Embark on a delicious journey through Dalat food, Vietnam, exploring the unique flavors and must-try dishes of this captivating city.
The food in Dalat itself is an adventure just waiting to be unraveled. It is nestled within the scenic mountains of Southern Vietnam, boasting a different kind of combination that culminates into varied and delicious dishes. From the overflowing aromatic delicacies of street food stalls to quaint cafes dishing out heavenly treats, it’s an absolute feast.
Grilled rice paper (Banh trang nuong)
First is grilled rice paper, better known as “Vietnamese pizza” or “Banh trang nuong” on top of must-try dishes in Da Lat. This was a locally inspired dish that combined harmony in flavors allowing many types of toppings to cater to a variety of tastes, from eggs to onions, cheese, and so many others.
Grilled over charcoal, the rice paper is loaded with ingredients such as eggs, butter, dried shrimp, beef jerky, and onions, all topped with mayonnaise and chili sauce. You see street vendors selling this almost everywhere and for approximately half a dollar, you can have one.
Recommended places:
- 180 Bui Thi Xuan, Ward 2
- 61 Nguyen Van Troi, Ward 2
- 26 Hoang Dieu, Ward 5
Price: 15,000–20,000 VND
Pork meatball banh mi (Banh mi xiu mai) – Food in Dalat
For a hearty breakfast in Da Lat, pork meatball banh mi or “banh mi xiu mai” is an unmissable option. While available throughout the country, the one sold in Da Lat is famed for its flavorful meatballs made from finely ground lean pork, served in a savory broth with fresh cilantro. It’s comforting to start your day with this dish, often enjoyed in Da Lat’s cool morning atmosphere.
Recommended places:
- 14 Anh Sang, Ward 1
- 26 Tran Nhat Duat, Da Lat City
Price: 12,000–30,000 VND
Avocado Ice Cream (Kem Bo) – Places to eat in Dalat
Avocado Ice Cream (Kem Bo) – Places to eat in Dalat
Avocado ice cream is the most must-desert for sweet-tooth visitors and is very unique in Da Lat because this creamy blend of avocado, coconut ice cream, condensed milk, and fresh milk makes a simple treat into a full-scale remarkable one, mostly because of its cool climate in Da Lat combined with the presence of dried coconut flakes.
Recommended places:
- 76 Nguyen Van Troi, Ward 2 (Kem bo Thanh Thao)
- 27 Nguyen Trai, Ward 9 (Kem bo & Cafe Cham)
- 74C Nguyen Van Troi, Ward 2 (Kem bo Nari)
Price: 12,000–60,000 VND
Tam Trinh Coffee (Ca phe Tam Trinh)
Tam Trinh Coffee will be to their taste for the coffee lovers. This place serves quality brews made from carefully handpicked beans, and apart from serving mouth-watering drinks, it offers a free mini-tour explaining the coffee-making process “from farm to cup”. Surrounded by breathtaking scenery, including the Elephant Waterfall, this is an accommodation-providing complex and as such quite unique.
Address: DT 725, Village 4, Gia Lam, Lam Ha, Lam Dong
Price: 80,000–110,000 VND
Vietnamese grilled pork sausage / Grilled spring rolls (Nem nuong Dalat)
The reputation of Da Lat grilled spring rolls has to do with the sauce that accompanies them. These spring rolls are grilled over coal and are prepared from lean pork shoulder, served with raw veggies and rice paper, along with vinegar-like sauce. Roll them up, dip them in, and enjoy the balance of flavors.
Recommended places:
- 3 Tran Hung Dao, Ward 3 (Ba Hung Fried Rolls)
- 328 Phan Dinh Phung, Ward 2 (Ba Hung Fried Rolls)
- 40 Chi Lang, Ward 9 (Ut Hue Grilled Spring Rolls)
Price: 35,000–45,000 VND
Wet Rice Cake With Chicken And Tripe (Banh uot long ga)
Wet rice cake with chicken and tripe is one of the best Vietnamese food in Dalat, well-known as “banh uot long ga” It is considered a specialty that attracts not only locals but also international visitors coming to try its distinctive flavors.
The dish is prepared with two major components: soft and chewy wet rice cakes, tender boiled chicken thighs, and tripe. These ingredients are mixed with many fresh herbs and vegetables for a harmonious combination. Served with sweet and tangy fish sauce, it’s a culinary experience one would never forget, reflecting perfectly the essence of Dalat.
Recommended places:
- 15F Tang Bat Ho, Ward 1
- 68 Phan Dinh Phung, Dalat City
Price: 25,000–35,000 VND
Vietnamese Mini Pancakes (Banh can) – What To Eat In Đa Lat
Every other street in Dalat is filled with shops offering Vietnamese mini pancakes or “banh can” This food is not just a dish but also a cultural symbol that represents the long-standing culinary traditions of this city.
