diep An Sun-Dried Beef Restaurant: 1 30/04 Street, Ward 7, Tuy Hoa, Phu Yen.
Ba Trung's Two-Sun Sun-Dried Beef Restaurant: 7B Nguyen Chi Thanh, Son Hoa, Phu Yen.
Source: Mytour.vn
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Reference: Mytour.vn Travel Guide
Mytour.vnJune 11, 2024
