As the third-largest city in Vietnam, following Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, and the largest city in Central Vietnam, Da Nang boasts a distinct culinary flavor that reflects its unique culture. L Spa Da Nang is convinced that the most delightful way to explore is through its irresistible street food in Danang. Join us in discovering the top 10 tasty street foods in Da Nang.
An Overview of Danang Cuisine
The culinary landscape in Da Nang is characterized by its diversity, featuring a blend of local delights and renowned dishes from neighboring provinces. As a result, Da Nang stands out as a representative hub of Vietnam’s Central region’s rich culinary heritage. To ensure you’re well-prepared for your upcoming visit to this beautiful city, dive into this article to discover the best foods awaiting your enjoyment.
Top 10 Delicious Street Foods in Danang
1. Sizzling Pancake (Banh Xeo)
Banh Xeo, also known as Sizzling Pancake, is a ubiquitous dish on the streets of Da Nang. Affordable, satisfying, and crunchy, this delicacy is often accompanied by an array of vegetables for a well-balanced meal. The name “Sizzling Pancake” originates from the enticing sound it makes during the cooking process, giving a preview of its irresistible crispiness. Made primarily with rice flour and eggs, Banh Xeo features pork, shrimp, and bean sprouts as key ingredients. Whether enjoyed on its own or wrapped in rice paper with veggies, the dish reaches perfection when dipped in the delectably sweet, sour, and spicy fish sauce, offering a heavenly culinary experience.
2. Lemongrass Pork Skewer (Nem Lui)
Certainly, the Lemongrass Pork Skewer secures its spot among the best street food offerings in Da Nang. This delightful dish is crafted from minced pork, pork skin, sugar, salt, and pepper, marinated and stirred to perfection. Slowly grilled over charcoal, it reaches an ideal level of flavor before being served on a lemongrass stick wrap. Just like the Sizzling Pancake mentioned earlier, you can relish it on its own or wrap it with veggies and thin rice paper, indulging in the exquisite taste complemented by the perfect sauce.
3. Vietnamese Baguette (Banh Mi)
For many, Banh Mi stands out as one of the top street foods in Danang—convenient, quick, healthy, and unbelievably delicious. It’s commonly enjoyed as a wholesome breakfast paired with a glass of soymilk or a cup of Vietnamese coffee. The Vietnamese Baguette is filled with pate, mayonnaise, a choice of meat (chicken, pork, or beef), fried eggs, and an array of veggies (basil, cilantro, pickled carrot, pickled cucumber, scallions, and radish). To enhance the flavor, the chef adds salt, pepper, and chili sauce. The perfect Banh Mi retains its crisp exterior and soft interior after toasting.
4. BBQ
Enjoying BBQ becomes even more delightful in a group setting, ideally with more than three people. Typically presented in a buffet style, the restaurant offers a fixed price covering a variety of combos, allowing you to indulge in unlimited servings (usually without time limits). For instance, at a certain price, you can opt for unlimited meat, and with a slightly higher-priced option, you may include seafood. BBQ holds a prominent place in Da Nang’s street food scene due to its deliciousness and perfect pairing with alcohol. With numerous options to choose from, grilled meat is an excellent choice for socializing, drinking, and creating memorable bonding moments.
5. Water Fern Cake (Banh Beo)
Banh Beo stands out as a quintessential specialty that embodies Da Nang street food and the broader Central Vietnam culinary scene. Typically, Banh Beo comes in two main variations: wet and dry. Served in tiny bowls, an adult might need to consume 6-10 to satisfy their appetite. Toppings for Banh Beo often include shrimp, mung bean paste, scallion oils, and fried shallots. The accompanying sauce is a mix of fish sauce with a touch of chili for added flavor.
6. Jack Fruit Salad (Nom Goi Mit Non)
Jackfruit Salad may not be a main course, but it’s a delightful and popular street snack in Da Nang. If you’re looking for a light, healthy, and tasty alternative to protein-heavy dishes, Jackfruit Salad is the perfect choice. Once you try it, resisting just one bite becomes a challenge—the dish’s allure invites you for more. Made primarily with young jackfruit, it’s sliced, steamed, and mixed with fried onions, peanuts, cooking oil, mint leaves, and sometimes rice paper. Despite its simplicity, the Jackfruit Salad boasts a superbly delicious taste.
7. Banh Kep
Banh Kep is a beloved snack among many locals, especially students, for its affordability, deliciousness, and enjoyable eating experience. It features a thin layer of grilled rice paper topped with various ingredients. While toppings may vary, common choices include butter, beef jerky, pork eggs, pate, green onions, and fried onions. The irresistible aroma during grilling adds to its appeal. Once prepared, you can enhance the flavor by adding chili paste and cutting it into triangle pieces yourself for a satisfying treat.
8. Snails
Caution: This dish is not recommended for those with a low spice tolerance. It packs an extreme level of heat that may induce tears and a runny nose. However, once you brave a bite, the experience is undeniably worth it. While various snail varieties can be used, the most delicious methods involve boiling, frying with butter, and frying with lemongrass and chili.
The aromas from these cooking styles are enticing, particularly the buttery fry that might leave your mouth watering. The essence of the dish lies primarily in the legendary fish sauce, known for its exceptional taste that is universally adored. A local tip: In Da Nang, snails are often enjoyed with a slice of bread dipped in the special sauce—an experience worth trying to savor the local culinary tradition.
9. Mixed Rice Paper Salad (Banh Trang Tron)
Banh Trang Tron holds the top spot as the favorite street food among students in Danang. It features thin rice paper cut into small pieces, along with boiled quail eggs, beef jerky, fried onions, green onions, chopped papaya and green mango, crushed peanuts, laksa leaves, and mint leaves. All these ingredients are expertly mixed with a delicious sauce made from sugar, chili, soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, satay, and, most importantly, tamarind sauce.
10. Ballut (Trung Vit Lon)
Baluts can pose a formidable challenge for visitors, particularly for foreigners encountering the concept of consuming duck embryo eggs for the first time. It’s crucial to note that even if you choose not to eat it, the eggs are not viable for hatching. Additionally, balut is remarkably nutritious, and packed with high levels of protein, lipids, and calcium. Its nutritional content provides a substantial energy boost, making it a viable option for a healthy breakfast or an afternoon snack.
FAQs
Is Da Nang cheaper than Ho Chi Minh?
If you opt to reside outside Hanoi, there may be slight variations in the cost of living. For instance, Ho Chi Minh City is somewhat more expensive, whereas Da Nang in the central region is more budget-friendly, and Nha Trang, situated farther south, is even more economical.
When should I avoid Da Nang?
The highest rainfall occurs during the winter months from September to January. This makes February to May the optimal period for a visit to Da Nang. If possible, consider avoiding the summer months from June to the end of August, as this is when Da Nang attracts a surge of domestic tourists.
What is the famous street in Da Nang?
Tracing the riverbank, Bach Dang Pedestrian Street stands out as the most famous walking street in Da Nang. This location offers an ideal setting for tourists to fully immerse themselves in the nightlife of Da Nang, Vietnam. While this pedestrian street is open throughout the day, it comes to life and becomes particularly captivating after sunset.
The Bottom Line
The aforementioned are the top 10 must-try street foods in Da Nang that we are confident will leave you with a profound and delightful impression. Don’t miss the opportunity to experience these unique and tasty dishes for a memorable time in the city.
To learn about our available spa massage and skin care treatments, please visit the L Spa Da Nang website.
