The Best Food in Da Nang, Vietnam to Eat on Vacation

Want to know the best food in Da Nang to eat on vacation? Want to learn about the must-try authentic Vietnamese food that you will crave when you leave, and the best restaurants in Da Nang that you should not miss? It’s all here from Kat, our very knowledgeable guest author who spent 2 years in Da Nang! Here’s what you need to know about eating the local cuisine in Da Nang.

Vietnam has a rich cuisine unlike any I’ve tried before, even when compared to its Southeast Asian neighbors. Each traditional meal you eat in Vietnam will combine the 5 flavors: sweet, salty, spicy, sour, and bitter. While most of these are just dabs of flavor or additional add-ons you can choose to sprinkle in your dish or not, in some dishes you can fully taste the battling seasonings.

Vietnamese cuisine really is a subtle rollercoaster of flavor, the keyword here being subtle. Don’t expect a powerful punch like in Thailand or a spicy kick like in South Korea. But do expect a wide variety of meats, tofu, carbs, and fresh herbs and veggies each time you sit down at your favorite haunt.

Nowhere is this all more true than in Da Nang, Vietnam. Da Nang is the 3rd-largest city in Vietnam, located on the central coast of the country. This centricity allows it to combine flavors from the north and south, while seamlessly mixing them with its own unique seafood touch.

After living in Da Nang for 2 years and 1 in Ho Chi Minh, I can safely say you won’t go hungry while in Vietnam. Even at upscale restaurants, you can expect reasonable prices, and at local markets, must-eat foods are incredibly inexpensive. Just do yourself a favor and don’t shy away from the food carts. Some of the best meals you’ll eat in the country will be on too-small, red plastic stools, hunched over metal tables.

That being said, let’s dive right into the best food to eat in Da Nang, Vietnam.

Mì Quảng

Mi Quang is a Vietnamese dish I’ll dream about for the rest of my life. Sometimes the issue with falling into a rabbit hole of strictly local food is knowing you’ll never get to eat it once you leave that place. Even knowing that, I still highly recommend you go for it and eat your fair share while you can.

Mi Quang is a soup with extra thick, doughy noodles placed atop a hearty broth. It’s more noodles than broth, which is a ratio I prefer. You can get Mi Quang adorned with any meat or, for vegetarians, with tofu and a big helping of fresh vegetables. My personal go-to was Fish Mi Quang.

Order this dish, often served with a heaping side of greens and a banh trang (Vietnam’s answer to a mega cracker), and you’re in for a delightful breakfast or lunch.

Mi Quang is from the Quang Nam province so its roots are here in Central Vietnam. Sometimes called Quang Noodle, this dish can be found elsewhere in the country, but while in Da Nang, you’ll see it served on nearly every street corner. It’s definitely one of the most popular foods in Da Nang, and whether you’re a long-time Vietnamese food lover or visiting this coastal city for the first time, Mi Quang is a must-try noodle dish to have during your stay!

Mi quang, one of the most popular foods in Da Nang — One of the most popular foods in Da Nang, Mi Quang, served here with a side of spring rolls

Cao Lầu

Cao Lau is another Central Vietnam specialty, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find a great bowl of this soup outside of this region.

You can certainly find a bowl in Da Nang, but you’ll have to do a little more searching than you would to eat everyone’s favorite, mi quang. The easiest way to get a great Cao Lau is actually to head about 30 minutes south of Da Nang City to the stunning, yellow-walled town of Hoi An, where the dish originates. There you’ll see it served everywhere.

Cao Lau is another soup with a strong noodle to broth ratio. The broth is a bit tangy and the noodles are thick, chewy, and with a slightly smoky flavor. Really, it’s unlike any other soup I’ve ever had before. Cao Lau is always served with thinly-slicked pork.

The recipe is so good, local people say it hasn’t changed for over a century.

Cao Lau, one of the best Vietnamese dishes to eat in Da Nang

Com Sườn Nướng

Com Suon Nuong quickly became my favorite lunch while living in Da Nang. It was easy to find, exceptionally well-priced, and always flavored to perfection.

