Dalat is famous for ‘nem nướng’, a roll-your-own spring roll made of thin sheets of rice paper filled with with fresh herbs (including perilla leaf, sweet basil, chives, mint) and the grilled pork patty, then some ‘chả ram bắp’ (crispy, fried sweet corn and rice paper rolls), pickled radish, carrot, and shallots. The dish is served with thick peanut sauce. Like all the best Vietnamese dishes it’s an excellent balance of textures, flavors and colors.
Nem Nuong
A must-try speciality in Dalat is “nem nướng”. It is a fresh, roll-your-own spring roll. Fill thin sheets of rice paper with a variety of herbs (including perilla leaf, sweet basil, chives, mint), add the nem nướng (so-called grilled pork patty), then some chả ram bắp (crispy, fried sweet corn and rice paper rolls), pickled radish, carrot, and shallots, and roll it all up before dipping it in a thick, peanut sauce. You will be surprised at a brilliant balance of textures, flavours and colours.
Place to eat:- Nem nuong Ba Hung, 254 Phan Dinh Phung St., Dalat
- Nem nuong Ba Nghia, 4 Bui Thi Xuan St.,Dalat
- Nem nuong Ut Hue, 1 Chi Lang St., Dalat
- Nem nuong Dung Loc, B14 Hoang Van Thu St., Dalat
Street food
Dalat is also an ideal spot for street food hunters. “Bánh tráng nướng” is a thin circle of rice paper with various ‘toppings’ on it that’s grilled over coals until crispy: quail eggs, spring onions and tiny – almost tasteless – shrimp. Rice cakes grilled in little terracotta half dome molds, better known as “Bánh Căn“, is tasty. Often a quail egg is broken inside, then the lids are put on until they cook through. Once unveiled, the two halves are united to form one light, fluffy ball of crisp goodness.
Place to eat:- Ms. Tâm’s Bánh Tráng: Alleyway between No.32 & 34 3 Tháng 2 St., Dalat
- Xuan An restaurant, 15 Nha Chung St., Dalat
- The Quách family restaurant at 217 Phan Dinh Phung St., Dalat
- 7 Tang Bat Ho St., Dalat
- 30 Tang Bat Ho St., Dalat
Bò kho (beef stew)
“Bò kho” (beef stew) is a hearty, spicy and aromatic broth with diced beef, carrot and lemongrass. “Bò kho” can be eaten on its own with a warm baguette for dunking or served over noodles, and is almost always accompanied by half a dozen types of fresh herb.
Place to eat:- Lien Hoa Bakery 15-17 3 Tháng 2 St., Dalat
Vegetarian Restaurant
Da Lat is filled with lush flowers and thick with fresh fruits and vegetables. That is why you find a variety of delicious, colourful and fresh vegetarian dishes here.
Place to eat:- Hoa Sen Vegetarian Restaurant, 62 Phan Dinh Phung St., Dalat
- Au Lac 1, 71 Phan Dinh Phung St., Dalat
Coffee shop
It is interesting to discover Da Lat, the city of love, through locals’ drinks in addition to widely-known poetic landscapes. So-called “Coffee Street” located along Nguyen Chi Thanh street on the slope in Da Lat center has become a favorite spot for many tourists. On the street lies a series of coffee shops always crowded with customers days and nights. Due to the ideal position, Coffee Street has been frequently visited by locals and travelers alike as they can both drink coffee and enjoy the sceneries and daily life activities here.
Place to eat:- Coffe shops along Nguyen Chi Thanh St., near Night Market, Dalat
- V Café – 1/1 Bui Thi Xuan St., Dalat
- Thanh Thuy – 2 Nguyen Thai Hoc St., Dalat
- Da Lat Night – 04 Dong Da St., Dalat
- Peace Cafe – 66 Truong Cong Dinh St., Dalat
- Mountain Town – 46 Nguyen Chi Thanh St., Dalat
- Ming Dynasty – 7 Tran Hung Dao St., Dalat
- 100 Roofs Cafe – 57 Phan Boi Chau St., Dalat
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