Top 15 Famous Dishes You Must Try in Ninh Thuận

When you visit this small central region, the taste of Bánh Căn and Bánh Xèo is sure to win over any traveler. Unlike Southern Vietnamese Bánh Xèo, the Phan Rang version is a distinctive street food in Ninh Thuận. Made with fresh seafood such as shrimp and squid, Bánh Xèo is a crispy, savory pancake. Bánh Căn is stuffed with meat and egg, offering a flavorful experience, especially when combined with its delicious dipping sauce.

Each tiny pancake resembles a small plate with a thin, non-tearing batter, topped with shrimp, squid, meat, and crispy onions. The batter's golden color makes the dish visually appealing. The crispy texture, rich flavor, and sweet, savory taste make it irresistible. Once you take a bite, you'll want another. In Phan Rang, the dipping sauce for both Bánh Xèo and Bánh Căn is unique. Food enthusiasts mix four types of sauces: sweet and sour fish sauce, peanut fish sauce, fermented fish sauce, and braised fish sauce. The side vegetables should be fresh and aromatic, like Vietnamese mint, basil, and cilantro, along with thinly sliced cucumber, star fruit, or shredded green mango.

Where to try in Ninh Thuận: On Yên Ninh Street next to the Pacific Resort. From Phan Rang city, follow the 16th April street, take a right, and you'll find four shops. The most famous one is Hải Bánh Xèo, open from 4 PM to 10 PM. For just 40,000 VND, you can enjoy a hearty meal.

There are many dishes made with fresh seafood, with the most famous being sun-dried squid and king crab. Ninh Thuận cuisine carries the essence of its scorching sun and dry winds, which combine to create these irresistible specialties. Continuing from the Bánh Căn and Bánh Xèo stalls, you can find seafood delights such as crab priced from 250,000 to 350,000 VND per kilogram, sun-dried squid at 40,000 VND per squid, fragrant snails at 300,000 VND per kilogram, and shrimp at 150,000 VND per kilogram.

Some seafood restaurants to consider include An Đông Quán, offering affordable prices with portions around 50,000 VND per dish. It's located right by the An Đông Bridge. From the 16th April Square, head east towards the beach, take a right at the intersection of Yên Ninh Street, and keep going until you reach the base of the bridge. Another option is Vi Hồng Restaurant, which caters to those looking for a more upscale experience by the sea.

Originally a local dish made from simple ingredients like rice and fish, Fish Cake Noodle Soup is a must-try for any traveler visiting Ninh Thuận's sunny, windy lands. A steaming bowl of this dish is a feast for the eyes, with the golden hues of fried and steamed fish cakes, and the green of finely chopped chives. The noodle strands are perfectly chewy, while the fish cakes are flavorful and the broth is sweet and light, creating a well-rounded taste of the sea.

Located about 500 meters south of the intersection of Ngô Gia Tự and 16th April streets, Fish Cake Noodle Soup is a beloved dish among locals. The steaming hot bowl, fragrant with fresh fish and topped with fish cakes and onions, blends together beautifully in flavor. It's a dish that will leave a lasting impression on anyone who tries it, with prices ranging from 15,000 to 25,000 VND per bowl.

Chicken Rice is another famous dish in Ninh Thuận that you simply can't miss when you're here, especially the chicken raised in the garden. While chicken rice can be found anywhere, once you taste Phan Rang Chicken Rice, it's hard to forget. The chicken is tender and aromatic, unlike the factory-raised chicken, and it pairs perfectly with the rice.

Phan Rang has many restaurants serving this iconic dish, and travelers passing through during lunch or dinner often stop to enjoy a plate of Phan Rang Chicken Rice. The sun-soaked climate here makes the free-range chicken meat firm and flavorful. A special dipping sauce, made from fish sauce mixed with crushed chili and garlic or roasted chili salt, adds a unique taste to the dish.

Location in Ninh Thuận: Khánh Kỳ Chicken Rice - 61 Trần Quang Diệu, located behind the 16th April Park. Half a chicken costs 120,000 VND, and a plate of rice is 10,000 VND.