Com Suon Nuong is a grilled porkchop, served over broken rice, and topped with a fried egg. What makes this dish extra tasty is that the grilled pork is prepared with a lavish amount of chopped lemongrass, making it as flavorful as possible.

You’ll find this at grab-and-go Da Nang restaurants all over town. Choose to sit inside or take your order home to eat in comfort. Just remember to bring your own reusable containers if you ask for take-away. It’s not a must, but it’s a helpful way to be a more sustainable traveler in Vietnam.

Xôi Gà

While Com Suon Nuong was my go-to lunch order, Xoi Ga was my husband’s. He loved this Da Nang food so much that he almost got the words Xoi Ga tattooed on himself before we moved away, until he realized that all the tattoo would do is constantly make him crave the dish.

Xoi Ga wins with its simplicity. It’s pulled chicken served over broken rice, topped with crushed peanuts and sometimes fried onions. That’s it. In the north, they have a variation of this dish that includes mashed mung beans (a la mashed potatoes) but in Da Nang, they stick to the basics.

Most commonly eaten for breakfast from pushcarts, it’s possible to find this popular dish throughout lunchtime at places that also serve Com Suon Nuong, so you can try them both in one go.

Bánh Xèo

Banh Xeo is commonly described as Vietnam’s answer to the pancake or the crepe, although to compare these together will most likely leave you with expectations far from the real thing.

Like a crepe, it is a thin disc of dough, although this dough is made from rice flour and is fried and stuffed with deliciousness. The similarities really end there.

Banh Xeo is stuffed with things that I’m sure you’ve never had inside of a crepe, and eating it involves far more complexity. All Banh Xeos I’ve ever had have been filled with small shrimp (shell intact) and bean sprouts. You then pull apart pieces of your Banh Xeo and roll one up inside a piece of lettuce with pickled carrots, cucumbers, and any greens you prefer. You dip that roll-up in a meaty peanut sauce—the real key to the dish—and there you have it, one bite of many to go.

If that sounds confusing, don’t worry, on your first visit to a Banh Xeo stall, watch the locals first before you dive in. They’ll show you the ropes!

Bánh Xèo, one of the best traditional foods of Da Nang

Bánh Mì ốp La

If you’ve ever heard of any traditional Vietnamese dishes before, they’ve probably been Pho and Banh Mi. I left Pho off this list because it’s not as common in Da Nang as it is in other parts of the country, such as in the capital, where the best Hanoi Pho is indeed a culinary work of art. However, I couldn’t skip the other famous Vietnamese food, Banh Mi.

That’s because a Banh Mi, or more specifically, a Banh Mi Op La (with fried egg), was such an important part of my breakfast routine that it couldn’t be missed. Regardless of where in Da Nang you choose to stay, I guarantee you they’ll be several Banh Mi carts right outside of your door. Shop around the first few days to find your favorite.

A Banh Mi is the typical sandwich in Vietnam. Served on a baguette, my favorite Banh Mi Op La’s come with paté, pickled veggies, greens, chili paste, fish sauce, and soy sauce. Now that is a flavorful sandwich.

Combine it with freshly squeezed orange juice or an iced coffee and you’re in for a breakfast of champions.

Any place is a good place for a Bánh Mì stand in Da Nang.

Bánh Canh

Last but certainly not least on my list is another soup unlike any I’ve had before. Banh Canh also utilizes thick, chewy noodles, although different than the flat noodles in Mi Quang and the smoky ones in Cao Lau, and it comes with an even thicker broth. The best adjective I can come up with to describe the Banh Canh broth would be gooey. While that might not sound appetizing, I think this soup is better tasted than talked about.

There are a lot of different varieties of Banh Canh, so you can try it with crab and quail eggs, fish, chicken, or beef. Once again, I’m a fan of the fish variation, especially since Da Nang food stalls brim with fresh seafood.

Best Restaurants in Da Nang, Vietnam

The meals I’ve listed above are best eaten at a makeshift restaurant squeezed onto the sidewalk or from a hole-in-the-wall vendor. This is where you’ll find the best cheap eats in Da Nang.

