A sampling of the food in Nha Trang
You’re probably wondering about the rapid posting of my recent blog entries.. it’s because right now I have limited access to the Internet, so when I do post on my blog, my entries are from what I’ve been writing and saving on Word.
In any case, one of the many perks of traveling alone is that you can eat whatever you want whenever you want. I forgot to take pictures of a lot of my meals, but here are some that I did manage to catch.
Xôi gà – chicken over sticky rice with julienned pickled carrots, cucumbers, and daikon. The consistency of the sticky rice was a perfect complement to the savory chicken. The pickled veggies added a welcomed touch of tanginess and spice to the dish.
Bánh canh chả cá – Round noodles with slices of fried fishcakes; these noodles look like udon noodles, but they do not have the same chewy texture. They taste like a thicker and softer version of vermicelli noodles. It’s a very comforting soup on a cool day, especially with an extra helping of chilli.
Bò bía – Originated from the south, this is a type of spring rolls wrapped with sautéed tôm khô, strips of scrambled eggs, steamed thinly sliced jicama, and lots of fresh herbs and lettuce. It is dipped in a peanut and hoisin sauce mixture, with freshly grounded peanuts and fried onions on top. Light and refreshing.
Bún cá – Vermicelli noodles with two types of fried fishcakes and tuna fillet. The light soup was fragrant and sweeten by the fish stock. A handful of fresh beansprouts, lettuce, and banana roots adds more zing to the soup.
Bánh căn – This was my first time hearing of this dish, and thus, my first time trying it. As shared by my friendly eating neighbor at the table, this grilled savory cake dish is a traditional treat enjoyed in the countryside from all three regions. The flour mixture is poured into a small waffle-like container, and can be topped with eggs, seafood, or beef. I tried all three, but only remembered to take a picture of the egg one, which came out first. Bánh căn is then dipped in a concoction of beef broth and fish sauce with a meatball and a generous offering of green onions. To add a tangy flavor, you could either put in young green mangoes or squeeze a slice of lime into the broth. This is a fun and interesting mid-day snack.
Cá viên chiên – Fried fish balls with slightly ripened papaya and fresh herbs. Another delicious mid-afternoon snack. The crunch and very light sweetness of the papaya and the tartness of the herbs balance out well the fried fish balls.
After reading positive reviews about Omar, an Indian restaurant, online, I was considering getting it for my last to second dinner in Nha Trang, but decided to go for a cheaper alternative. The address for the restaurant, as listed on the reviews I found, was on Trần Phú, so I decided to walk the opposite direction on to Nguyễn Thiện Thuật. Around the corner on NTT, however, sits Omar! The manager persuaded me to take a look at the menu for its dinner special. The special consisted of vegetarian samosas, chicken vindaloo, garlic naan, rice, and beer. The dinner special was all for 120,000 VND which is a little bit less than $6 USD. I ended the delicious dinner with a delicious and comforting pot of chai tea (which was extra, but totally worth it).
Another wonderful perk of traveling alone is that I got to frequent lots of coffee shops! Space to enjoy coffee, take a break from walking, people-watch, write, reflect, and use free Internet.
van, you’re killing me here. DAMN YOU, CHICAGO!!!!