Top 10 Signature Dishes of Da Nang You Should Taste

Top 10 Best Dishes in Da Nang You Must Try

For a deeper dive into Da Nang’s must-try cuisine, explore our detailed list of the top 10 dishes you shouldn’t miss.

1. Mì Quảng (Quang Noodle): The Flavorful Noodle Dish of Da Nang

When you think of Da Nang, you can't miss the city's iconic dish, Mì Quảng or Quang noodle. This noodle dish is made with thick, yellow, or white noodles that are chewier and heartier than pho. What truly sets Mì Quảng apart is its broth, which is simmered from bones and offers a naturally sweet and light flavor.

To enjoy Mì Quảng in Da Nang, it's essential to include ingredients like roasted peanuts, sesame rice crackers, and fresh herbs. The peanuts add a rich, crunchy texture, while the rice crackers complement the dish with their crispiness. Fresh herbs such as lettuce, bean sprouts, mint, basil, and banana flowers balance the flavors and prevent the dish from becoming too heavy.

Enjoying a bowl of steaming Mì Quảng with a bite of crunchy rice cracker, a dash of spicy chili, and a sip of the savory broth is a true delight. A quick tip: it's best to eat Mì Quảng while it's hot. If left too long, the noodles may soften, and the herbs lose their freshness.

Price: From 30,000 VND per bowl

Here are some popular Mì Quảng restaurants in Da Nang:

• Bà Vị, 166 Lê Đình Dương Street, Phước Ninh Ward, Hải Châu District
• Mì Quảng Bà Lữ, 78 Nguyễn Văn Linh Street, Nam Dương Ward, Hải Châu District

Mì Quảng, Da Nang’s signature dish, features thick, chewy noodles and light broth.

2. Gỏi cá Nam Ô (Nam O Fish Salad in Da Nang)

Nam O Fish Salad (Gỏi cá Nam Ô) is a famous dish from Da Nang, loved for its unique flavor and attractive preparation. The dish gets its name from Nam O, a small fishing village about 10 km north of the city center. This village is where the dish was first created and is still home to its best versions.

Gỏi cá Nam Ô combines fresh mackerel with a mix of spices that perfectly balance out any fishy taste. The mackerel is carefully cleaned, with the bones removed and its flesh finely prepared. Then, it is mixed with chili and ginger to remove the fishy smell and combined with a tangy vinegar and spicy fish sauce mix for added flavor.

To eat, the salad is wrapped in rice paper along with fresh herbs, cucumber, and a bit of sour mango. The mix of spicy, tangy, and fresh flavors makes every bite irresistible. Whether you're a local or a visitor, this dish offers a truly delicious and one-of-a-kind taste of Da Nang.

Price: From 50,000 - 100,000 VND per dish.

Here are some popular places for gỏi cá Nam Ô in Da Nang that locals love:

• Gỏi cá Nam Ô Thanh Hương, 1029 Nguyễn Lương Bằng, Liên Chiểu District, Đà Nẵng; 50 Hồ Tương, Thanh Khê District
• Gỏi cá Nam Ô Bà Mỳ, 11 Mai Lão Bạng, Hải Châu District

Best enjoyed in Nam O, it’s a true taste of local craftsmanship and flavor.

3. Bánh Xèo Đà Nẵng (Xeo Cake): Crispy Vietnamese Pancakes

Bánh xèo is a Vietnamese savory pancake. It's made with a thin, crispy batter and filled with a variety of ingredients. Inside the golden, crispy crust, you'll find a delicious filling. Each restaurant might have a slightly different recipe, but typically, Da Nang bánh xèo is filled with flavorful pork, shrimp, fresh bean sprouts, and a bit of egg.

To truly enjoy bánh xèo, it's best to eat it hot and fresh. You can wrap it in a rice paper with fresh herbs and vegetables, then dip it into a flavorful sauce. What makes bánh xèo in Da Nang so special is its unique dipping sauce. This sauce is usually a dark brown color and has a rich, savory flavor. It's made with ingredients like pork liver, peanuts, sesame seeds, and various spices.

