Top 10 Must-Try Mui Ne Foods
Blessed with vast fishing grounds, Mui Ne foods has been a thriving industry for a long time, providing the region with an abundance of seafood. While it has the same types of fresh seafood as other coastal areas, the unique touch of local chefs makes Mui Ne foods special.
From snacks to main courses, every dish in Mui Ne is prepared with its distinctive style, yet the flavors are unforgettable. Let Lua Viet Tours recommend you 10 must-try foods in Mui Ne!
1. Tha Hotpot
Tha hotpot is a Mui Ne food that should be on your list. Tha in Vietnamese means “Drop”, so that means you drop food into a boiling hot stove of aromatic broth. This hotpot features ingredients caught directly from the Mui Ne sea, such as Spadefish and Silverside, combined with various other ingredients to create an incredibly delicious flavor.
In addition to its taste, the presentation of Tha hotpot is also unique. It is based on the yin-yang and five elements philosophy: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth, corresponding to the five colors in the dish: white, green, black, red, and yellow, along with the five flavors: spicy, sour, sweet, salty, and bitter.
This Mui Ne food is based on the yin-yang and five elements philosophy: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth. (Image Source: Internet)
The dish is believed to bring energy and robust health to those who enjoy it. Not only is it a familiar dish to the locals, but Tha hotpot has also gradually won the hearts of tourists from all over the world. One of the world-famous chefs, Yan Cook, was so impressed that he wanted to try making it himself right after tasting Tha hotpot.
2. Grilled Dong – Leiolepis
Mui Ne boasts vast, expansive dunes that stretch over hundreds of hectares. Besides offering various entertaining activities, these dunes are also home to the Dong, a type of reptile that resembles a lizard but is larger.
Grilled Dong with salt and chili is an extremely popular dish here, especially as it is a favorite at drinking parties due to its irresistible appeal. When grilled, Dong produces a unique aroma and has a chewy, crispy texture that is both delicious and intriguing.
Grilled Dong with salt and chili is an extremely popular food in Mui Ne. (Image Source: Internet)
It is typically served with vermicelli, rice paper, and aromatic herbs, and dipped in tamarind sauce. Besides its distinctive flavor, Dong meat is also highly nutritious.
3. Fishcake
Thanks to the abundant and fresh seafood, fish cakes in Mui Ne are always a favorite among tourists. These fish cakes are typically handmade, without any flour or preservatives. To make the fish cakes chewy and delicious, the main ingredients often include mackerel, swordfish, barracuda, and other local fish.
Fish cakes are usually fried and served with chili sauce or a thick, flavorful fish sauce made with Mui Ne’s signature anchovy fish sauce, garlic, chili, and lime. This dish is also a popular choice of local meals.
This is a key ingredient in many other famous dishes such as Banh Canh or in Banh Mi. (Image Source: Internet)
Moreover, fish cakes are a key ingredient in many other famous dishes such as Banh Canh (a thick noodle soup) and Banh Mi (Vietnamese baguette sandwiches). If you are looking for a souvenir to take home after your trip to Mui Ne, fish cakes are a great choice.
4. Spadefish Salad
Spadefish is a highly nutritious fish that lives in brackish water, characterized by its small, elongated body and milky white color. This special fish typically appears from January to the end of summer and can be used to prepare many delicious dishes, with the most famous being spadefish salad.
This dish is a perfect fit for a family meal in a hot summer day. (Image Source: Internet)
After selecting the freshest fish, the heads are removed, the bones are taken out, and the fish is soaked in ice water to firm up the flesh. The fish is then mixed with chili, roasted peanuts, spices, crushed garlic, and dill, and left to marinate for an hour.
A crucial accompaniment to the salad is a bowl of fish sauce mixed with garlic, chili and a bit of ground-roasted peanuts. Additionally, you can enjoy the salad with fresh herbs such as lettuce, mustard greens, thinly sliced green bananas, and fresh vermicelli.
5. Seafood Banh Xeo
Banh Xeo is a traditional Vietnamese dish that can be found everywhere, with variations in preparation depending on the region. Banh Xeo in Mui Ne is the signature of Central Vietnam, making it smaller than the ones in the Mekong Delta, just slightly larger than a rice bowl.