Banh can is rice flour batter and egg prepared in small, round molds. This pancake usually goes with the topping mixture of shrimp, pork belly, mushrooms, and green onions. The crust outside is crispy, while the inside is tender; it’s fragrant and savory. Sweet-and-sour fish sauce, fresh chili, and raw vegetables create a harmonious balance for banh can.
Recommended places:
- 01 Nha Chung, Dalat City
- 83A Nguyen Van Troi, Ward 2
Price: 15,000–30,000 VND
Hot Soy Milk In Dalat (Sua dau nanh)
Hot soy milk is something dear to the nightlife of Dalat and represents one of the most typical activities during your visit. After walking around all day, looking at sights or shopping, lighting up the streets are several soy milk stalls serving this soothing drink hot.
It is a nutritious drink and cheap; thus, it is a dessert and a quick pick-me-up in the cool weather of Dalat. Most stalls serve other varieties too, such as peanut milk and green bean milk, along with cakes to go with your drink to add to your culinary adventure.
Recommended places:
- 64 Tang Bat Ho, Ward 1
- 185 Phan Dinh Phung, Ward 2
Price: 8,000–15,000 VND
Chicken Hotpot With Basil Leaves (Lau ga la e)
Chicken hotpot with basil leaves, or “lau ga la e” is the comforting bowl you must have when visiting Dalat. Though this was originally a specialty of Phu Yen, it is an utterly loved food in Dalat, especially on cold nights.
Inside this hot pot, there was tender chicken, fragrant basil leaves, sour bamboo shoots, and earthy mushrooms. Chicken bones, sweet mushrooms, and a hint of spice from the broth, rich and full-bodied. It comes with rice noodles, served best while shared with family or friends.
Recommended places:
- 05 3/4 Street, Ward 3
- 6 Yersin, Ward 10
Price: 200,000–400,000 VND
Grilled Chicken With Lam Rice (Com lam ga nuong)
It is considered one of the typical Dalat food: grilled chicken with lam rice. Traditional culinary art in this area does not allow food lovers who come to Dalat City to ignore this dish.
Marinated in a special spice blend, the chicken is then grilled over charcoal to a smoky, savory flavor. The grains of rice cooked in bamboo tubes have another texture: crunchy outside, soft inside. Dip the rice in bean salt and take a bite of chicken to savor the harmonious taste of this Highlands specialty.
Recommended places:
- 36 Mac Đinh Chi, Ward 4
Price: 35,000–350,000 VND
Grilled Sweet Potato And Corn (Khoai, bap nuong)
Some of the best Vietnamese food in Dalat that should not be missed are grilled sweet potatoes and corn. Graded from the region’s fertile agricultural gardens, these staples boast an exceptionally natural sweetness that is found nowhere else in the world.
Walking down the night market of Dalat, the smell of grilled corn and sweet potatoes drizzled with onion oil is irresistible. These are snacks that one can have while walking and enjoying the actual atmosphere of the city.
Recommended places:
- 9 Tran Quoc Toan, Ward 1
- 4 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Ward 1
Price: 8,000–15,000 VND
Snails Stuffed With Pork (Oc buu nhoi thit) – Big snail with tasty filling
Snails are stuffed with pork, one of the most preferred Dalat food, so no gourmet leaving Dalat should miss this dish. The snail is chosen in perfect size, washed totally, and then filled with ground pork mixed with some flavored spices.
This delicacy steams out the perfection in tenderness, savoriness, and fragrance. This dish is surely promising to any seafood enthusiast or curious palate on a deliciously adventurous ride of its flavors.
Recommended places:
- 32 Hai Ba Trung, Ward 6
- C5 Tran Le, Ward 4
- 224 Hai Ba Trung, Ward 6
Price: 50,000–200,000 VND
Beef Hotpot (Lau bo)
Beef hotpot is a very good dish to enjoy the chill of the evening in Dalat, especially with family: tender beef, flavorful broth, and fresh ingredients combined into one deliciously comfortable dish that is heartily and lovingly eaten.
In the variants, it provides a uniquely famous one among beef hotpot restaurants in Dalat, called Artichoke Beef Hotpot. Ranging from light and herbal to thick and meaty broths, there is one for every taste.
Recommended places:
- Artichoke Beef Hotpot (Lau bo Atiso): 427/3 Phan Dinh Phung, Ward 2
- Ba Toa Beef Hotpot (Lau bo Ba Toa): 1/29 Hoang Dieu, Ward 5
- Yersin Braised Beef Hotpot (Lau bo tiem Yersin): 27/44A Yersin, Ward 10
- Hanh Da Lat Hotpot (Lau bo Hanh Da Lat): 167 Bui Thi Xuan, Ward 2
Price: 50,000–250,000 VND
Shaken Strawberries (Dau Tay Lac) – Must-Try Food In Dalat
Strawberries are among the iconic fruits of Dalat, and one of the must-try snacks when coming here is strawberry shaken with salt and chili. This dish is bold in sour sweetness from fresh strawberries mixed with salty and spicy refreshing flavors.
