Phan Thiet - Mui Ne is not only a famous destination with beautiful beaches and endless sand dunes, but also a culinary paradise with countless delicious dishes. From fresh seafood to flavorful local specialties, Phan Thiet - Mui Ne's cuisine is sure to treat you to an unforgettable feast for the senses. Let's explore the must-try dishes and the best places to eat delicious, nutritious, and affordable food in Phan Thiet - Mui Ne!
1. Overview of Phan Thiet and Mui Ne cuisine
Phan Thiet - Mui Ne is not only famous for its beautiful natural scenery but also a destination for food lovers, especially those who enjoy dishes with a distinct seafood flavor. Located along the South Central coast, Phan Thiet is one of the places with the richest seafood resources in Vietnam. Fresh fish, shrimp, squid, and many other seafood are prepared into many unique and attractive dishes. At the same time, traditional dishes made from rice flour, such as banh can (rice flour cakes), banh canh cha ca (fish cake noodle soup), or breakfast dishes like banh hoi long heo (rice vermicelli with pork offal) and mi quang vit (Quang-style duck noodles) are also excellent choices for tourists.
The combination of fresh seafood ingredients and traditional cooking techniques has created the unmistakable and distinctive flavors of Phan Thiet cuisine. If you are a lover of rustic yet creative dishes, Phan Thiet - Mui Ne will certainly not disappoint you.
2. Must-try delicacies in Phan Thiet and Mui Ne
1. Main dishes and specialties in Phan Thiet
Phan Thiet fish hotpot
Phan Thiet fish hotpot is a famous dish, rich in seafood flavor, with the main ingredients being fresh fish, usually grouper, snapper, or sea bass. The broth is simmered from fish bones, creating a naturally sweet and savory taste, combined with fresh vegetables such as water spinach, banana blossom, and characteristic spices like chili and lemongrass, creating an irresistible flavor. The special thing about Phan Thiet fish hotpot lies in its simple yet refined preparation method, which helps preserve the natural flavor of the ingredients. When eating, you can dip the fish into the boiling broth, along with fresh rice noodles and vegetables, dipping them in the rich Phan Thiet fish sauce, creating a unique culinary experience. Famous places for this fish hotpot include restaurants along Hung Vuong and Nguyen Dinh Chieu streets on the coast.
The broth for Phan Thiet fish hotpot is made from fish bones, with added fermented rice paste, tomatoes, pineapple, and chili peppers, creating a distinctive sour and spicy flavor. Each type of fish contributes a different flavor to the hotpot.
Address of a good fish hotpot restaurant in Phan Thiet:
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Co Nam Fish Hotpot Restaurant: 123 Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street, Ham Tien Ward, Phan Thiet City.
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Bien Nho Seafood Restaurant: 98 Huynh Thuc Khang Street, Mui Ne, Phan Thiet.
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7-Dish Fish Hot Pot Restaurant: 56 Vo Nguyen Giap Street, Phu Hai Ward, Phan Thiet City.
Phan Thiet rice pancake
Phan Thiet's Banh Can (rice flour pancakes) is one of the famous and must-try dishes when visiting the city. Unlike Banh Can in other regions, Phan Thiet's Banh Can is smaller, made from rice flour, and usually served with a diluted dipping sauce consisting of fermented fish sauce, fried shallots, shredded mango, and dried shrimp. It's often served with toppings like shrimp, squid, quail eggs, and, most importantly, a bowl of Phan Thiet's sweet and sour fish sauce. Famous Banh Can restaurants include those on Tuyen Quang or Vo Thi Sau streets, where you can enjoy this dish in the simple atmosphere of roadside eateries.
Phan Thiet-style rice pancakes are typically smaller than those from other regions. The dipping sauce is also made according to a secret recipe, with a harmonious sweet and sour flavor, combined with finely chopped mango, creating a distinctive taste.
Address of a good banh can (rice pancake) restaurant in Phan Thiet:
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Co Sau Banh Can Restaurant: 15 Nguyen Tat Thanh Street, Phan Thiet.
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Aunt Ba's Banh Can Restaurant: 45 Tran Hung Dao Street, Phan Thiet.
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Lan Nguyet Banh Can Restaurant: 120 Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street, Ham Tien Ward, Phan Thiet City.
Fish cake noodle soup
Fish cake noodle soup is a familiar breakfast dish for the people of Phan Thiet. The noodles are made from rice flour, chewy and soft, served with a broth made from fish bones, and accompanied by fried or boiled fish cakes.
Description of the dish: The broth of banh canh is usually clear white, with a sweet and delicate flavor from the fish bones. The fish cake is made from basa fish, mackerel, snakehead fish, etc., seasoned and either fried or boiled until cooked.
