Da Nang food guide
Da Nang is the main city in central Vietnam and a fantastic place to stop and experience the country’s culinary diversity, drawing flavours from the north, south, and its own central roots. It’s a coastal city with loads of cute cafés, and a growing food scene that’s well worth checking out.
One of the city’s most striking landmarks is the Dragon Bridge, an enormous steel dragon that stretches across the river in the heart of town. Visit on a weekend night to catch the full spectacle, when it breathes fire and water in a dramatic display that lights up the riverfront. Just outside the city, the famous Hands Bridge at Ba Na Hills offers a surreal view, held aloft by giant stone palms above the clouds.
In this quick guide, we’ll introduce you to some of our favourite places to eat, and soak up the charm of Da Nang.
Just beyond the tourist trail, this local favourite serves one thing especially well: bún chả cá. The fish cake and vermicelli noodle soup comes with a huge side of fresh herbs and vegetables, making a great meal. There’s a bit of outdoor seating, a warm welcome from the owner, and even decent coffee if you're after a quick pick me up. It’s a breakfast and lunch only place, closing around 13:30, so plan accordingly. Prices are as friendly as the atmosphere.
For a taste of Vietnamese curry, The Tamarind Tree is a great shout. The curry comes with your choice of rice or bread, with vegetarian versions also available. The menu also covers a wide range of local staples, think fried rice, noodle dishes, bánh xèo (crispy savoury pancakes), with a large vegetarian section as well. Right in the heart of the tourist zone, it draws a mostly Western crowd, and prices are a little higher as a result. Still, the food is consistently good, the juices are fresh and delicious, and the coffee is strong and well made.
A great spot to sample a variety of Vietnamese favourites, from cơm gà (chicken rice) to bánh xèo (crispy pancakes) and bò lá lốt (grilled beef wrapped in betel leaves). My personal favourite is the cơm tấm, broken rice served with grilled meats and pickled veg, but everything we tried here was delicious and well made. It’s usually busy, with a good mix of locals and tourists, with prices siting comfortably in the midrange.
Just a short walk from the beach, this mid-sized restaurant offers a broad menu of Vietnamese staples. Expect familiar favourites like cơm gà (chicken rice), bánh xèo (crispy savoury pancake), cơm tấm (broken rice), and phở bò (beef noodle soup), all done well. Prices are a little above average, unsurprising given the location and service can slow down when it gets busy, so it’s not ideal if you’re in a rush. That said, it’s a good choice if you’re after variety, and notably one of the few places outside Hội An where we found cao lầu noodles which are absolutely delicious and should be tried if you haven’t yet.
A small, friendly place serving excellent bánh mì at bargain prices, with a few outdoor tables and a steady flow of both locals and tourists. The owner is lovely and often hands out free iced tea. There’s a good variety of fillings, but the grilled pork and egg was my favourite. They also offer an egg only version, perfect for vegetarians or a simple breakfast.
The coffee is well worth a try too, especially the delicious salt coffee.
