Delicious restaurants in Da Nang recommended by foreigners

A French chef in Da Nang shares where to find the best Vietnamese food besides pho and banh mi in the country's top coastal city with Hong Kong newspaper SCMP.

Da Nang is only a 2-hour flight from Hong Kong and about 3 hours from Singapore, and it's close to several popular Vietnamese attractions, including Hoi An, Ba Na Hills, and the ancient capital of Hue.

Da Nang can be divided into two main areas: the coastal and the city center. The coastal area, with its bars and hotels, is very popular with digital nomads and surfers. The city center is where locals gather at 24/7 cafes, small food stalls, and bustling traditional markets.

Dragon Bridge spans the Han River connecting two banks, two areas and breathes fire on weekend evenings.

Visitors will enjoy delicious food no matter which side they choose. In 2024, the online travel guide TasteAtlas honored Vietnamese cuisine as one of the world's top dishes, with many delicious options, and dishes like banh mi and pho now famous worldwide.

However, Da Nang has other special dishes, often served with seafood.

"Nothing makes you feel like you're in Da Nang like a bowl of Quang noodles," shared Olivier Corti, head chef and co-owner of Le Comptoir, a high-end French restaurant in the city.

Mì Quảng takes its name from Quảng Nam, a province that used to border Da Nang but has now been merged into the city.

Quang noodles in Da Nang are on the Michelin list.

Noodles are typically served with a little turmeric broth and accompanied by one or more ingredients such as small to medium-sized shrimp – diners are encouraged to eat the shells – fish, eel, pork, chicken, and jellyfish.

Fresh herbs such as basil, coriander, and mint are often served alongside, along with chili peppers, boiled eggs, chopped lettuce, lime, and sesame rice crackers.

The finely chopped herbs mixed with the noodles create a light and refreshing flavor, while the crispy rice paper adds a nutty touch to the dish.

To enjoy authentic Quang noodles, Corti suggests that visitors go to Co Sau Quang Noodles (397 Tran Hung Dao, An Hai Tay, Son Tra, Da Nang), a Michelin-recognized restaurant located on the banks of the Han River and owned by a Quang Nam native. "I go there when I crave the authentic dish," Corti said.

The chef, originally from Lyon, France, worked in his homeland as well as Monaco and Hong Kong before moving to Da Nang in 2017.

Corti believes that Da Nang's true culinary heroes lie on the streets.

"The best chefs are probably the street food vendors, the mothers who work around the clock to serve breakfast. They are the best chefs in Da Nang because they have been cooking the same dish for 30 years," he said.

Fresh and delicious seafood in Da Nang

A "mother" of street food that Corti loves? Chau Son 1 Seafood Restaurant (21 Nai Tu 2, An Hai Bac, Son Tra, Da Nang) is a casual seafood restaurant with low metal tables and green plastic chairs spread out on the sidewalk.

"The chefs get the seafood from a small boat early in the morning," Corti said. "The seafood is incredibly fresh."

The restaurant's charcoal grill imparts a smoky flavor to everything from oysters and clams to squid and bread. Seafood hot pot, garlic butter shrimp, and stir-fried clams with scallions are popular choices.

Hay Seafood Ba Ro (115 Ly Tu Tan Street, Tho Quang Ward, Son Tra District, Da Nang) is one of Corti's familiar destinations. The restaurant serves a variety of seafood, from chili crab and garlic oysters to creamy shrimp.

On the other hand, Moc (26 To Hien Thanh, Phuoc My, Son Tra, Da Nang) is an attractive tourist destination, offering a more comfortable dining experience. With air-conditioned rooms and bright interiors, the restaurant attracts many customers lining up...

The restaurant Mộc was crowded with tourists.

Banh xeo is a must-try dish in Da Nang. This local specialty consists of golden pancakes made from rice flour, water and turmeric powder, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The pancake is folded in half and sandwiched between bread fillings like shrimp and chicken.

Corti suggests going to Banh Xeo Ba Duong (280/23 Hoang Dieu, Phuoc Ninh, Hai Chau, Da Nang), which also serves nem chua and grilled lemongrass minced pork skewers.

For breakfast, follow the local way and choose a bowl of vermicelli. Instead of looking for beef pho when in Da Nang, try bun cha ca, a regional specialty vermicelli dish with fish cakes, at the restaurant located at 29 Chau Thi Vinh Te Street, Bac My Phu Ward, Ngu Hanh Son District, Da Nang.

Da Nang is home to many delicious dishes.

If you don't like vermicelli for breakfast, then visit Bo Ne Khanh (41 Hoang Van Thu, Phuoc Ninh, Hai Chau, Da Nang), a simple restaurant with red plastic chairs. The menu is limited to just a few beef dishes.

Beyond traditional Vietnamese cuisine, Da Nang's growing popularity with Korean tourists and digital nomads has fueled the rapid development of international cuisine, including Japanese food…

There are countless dining options in Da Nang, with new restaurants popping up alongside long-established family-run establishments. "Da Nang's culinary landscape is much like the city itself – rapidly evolving, full of surprises, and finding its own rhythm," Corti says.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nhung-quan-an-ngon-o-da-nang-theo-goi-y-cua-nguoi-nuoc-ngoai-185251019151653332.htm