What to Eat in Nha Trang? 21 Must-Try Local Dishes

A trip to Nha Trang would feel incomplete if you only spent your time swimming and visiting the islands. The city’s food scene is deeply shaped by the sea, with fresh fish, fish cakes, jellyfish, squid, swimming crab and many other types of seafood brought in from the coast. Cooking methods are usually quite simple, allowing the natural sweetness and freshness of the ingredients to stand out. In the morning, you can start with a steaming bowl of fish noodle soup, enjoy grilled pork rolls wrapped with fresh herbs for lunch, have a chilled flan and jelly dessert in the afternoon, then save your appetite for snails and seafood in the evening. Below are 21 Nha Trang dishes worth trying, together with recommended places and useful dining tips to help you plan your food journey.

21+ Local Specialties to Try in Nha Trang

Noodle Soups, Banh Canh and Breakfast Dishes

1. Nha Trang Fish Cake Noodle Soup

• Address: InterContinental Nha Trang, Bun Ca Nguyen Loan or bun ca stalls around Ngo Gia Tu and Yersin Street.
• Opening hours: InterContinental Nha Trang: 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM (All-day dining); Bun Ca Nha Trang Hanh Nhien: 5:30 AM–1:00 PM & 4:30–8:30 PM
• Google reviews: InterContinental Nha Trang: 4.7/5 from 4,802 reviews; Bun Ca Nha Trang Hanh Nhien: 4.6/5 from 1,300 reviews
• Price: VND 25,000–50,000 per bowl.
• Must-try: Special fish cake noodle soup with steamed fish cake, fried fish cake and pieces of fresh fish.

When it comes to breakfast in Nha Trang, fish cake noodle soup is one dish that is hard to overlook. A bowl may look simple at first, but it brings together many of the flavours associated with coastal Khanh Hoa: a clear, naturally sweet fish broth, tender and springy fish cakes, spring onions, tomato and fresh herbs served on the side. The fish cake is the heart of the dish. Fresh fish is filleted, the flesh is pounded until smooth and elastic, then seasoned before being steamed or fried. Steamed fish cake keeps more of the fish’s natural sweetness, while the fried version develops a lightly golden, fragrant exterior and a slightly richer flavour. InterContinental Nha Trang’s dining venues offer a diverse selection of Vietnamese seaside dishes paired with refreshing tropical desserts.

Explore the menu to discover more flavours inspired by Nha Trang’s coastal cuisine.

2. Jellyfish Vermicelli Soup

• Recommended area: Bun Ca Sua Nha Trang or Nguyen Loan Fish Noodle Soup or central Nha Trang.
• Opening hours: Usually from morning until early afternoon.
• Google reviews: 4.0/5 from 1,500+ reviews
• Price: VND 25,000–45,000 per bowl.
• Must-try: Jellyfish vermicelli with fish cake or fresh fish.

Jellyfish vermicelli is one of the dishes that best reflects Nha Trang’s coastal character. Properly prepared jellyfish is almost translucent, with a crisp, slightly crunchy texture and very little fishy smell. Combined with hot broth, fish cake and fresh vermicelli, the dish feels light, refreshing and quite distinctive. The broth is not overly rich or heavily seasoned. Most of its sweetness comes from fish, allowing the cool, crisp texture of the jellyfish to remain the highlight. A bowl often includes either steamed or fried fish cake as well, adding another layer of flavour and texture. Jellyfish vermicelli is best eaten as soon as it is served. If the jellyfish sits in the hot broth for too long, it begins to lose some of the crunch that makes the dish so enjoyable.

3. Fish Vermicelli with Fresh Fish

• Recommended area: Bun Ca La Duy Lien, or any stores along Yersin, Phan Chu Trinh or Bach Dang streets.
• Opening hours: Many shops specialise in breakfast and are best visited between 9:00–10:00 AM.
• Price: VND 25,000–50,000 per bowl.
• Google Reviews: 80 reviews, 4.4-star rating
• Must-try: Fish vermicelli with fresh fish, or a special bowl with additional fish cake.

