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 just a 2-hour flight from Hong Kong and about 3 hours from Singapore, and is close to some of Vietnam's famous attractions, including Hoi An, Ba Na Hills and the ancient capital of Hue.

Da Nang can be divided into two main areas, the coastal area and the inner city. The coastal area, with its bars and hotels, is popular with digital nomads and surfers. The inner city is where locals congregate in 24-hour 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.

No matter which side you choose, visitors will be treated to delicious food. In 2024, online travel guide TasteAtlas named Vietnamese cuisine among the top in the world , with dishes like banh mi and pho now famous around the world.

However, Da Nang has other special dishes, often accompanied by seafood.

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

Quang noodles take their name from Quang Nam, a province that formerly bordered Da Nang, but has now been merged into the city.

Quang noodles in Da Nang are on the Michelin list.

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

Fresh herbs such as basil, coriander and mint are often served on the side, along with chilies, boiled eggs, shredded lettuce, lime and sesame rice paper.

Chopped herbs mixed with noodles create a light and refreshing taste, while crispy rice paper gives the dish an extra nutty flavor.

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

The Lyon, France-born chef worked in his home country 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 moms who work all night 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 seafood in Da Nang

A street food "mother" that Corti loves? Hai San Chau Son 1 (21 Nai Tu 2, An Hai Bac, Son Tra, Da Nang) is a popular 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 calamari and bread. The seafood hotpot, garlic butter shrimp and clams sauteed with scallions are popular choices.

Or Ba Ro fresh seafood (115 Ly Tu Tan, Tho Quang, Son Tra, Da Nang) is one of Corti's familiar destinations. The restaurant serves a variety of seafood, from chili crab, 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...

Crowded with tourists at Moc restaurant

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, do as the locals do and opt for a bowl of noodles. Instead of reaching for beef pho when you visit Da Nang, try bun cha ca, a regional specialty with fish cakes, at 29 Chau Thi Vinh Te, Bac My Phu, Ngu Hanh Son, Da Nang.

Da Nang is home to many delicious dishes.

If you don’t fancy noodles for breakfast, head to Bo Ne Khanh (41 Hoang Van Thu, Phuoc Ninh, Hai Chau, Da Nang), a simple restaurant with red plastic stools. The menu is limited to a handful of beefsteak dishes.

In addition to traditional Vietnamese cuisine, Da Nang's growing popularity with Korean tourists and digital nomads has fueled the rapid growth of international cuisine, including Japanese…

There are countless dining options in Da Nang, with new restaurants springing up alongside long-standing family-run establishments. “Da Nang’s culinary scene is like the city itself – fast-paced, full of surprises and finding its own rhythm,” says Corti.

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