Food · Da Nang · Vietnam
What to eat in Da Nang
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Da Nang, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Somerset999, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
Start with Quang-style noodles, Pork in rice paper with fermented anchovy sauce and Fish-cake noodle soup. The food section of Con Market serves many central Vietnamese snacks in one place, from bánh xèo to chè. Many local restaurants specialise in a single dish; follow the crowds of locals.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Quang-style noodles
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 2
- Tipping
- Tipping is not expected in local eateries, but leaving small change or about 5–10% in…
- Food experiences
- 3
10 foods to try
Dish
1.Quang-style noodles (Mì Quảng)
Wide turmeric-tinted rice noodles with just a ladle of rich broth, topped with pork, shrimp, chicken or fish, quail eggs, peanuts, herbs and a sesame rice cracker to break over the top. The signature dish of the region.
Where: Specialist mì Quảng shops throughout Hai Chau, mostly from breakfast to lunch.
Dish
2.Pork in rice paper with fermented anchovy sauce (Bánh tráng cuốn thịt heo)
Boiled pork belly sliced thinly and rolled at the table in rice paper with herbs, cucumber and green banana, dipped in mắm nêm, a pungent fermented anchovy sauce with pineapple and chilli.
Where: Restaurants that specialise in this dish across the city, often busy with local families at lunch.
Dish
3.Fish-cake noodle soup (Bún chả cá)
Rice vermicelli in a light broth sweetened with pumpkin and pineapple, topped with slices of fried and steamed fish cake and fresh herbs.
Where: Noodle shops in Hai Chau, especially in the morning.
Street food
4.Vermicelli with fermented anchovy sauce (Bún mắm nêm)
Cold rice noodles with roast pork, pork rolls, herbs and peanuts, dressed with mắm nêm; a bold, salty favourite of central Vietnam.
Where: Street stalls and Con Market food section.
Street food
5.Crispy pancakes (Bánh xèo)
Small, crisp rice-flour pancakes filled with shrimp, pork and bean sprouts, wrapped in rice paper with herbs and dipped in sauce.
Where: Con Market and dedicated bánh xèo shops in the city centre.
Dish
6.Seafood (Hải sản)
Clams, scallops grilled with spring onion oil, crab, prawns and squid are cooked to order, priced by weight from the tanks.
Where: Beachfront seafood restaurants along My Khe and the Son Tra Night Market; confirm the price per kilo before ordering.
Dish
7.Nam O raw fish salad (Gỏi cá Nam Ô)
Raw fish such as herring cured with lime and mixed with roasted rice powder and herbs, wrapped in rice paper and dipped in a thick sauce; a speciality of the fishing village of Nam O north of the city.
Where: Seafood restaurants around Nam O and some specialist places in the city.
Street food
8.Snails (Ốc)
Dozens of kinds of sea snails and shellfish cooked with lemongrass, tamarind, butter-garlic or coconut milk, eaten with toothpicks and cold beer.
Where: Snail restaurants and stalls in the city centre and An Hai, busy in the evening.
Dessert · Vegetarian
9.Sweet soup (Chè)
Layered dessert drinks and soups of beans, jellies, coconut milk, fruit and crushed ice in endless combinations.
Where: Chè stalls at Con Market and dessert shops across the city.
Drink · Vegetarian
10.Iced milk coffee (Cà phê sữa đá)
Strong robusta dripped through a metal phin filter onto sweetened condensed milk and poured over ice.
Where: Street cafés with low plastic stools everywhere, and riverside coffee shops.
Food experiences
Market grazing at Con Market
The food section of Con Market serves many central Vietnamese snacks in one place, from bánh xèo to chè.
Seafood dinner by the beach
Choose shellfish and fish from tanks at a beachfront restaurant on My Khe and have them grilled or steamed.
Street-food tour by motorbike
Evening motorbike food tours take you to snail stalls, noodle shops and dessert stands across the city.
Quick bites and street food
- Vermicelli with fermented anchovy sauce — Street stalls and Con Market food section.
- Crispy pancakes — Con Market and dedicated bánh xèo shops in the city centre.
- Snails — Snail restaurants and stalls in the city centre and An Hai, busy in the evening.
Vegetarian options
Of the 10 foods in this guide, 2 are usually vegetarian: Sweet soup and Iced milk coffee. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Many local restaurants specialise in a single dish; follow the crowds of locals.
- Confirm the price per kilo before ordering seafood from tanks.
- Breakfast noodle shops often sell out by late morning.
- Ice in restaurants is usually from factories and fine; avoid tap water.
- Larue, a beer associated with central Vietnam, is the standard cheap lager.
Tipping
Tipping is not expected in local eateries, but leaving small change or about 5–10% in restaurants catering to visitors, and tipping guides and drivers, is appreciated.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Xin chào | Hello |
| Cảm ơn | Thank you |
| Bao nhiêu tiền? | How much? |
| Không cay | Not spicy |
| Ngon quá | Delicious |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Da Nang famous for?
Quang-style noodles, Pork in rice paper with fermented anchovy sauce, Fish-cake noodle soup and Vermicelli with fermented anchovy sauce. Wide turmeric-tinted rice noodles with just a ladle of rich broth, topped with pork, shrimp, chicken or fish, quail eggs, peanuts, herbs and a sesame rice cracker to break over the top.
+Is Da Nang good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Sweet soup and Iced milk coffee.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Da Nang?
Tipping is not expected in local eateries, but leaving small change or about 5–10% in restaurants catering to visitors, and tipping guides and drivers, is appreciated.