You can eat Xeo cake all year round, but it's best to enjoy them on rainy or chilly days. Put a crispy and fragrant pancake in your mouth and feel the irresistible taste. You'll want to eat one piece after another until you're full. That’s why a lot of tourists believe bánh xèo is one of the best dishes in Da Nang.

Price: 10,000 - 15,000 VND per piece

You can find some great places to enjoy bánh xèo in Đà Nẵng at the following locations:

• Bánh Xèo Bà Tình, K280/14 Hoàng Diệu Street, Hải Châu District
• Bánh Xèo Đà Nẵng Cô Mười, 21 Châu Thị Vĩnh Tế Street, Ngũ Hành Sơn District

Whether for lunch or dinner, bánh xèo offers a delicious taste of Da Nang’s cuisine.

4. Bánh tráng cuốn thịt heo (Vietnamese pork belly roll)

Da Nang’s bánh tráng cuốn thịt heo is a must-try for any visitor to the city. This unique dish combines thin, chewy rice paper wraps with tender slices of pork belly and a variety of fresh vegetables. Instead of boiled pork, you can also choose crispy-skinned roast pork, which has a delightful contrast of crispy skin and juicy meat.

A special feature of this Da Nang food is it's made from rice, giving it a softer and more chewy texture compared to other regions. Traditionally, the rice paper is dipped in water before rolling, but some restaurants use a thinner type that doesn't require soaking.

To enjoy this Da Nang dish, take a piece of rice paper, add some pork, vermicelli noodles, and your favorite vegetables, then roll it up tightly. It's typically served with a dipping sauce called mắm nêm, a flavorful mixture of sweet, sour, salty, and spicy flavors with a hint of garlic.

Price: 50,000 - 100,000 VND per serving

You can enjoy Vietnamese pork belly roll at the following places in Đà Nẵng:

• Đại Lộc, 176 Nguyễn Hoàng Street, Hải Châu District
• Bà Mụa, 93 Nguyễn Chí Thanh Street, Hải Châu District

The highlight is mắm nêm, a dipping sauce bursting with sweet, sour, salty, and spicy flavors.

5. Bún Chả Cá: Da Nang's Unique Fish Cake Noodles

If you visit Da Nang without trying its famous fish cake noodle soup (Bún chả cá), you're missing out! This Da Nang local dish stands out with its chewy, flavorful fish cakes and a naturally sweet broth simmered from fish bones.

Bún chả cá offers versatility with its ingredients. It combines fish like basa, steamed or fried fish cakes, and vegetables such as pumpkin and tomatoes. Despite its simplicity, the dish transforms into something extraordinary with the creativity of local chefs. The addition of pineapple, cabbage, and a touch of shrimp paste brings a unique and delicious twist to the soup.

A key highlight is the shrimp paste (mắm ruốc), a coastal specialty that elevates the flavors. When mixed with the noodles and fish cakes, the aroma becomes irresistible, tantalizing all your senses.

Served steaming hot, this dish is as comforting as it is flavorful. Each bite offers a harmony of soft, silky noodles, tender fish, chewy fish cakes, and a rich, savory broth.

Price: 20,000 - 30,000 VND per serving

For a local experience, here are some places to enjoy Fish Cake Noodles in Đà Nẵng:

• Bà Phiến, 63 Lê Hồng Phong Street, Hải Châu District
• Dì Gái, 119 Lê Đình Dương Street, Hải Châu District

The unique blend of pineapple and shrimp paste creates a savory, aromatic broth.

6. Mít Trộn (Mixed jackfruit salad): A Must-Try Classic

People from Da Nang, like other people in Central Vietnam, are simple and honest, and this shows in their food. The dishes are usually simple to make but full of rich, deep flavors. One great example of this is Mít trộn (mixed jackfruit salad).

