Food & Restaurants in Da Nang
Da Nang, while not a culinary mecca like the former imperial city Hue, offers more than enough variety to keep you well nourished during your visit. Seafood (hải sản) is popular here, so don’t be shocked if you see a lot of it—fish (cá), shrimp (tôm), squid (mực), clams (nghêu), snails (ốc), and so on. Give it a shot if it seems fresh and well-cooked.
Then there are regional specialties like mì Quảng, or Quang Nam-style noodles, featuring chicken, shrimp, quail eggs, peanuts and rice crackers in a turmeric-spiced broth; bún chả cá, or rice vermicelli with fish sausage; and bún mắm, or rice vermicelli served with a high-octane fish sauce that’s not for the weak of palate. Central Vietnamese enjoy spicy food as well, so be aware that the chili peppers (ớt) you may encounter on your table are the genuine deal, even if they appear tiny and innocuous.
Local Dishes in Da Nang
Mi quang
Mi quang is Da Nang’s signature dish, with turmeric-colored rice noodles and bone broth seasoned with fish sauce, black pepper, shallot, and garlic. River shrimp, boiled quail eggs, and roast pig are popular meat toppings, however some restaurants utilize fish, chicken, and beef pieces.
Finally, the dish is garnished with fresh herbs such as basil, peanuts, cilantro, lettuce, sliced banana flowers, and sesame rice crackers. You can also add chili peppers to your bowl of mi quang for a spicy kick.
Bun thit nuong
Thin vermicelli rice noodles, freshly chopped lettuce, sliced cucumber, bean sprouts, pickled daikon, basil, chopped peanuts, and mint top the Bun thit nuong.
Diners can also choose bun thit nuong cha gio, which comes with crunchy cha gio pieces (deep-fried eggrolls). As with most Vietnamese dishes, a side of nuoc cham sauce is provided to mix into the bun thit nuong for a tasty combination.
Vietnamese BBQ
Da Nang is especially well-known for its BBQ options, which include a broad variety of fresh fish and meat slices cooked over a charcoal broil fire. The following is a list of the top places to visit in order to find out more about this.
You can enjoy plenty of marinated ingredients for your Vietnamese BBQ, including squid, frog, octopus, pork, shrimp, and beef tendon.
Bun cha ca
Bun cha ca (fishcake noodle soup) is popular with seafood enthusiasts due to its abundant chunks of broiled fishcakes, green onions, beansprouts, mint leaves, and fine rice vermicelli noodles. Using a choice of mackerel, barracuda or lizardfish, the meat is marinated with garlic, pepper, salt, and chile before it’s kneaded into small pieces then grilled until thoroughly cooked.
The broth is made by simmering a combination of fish bones, pumpkin, cabbage, pineapple, tomato, and dried bamboo shoots, resulting in a rich, substantial, and savory combination.
Com tam
Com tam means “broken rice” in Vietnamese. This traditional dish is served with a fried egg, chopped green onions, and a variety of meats such as suon nuong (barbecued pork chop), bi (shredded pork skin), and cha trung (grilled pork skin) (steamed pork and egg patty). This meal can also be served with pickled veggies, cucumber slices, and nuoc cham (Vietnamese dipping sauce).
Street markets and roadside food stalls sell kom tam at very reasonable costs, making it a highly popular dish among budget-conscious travelers.
Com chien
Com chien is a basic dish that can be eaten at any time of day, making it a wonderful option for people seeking a simple, quick, hearty, and affordable meal in Da Nang.
Com chien is composed of steamed rice, oil infused with garlic, and an assortment of meat, seafood, and fresh veggies. After everything has been stir-fried, the meal is garnished with fried shallots, parsley, and cilantro leaves and served with nuoc cham on the side (dipping sauce).
Nem lui
Nem lui is a typical snack that originated in Hue but can be found in the markets, street vendors, and Vietnamese restaurants of Da Nang. The meat is a blend of ground pork, pigskin, pig oil, salt, pepper, sugar, and a locally cultivated spice called thinh.
The skewers are grilled over a charcoal burner and served with rice paper, fresh herbs, and veggies. As with any Vietnamese delicacy, you can add chile slices and/or nuoc cham sauce for additional taste.