When you think of Ninh Thuận, the first thing that comes to mind is Ninh Thuận Grapes. If you're planning a trip to this region, you must visit the Ba Mọi grape farm, where visitors are welcome to explore the grape cultivation process, from fertilizing and caring for the vines to harvesting the grapes—sounds amazing, right? No other place in Vietnam grows grapes as delicious as Ninh Thuận. This region is known as the homeland of grapes in Vietnam. During the grape season, you'll see the trellises heavy with fruit, and that sight alone is enough to fill you with satisfaction. Thanks to the area's sunny, dry climate and constant winds, the grapevines thrive here, producing exceptionally sweet and safe grapes, unlike the imported varieties treated with preservatives.

Both red and green grapes are plump, juicy, and sweet to the core, making them irresistible. No wonder everyone who visits Ninh Thuận buys a few bunches, whether for themselves, their friends, or their family. It's a chance to support local produce while enjoying the refreshing tartness and lingering sweetness of these homegrown grapes. Location: Hiệp Hòa Village, Phước Thuận Commune, Ninh Phước District.

Sun-dried Squid from Phan Rang is known for its unique aroma, tender texture, and natural sweetness, thanks to the special flavors of the Ninh Thuận sea. Both domestic and international visitors flock to try this special and exotic dish when they come here. When grilled, the sun-dried squid lets you savor the warmth of the sun, the breeze, and the salty tang of the Ninh Thuận sea.

Unlike regular dried squid, sun-dried squid is made by carefully selecting fresh squid, just caught from the sea, and then washing it in seawater before drying it in the sun only once. The drying process is meticulous to ensure the squid’s outer skin becomes firm while the inside remains tender and fresh. When grilled, the squid retains its freshness, with white, aromatic, and chewy flesh.

This is one of the most popular dishes in Phan Rang. You can find shops serving fermented fish sauce noodles along almost every street, large or small. Even before you step into a shop, the savory smell wafts through the air, making your mouth water. While the scent may put some off, it's the very same aroma that has a loyal following. Many people are drawn to it because of its unique and pervasive fragrance.

Fermented fish sauce noodles are simple and don't require a broth or blazing hot coals. The ingredients are just added directly to the bowl and mixed. A handful of fresh noodles, some fresh herbs, green tomatoes, and a dish of spicy and salty fermented fish sauce, and you’re all set. If you like, you can also add some slices of Vietnamese sausage or fish cakes. It’s quick, simple, and truly rustic.

Lamb is a unique specialty of Ninh Thuận, and dishes made with lamb are a must-try when visiting this region. The various lamb dishes cater to different tastes, including grilled lamb, boiled lamb, raw lamb, curry lamb, smoked lamb, and stir-fried lamb with curry leaves. Another popular choice is steamed lamb, often paired with wild curry leaves, creating a perfect blend of local ingredients and flavors.

You can enjoy these lamb dishes at Trí Tâm restaurant, located at 174 Thống Nhất – Phan Rang Tháp Chàm, or at Ninh Bình Goat and Lamb Restaurant, located at 6 Lương Thế Vinh – Phước Mỹ Ward – Phan Rang Tháp Chàm.

Phan Rang Jellyfish Noodles is a must-try dish when visiting Ninh Thuận. To create the perfect bowl, the chef must carefully select the jellyfish and prepare the broth to ensure the natural flavors shine through with minimal seasoning. The jellyfish used is small, about the size of a thumb, with a white, thick, and coconut-like texture. The broth is made from a local fish called ‘liệt,’ a small fish with a tail resembling a bow. The fish is boneless, sweet, and tender. Additionally, fish cakes made from famous local fish like thu, nhồng, and đối are used. The fish is deboned, minced, and shaped into small balls before steaming. This results in a light yet flavorful bowl of jellyfish noodles that is not overly heavy. You can enjoy this dish at Bún Sứa – Mì Quảng, located at 70 Lê Lợi.

