dining
Fish Paste Noodles (Bún chả cá)
A city on the coastline of the Azure sea, Danang abounds in seafood with a vast variety of fish being part of the culinary delights. Assorted types of fish are used to prepare fish paste noodles. According to Danang connoisseurs, however, the best fish for the dish is arguably mackerel (locally called cá thu). Fresh fish has to be cleaned and gutted to get their meat which is then spiced before being ground together with pork into thick paste. The mixture, made into balls or round cakes, is boiled or fried. The broth is obtained from fish and pig bones that are boiled together with pumpkin, cabbage, pineapple and tomato.
Diners can have two options. Choose either boiled or fried slices of fish paste with your bowls of rice noodles. Enjoy them extremely hot with green bean sprouts, lettuce and sweet basil. Add slices of red chilli, if you like. Fish paste noodles are recommended because fish is believed to be able to prevent heart disease and even Alzheimer's and strokes. We haven't known to what extent this claim is true, but all Danang residents never lose love for fish paste noodles.
The dish is cheap and healthy, and thus available around town, from sunrise to sunset.
Phi Lu Chinese Restaurant
Phi Lu Chinese Restaurant is generally regarded to be the most well-known and popular restaurant in Da Nang. Ask any local expat where the Phi Lu Chinese Restaurant is and they will instantly be able to tell you. Just about everyone agrees that this is one of the top places to eat in Da Nang. Due to the incredible success of this family run restaurant it has been expanded several times over the years.
Phi Lu Chinese Restaurant is located on Nguyen Chi Thanh Street. A very large restaurant which spans three separate floors. Décor is very Chinese, which sets the mood very well. The second floor is a little different than the ground floor. This floor is split into smaller dining rooms, which can be booked for private events.
The menu is as expansive as the size of the restaurant. Cram packed with both Vietnamese and Chinese dishes. Service is excellent although it should be noted that the only language spoken by most of the serving staff is Vietnamese. The kitchen produces good food, and most meals are prepared very quickly. Pricing is surprisingly low, making this a restaurant which some people visit several times a week.
Phi Lu Chinese Restaurant opens for the entire day, form early morning for breakfast until late in the evening until diners are finished. This makes it a great choice for people who want a quick snack during the afternoon, taking a break from the afternoon heat in the air conditioned restaurant.
Phi Lu Chinese Restaurant is definitely well worth visiting if you are in Da Nana. The combination of low priced, well prepared food, exceptional service and charming décor make this a restaurant which is likely to continue to be one of the best which Da Nang has to offer.
Le Bambino Restaurant
Le Bambino & JPaul’s Wine Shop are actually two gastronomic delights in one. They are located within the same building on Quang Trung Street.
The Le Bambino European Restaurant is the longest established foreign owned restaurant to be found in Da Nang. Owned and operated by Jean Paul and his wife, it has been delivering top notch cuisine for over seven years. Very popular with both the expat community and visitors to Da Nang and noted for the high quality of food it delivers, at a good price.
The restaurant is open every day of the work for dinner from 5pm and staying open until every customer has finished and departed. A tranquil setting, away from the bust center of Da Nang. An excellent choice of location for romantic dinner or a quiet evening with friends and family.
As the oldest foreign run restaurant in Da Nang you can expect Le Bambino to offer a refined and professional service, and this is something which Jean Paul prides himself in. Waiting staff are exceptionally polite; seldom is a mistake made with orders. If you are looking for a pleasant venue to spend a relaxing evening, stress free and surrounded by some of the best food and wine which Da Nang has to offer, then Le Bambino is well work a visit.
Within the restaurant can be found JPaul’s Wine Shop. The shop stocks a very extensive collection of wines from around the world. All wines that have been selected for sale are regarded as being of very fine quality, and the prices asked are very reasonable. If you are seeking a specific wine, then simply speak to Jean Paul and he will try and arrange to have it imported for you if he can.
Apsara Restaurant
When it comes to fine dining in Da Nang, then the Apsara Restaurant stands head and shoulders above the competition. This is hands down the best dining experience you will find in Da Nang. Unlike many other upmarket restaurants, the Apsara Restaurant concentrates solely upon Vietnamese food, and does not try to provide a menu full of western dishes, cooked half as well at twice the price.
Upon entering the Apsara Restaurant you will notice that it is somewhat different to the average Vietnamese restaurant. Perfectly set tables, smart and attentive waiting staff and an attention to detail which rivals any restaurant in the western world set the Apsara Restaurant apart.
As well as traditional Vietnamese favorites, the menu also carries a selection of house specialties. The seafood is often exceptional, especially the crabs which are caught locally. The wine list is also expansive, although not as expansive as visitors from the western hemisphere may be used to.
The Apsara Restaurant also provides entertainment for diners. A small stage is tucked away in the corner, and two music shows are put on every night. Most nights also feature a dance show in between.
The Apsara Restaurant is spread across two separate floors and can seat several dozen diners. It is open for lunch from 10am until 2:30pm and then opens again in the evening for diver at 5pm until 10pm.
Everything about the Apsara Restaurant screams quality, from the décor to the cooking. This is a popular restaurant with Vietnamese business people who wish to entertain clients, and with tour operators who like to make the restaurant one of the features of their travel packages. If you are in Da Nang and your budget can stretch to it, then spoil yourself and visit the Apsara Restaurant for a real taste of luxury.