Address of a good fish cake noodle soup restaurant in Phan Thiet:
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Banh Canh Cha Ca 7 Mon Restaurant: 56 Vo Nguyen Giap Street, Phu Hai Ward, Phan Thiet City.
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Co Hai Rice Noodle Soup Restaurant: 34 Tran Hung Dao Street, Phan Thiet.
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Banh Canh Cho Lau Restaurant: Inside Phan Thiet Market.
2. Fresh seafood in Phan Thiet and Mui Ne
Western Quarter - Nguyen Dinh Chieu Embankment
Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street, also known as the "Western Street," is an ideal spot for those who want to enjoy fresh seafood. This area is home to many seafood restaurants along the embankment, renowned for the variety and freshness of its seafood dishes. You can choose from a wide range of fresh seafood such as shrimp, crab, squid, scallops, etc., prepared on the spot according to your request. In particular, dishes like grilled shrimp, steamed crab, and grilled squid with chili and salt are always popular with tourists. The Western Street is not only a destination for seafood lovers but also an ideal place to enjoy the cool sea breeze and watch the sunset over the ocean after a long day exploring Mui Ne.
The Western Quarter is not only famous for its fresh seafood, but also for its vibrant and bustling atmosphere at night.
Popular seafood dishes in the Western Quarter:
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Shrimp: lobster, tiger shrimp, mantis shrimp, ...
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Crabs: king crab, etc.
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Crabs: green crabs, red crabs, ...
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Fish: grouper, snapper, salmon, ...
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Squid: tube squid, leaf squid, ...
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Snails: fragrant snails, periwinkle snails, elephant trunk snails, ...
Ho Tom Seafood
Ho Tom is another very popular seafood destination in Phan Thiet. Located along Hung Vuong Street, it is famous for its fresh seafood dishes prepared in the traditional style of Central Vietnam. You can enjoy dishes made from grouper, tiger prawns, sea crab, and many other types of seafood, prepared in various ways such as steamed, grilled, or stir-fried. In particular, the scad fish salad here is a unique and appealing specialty, with a refreshing taste from the fresh fish, combined with aromatic herbs and a spicy and sour dipping sauce.
Dishes you should try:
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Jellyfish salad: A salad featuring fresh, delicious fish meat, crunchy jellyfish, combined with fresh vegetables and a sweet and sour dipping sauce.
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Steamed fish with onions and ginger: Fresh fish is steamed with onions and ginger, preserving the fish's natural sweetness.
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Grilled squid with satay sauce: Fresh squid is marinated in spicy satay sauce, then grilled over hot charcoal, resulting in a fragrant aroma.
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Salt-roasted sea snails: Fresh, delicious sea snails, stir-fried with a rich salt flavor, served with Vietnamese coriander.
Mai fish salad and squid pancake
Mai fish salad and squid pancakes are two must-try specialties when you visit Phan Thiet. Mai fish salad is made from small, sweet-fleshed fish, served with aromatic herbs and rice paper, and dipped in sweet and sour fish sauce. Squid pancakes are thinly poured, crispy, and filled with fresh, sweet squid, creating a unique flavor. Restaurants along the coast on Nguyen Dinh Chieu and Vo Thi Sau streets are ideal places to enjoy these two dishes.
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Mai fish salad is made from fresh mai fish, thinly filleted, mixed with roasted rice powder, peanuts, herbs, and a sweet and sour dipping sauce. The salad has a sour, sweet, and spicy taste that is very stimulating to the taste buds.
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Squid pancake (Bánh xèo mực) is a rustic dish made from rice flour, filled with fresh squid and bean sprouts, and deep-fried until crispy. It's served with sweet and sour fish sauce and fresh vegetables.
Addresses for enjoying delicious scad fish salad and squid pancakes:
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Quan Tre Restaurant: 12 Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street, Ham Tien Ward, Phan Thiet City.
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Cay Bang Restaurant: 45 Le Loi Street, Hung Long Ward, Phan Thiet City.
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Be Anh Seafood Restaurant: 98 Huynh Thuc Khang Street, Mui Ne, Phan Thiet.
3. Snacks and street food in Phan Thiet
Loan's squid teeth
Squid teeth are a unique street food that you can only find in Phan Thiet. Loan's Squid Teeth restaurant, located on Vo Thi Sau Street, is the most famous place for this dish. The squid teeth are deep-fried until crispy and served with a special dipping sauce, creating a flavor that is both crunchy and rich without being greasy. This is a very popular snack among both locals and tourists.
Loan's Squid Teeth restaurant is located at 202 Vo Thi Sau Street, Phan Thiet. The restaurant opens daily from 4 PM.