This dish features young jackfruit as its star ingredient. Unlike ripe jackfruit, which is sweet and juicy, young jackfruit is soft, mild in flavor, and readily absorbs seasonings. It is typically boiled, shredded, and mixed with ingredients like dried shrimp, pork belly, Vietnamese coriander (rau răm), roasted peanuts, crispy fried shallots, and a tangy-sweet fish sauce dressing. These elements come together to create a balanced and flavorful dish that highlights the essence of Vietnamese cuisine.

Mít trộn is best paired with grilled sesame rice crackers, which are used to scoop up the salad. The mix of jackfruit’s tender texture, crunchy peanuts, fresh herbs, and the zesty dressing provides a satisfying and unforgettable culinary experience.

Price: 30,000 - 50,000 VND per serving

Here are some recommended places for delicious jackfruit salad (mít trộn) in Da Nang:

• Bà Già, K47/25 Lý Thái Tổ Street, Thanh Khê District
• Dì Anh, 39 Phạm Văn Nghị Street, Thạc Gián Ward, Thanh Khê District

The combination of jackfruit, peanuts, and rice crackers creates a unique, unforgettable taste.

7. Bánh đập: Crushed rice paper in Da Nang

In Central Vietnam, especially in Da Nang and Quang Nam, no one can resist the dish bánh đập chấm mắm nêm (crushed rice paper with dipping sauce). Though the exact origin of this simple dish is unclear, it's a beloved Da Nang street food.

Its name, which translates to "crushed rice paper," comes from its unique eating style: a layer of soft steamed rice paper is placed over crispy rice paper, then lightly pressed together to bond. The flavors of bánh đập are a perfect balance of textures and tastes. The crispy rice paper offers a satisfying crunch, while the soft steamed rice paper adds a chewy, delicate contrast. When dipped into a bowl of rich mắm nêm (fermented anchovy sauce), the savory, slightly sweet, tangy, and mildly spicy flavors meld together beautifully.

Taking a bite of bánh đập, you'll first hear the delightful crunch of the crispy layer, followed by the softness of the steamed rice paper. The mắm nêm sauce seeps into each layer, infused with the aroma of garlic, chili, and a hint of sweetness. Paired with the freshness of herbs, bánh đập offers a simple yet complete culinary experience, providing a true taste of Central Vietnam’s culture and soul.

Depending on the vendor, the filling can vary from simple green onion oil to more complex options like shrimp paste, dried shrimp, or stir-fried clams. This dish offers a delightful mix of textures and flavors, making it a must-try in the region.

Here are some places to enjoy bánh đập in Da Nang:

• 354 Lê Duẩn Street, Hải Châu District
• K77A/15 Lê Độ Street, Thanh Khê District

Every bite combines texture, aroma, and taste, showcasing the region’s culinary charm.

8. Bánh canh ruộng: Da Nang Field Noodle Soup

"Bánh canh ruộng" is a fun name that people gave to a very popular noodle dish in Da Nang. A long time ago, the place where the shop is now was just muddy fields. People had to walk through the mud to eat there, so they called it "field noodle soup" for short. Because it is one of the must-try foods in Da Nang, customers often have to wait a long time for their food. Sometimes, they even have to go to the counter to order and carry the food to their table. So, people also call it "waiting noodle soup".

The main ingredients in this noodle soup are flour, fish cake, tuna, quail eggs, and herbs. The tuna is cooked and then fried until crispy. When you eat the soup, you can taste the sweet flavor of the fish and a little bit of spice from the chili. You can choose to have your noodles made from rice flour or tapioca flour. The soup is cooked with the fish, so it tastes very sweet and fragrant. You can also add other toppings like eggs, fish cakes, or spring rolls.

The shop is open from 2 PM until late every day. Customers order their food at the counter and carry it to their table. Even though it's always busy, you don't have to wait very long because many people are working there.

Price: 10,000 - 30,000 VND per bowl

Because it is a rustic dish, you can easily enjoy this delicious Đà Nẵng specialty at the following addresses:

• Cầu Thuận Phước, Intersection of Trần Hưng Đạo and Lê Văn Duyệt Streets, Sơn Trà District, Da Nang
• K27/03 Ngũ Hành Sơn Street, Ngũ Hành Sơn District, Da Nang

Toppings like eggs, fish cakes, or spring rolls make it customizable and hearty.

