Nha Trang food is a memorable part that travelers cannot miss out on. Try 10 dishes you must eat in Nha Trang, and the best places to enjoy them are listed in the travel guides below from Seni World.
Bun Cha Ca (Fish Cake Noodle Soup)
Bun Cha Ca is the most symbolic and best Nha Trang food. It is the must-eat dish of both local people and travelers for its mild but flavorful broth. The broth is simmered carefully from fish bones instead of pork or beef, so it has a distinctly sweet and fresh taste. You can enjoy thin vermicelli noodles, pieces of fried or steamed fish cake that are tender, occasionally with jellyfish for additional crunch.
Local people choose this food as a daily breakfast or a happy light lunch, as it is not too heavy, and vacationers also like Bun Cha Ca for its coastal freshness. When reveling in, you should add a squeeze of lime, a few local chili slices, and a fresh handful of herbs to complete the experience, as well as have an authentic taste of Nha Trang’s wonderful culinary identity.
Where to try Bun Cha Ca in Nha Trang:
- Bun Ca Nguyen Loan – 123 Ngo Gia Tu, Phuoc Tien Ward, Nha Trang City
- Bun Ca Min – 170 Bach Dang, Tan Lap Ward, Nha Trang City
- Bun Ca Sua – 87 Yersin, Phuong Sai Ward, Nha Trang City
Nem Nuong Ninh Hoa (Grilled Pork Rolls)
Nem Nuong Ninh Hoa is a legendary street food in Nha Trang that impresses various travelers. The dish includes skewers of marinated pork grilled over charcoal until both smoky and slightly caramelized. You can revel in Nem Nuong Ninh Hoa with rice paper, many different types of fresh herbs, and pickled vegetables, as well as thin vermicelli.
What virtually makes Nem Nuong Ninh Hoa stand out is the particular dipping sauce, a thick mixture of ground beef, peanuts, garlic, and spices. All of them coat every bite with a rich and savory flavor. When you roll the whole thing in one, it will be a part of a funny and delicious moment of this Nha Trang itinerary trip. Let’s create your dinner in your very own best combination of flavors and textures.
Where to try Nem Nuong Ninh Hoa in Nha Trang:
- Nem Nuong Vu Thanh An – 15 Le Loi, Huong Xuan Ward, Nha Trang City
- Nem Nuong Dang Van Quyen – 16A Lan Ong, Huong Xuan Ward, Nha Trang City
- Nem Nuong Nha Trang – 39 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Tan Lap Ward, Nha Trang City
Hai San Nuong (Grilled Seafood)
Nha Trang’s recognition as a seafood paradise through its infinite local stalls serving Hai San Nuong. Visiting Nha Trang, you can have a chance to revel in fresh shrimp, squid, scallops, clams, and fish that are directly caught and grilled over charcoal. After that, you can eat them with flavorful dipping sauces, consisting of chili salt and green mango sauce.
To answer the question of where to eat in Nha Trang, besides pretty local restaurants, let’s unwind with grilled seafood on the beach with your friends and family, drink cool beer, and share stories. The smoky aroma, mixed with the natural sweetness of the fresh seafood, makes this coastal Central Vietnam itinerary more interesting and unforgettable.
Where to try Grilled Seafood in Nha Trang:
- Hai San Gio Bien – 10 Pham Van Dong, Bac Nha Trang Ward, Nha Trang City
- Hai San Bo Ke – 42B Cu Huan, Vinh Tho Ward, Nha Trang City
- Hai San Long Vu – 133 Thap Ba, Vinh Tho Ward, Nha Trang City
Oc Nha Trang (Snails & Shellfish)
For vacationers who love fresh snails and shellfish, enjoying them will be one of the wonderful things to do in Nha Trang. Here, snails and clams are cooked in various innovative ways, like cooked with tamarind sauce, garlic butter, or coconut milk, and each brings out extraordinary layers of flavor. Not only travelers, but also the local people love and choose this type of Nha Trang food as snacks.
Street stalls frequently provide dozens of sorts in just one menu, making it a fun food adventure for tourists to revel in as many as possible. Eating snails and shellfish is not just about tasting the delicious and fresh flavor, but also the lively and happy atmosphere of gathering with friends and family around steaming hot plates in this coastal city.
Where to try Snails & Shellfish in Nha Trang:
- Oc Xuan Anh – 25 Thap Ba, Vinh Tho Ward, Nha Trang City
- Oc Long Vu – 30 Thap Ba, Vinh Tho Ward, Nha Trang City
- Oc 24 – 24 Ngo Duc Ke, Tan Lap Ward, Nha Trang City
Banh Can (Mini Pancakes)
Banh Can is a rustic street food that perfectly shows the coastal attraction of Nha Trang. They are tiny rice flour pancakes cooked in clay molds, resulting in a crispy border and a soft center, and are topped with quail eggs, shrimp, squid, or pork. You can eat Banh Can in pairs, dipped in a sweet fish sauce, and combine with green mango and meatballs. You will taste a mixture of savory, sour, and barely sweet flavors.
With Banh Can, choosing various best places to eat in Nha Trang is a wonderful experience for travelers, especially international travelers. You can try to sit on low stools by the roadside, not only have a tasty dish, but also witness the local daily life with an energetic and lively atmosphere. Especially with global vacationers, reveling in Banh Can will be an exciting experience in food culture when visiting Nha Trang City.