Chao tom
Chao tom is an appetizer consisting of shrimp and garlic paste wrapped around a piece of sugarcane and grilled. The meaty pulp is then scraped from the sugarcane, wrapped in lettuce leaves with local herbs, and dipped in nuoc cham before being served (dipping sauce).
Chao tom is frequently served with regional beer or wine. Alternately, sugarcane can be chewed for a sweet taste.
Banh xeo
Banh xeo is a savory crepe prepared with rice flour, coconut milk, and turmeric. It contains vermicelli noodles, chicken, pig, or beef, shrimp, sliced onions, bean sprouts, and mushrooms. Typically consumed as a snack or appetizer, banh xeo is offered at roadside booths, small markets, and restaurants in the downtown area of Da Nang.
Wrapping a crispy pancake in mustard leaf, lettuce leaf, or rice paper along with nem lui (pork on lemongrass skewers), mint leaves, and basil is an excellent way to enjoy it. Remember to dip it in a fermented peanut sauce.
Rau cau trai dua
Rau cau trai dua (coconut jelly) is a light, refreshing, and perfectly sweet dish from Da Nang. The top layer is a coconut cream similar to custard, while the bottom layer is a jelly created with coconut water and agar-agar.
Along Bach Dang Street, facing the Han River, there are various dessert cafes that sell coconut jelly. Rau cau trai dua is a nice dessert option for traveling vegans.
Budget Restaurants in Da Nang
- Bread of Life Western Bakery and Eatery, 4 Dong Da (located upstairs one level), +84 511 3565185. 10am to 10pm – closed Sunday. Take out delivery for orders over 100,000 dong. Bread of Life is owned by an American couple who utilize the business to instruct young deaf Vietnamese children. All baking, cooking, and serving is performed by the deaf, and all revenues are invested in a school that teaches deaf Vietnamese sign language and English. On the menu for breakfast, lunch, and dinner are pizza, pasta, hamburgers, and other Western dishes. daily excellent coffee and freshly made cookies and cakes You will love engaging with the employees and the product’s superior quality. Orders for a variety of breads can be placed in person or by phone a day in advance and then picked up at the restaurant.
- Bun Cha Ca Cha Lat, 61B Le Hong Phong (Near Le Hong Phong & Phan Chu Trinh). A fairly humble establishment serving bn ch cá. Excellent spot for an authentic Vietnamese noodle breakfast. However, you should still clean your utensils and glasses before using them. 25,000 dong/bowl.
- Hoa’s Guesthouse at China Beach. Evening gathering place for travelers, as Hoa organizes “family dinners.” Hoa’s wife provides an all-you-can-eat buffet for approximately $1.50 USD. Beginning around 19:00, this minuscule cafe’s picnic tables are filled with travelers. Closed for Tet holiday
- Sa Sa Gelato (Tricky to find. It is on Green Island, across the street to the east of Bia Tulip, on the Nguyen Van Troi Bridge, turn right into what appears to be a parking lot with restaurants, go right past the restaurants, cross another tiny bridge, and turn right; it is past the tennis courts. A spot where you can fulfill your sweet tooth. Each scoop of gelato is approximately 15,000 dong, and you can choose from a variety of local fruit flavors and classics, such as chocolate. Sa Sa also offers sundaes and other desserts. Take home available. The staff is proficient in English.
- Trieu Chau (One block closer to the beach and one block right of the Golden Sea Hotel) Serves an excellent lau Thai lan (spicy Thai-style fish soup).
- K + S Cafe, next to roundabout. Possibly the only English-speaking establishment with an English menu in this area of the beach. Try the outstanding beef stew for 65,000 dong or the chicken with mango for 70,000 dong. The avocado shakes are very delicious and cost 25,000 dong. Nice modest establishment with large chairs and tables.
Mid-range Restaurants in Da Nang
- Bao Nam Tran, 27 Nguyen Chi Thanh St (Between Nguyen Du and Ly Thuong Kiet). Private, well-liked spot for coffee, business transactions, dinners, and light Vietnamese pastries, beverages, and desserts. The restaurant/historic café’s Vietnamese architecture is a must-see; it combines heavy dark ornate hardwood panels and furniture with modern comforts (elevator). Wireless Internet access and a selection of literature are accessible. The restaurant has a beautiful atmosphere at night.