9. Đà Nẵng Seafood: Fresh and Delicious

Da Nang City boasts a coastline stretching over 30 kilometers, resulting in an abundant supply of seafood. This is why the markets in Da Nang are always brimming with a wide variety of fresh seafood, from the most common to the most luxurious.

Additionally, seafood restaurants along the coast offer extensive menus featuring a diverse range of seafood such as mantis shrimp, giant clams, lobster, clams, and oysters. After customers select their desired seafood from the tanks, the dishes are prepared immediately by the restaurant's top chefs, ensuring they are served piping hot.

What sets these restaurants apart is their affordable prices, allowing you to enjoy a delicious seafood feast without breaking the bank. Consequently, many visitors have praised the excellent quality and value of the food served at these establishments.

If you're looking for a place to buy dried seafood in Da Nang, Han Market is undoubtedly the best choice. In addition to dried seafood like squid, fish, and shrimp, Han Market also sells fresh seafood. When purchasing fresh seafood, you can request that the seller package it in ice to preserve its freshness.

Here are some seafood restaurants you should try in Đà Nẵng:

• 354/1 Võ Nguyên Giáp Street, Ngũ Hành Sơn District
• 26 Tô Hiến Thành Street, Sơn Trà District

Coastal restaurants let you select live seafood, cooked fresh to your preferences.

10. Kem bơ: Sweet and Refreshing Dessert

Avocado ice cream is a Da Nang sweet treat that looks as good as it tastes. The ice cream is served in layers, with each part easy to see and very tempting. At the bottom, there is a smooth and creamy avocado layer. On top, there is coconut ice cream and other toppings like roasted peanuts and dried coconut or shredded coconut.

With the first spoonful, you'll feel the creamy richness of the avocado and a sweet, cool taste from the coconut ice cream. The crunchy peanuts and coconut add a nice texture. Together, these flavors create a unique taste that's not too heavy and perfect for a hot day.

In Da Nang, many places have created their versions of this dessert, adding different flavors like sweetened condensed milk, durian, or banana. Each variation offers a special taste that people love just as much as the traditional Da Nang avocado ice cream.

Price: 20,000 - 35,000 VND per serving

Here are some addresses where you can enjoy cool avocado ice cream (kem bơ) in Đà Nẵng on hot days:

• Bắc Mĩ An Market, Ngũ Hành Sơn District, Da Nang

Da Nang’s avocado ice cream is a must-try for dessert lovers visiting the city.

Bringing a Taste of Da Nang Home: Culinary Souvenirs to Buy

1. Bánh dừa (Coconut cookie Da Nang)

The coconut tree, a symbol of Southern Vietnam, has inspired the people of Quang Nam. Here, they make use of fresh coconuts and combine them with natural ingredients to create a delicious and unique baked coconut cookie.

These coconut cookies are made with a perfect blend of coconut, glutinous rice flour, sugar, and vanilla, baked to perfection. When you bite into a piece, you’ll experience its crispiness, richness, and the fragrant, mouth-watering taste of coconut. The delicious flavor of this treat has won the hearts of many food lovers.

In Da Nang, these baked coconut cookies are commonly enjoyed with hot tea. The strong tea enhances the sweet, crispy, and rich flavors of the cookies without making them too heavy. So, don’t forget to bring it home as a Da Nang souvenir.

Pairing coconut cookies with tea is a cultural experience you won’t want to miss.

2. Trà sâm dứa (Da Nang pandan leaf tea)

Pandan Leaf Tea is a famous and delicious tea that has a gentle aroma of pandan leaves and a slightly bitter taste of tea buds, creating a very pleasant sensation. The tea is sourced from the Tien Phuoc tea region in Quang Nam and is made from 100% natural ingredients with carefully selected and pure flavorings.

Pandan Leaf Tea is a unique creation in the art of tea blending in Da Nang. The combination of young green tea buds, jasmine flowers, tea flowers, pandan leaves, and other herbs creates a tea with an impressive and captivating aroma. The tea has a sweet and refreshing taste, and its fragrance lasts long, creating a very pleasant sensation.