They are best found by strolling the streets and letting your nose and your belly lead the way. With an open mind and curious taste buds, you never know which jewel of Da Nang’s cuisine will lure you to the perfect place to fall in love with your new favorite signature dish.

When you’re not in an adventurous mood and you’d rather have a reliable Da Nang restaurant to fall back on, below are a few of my favorites.

In general, it’s helpful for you to know that when you’re wandering around Da Nang looking for your next meal, you’re most likely to find certain meals based on the area you’re in:

An Thuong: A neighborhood by the sea, known for international restaurants, bars, and expats.
City Side: The entire area across the Han Bridge from the sea, known as the local area with plenty of street food and hidden restaurants you won’t find on Google.
Tran Hung Dao: This is the street along the Han River on the beachside, known as a great place to walk around. You can enjoy street food and higher-end fusion restaurants here.

Roots Plant Based Cafe

Whether you’re vegetarian, vegan, or just like good food, I highly recommend you visit Roots. Roots is a farm-to-table restaurant that specializes in serving only Vietnamese vegan dishes and using local ingredients from their farm and other local partners. There is another Roots by the same owners in Ha Noi, if you’re heading up north later in your trip.

I can thank this restaurant for showing my husband just how flavorful and filling a meal without meat can possibly be. In the 2 years we lived in Da Nang, we ate at Roots at least once a week.

Address: 01 An Thượng 32, Bắc Mỹ Phú, Ngũ Hành Sơn, Đà Nẵng

Bep Hen

Are you interested in trying homestyle Vietnamese food? Then you’ll love Bep Hen. With two locations in the city, my favorite one was across the bridge in Hai Chau, but they do have another restaurant in An Thuong only a few blocks from the beach.

This is a great restaurant to go to if everyone in your group wants to try something different. The pork and lemongrass tofu here are particularly delicious, but with the restaurant’s high quality, it’s tough to make a bad decision. With all of the things I’ve tried on the menu, I never walked away feeling anything less than full and happy.

Address: 47 Lê Hồng Phong, Phước Ninh, Hải Châu, Đà Nẵng

One of the best restaurants in Da Nang, Bep Hen

Nam Danh Seafood

If you love seafood, you’ll love Nam Danh—if you can find it. Tucked inside a labyrinth of alleyways in Son Tra, this Da Nang restaurant is a local favorite and is nearly almost always packed. You’ll most likely hear it before you actually find it.

They do have a few things on their menu for non-seafood fans, but I’d be remiss to go here and not indulge in freshly caught treasures. The best things to eat here, or in any other seafood restaurant in Da Nang, are the grilled oysters and grilled scallops.

Address: 139/59/38/10 Trần Quang Khải, Thọ Quang, Sơn Trà, Đà Nẵng

Pizza 4Ps

Pizza 4Ps is a local chain with branches throughout the country. While you might not think much of eating pizza while in Vietnam, the pizza here is certainly unique. You’ll choose from combinations you never before dreamed of, and afterward you’ll wonder why egg isn’t served on every pizza in the world.

There are two different locations in the city, but the one in Hai Chau (not in the mall) has the best ambiance. Enjoy watching the pizzas made in the massive pizza oven in the center of the room, or grab a cozy booth for a romantic date night. Whatever the occasion, if you’re craving pizza or Italian with a twist, visit Pizza 4Ps.

Address: 8 Hoàng Văn Thụ, Phước Ninh, Hải Châu, Đà Nẵng

Eat Your Heart Out in Da Nang, Vietnam

After living all around the world for the past 10 years, I can safely say Da Nang is one of the best places I’ve been able to call home. With incredible nature, plenty of things to do, and a central location making it easy to visit some of the best places in Vietnam, you’ll quickly see why it’s such a wonderful city.

That’s not even to mention all of the outstanding and affordable food you have waiting for you while in Da Nang. Be adventurous, try new things, and find the Vietnam dishes that speak to your taste buds—just like the ones on this list have spoken to mine.