Taking a tour around the major tourist cities, we have famous noodle dishes corresponding to pho in Hanoi, hu tieu in Saigon, bun bo in Hue, and in Nha Trang it is bun ca. Although "inferior" in popularity, it cannot be denied that tourists visiting this central coastal city all seek bun ca as a must-try specialty.
From five-star restaurants to humble eateries
Because it is a specialty, it is not difficult to find fish noodle soup throughout Nha Trang city, even the whole Khanh Hoa province. I still remember the first time I enjoyed fish noodle soup was in a small market on Binh Ba island in early 2018. The sweet broth and the crispy, crunchy fish cakes let me know why this dish attracts so many tourists.
Not long ago, I enjoyed fish noodle soup for the second time in a 5-star resort in Cam Ranh, 20km from Nha Trang. I did not expect much from a rustic dish served in a high-end accommodation because, not to mention the taste, the experience in both places was very different. But what surprised me was that the taste of fish noodle soup was exactly the same as the time I ate it in the small market years ago.
Fish noodle soup is a specialty dish in Nha Trang.
To prove that the taste of fish noodle soup is not easily affected, I decided to go to a famous fish noodle soup place in Nha Trang and experience it. The broth is still sweet, the fish is fresh and the fish cake is just the right amount of chewy. Some places add annatto oil to make the broth look more appealing.
I call fish noodle soup a "friendly" dish, because everywhere I can enjoy a delicious, quality bowl of fish noodle soup. Unlike pho or beef noodle soup, you need to have all the ingredients to make a proper dish, if there is a little bit missing or a little different, the experience will become reluctant. But fish noodle soup is different, because it does not have too many ingredients or special spices, so fish noodle soup becomes easy to cook, easy to eat, easy to please even the most difficult diners.
From culinary value to nutritional value
The difference between Bun Cha Ca and other noodle dishes is that the broth is completely simmered from fish bones, not beef or pork bones. In addition, tomatoes and pineapples are also added, creating a sour and sweet taste. That is the reason why Bun Cha Ca's broth is clear and not greasy like other dishes.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Loan, 61 years old, owner of a famous fish noodle shop for nearly 40 years in Nha Trang, said that the most important thing about fish noodle is the broth. How sweet and clear the broth is is the secret of each cook. She shared that her shop's broth is boiled from many types of fish such as: swordfish, cowfish, salmon. Although they are sea fish, these types of fish are not as fishy as freshwater fish. The broth is boiled with fish in 50 liters of water to produce pure water, rich in fish protein. When serving, the seller will dilute the broth and season it moderately.
Clear broth of fish noodle soup
There are many ways to prepare fish. In the past, Nha Trang people often pounded the fish into pieces. Until now, many restaurants called fish noodle soup still serve customers with this method of preparation.
During that time, Nha Trang people also sought ways to prepare the fish to make it more appealing to serve tourists. Nowadays, many restaurants prepare fish by cutting it into small cubes that do not break or crumble, making it easy to pick up and put into the mouth. The types of fish served in fish noodle soup are also very diverse. It can be sailfish, cowfish, mackerel, or even salmon...
Customers can use more or less onions.
When talking about fish noodles, of course, we cannot fail to mention fish cakes. The dish also has many types of steamed fish cakes, fried fish cakes, and fish balls made by the restaurants themselves. The cakes are made from mackerel, barracuda, depending on the fishermen's fishing season, mixed in to create toughness without the need for borax. The quality of the fish cake with a high percentage of fish is also very easy to recognize when biting into, compared to the cheap cakes mixed with flour.
The bowl of noodles is served with a broth full of onions, some places will add a little annatto oil for eye-catching color, eaten with raw vegetables and spicy fish sauce. Because of the "stomach-friendly" ingredients, fish noodles are often eaten by locals day and night because "eating fish noodles is very good for the stomach".
Some shops serve a lot of onions for one portion of noodles.
Fish noodle soup is highly appreciated in terms of nutrition. The noodle dish does not contain much fat, is sweet, light on the stomach, and ensures the necessary amount of protein and fiber to suit all diners.
