Besides the blue sea and white sand, Phan Thiet (Lam Dong) is also a culinary paradise with countless delicious dishes imbued with the taste of the sea. From rustic dishes to famous specialties, each flavor has its own characteristics, enough to make diners remember forever after a taste.
If you have the opportunity to visit Phan Thiet, tourists should not miss the 7 specialties below.
Mai fish salad
Goi ca mai is considered one of the most famous dishes of Phan Thiet. The type of fish used for processing is small in size, transparent body, less fishy and firm meat.
After being cleaned, the fish is squeezed with lemon or vinegar to cook until soft, then mixed with onions, basil, Vietnamese coriander, cilantro and roasted peanuts. The highlight of the dish lies in the dipping sauce made from many ingredients, creating a harmonious sour, spicy, salty, sweet taste with a characteristic fatty and buttery taste.
A plate of mai fish salad costs about 100,000 - 150,000 VND.
Grilled squid teeth
This is a familiar snack of Phan Thiet people and also a favorite dish of many tourists. Squid teeth are taken from fresh egg squid, so they have a characteristic crispness. After marinating with spices, each squid teeth skewer is grilled on a charcoal stove until it has a delicious aroma.
In addition to grilling, squid teeth are also processed into many dishes such as crispy fried, bread fried, satay stir-fried or steamed. Each serving is priced from only 20,000 VND.
Quai vac cake
Quai vac cake is a rustic dish associated with Phan Thiet people for many years. Although it has similarities with banh bot loc in Central Vietnam, the cake is not wrapped in banana leaves.
The crust is made from rice flour and tapioca starch, so it has a moderate chewiness and softness. The filling is commonly shrimp or green beans, after boiling, it will be sprinkled with onion fish sauce and covered with a layer of crispy and fragrant fried onions.
Tourists can easily find quai vac cake at Phan Thiet market, Ham Tien market or street vendors along the road. The price of each box of cakes is from 20,000 - 30,000 VND.
Herring rolls
Herring is a familiar seafood of the central coastal region and has been creatively created by Phan Thiet people into an attractive spring roll dish.
A full tray of spring rolls usually includes herring spring rolls, rice paper, raw vegetables, cucumbers, green mangoes, boiled eggs, fermented pork rolls and many kinds of herbs. When eating, diners wrap the ingredients themselves into rice paper and dip them in a characteristic dipping sauce.
The combination of the crispy taste of fish cake, the cool taste of raw vegetables and rich dipping sauce creates a harmonious and attractive flavor. A tray for two people costs about 80,000 VND.
Duck Quang noodles
Although originating from Quang Nam, when coming to Phan Thiet, Quang noodles have been modified to suit local tastes. Instead of using chicken or pork, the dish stands out with the duck meat being stewed soft, sweet and no longer having a characteristic smell. The noodles are chewy, the broth is simmered from bones and duck meat to create a natural sweetness.
When enjoying, the bowl of noodles is also served with raw vegetables, roasted peanuts, grilled rice paper with sesame seeds and scallions. The price of each bowl ranges from 40,000 - 50,000 VND.
Fish cake banh canh
Banh canh cha ca is a familiar dish in the breakfast of Phan Thiet people.
Banh canh noodles are made from rice flour, so they are soft but still retain moderate chewiness. The broth is stewed from pork bones combined with sea fish, creating a natural sweetness. The special feature of the dish is the chewy, fragrant fish cake pieces, made from fresh fish caught during the day.
A bowl of hot banh canh with clear broth, light sweetness and rich fish cake costs from 25,000 - 40,000 VND/piece.
Hotpot
Lau tha is considered one of the most typical specialties of Phan Thiet, showing sophistication in both flavor and presentation. The main ingredients are fresh mai fish, besides that, there are also boiled meat, shredded eggs, green mangoes, cucumbers, and raw vegetables arranged on banana spathes in beautiful round shapes. Accompanied by a pot of hot hot pot broth and a bowl of characteristic peanut dipping sauce.
Not only attractive in flavor, the dish is also highly appreciated by many people thanks to its arrangement with the meaning of the five elements with five main colors including white, blue, black, red and yellow, symbolizing harmony in cuisine.
When enjoying, diners put the ingredients in a bowl, pour hot hot pot broth on top to feel the sweetness of the fish, the freshness of the vegetables and the characteristic aroma of the broth.