If you prefer the flavour and texture of fresh fish to fish cake, a bowl of fish vermicelli with fresh fish is worth trying. The fish is cooked first, then separated into bite-sized pieces, keeping the flesh tender without becoming mushy and preserving its natural sweetness. The broth follows the typical Nha Trang style: clear, light and not overly rich. The sweetness of the fish is balanced with a little acidity, spring onions, fresh herbs and chilli, creating a bowl that feels uncomplicated but very easy to enjoy. Some long-standing local shops also serve fish head, fish roe or fish innards depending on what is available that day. These are often the extras regular customers ask for, so if you are curious, it is worth asking the shop directly.

4. Fish Cake Banh Canh

• Recommended area: Banh Canh Co Ha
• Opening hours: Many shops open from morning until early afternoon.
• Price: VND 25,000–50,000 per bowl.
• Google Reviews: 940+ reviews, 4.2-star rating
• Must-try: Fish cake banh canh or banh canh with fresh fish.

Fish cake banh canh is another familiar breakfast dish in Nha Trang. Thick, soft noodles are served in hot broth and topped with slices of fragrant fish cake, pieces of fresh fish, spring onions and a little pepper. Depending on the shop, the noodles may be made from rice flour for a softer texture or tapioca starch for a more translucent and chewy bite. The broth is usually lightly sweet from fish rather than heavily flavoured with bones, which gives it a noticeably different character from many other types of banh canh. A small dish of spicy fish sauce on the side makes the meal feel more complete. Dipping a piece of fish cake into the sauce before eating it with the hot noodles is enough to bring out the coastal character of the dish.

5. Mi Quang Nha Trang (Quang Noodles)

• Address: Mi Quang Da Chet or Mi Quang Co Dao
• Opening hours: 7:00 AM–10:00 PM.
• Google reviews: Mi Quang Da Chet: 4.1/5 from 342 reviews; Mi Quang Co Dao: 4.5/5 from 150 reviews
• Price: Around VND 20,000–40,000 per bowl.
• Must-try: Mixed Mi Quang or Mi Quang with fish cake.

Mi Quang did not originate in Nha Trang, but it has become a familiar part of the city’s everyday food scene. A generous bowl comes with soft, slightly chewy yellow noodles, fresh herbs, roasted peanuts, crisp rice crackers and a selection of toppings that varies from one shop to another. Unlike pho or bun, Mi Quang is served with only a small amount of broth. Once everything is mixed together, the noodles absorb the savoury liquid while the peanuts add nuttiness, the rice crackers bring crunch, and the fresh herbs lift the overall flavour. The best way to eat it is to mix everything thoroughly before adding lime or chilli. Each bite should then include noodles, toppings, herbs and a little of the rich broth from the bottom of the bowl.

Grilled, Rolled and Vegetable-Based Specialities

6. Grilled Pork Rolls (Nem Nuong)

• Address: Nem Nuong Phu Phuong.
• Opening hours: May vary by day; it is best to check before visiting.
• Google reviews: 4.6/5 from 228 reviews
• Price: VND 50,000–100,000 per person.
• Must-try: Grilled pork rolls wrapped with rice paper, fresh herbs and crispy fried rice paper.

Grilled pork rolls are one of the dishes many visitors want to try at least once when they come to Nha Trang. The pork is finely minced, seasoned and grilled over charcoal until the outside develops a lightly golden, slightly charred surface and a tempting smoky aroma. A typical serving comes as a full platter with rice paper, fresh herbs, cucumber, green mango, pickled vegetables and crispy fried rice paper. Roll everything together and dip it into the thick sauce, and you get the sweetness of grilled pork, the freshness of the herbs, a light sourness from the mango and the crisp texture of the fried rice paper in a single bite.

7. Lac Canh Beef BBQ

• Recommended place: Lac Canh BBQ Beef.
• Opening hours: 9:30 AM–9 PM
• Google reviews: 3.7/5 from 4,200+ reviews
• Price: VND 100,000–200,000 per dish.
• Must-try: Lac Canh grilled beef.

