Must-Try Dishes Of Food In Phu Quoc: What And Where To Eat?

Phu Quoc cuisine is special thanks to the reasonable combination of fresh sea ingredients, the diverse cultural influences, and the talent of local people in adjusting the dishes. This article will show you 11 of the best foods in Phu Quoc that are highly recommended.

Tom Mu Ni Nuong (Grilled Slipper Lobster)

Grilled Slipper Lobster is a Phu Quoc specialty that makes diners exclaim with its rich flavor and irresistible freshness. When grilled over charcoal, the shrimp’s shell turns a brilliant orange-red color, giving off a fragrant aroma that blends the natural sweetness of the sea with a bit of seductive charcoal smoke. The shrimp meat is firm and very juicy. In particular, the shrimp head contains fatty roe that melts when dipped in green chili salt or lemon pepper salt, creating a perfect balance between salty, spicy, sour, and sweet flavors.

This dish is usually grilled just right to retain its freshness and served with herbs and sauce, making each bite an explosive taste experience, full of the Pearl Island’s essence.

Where to Eat Tom Mu Ni Nuong?

• Oc 343 Restaurant (343 30/4 Street): A popular restaurant specializing in grilled seafood and fresh snails. Top choice for the best places to eat in Phu Quoc.
• Cau Ba Restaurant (Group 12, Rach Ham Quarter): A small, pretty local restaurant specializing in fresh seafood. Naturally sweet flavor. A simple, cozy space near the river and sea.

Cua Ham Ninh (Ham Ninh Crab)

Ham Ninh crab, a famous food in Phu Quoc, is a symbol of fresh seafood with a delicious taste that captivates any diner. Phu Quoc in November is the most suitable time for travellers to come and enjoy this gift of nature. Caught from the Ham Ninh sea, the crab here stands out with its firm meat, natural sweetness, and golden, fatty fat. When processed, Ham Ninh crab retains its rich sweetness, white meat, and chewy and crispy texture, not mushy.

You can choose to steam with beer or fry with tamarind because these are the two most popular ways of processing. Steamed crab dipped in lemon pepper salt or green chili salt blends the salty, sour, and spicy flavors that you will never forget. If you choose to steam with tamarind, you will feel the perfect layer of sauce covering the crab shell, served with bread or white rice, which is the number one choice.

Where to Eat Ham Ninh Crabs?

• Bien Xanh Restaurant (Provincial Road 47, Ham Ninh Commune): Famous for its crabs and picturesque ocean views.
• Thuan Kieu Seafood (70B Tran Hung Dao Street, Ward 7): Offering local-style dishes at affordable prices.

Goi Ca Trich (Vietnamese Raw Herring Salad)

Besides Ham Ninh Crabs, another unforgettable and signature food in Phu Quoc is Goi Ca Trich, a traditional Phu Quoc street food. It is considered the staple of seafood specialties in Phu Quoc and is enjoyed by both locals and travelers seeking an authentic taste of the island.

Instead of being cooked by heat, the raw herring will be cleaned and then mixed with fresh lime juice, fragrant fresh grated coconut, shredded shallots, and onions to create a distinctive aroma. The herring salad is wrapped in rice paper and raw vegetables, dipped in a special salty fish sauce, and is most delicious when enjoyed with Phu Quoc sim wine.

Where to Eat Goi Ca Trich?

• Ham Ninh Fishing Village (Ham Ninh Street): Seafood restaurant by the sea, fresh fish caught on the spot, rustic atmosphere. Served with Ham Ninh crab, super delicious.
• Phu Quoc Night Market: Quick snacks, many stalls selling fresh salad, cheap prices, and a lively atmosphere. Suitable for travellers who want to discover Phu Quoc nightlife.

Nhum Bien Nuong (Grilled Sea Urchin)

Sea urchins, also known as sea urchins, are a special seafood in Phu Quoc that is loved by men because of their fatty and nutritious meat. Sea urchins are best when grilled on a charcoal stove and eaten with salt, pepper, and lemon, or they can be scraped and cooked into porridge or eaten raw with lemon, which is also super delicious.

Where to eat Nhum Bien Nuong?

• Ham Ninh Fishing Village: Sea urchins from the fishing village, grilled on rustic charcoal by the beach. Combined with the poetic view of Ham Ninh, crowded with local customers.
• Tre Xanh Restaurant (Tran Hung Dao Street): Diverse seafood in Phu Quoc, urchins grilled with scallion oil, standard flavor, fresh from the nearby Phu Quoc night market. Large space, fast service, suitable for families.

Bun Quay (Stirring Rice Noodles)

A bowl of Bun Quay will have a variety of seafood, such as shrimp, fish, and squid, served with some onions, herbs, and broth. During preparation, the fish cakes and shrimp cakes are stirred continuously and pressed thinly into the bowl before pouring the hot broth over them. When eating, diners mix their own dipping sauce with seasoning powder, sugar, lime, and ground chili and stir well to create a smooth, rich mixture. Enjoying a fresh bowl of Bun Quay early in the morning is one of the best things to do in Phu Quoc for both local people and travellers.

Where to Eat Bun Quay?

• Bun Quay Kien Xay (147 30/4 Street): 20+ years of serving food in Phu Quoc, full of seafood, sweet and clear broth, crowded from early morning. Rustic space, fast service.
• Bun Quay Thanh Hung (75 30/4 Street): Fresh white and chewy noodles made from local rice flour. Seafood bought directly from fishing boats. Large, clean restaurant, open until evening.

Tiet Canh Cua (Crab Blood Pudding)

Crab blood pudding is the next suggestion for the question of what to eat in Phu Quoc. The type of crab chosen is sea crab, with a lot of roe, so the blood will be extremely delicious and nutritious. The blood will be taken from the crab legs, eaten with crab meat, and marinated with all kinds of sour, spicy, salty, and sweet spices that will surely make you unforgettable.