The benefits of Pandan Leaf Tea include: reducing anxiety and preventing colds and allergies. Notably, Pandan Leaf Tea does not contain caffeine, which can disrupt sleep. Furthermore, Pandan Leaf Tea is also used as a refreshing drink to cool down the body, especially during hot weather.

Made from Tien Phuoc tea, it combines green tea buds, pandan leaves, and jasmine flowers.

3. My Khe, Da Nang seaweed

My Khe is a beautiful beach in Da Nang, known for its valuable seafood. One of the most famous products is seaweed, a nutritious food that's good for your health. My Khe seaweed is grown in clean waters, so its quality is always reliable.

The specialty seaweed is packaged nicely, preserving its quality. To make it easy to store, tourists often choose dried My Khe seaweed among culinary souvenirs from Da Nang. This way, the seaweed can be kept for a long time without losing its nutritional value.

My Khe seaweed can be prepared in many ways. After cooking, it still retains its natural sweetness and vibrant green color. The dried seaweed that tourists often buy is usually dark green, but when soaked in water, it quickly returns to its original green color.

Countless dishes use seaweed as an ingredient. The most familiar ones are soups and salads, but seaweed is also used in desserts like the famous mung bean and sweet seaweed soup. It is also used in herbal teas and cooling drinks for hot summer days. No matter how it's prepared, seaweed always impresses customers with its delicious flavor.

My Khe seaweed retains its natural sweetness and nutrients even after cooking.

4. Bánh khô mè (sesame seed crackers)

Bánh khô mè is made from ingredients such as glutinous rice flour, sesame seeds, sugar, and ginger. The cake is square or rectangular in shape, with a layer of sesame seeds stuck together with a sweet and sticky syrup. To make bánh khô mè, it needs to be baked seven times, which is why it's also known as "bánh bảy lửa" or "seven-fire cake".

When you unwrap the cake, you'll immediately smell roasted sesame seeds and ginger. The cake has a sweet flavor from the sugar, a nutty taste from the glutinous rice flour, a rich flavor from the roasted sesame seeds, and a spicy aroma from the ginger and cinnamon. Good sesame seed cracker should be soft, hard, spongy, and crispy at the same time. When you bite into one, it should make a crunchy sound.

Known as “bánh bảy lửa,” it’s baked seven times for a perfect texture.

5. Dried squid

Dried squid is a familiar and easy-to-eat dish caught and produced in the waters of Da Nang. Many tourists visiting here choose dried squid to enjoy and buy as a souvenir. The squid is washed clean, gutted, and split along the body, then dried in the sun. After 4-5 days of sunshine, the squid is dry and ready to eat.

When choosing squid, look for those with a natural white-pink color and a few dark spots on the body. Fresh squid will always have a layer of shiny scales on its body. The thicker the squid's body, the sweeter it will be, but also the chewier.

To enjoy dried squid, simply grill it and then tear it along the horizontal axis to make the meat chewy and tender. The longer you chew, the more you'll appreciate the sweet and refreshing flavor. Here are some suggestions on how to enjoy dried squid:

• Grill the dried squid over charcoal or in an oven to bring out its delicious flavor.
• Tear the dried squid into small pieces to make it easier to enjoy.
• Add a pinch of salt or pepper to enhance the flavor.
• Pair it with beer or wine to create a perfect Da Nang culinary experience.

In addition to dried squid, local specialties in Da Nang also include various types of nem (spring rolls) and cha bo tre (beef jerky),... However, when it comes to buying them as souvenirs, the preservation process can be challenging. These food products typically need to be consumed within 3-5 days or require refrigeration to transport over long distances.

Grilled dried squid pairs perfectly with beer, making it a favorite snack in Vietnam.

Da Nang food is a foodie's paradise! From the famous Mi Quang to the freshest seafood, there's something for everyone.

Don't miss out on the delicious local snacks and refreshing drinks. Come and experience the flavors of Da Nang yourself!

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