- Com Nieu Nha Do, 176 Nguyễn Tri Phương (Across from March 29 (29/3) Park), +84 511 3990086. 10:00-22:00. Cơm niêu is a type of rice that’s baked in a clay pot and served with any number of sides—beef, chicken, fish, hot pot—but it’s the way it’s served that catches your attention. Waiters bring hot clay pots straight from the oven out of the kitchen, break them with hammers at your table, and toss the rice inside back and forth across the dining room. The cuisine is standard restaurant fare, but it’s entertaining to see the presentation. Located near the airport and directly beside March 29 Park. There are other restaurants of this type on Nguyen Tri Phuong Street, but this one is the most popular. USD5-12.
- Karma Waters, 113/10 Nguyen Chi Thanh (Find the intersection of Le Duan St and Nguyen Chi Thanh St. Take a right onto Nguyen Chi Thanh (it’s one-way). Stay on the right side of the street until you reach an alley with a hat shop on the corner (#113). Turn right into the alley, and the restaurant will be on your right (its phone number is +84 511 3849790). 10:00-21:00. This is the sole vegan-friendly Western restaurant in Da Nang. It is owned by a Vietnamese-New Zealander pair and is a family-oriented establishment. This is the greatest option if you are seeking for a restaurant that eliminates white sugar, MSG, and gluten. The cafe is spotless and located in the heart of the city. The menus are written in English, and the staff is likewise proficient in English. You do not need to be vegetarian or vegan to have a satisfying dinner here. The restaurant has a sibling restaurant in Hoi An. USD5-10.
- Red Sky Bar and Restaurant, 248 Tran Phu St, +84 511 3894895, e-mail: redskydanang@live.com. An expat-run Western eatery. The cuisine is consistently wonderful and served in generous servings. Staff members are competent and know how to make customers feel at home. Prices are higher than normal by Vietnamese standards, but not excessively so given the quality of the food and service.
- Koi Sushi, Bento and Sake Bar, 53 An Thuong 2, +840901991165, e-mail:koisushidanang@gmail.com. 11am-2pm, 5pm-12am. Sushi bar featuring enormous bento boxes and the best selection of Sake in town. It is one of the only restaurants in town open late seven days a week.
Splurge Restaurants in Da Nang
- Apsara, 222 Tran Phu St, +84 511 3561 409. A decently competent, but pricey restaurant with a sizable, primarily seafood cuisine and occasional traditional music performances. Vietnamese cuisine has some Chinese and Western dishes tossed in for flavor. caters to international tour groups; you can frequently find tour buses parked outside. Mantis shrimp, a delectable animal that falls in between a shrimp and a lobster, is one of their specialties.
- Bambino, 122 Quang Trung. Good cuisine and wine variety, quiet setting. Australian steak prepared on demand. Run by a French couple, they serve international, French, and local cuisine. a nice setting for a peaceful supper with company.
- Blue Whale, Hoang Sa Rd. (Just N of Vo Van Kiet roundabout; next to “4U”), +84 511 3942 777, +84 511 3942 728, e-mail:info@bluewhale.com.vn. The Blue Whale is one of many seafood eateries with views of My Khe Beach and is an excellent spot to learn more about what the beach has to offer. Their menu offers a large selection of seafood prepared in a variety of ways, including hot pot, sashimi, grilling, steaming, and baking. The cuisine and atmosphere should more than make up for the slightly expensive cost. USD10-25.
- Memory Lounge, 7 Bach Dang St (On the riverfront, just north of Han River Bridge),+84 8 511 3575899. 07:00-23:30. The most expensive coffee shop in Da Nang, if not the most costly overall. The luxurious Memory Lounge, which is located just north of the Han River Bridge and juts out onto the river, has a great view of the water. It is also easily accessible from the promenade. It was created by the ex-wife of the South Vietnamese president and is quite a fancy event, with international chefs fusing Asian and European cuisines and using sustainable and organic products to produce an outstanding menu. Main meals range from $8 to $20.
- Waterfront, 150 Bach Dang. A view of the Han River. On the first level is a bar with a contemporary international design. Excellent gathering location Seating that is cozy. A variety of local and imported beers, as well as an extensive wine list by the glass or bottle. Strong service. Second-floor restaurant serving lunch and dinner, with balcony seating. Belonging to expatriates.
- Limoncello, 187, Tran Phu Street Danang City, e-mail:info@limoncelloVN.com. 12:00 – 23:00. Excellent Italian cuisine and handmade limoncello.