In addition to dishes like bánh xèo, bánh căn, and cơm gà, you should also try the famous Ninh Chữ Mai Fish Salad when visiting Ninh Thuận. The preparation of this dish is quite intricate. Mai fish is cleaned, deboned, soaked in vinegar to partially cook it, then drained and used for the salad.

The salad is served with fresh herbs, sour banana, starfruit, noodles, and rice paper. The dipping sauce is unique, made from ground roasted peanuts, chili powder, tamarind juice, fish sauce, and other spices, giving the dish its distinctive taste. You can enjoy this dish along the beaches of Ninh Chữ and Vĩnh Hy, where you can savor delicious food while taking in the stunning scenery.

Dishes made from Dông are unique and exotic, drawing food enthusiasts when visiting Ninh Thuận. From Dông, you can prepare various dishes such as grilled Dông, Dông salad, stir-fried Dông with lemongrass and chili, and more. Additionally, you can enjoy Dông in combination with noodles, rice paper rolls, grilled rice paper, and fresh vegetables. This unusual mix offers an incredible taste that attracts both locals and tourists alike. You can savor Dông-based dishes at Hoa Thiên Lý Restaurant, Hải Thượng Lãn Ông, Tấn Tài Ward, Phan Rang – Tháp Chàm City.

Phan Rang Pork Belly with Bánh Hỏi is another must-try dish when visiting the sun-drenched Ninh Thuận region. The dish features a delightful combination of chewy and firm Bánh Hỏi and crispy pork belly, creating a uniquely enjoyable experience. When you taste Phan Rang Bánh Hỏi with pork belly, you will appreciate the sweet flavor of the rice cake, along with the richness and aroma of the herbs. It is traditionally paired with fish sauce, adding a savory zing that enhances the overall flavor. You can enjoy this dish at National Road 1A, Phan Rang – Tháp Chàm City, Ninh Thuận.

Grilled Banana Sweet Soup is a simple yet special dessert that has won the hearts of many. The dish features the deep sweetness of firm bananas that have been perfectly grilled. Its distinct flavor profile comes from the balanced use of coconut milk, creating a delightful sweet soup that defines Phan Rang's banana-based dessert.

The soup is made with tapioca flour, aromatic coconut milk, and of course, the grilled bananas. The coconut milk is not just fresh from the coconut; it undergoes a meticulous process—grated coconut meat (from mature coconuts), blended and filtered through a fine cloth to extract rich coconut water, which is then cooked and sweetened until it thickens.

One of Ninh Thuận's most iconic delicacies is the grilled rice paper with shrimp paste. Each bite offers a burst of flavors: the savory shrimp paste, the rich and aromatic fried onions and eggs, a touch of spicy-sweet chili sauce, and the crispy texture of the rice paper, with a hint of sesame seeds. It's a snack that no one can resist, and once you start, it’s hard to stop. The best way to enjoy it is hot, in the late afternoon when the sun has set, the cool breeze is blowing, and you're surrounded by friends. Just thinking about it makes your mouth water!

Grilled rice paper with shrimp paste is a beloved street food, famous for its savory smell of shrimp paste, the caramelized meat with purple onions, and the garlic-infused dried shrimp. Combined with the sweet and firm meat, crispy shrimp, and the crunch of the rice paper, this treat is hard to resist. It's topped off with a little heat and the creamy richness of the seasonings that accompany it… truly irresistible!

Phan Rang Fermented Pork Roll is a versatile dish, often enjoyed as a snack during family gatherings, a grill treat for women chatting with friends, or even in a bowl of grilled pork rolls with noodles for the children. This dish brings a unique taste, offering a mild tangy sweetness and chewy texture that delights the palate. To make these delicious fermented pork rolls, the people of Ninh Thuận wake up early to pick out fresh, quality meat, producing vibrant red rolls that are visually appealing. Phan Rang's fermented pork rolls can be deep-fried and served with steamed rice, adding a new twist to the dish.

Moreover, Phan Rang Fermented Pork Rolls can be skewered and grilled over charcoal, served in a noodle bowl with fresh vegetables. This is not just a traditional dish for special holidays but also a popular gift for friends visiting Ninh Thuận.