Grilled rice paper with shrimp paste
Grilled rice paper with shrimp paste is a popular street food in Phan Thiet. The rice paper is grilled over hot charcoal, then spread with shrimp paste, and topped with eggs, scallions, dried shrimp, etc., creating a delicious and appealing flavor.
Addresses selling delicious grilled rice paper with shrimp paste:
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9 Nguyen Sac Kim, Phan Thiet.
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30 Ngo Quyen Street, Phan Thiet.
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267 Ngu Ong Street, Phan Thiet.
Selling hours: Usually from afternoon to evening.
Ham Tan grilled pork skewers
Chả lụi is a famous specialty dish of Phan Thiết, especially the Hàm Tân area. This dish consists of small patties made from finely minced pork, wrapped in thin rice paper, and then grilled until crispy over charcoal. Chả lụi is usually served with fresh vegetables, vermicelli noodles, and a sweet and sour dipping sauce made with fermented fish sauce, creating a unique combination of sweet, sour, spicy, and crispy flavors. Restaurants selling delicious chả lụi in Phan Thiết, such as those in Hàm Tân or on Nguyễn Thông street, are very popular in the evenings, where you can enjoy this dish at an affordable price.
Address of a good grilled pork skewer restaurant in Phan Thiet:
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Ham Tan Grilled Pork Skewers Restaurant: 12 Nguyen Hoi Street, Phan Thiet.
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Co Nam Grilled Pork Skewers Restaurant: 45 Tran Hung Dao Street, Phan Thiet.
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Phan Thiet Market: There are also many stalls selling delicious grilled pork skewers in the market.
Duck sticky rice
Sticky rice with duck is a popular breakfast dish in Phan Thiet, usually served with tender, fragrant grilled or steamed duck meat, combined with sticky rice. It's often served with a spicy ginger fish sauce, adding to the rich flavor. Sticky rice with duck stalls along Tran Hung Dao Street or in Phan Thiet market are worth trying if you want to experience a signature local breakfast.
4. Famous breakfast dishes in Phan Thiet
Rice vermicelli with pork offal
Rice vermicelli with pork offal is a popular breakfast dish in Phan Thiet. The vermicelli noodles are made from rice flour, are white and thin, and are served with boiled pork offal, grilled meat, fermented pork sausage, fresh vegetables, and a sweet and sour dipping sauce.
Address of a good restaurant serving banh hoi with pork offal in Phan Thiet:
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22 Phan Dinh Phung Street, Phan Thiet.
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Co Ba's Pork Offal Rice Noodle Restaurant: 120 Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street, Ham Tien Ward, Phan Thiet City.
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Phan Thiet Market: There are also many stalls in the market selling delicious rice vermicelli with pork offal.
Duck Quang noodles
Duck Quang noodles are a popular breakfast dish in Phan Thiet. The noodles have a distinctive yellow color and are served with boiled or roasted duck, fresh vegetables, peanuts, and a sweet and sour dipping sauce.
Phan Thiet-style duck noodles typically have a clear broth with a delicate sweetness from the duck bones. Some restaurants also add quail eggs or pork cracklings to enhance the flavor.
Address of a good duck noodle soup restaurant in Phan Thiet:
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Hai Dang Duck Noodle Restaurant: 12 Nguyen Tat Thanh Street, Phan Thiet.
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Co Nam Quang Noodle Restaurant: 45 Tran Hung Dao Street, Phan Thiet.
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Mì Quảng Chợ Lầu Restaurant: Located inside Phan Thiết market.
Braised fish porridge
Fish porridge is a simple yet addictive breakfast dish for the people of Phan Thiet. The porridge is made from plain rice and combined with fragrant, flavorful braised fish. Fish porridge is easy to eat and provides ample energy for a morning of activity.
Address of a good braised fish porridge restaurant in Phan Thiet:
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65 Pham Van Dong Street, Phan Thiet (6am-9am).
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Co Tu's Fish Porridge Restaurant: 120 Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street, Ham Tien Ward, Phan Thiet City.
5. Beef hotpot and delicious restaurants in Phan Thiet
Beef Hot Pot
Hong Beef Hotpot is one of the most famous beef hotpot restaurants in Phan Thiet, attracting diners with its delicious, rich broth and fresh beef. The restaurant has a spacious and airy atmosphere, suitable for gatherings with friends and family.
Address: 144/1 Tran Hung Dao Street, Phan Thiet City.
Opening hours: 10 AM - 10 PM.
Besides the branch on Tran Hung Dao Street, Hong Beef Hotpot also has many other branches in Phan Thiet. You can find information on Google Maps or Foody.
Beef Hot Pot (Ba Bung brand)
Ba Bung Beef Hot Pot is famous for its unique "3-compartment" hot pot, allowing you to enjoy three different broths in the same pot. The restaurant has a spacious and airy atmosphere, and the service is enthusiastic and attentive.