Many travellers coming to Phu Quoc see Tiet Canh Cua as a delicious and must-try dish, in particular in the dry season, November and April, which is the best time to visit Phu Quoc. However, crab blood pudding is also listed as a “horror food in Phu Quoc” that many tourists do not dare to try, due to the way it is prepared directly while the crab is still alive.

Where to eat Tiet Canh Cua?

• Ngu Uyen Restaurant (336 Nguyễn Trung Trực): Large space of 5000 m² along the Duong Dong river. Specialized in Vietnamese, Japanese, and Chinese dishes made from fresh ingredients. Ideal for large groups or events

Banh Xeo Hai San (Seafood Pancakes)

Golden, sizzling, and extremely fragrant, Banh Xeo Hai San is the most famous Phu Quoc street food. Instead of having a meat and bean sprout filling like on the mainland, the filling of this Banh Xeo on Phu Quoc is made from fresh ingredients from the sea, including shrimp and squid caught by the island’s fishermen.

In particular, pancakes are poured into small molds, have limited oil, and are served with lots of vegetables, so they are not too greasy or sickening. When enjoying it, travelers can roll half or the whole pancake in the prepared vegetables. Finally, roll it up with rice paper and enjoy your meal.

Where to eat Banh Xeo Hai San?

• Quan Banh Xeo Dai Dac (Provincial Road 47): Cool garden setting. Banh Xeo is made from fresh seafood, combined with wild vegetables and rich sweet and sour fish sauce.
• Ba Nam Kitchen (137 Ly Thuong Kiet): fragrant crispy cakes, served with sour papaya. The space is not too big but always crowded. Can be packed to take away.

Cha Ca Nuong Nghe (Grilled Fish Cake with Turmeric)

Grilled fish cake with turmeric is made from fresh fish meat, minced, and mixed with spices such as turmeric, onion, pepper, and traditional spices. When grilled on charcoal, the fish cake gives off a strong aroma; the outer layer is golden brown and lightly crispy, with a hint of turmeric and seductive charcoal smoke.

Taking a bite, you will feel the soft, sweet fish meat, mixed with the light spiciness of pepper and the characteristic aroma of turmeric, not fishy at all but only the lingering taste of the ocean.

Where to eat Cha Ca Nuong Nghe?

• Bach Giai Restaurant (Almaz Corona Phu Quoc): Diverse menu. Luxurious and cozy space.
• Dong Duong Market: Paradise of Food in Phu Quoc, diverse from fresh to dried goods. Cheap prices

Ga Ray (Free-range Chicken)

If you’re visiting Phu Quoc but are not a seafood lover, savor Ga Ray for a delightful taste of mainland flavors and make your trip even more memorable! Considered both a cultural decoration and a pride of delicious food in Phu Quoc, Ga Ray has its own unique mark.

Phu Quoc free-range chicken is raised in the garden and fed with natural foods like insects or grains. Therefore, the chicken meat is firmer, more fragrant, and sweet. In Phu Quoc, Ga Ray is processed into many different dishes, with the most famous choices being boiled chicken, grilled chicken, chicken rice, chicken vermicelli, or chicken salad.

Where to eat Ga Ray?

• Ba Loan Free Range Chicken Restaurant (30/4 Street): Known for its special dish of chicken vermicelli. Chicken meat and chicken giblets blend to create a bowl of vermicelli that is sweet and fragrant.
• Tho Pho Restaurant (30/4 Street): Tender chicken, crispy chicken skin, and broth simmered from chicken bones for many hours create a bowl of delicious free-range chicken pho.

Banh Canh (Noodle Soup)

At first, some tourists may think that Phu Quoc noodle soup is similar to normal rice noodle soup, but in fact, it is not. This food in Phu Quoc uses tapioca flour noodles, which are processed very elaborately. This is also one of the factors that makes the difference between the famous noodle soup of Pearl Island.

The second plus point of Phu Quoc noodle soup is its diversity. There are many types of noodle soup for diners, including these 4 typical noodle soup dishes: Crab noodle soup, Fish cake noodle soup, Tuna noodle soup, Crab noodle soup.

Where to eat Banh Canh?

• Banh Canh Phung (27 Bach Dang Street): Chewy fish cakes and delicious, fresh mackerel, not fishy, served with pure Phu Quoc fish sauce with a strong aroma that captivates many diners.
• Fishing Village Crab Noodle Soup (115 Tran Hung Dao): Thick, rich soup with fresh, firm white crab meat. The restaurant is located right near Phu Quoc night market.

Oc Gai Nuong Mo Hanh (Grilled Murex With Green Onion Oil)

This dish is a perfect blend of the sweetness of the ocean and the seductive aroma of scallion oil. When grilled over charcoal, this seafood in Phu Quoc is brushed with a layer of shimmering oil mixed with fragrant scallions and crushed roasted peanuts, creating a rich aroma that stimulates all the senses. This dish is served with Phu Quoc chili fish sauce, which has a spicy, slightly salty, and sour taste.

Where to eat Oc Gai Nuong Mo Hanh?

• Oc 343 Restaurant (343 30/4 Street): Fresh spiny snails. Fast service. Casual drinking space.
• Cau Ba Restaurant (Group 12, Rach Ham Quarter): Spiny snails from Ham Ninh fishing village. Rustic space near the river.

Final Thoughts

With abundant and rich seafood resources, from snails to fish, shrimp, and squid, food in Phu Quoc promises to bring visitors unique and unforgettable culinary experiences. Hopefully, the above suggestions of Seni World about “what and where to eat in Phu Quoc” will help you when looking for dishes as well as delicious seafood restaurants on the pearl island.