Where to try Banh Can in Nha Trang:
- Banh Can Ut Nam – 127 Nguyen Binh Khiem, Huong Xuan Ward, Nha Trang City
- Banh Can 51 – 51 To Hien Thanh, Tan Lap Ward, Nha Trang City
- Banh Can Co Tam – 30 Le Thanh Ton, Van Thanh Ward, Nha Trang City
Banh Xeo Muc (Squid Pancake)
Being different from the Southern Vietnamese version, Banh Xeo Muc from Nha Trang is highlighted because it often uses fresh squid as the filling. Therefore, the pancake has a unique chewiness and a wonderful touch of the ocean. The cover is crispy and thin, which is scorched on a hot pan until golden brown, and next, folded with squid, bean sprouts, and onions internally. Banh Xeo Muc is cut into portions and wrapped in rice paper with herbs, and dipped into a flavorful fish sauce.
Where to try Banh Xeo Muc in Nha Trang:
- Banh Xeo Muc 31 – 31 Ngo Duc Ke, Tan Lap Ward, Nha Trang City
- Banh Xeo Chao Muc Tom – 51 Ton That Tung, Vinh Tho Ward, Nha Trang City
- Banh Xeo Co Tam – 6 Thap Ba, Vinh Tho Ward, Nha Trang City
Bun Sua (Jellyfish Noodle Soup)
A true Nha Trang food, Bun Sua surprises many first-time travelers due to its use of jellyfish as the primary protein. The broth is mild and clear, cooked by simmering fish bones, making the crunchy and chewy jellyfish pieces that absorb the soup’s perfect taste. This food is refreshing in taste and texture, and you can eat it with fresh herbs, green onions, as well as chili for additional zest. If you want adventurous yet real taste, Bun Sua is a captivating choice when traveling to a coastal city like Nha Trang.
Where to try Bun Sua in Nha Trang:
- Bun Sua Nguyen Loan – 123 Ngo Gia Tu, Tan Tien Ward, Nha Trang City
- Bun Sua Hanh – 163 Ngo Gia Tu, Tan Tien Ward, Nha Trang City
- Bun Sua Ly Quoc Su – 01 Han Thuyen, Dam Market, Nha Trang City
Goi Ca Mai (Mai Fish Salad)
Goi Ca Mai, also known as Mai Fish Salad, is a refreshing raw fish salad made with mai fish, a small and tender type of fish found along the coast of Nha Trang. Mai fish is cleaned and combined with lime juice, toasted rice powder, and fresh herbs and onions for a tangy, light, and aromatic dish. You can enjoy this salad with rice paper and a dipping sauce made from fermented anchovies. Goi Ca Mai is the local mastery of changing the day’s catch into an iconic food that is both healthy and scrumptious.
Where to try Goi Ca Mai in Nha Trang:
- Goi Ca Ha Ra – 166 23/10 Street, Van Thanh Ward, Nha Trang City
- Goi Ca Nguyen – 44 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Phuoc Hoa, Nha Trang City
- Goi Ca Hanh – 128 Yersin, Loc Tho Ward, Nha Trang City
Banh Dap (Crispy Rice Paper With Steamed Rice Sheets)
Banh Dap, which is also called Crispy Rice Paper With Steamed Rice Sheets, is one of the best and exciting Nha Trang foods. Banh Dap is a playful snack that blends unique textures, including a smooth, steamed rice sheet layered over a delicious, crispy grilled rice paper. When eating, you will “clap” (“Dap” in Vietnamese) the 2 together before dipping the crunchy-soft mixture into a specific sweet anchovy sauce.
The taste of Crispy Rice Paper With Steamed Rice Sheets is simple but impressive for international visitors, bringing them both crunchiness and chewiness with each bite. This type of food in Nha Trang is often chosen to enjoy the afternoon from February to August, which is the best time to visit Nha Trang, as a light snack with your friends and family. The meticulous preparation makes Banh Dap interesting to eat, especially for first-time travelers to this place.
Where to try Crispy Rice Paper With Steamed Rice Sheets in Nha Trang:
- Banh Dap Hong Bang – 68A Hong Bang, Vinh Phuoc Ward, Nha Trang City
- Banh Dap Co Ha – 16 Thai Nguyen, Phuong Sai Ward, Nha Trang City
- Banh Dap Ngoc Lan – 18 Nguyen Trai, Phuoc Tan Ward, Nha Trang City
Yen Sao (Bird’s Nest)
Nha Trang is world-famous for its bird’s nest, known as a symbolic delicacy with its high nutritional value. Swiftlet nests are harvested by local people from their coastal caves, and after that, they are prepared into soups, drinks, and desserts. Yen Sao is widely believed to enhance both health and vitality for everyone, particularly the elderly.
The taste of Yen Sao from Nha Trang is subtle, barely sweet when cooked with rock sugar, and more savory when simmered in broth. Even though pricey, this type of food in Nha Trang is one of the city’s most preferred and luxurious specialties, showing both its natural resources and long culture, as well as the tradition of bird’s nest farming of the local people here.
Where to try Yen Sao in Nha Trang:
- Yen Sao Khanh Hoa – 248 Thong Nhat, Tay Nha Trang Ward, Nha Trang City
- Nha Yen Sanest – 22 Le Thanh Ton, Loc Tho Ward, Nha Trang City
- Yen Sao Hon Ngoc Viet – 26 Van Don, Phuoc Hoa, Nha Trang City
Final Thoughts
One of the best ways to understand a city deeply when traveling to it is regularly through its food, and Nha Trang’s food is no exception. The combination of street and authentic flavors, fresh seafood, as well as family recipes, makes various types of food in this coastal city something you can not forget after the journey ends. If you want to take an Nha Trang adventure, as well as consult things to see and do in this attraction, and receive support for the visa process, let’s contact Seni World, a trusted tour operator in Vietnam. We are here to help you from A to Z on your trip.