A "three-compartment" hot pot with three different flavors: spicy and sour hot pot, green pepper hot pot, and mushroom hot pot.
Address: 29 Phan Boi Chau (opposite Tran Phu Secondary School), Phan Thiet. The restaurant also has a branch on Le Duan Boulevard.
Opening hours: 10 AM - 11 PM.
III. Suggested restaurants and addresses for each delicious dish
A prominent eatery on Vo Thi Sau Street.
Vo Thi Sau Street is one of the bustling "culinary" streets in Phan Thiet, home to many delicious eateries offering a wide variety of dishes.
Some notable eateries on Vo Thi Sau Street:
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Banh bot loc (tapioca dumplings): 152 Vo Thi Sau Street (open from 1 PM).
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Loan's Squid Teeth: 202 Vo Thi Sau Street.
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Herring spring rolls: 104 Vo Thi Sau Street (1 PM - 9 PM).
Other signature dishes on Vo Thi Sau Street:
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Crab noodle soup (Bún riêu cua): Cô Lan's Crab Noodle Soup Restaurant (86 Võ Thị Sáu Street).
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Broken rice (Com Tam): Saigon Broken Rice Restaurant (120 Vo Thi Sau Street).
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Steamed pork dumpling sandwich: Co Ba Steamed Pork Dumpling Sandwich Shop (150 Vo Thi Sau Street).
Snail salad restaurant at 52 Le Hong Phong
Snail salad is a specialty dish of Phan Thiet, featuring the crunchy texture of conch combined with fresh vegetables, peanuts, and a sweet and sour dipping sauce.
The snail salad restaurant at 52 Le Hong Phong is one of the best places to eat delicious snail salad in Phan Thiet. The restaurant has a clean, airy space and enthusiastic service.
The conch salad at 52 Le Hong Phong restaurant is made from fresh conch, ensuring a delicious, crispy texture. The dipping sauce is prepared according to the restaurant's secret recipe, with a harmonious sweet and sour taste, combined with Vietnamese coriander and chopped mango, creating a distinctive flavor.
IV. Unique dining experiences at Phan Thiet Market
Experience street food at Phan Thiet Market.
Phan Thiet Market is not only a bustling marketplace but also a "culinary paradise" with countless delicious and unique dishes. Visiting Phan Thiet Market, you'll be transported to a world of flavors, from familiar breakfast foods to addictive snacks.
Address: 129 Tran Phu Street, Phan Thiet
Opening hours: Morning: 5:00 AM - 11:00 AM, Afternoon: 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Unique and unusual dishes in Phan Thiet market.
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Rice vermicelli with pork offal: Smooth, white rice vermicelli served with boiled pork offal, grilled pork, fermented pork sausage, and a sweet and sour dipping sauce.
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Fish stew porridge: Porridge made from white rice, served with delicious, flavorful fish stew.
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Duck Quang noodles: Characterized by their yellow color, these noodles are served with boiled or roasted duck, fresh vegetables, and dipping sauce.
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Fish cake wing-shaped cakes: These cakes are shaped like bird wings and filled with delicious fish cake.
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Grilled pork skewers: Phan Thiet-style grilled pork skewers are made from pork shoulder, shrimp, and fat, wrapped in rice paper and grilled over hot charcoal.
Must-try dishes for an evening at the night market.
In the evening, Phan Thiet market transforms into a vibrant night market with many "attractive" food stalls.
Operating hours: 6 PM - 10 PM
Must-try dishes at the night market:
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Grilled rice paper with shrimp paste: Rice paper is grilled over charcoal, spread with shrimp paste, and topped with egg, scallions, dried shrimp, etc.
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Squid teeth: Grilled squid teeth, crispy and chewy, served with a dipping sauce of salt, chili, and lime or chili sauce.
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Banh bot loc: A type of dumpling with a translucent dough wrapper and a delicious meat filling.
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Grilled seafood: Shrimp, squid, fish, etc., are grilled over hot charcoal, emitting a delicious aroma.
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Flan: A refreshing dessert with a sweet, cool, and light flavor.
V. Signature Desserts and Drinks
Besides the main dishes, Phan Thiet - Mui Ne also has many characteristic desserts and drinks that you should try:
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Che Thung: A type of sweet soup made from mung beans, red beans, tapioca pearls, coconut milk, etc., with a subtly sweet and refreshing taste.
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Flan Cream: Phan Thiet flan cream is famous for its smooth, creamy texture and delicious egg flavor.
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Sugarcane juice: Fresh and delicious sugarcane juice, an effective way to cool down on hot days.
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Coconut water: Fresh coconuts are harvested right from the garden, the water is sweet, cool, and incredibly refreshing.