Squid teeth
Previously, squid teeth were a waste product, people often threw them away because "there was nothing" but through the skillful processing of people, now, it has become a specialty, one of the delicious dishes of Phan Thiet. From only one ingredient, it can be made into many delicious snacks.
Large teeth are used for boiling, medium teeth are marinated and skewered for grilling or stir-frying, the smallest ones are put into a pot of flour with full seasoning for fried dishes with fish sauce, stir-fried with butter and garlic...
Every evening, take a walk and stop by a roadside restaurant, nibble on squid skewers, dip in some spicy chili sauce and cool pickles, it's great. At that time, having friends and relatives to drink and "chat" is even more interesting.
When going to Phan Thiet, just go along Nguyen Tat Thanh street (the road to Doi Duong beach) and you will have plenty of restaurants to stop and enjoy this never-ending dish.
Phu Long Rice Vermicelli with Pork Intestines
You can find rice vermicelli with roasted pork everywhere in Saigon, but you must go to Phu Long, Binh Thuan to get rice vermicelli with pig offal.
Phu Long is famous for its particularly attractive and delicious dishes, consisting of very familiar ingredients: rice vermicelli, pork intestines, thin rice paper, raw vegetables and dipping sauce. However, the preparation requires enough secrets that cannot be compared elsewhere.
The dish of offal must have heart, liver, kidney, small intestine and definitely cannot lack pork belly. The rice vermicelli noodles are small, smooth and not crumbly. The dipping sauce does not have fish sauce, but is made from tamarind juice mixed with crushed garlic and chili, sugar and a little salt to create a sweet and sour taste.
When eating, roll the rice paper with rice vermicelli and pork intestines, sandwich raw vegetables in the middle, then dip and enjoy. Visitors can enjoy this culinary dish right in the coastal city on Tran Phu Street in the morning. Or for the true taste of this dish, ask for directions to Phu Long, about 6 km north of Phan Thiet.
Storm dishes
The monitor lizard is a specialty of the sand dunes, and is also one of the delicacies of Phan Thiet. Seeing this animal, many people must shake their heads in fear and disgust. But the dishes made from it really make those who have tried it once, just thinking about it makes their mouths water.
The monitor lizard can be processed into dishes such as sausage, monitor lizard salad or hot and fragrant monitor lizard porridge. However, grilled monitor lizard with salt and chili is the most fragrant and flavorful. After the preliminary processing step, which not everyone can do, the monitor lizard is marinated with spices for about half an hour. In particular, the monitor lizard must be marinated with pure Phan Thiet fish sauce.
Then, put it on the charcoal grill until the monitor lizard is golden brown on both sides, then arrange it on a plate and decorate it nicely. Grilled monitor lizard can be eaten with grilled rice paper or with raw vegetables, vermicelli and rice paper rolls, and tamarind fish sauce. The famous grilled monitor lizard restaurant in the city is located on Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street. If you have the chance, stop by so you don't miss out on this delicious dish.
Grilled mackerel
This is a nutritious and delicious fish in Phan Thiet. There are many delicious dishes made from conch such as sour soup with conch, conch braised with garlic, pepper or chili and the most attractive is fried conch.
After cleaning, the fish is cut into square pieces and steamed. The pork fat is diced, fried until golden brown, and the chopped green onions are added. The steamed fish is placed on a plate, drizzled with scallion oil and roasted peanuts. This dish is delicious when served hot with rice paper, raw vegetables, and fish sauce made of garlic, chili, sugar and tamarind, and beaten cod liver.
Grilled mackerel is sold in many pubs from popular to high-class in Phan Thiet, concentrated on Pham Van Dong street.
Rice paper with shrimp paste
Rice paper dipped in shrimp paste conquers adults, children, pupils and students with its unforgettable rich flavor. Delicious and fragrant shrimp paste is the important secret that determines the special taste and uniqueness of the dish. Scoop out the paste, squeeze in lemon juice, chili and mix well.
Rice paper rolls with Vietnamese coriander, cucumber, sour mango, mashed quail eggs, crumbled grilled rice paper and rolled up.
Slowly put the rolls into the shrimp paste bowl you just made and enjoy the characteristic aroma of the shrimp paste, the crunchiness and richness of the grilled rice paper with the chewy texture of the rolls, combined with the cool taste of vegetables and the slight sourness of the mango.
This is a delicacy of Phan Thiet that is hard to refuse when you come here, especially for women. This dish is sold in many places such as Doi Duong beach, along Nguyen Tat Thanh street. If you want to buy fish sauce to bring home to cook, you can visit Phan Thiet market or at the specialty stalls.
Grilled rice paper with shrimp paste
This is a variation of rice paper with shrimp paste. Instead of being eaten cold like the other dish, grilled rice paper with shrimp paste gives a strange feeling when eaten hot. It is also interesting to watch how this dish is made while eating.
After brushing the rice paper with fish sauce, add ingredients such as boiled chicken or quail eggs, fermented pork rolls, pork sausage, scallion oil, and chili sauce. Wait for the rice paper to cook slowly, then use chopsticks to roll it up and… eat.
Depending on each shop and the owner's secret recipe, rice paper will have some pickles, shredded cabbage, butter... But in general, they are all delicious. The combination of the warmth of the freshly baked rice paper, the ingredients inside, and the saltiness of the shrimp paste is truly memorable.
To try this rustic dish, you can go to Vo Huu street, restaurants along Doi Duong beach.
Fish salad
Phan Thiet is a land of sea, sun, wind and fresh seafood. Therefore, Phan Thiet fish salad is as delicious as many other places. Depending on the way and type of fish is prepared, you will enjoy fish salad dishes with different flavors.
Fish salad is eaten with rice paper, vermicelli and raw vegetables. When you put the roll in your mouth and chew a bit, you will find the fish is so sweet, the vegetables are so crunchy, and the dipping sauce goes so well together.
You can comfortably eat salad without fear of a cold stomach because the yang vegetables such as garlic, chili, green banana, herbs, etc. neutralize the coolness of the fish.