The best on-the-go snacking treat; loved by all natives and tourists alike, and most even buy more to take it along to munch on a yummy souvenir from Dalat.
Recommended places:
- Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Ward 1 – Đà Lạt Night Market
Price: 10,000–20,000 VND
Dalat Dried Fruit (Hoa qua say Dalat) – Must-try In Dalat
Called the “City of Flowers,” Da Lat is also famous for its variety of fruits. Local farmers do not only plant fresh fruits but also make a lot of delicious dried fruit snacks, which are perfect presents.
Dried fruits from Dalat retain the sweetness and acidity of the harvest of the region, hence being healthy and tasteful at the same time. The list goes from dried persimmons to candied strawberries, capturing the essence of the vibrant agricultural landscape that characterizes Dalat
Recommended places:
- 6 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Ward 1
- 27/6E Yersin, Ward 10
- 21 Le Dai Hanh, Ward 3
Price: From 25,000 VND
Vegetable Hotpot (Lau rau)
This dish will make vegetarians and healthy eaters fall in love once coming to Da Lat City: boiled vegetable hotpot. Different types of vegetables, all freshly picked up from the farms in Dalat, are what compose this hotpot dish. Greens recognized for their cleanliness and good quality make this hotpot both healthy and full of flavor.
Recommended places:
- Cable Car Tourist Area, Robin Hill, Ward 3 – Léguda Da Lat Vegetable Buffet
- 115 Phan Boi Chau, Ward 2 – Lagim Buffet Vegetables
Price: 49,000–200,000 VND
Chicken Rice – Top Food In Dalat (Com ga)
Among such cuisines, the most popular chicken rice is available everywhere; each has its unique characteristics. In Da Lat, it is special because there are whole chicken pieces served together with the sweet fragrance of golden rice cooked with saffron and chicken broth that increases flavor. Simple but full-of-energy chicken rice comforts any visitor wants to try delicious food in Dalat.
Recommended places:
- 12 Hoang Van Thu, Ward 4
- 02 Hoang Dieu, Ward 5
- 36 Ha Huy Tap Street, Ward 3
Price: 30,000–50,000 VND
Chicken Curry (Ca ri ga) – What To Eat In Da Lat
Chicken curry is the most accepted cuisine, but here in Dalat, both citizens and visitors love it. Tender chicken, potatoes, and soft carrots are swimming in this flavor of a velvety, slightly spicy curry sauce. Mostly rice or bread is included with it to make the course complete.
Where to find it:
- 32 Anh Sang, Ward 1
- 14 Ba Trieu Street, Ward 1
Price: 25,000–40,000 VND
Wonton Noodle Soup (My hoanh thanh)
Wonton noodle soup is one of those comforting Cantonese dishes that was just perfect for the cool climate of Dalat. Chewy noodles, flavorful broth, and delicate wontons filled with pork or shrimp in a light broth served with fresh leafy greens, make for a perfect, warming meal.
Where to enjoy:
- 1A Tran Le, Ward 4
- 71 Hung Vuonng, Ward 9
Price: 35,000–40,000 VND
Vietnamese Thick Noodle Soup (Banh Canh Dalat)
Native to Dalat but has grown in popularity for visitors, banh canh comprises thick noodles in an unctuous broth of shrimp, fish, and pork trotters. Noodles could be made from different kinds of flour. Thick noodles go well with all fresh herbs and spices in a wholesome meal. This dish is also a worth-trying Dalat food for visitors.
Where to try:
- 242 Hai Ba Trung, Ward 6
- 15B Nha Chung, Ward 3
Price: 18,000–40,000 VND
Read more: Celebrate spring with Dalat flower festival
Hue Beef Noodles Soup (Bun bo Hue)
Originated in Hue, Vietnam’s ancient capital, it is also one of the most favorite beef noodle soups in Dalat. Especially in cool weather, the spicy, rich broth and tender slices of beef can be very enjoyable. Many of these restaurants are operated by natives from Hue, which guarantees an authentically flavored dish equal to the original version.
Where to enjoy:
- 89B Nguyen Luong Bang, Ward 2
- 02 Ho Tung Mau, Ward 10
- 14 Phu Dong Thien Vuong, Ward 8
Price: 30,000–50,000 VND
Dalat food is unique and unforgettable, from the bustling streets of street food to quaint cafes and restaurants, something for every taste bud. Exploring the diverse flavors of Dalat is an integral part of your visit to this city in captivity. So take the adventure, savor the flavors, and dive into the vibrant food scene of Dalat.
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