Lac Canh grilled beef restaurant, founded around 1980, has become a familiar name whenever Nha Trang cuisine is mentioned. The beef is cut into small cubes, marinated with a fairly rich blend of seasonings, then brought to the table with a charcoal grill so diners can cook it themselves. Lac Canh is especially enjoyable when shared with a group. Everyone can grill and eat the beef in small batches, taking each piece off the grill as soon as it is ready rather than leaving it over the charcoal for too long, which can dry out the meat and reduce its natural sweetness.

8. Ninh Hoa Grilled Pork Rolls

• Recommended places: Nem Nuong Dang Van Quyen; Nem Nuong Le Loi-Vu Thanh An
• Opening hours: Nem Nuong Dang Van Quyen: 7:30 AM–8:30 PM; Nem Nuong Le Loi-Vu Thanh An: 7:30 AM–8:30 PM
• Google reviews: Nem Nuong Dang Van Quyen: 4.1/5 from 5,800+ reviews; Nem Nuong Le Loi-Vu Thanh An: 3.0/5 from 519 reviews
• Price: VND 50,000–100,000 per person.
• Must-try: Ninh Hoa grilled pork rolls.

Ninh Hoa grilled pork rolls are a well-known specialty of Khanh Hoa. The pork is pounded until smooth, grilled over charcoal until golden and fragrant, then served with rice paper, fresh herbs, green mango, and crispy fried rice paper. A good roll should have a little grilled pork, fresh herbs, pickled vegetables and a piece of crispy rice paper in the centre. Dip it into the thick sauce and the rich, savoury and slightly sweet flavours come together in a way that makes the dish very easy to keep eating. Nem nuong and Ninh Hoa fermented pork rolls are two different dishes. Nem nuong is served hot and wrapped with herbs, while fermented nem has a lightly sour flavour and is usually eaten on its own.

9. Rice Paper Rolls with Grilled Fish

• Recommended places: Den Ca Nuong, Ca Nuong Co Uyen
• Opening hours: Den Ca Nuong: 4:00 PM – 11:00 PM.; Ca Nuong Co Uyen: 4:00 PM – 11:00 PM.
• Google reviews: Den Ca Nuong: 4.3/5 from 148 reviews; Ca Nuong Co Uyen: 3.7/5 from 501 reviews
• Price: VND 120,000–250,000 depending on the type and weight of the fish.
• Must-try: Whole sea fish grilled over charcoal.

Grilled fish wrapped in rice paper is a simple way of eating that suits Nha Trang’s coastal character perfectly. Fresh fish is cleaned, lightly seasoned and grilled over charcoal until the skin turns golden and slightly charred, releasing a rich smoky aroma. Take a piece of soft white fish while it is still hot, wrap it with fresh herbs, cucumber and rice paper, then dip it into fish sauce. You will taste the natural sweetness of the fish, the freshness of the vegetables and the fragrance of the grilled skin all at once. This is not a dish that needs an elaborate sauce. The fresher the fish, the simpler the cooking can be—and the better it tastes.

10. Steamed Rice Sheets

• Recommended places: Dien Khanh Steamed Rice Rolls or Ha’s Steamed Rice Rolls
• Opening hours: Dien Khanh Steamed Rice Rolls: 6:00 AM – 1:30 PM.; Ha’s Steamed Rice Rolls: 6–10 AM & 4–10 PM (daily)
• Google reviews: Dien Khanh Steamed Rice Rolls: 3.5/5 from 90 reviews; Ha’s Steamed Rice Rolls: 3.8/5 from 86 reviews
• Price: VND 25,000–50,000 per person.
• Must-try: Freshly steamed banh uot with Vietnamese pork sausage, meat, scallion oil and fish sauce.

Banh uot Dien Khanh is loved for its soft texture and simple, comforting flavours. Rice batter is steamed into very thin sheets, then lifted straight from the steamer while still warm, brushed with scallion oil and arranged on a plate. The rice sheets are soft with a slight chew, carrying the gentle aroma of rice and scallion oil. They are usually eaten with Vietnamese pork sausage, meat, fried shallots and a well-balanced fish sauce. Because the rice sheets themselves are mild in flavour, the dipping sauce plays a major role in bringing the dish together. If you visit Dien Khanh in the morning, it is worth choosing a shop where the rice sheets are being steamed continuously. Eating them straight from the steamer, while they are still warm and tender, is the best way to appreciate the dish.