Crispiness from the outside and a burst of flavor from the inside, it’s Banh Xeo. (Image Source: Internet)
Seafood Banh Xeo in Mui Ne is made from rice flour batter mixed with a bit of coconut milk and spices. The batter is poured into a hot pan, left to crisp for a few seconds, and then topped with shrimp, pork, and bean sprouts. Once cooked, the pancake is folded in half and served with various fresh greens and sweet and sour fish sauce.
6. Spanner Crab
This type of crab was once offered to royalty in the imperial court. The crab is vibrant red, with a hard shell like real ‘armor.’ It is highly nutritious and difficult to catch, which is why it commands a high price in the market.
The crab is vibrant red, with a hard shell like real armor. (Image Source: Internet)
Despite being challenging to prepare, the taste of spanner crab is exceptionally exquisite and unforgettable. This crab can be used to create many delicious dishes:
- Steamed crab with beer, lemongrass, and ginger: eliminates the fishy smell while retaining the sweetness and nutritional value.
- Crab porridge: the crab is shredded, sweet, and fragrant, perfect for cold days.
- Tamarind crab, salted crab,…
7. Quai Vac Cake
Quai Vac Cake is a must-try Mui Ne food closely linked to the local culinary culture. The main ingredient for making this dish is wheat flour, which is shaped into small, crescent-shaped dumplings. These are then boiled in water until cooked.
Quai Vac Cake is a must-try dish closely linked to the local culinary culture. (Image Source: Internet)
Once cooked, the dough turns translucent, revealing the shrimp and pork filling inside. To enjoy, simply soak the dumplings in sweet and sour fish sauce. Then, sprinkle fried shallots and crispy pork fat on top. The chewy dough, the savory filling, and the flavorful fish sauce blend to create an irresistible dish.
8. Cha Lui Lagi
A crispy food sure to satisfy the hungry travelers visiting Mui Ne is Cha Lui Lagi. Although made from simple ingredients like ground meat, minced shrimp, rice paper, and various vegetables, the locals’ skillful combination of these ingredients and their unique cooking methods result in an exceptional dish.
The unique cooking methods result in an exceptional dish. (Image Source: Internet)
Along with Cha Lui and vegetables, there is a special dipping sauce made from a unique recipe featuring tomatoes, minced meat, and ground peanuts. To fully appreciate the dish, you should enjoy it the right way: place all the ingredients from Cha Lui to the vegetables on a thin rice paper, roll it up, and dip it in the sauce.
9. Banh Trang Nuong Mam Ruoc (Grilled rice paper with fermented shrimp paste)
Banh Trang Nuong Mam Ruoc is one of the most famous Mui Ne foods, loved not only by the locals but also by tourists. When the last rays of sunshine disappear, the heat gives way to cool breezes, and it’s truly wonderful to nibble on some Banh Trang Nuong Mam Ruoc while gazing at the fishing village at night.
The enticing natural aroma of Banh Trang Nuong Mam Ruoc will make you go in awe! (Image Source: Internet)
Banh Trang Mam Ruoc uses thin rice paper, spread with a layer of Mam Ruoc (fermented shrimp paste) that has just the right amount of saltiness, along with quail eggs, Vietnamese sausage, scallion oil, chili sauce, and more. All of these ingredients are grilled over hot coals, resulting in an incredibly enticing natural aroma.
10. Banh Re (Sweet potato cake)
As a long-standing food in Mui Ne, Banh Re is beloved and often purchased by tourists as gifts for loved ones. The name ‘Banh Re’ comes from its resemblance to the ‘Re’ – a utensil used in old Vietnam to place pots to avoid dirt and heat.
Made from sweet potatoes and melted sugar, Banh Re has a sweet and crispy taste, very delicious. You can use Banh Re to satisfy hunger or enjoy it with tea, which is very suitable.
Try out the crispiness of Banh Re Phan Thiet. (Image Source: Internet)
Your journey to explore Mui Ne will not be complete without indulging in these Mui Ne foods. If you want to have a fantastic experience in Mui Ne with your family and friends, contact Lua Viet Tours for a perfect trip!
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