Vietnamese fish cake is a special dish that has been rising in popularity lately. The fish cakes can make a perfect appetizer as well as an ideal main course, as it is really tasty at any time of the day.
Vietnamese fish cake is an extremely luscious and appetizing dish, praised by many leading culinary websites in the world. This article will go into great detail about every aspect of Vietnamese fish cake. If you are interested in Vietnam travel and tourism as well as the culinary culture here, keep reading!
1. Things to know about Vietnamese fish cake (Cha ca)
1.1. Vietnamese fish cake ingredients
- Ingredients
As its name suggests, to make Vietnamese fish cake, cleaned and pureed fresh fish is used. To transform the seemingly monotonous fish filets into amazing fish cakes, the right ratio of Vietnamese fish cake sauce, garlic, shallot, potato starch, spring onion, white pepper, baking powder, vegetable oil, and dill is added.
Mackerel and tilapia are two ideal fishes to make Vietnamese fish cake (Source: Collected)
Thanks to the source of quality ingredients, fish cake is not only delectable but also rich in nutrients and good for health. To be specific, Vietnamese fish cake calories are 197 kcal in 1 gram, including 25% carbs, 48% fat, and 28% protein.
- Flavor
Vietnamese fish cake has a bright yellow color and the aroma of galangal. Its texture is crunchy and golden, while the inside is soft and springy. When enjoying the fish cake, you will feel the sweet, crispy, and chewy taste of the fresh fish, and the rich flavor of the spices blended into each bite.
1.2. What to eat with Vietnamese fish cake?
To enjoy the full flavor of this delicious dish, you should eat Vietnamese fish cake with several other Vietnamese foods, such as banh canh, banh mi, vermicelli, or a hot bowl of rice!
Vietnamese fish cake with vermicelli salad is a rustic and nutritious dish (Source: Collected)
2. Where to find authentic brands of Vietnamese fish cake?
Variations of Vietnamese fried fish cakes depend on the local people’s tastes and traditions in different regions. Below are some popular and quality-assured brands of Vietnamese fish cake shops:
2.1. Hanoi: La Vong fish cake
One of the most famous Vietnamese fish cake shops in Hanoi is Cha Ca La Vong (La Vong fish cake), situated at 14 Cha Ca, Hoan Kiem District. Here, visitors can experience the unforgettable taste of the authentic Vietnamese fish cake.
In addition, Cha ca Thang Long at 21 Duong Thanh, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi is also a great place to enjoy La Vong fish cake. This restaurant uses salmon as the main ingredient. A unique feature here is that the fish skin is kept to ensure that the fish stays firm and not broken.
La Vong fish cake is extremely delectable and eye-catching (Source: Collected)
2.2. Da Nang: Thanh Khe fish cake
Da Nang is not only famous for dishes of rolls but also fish cakes. The ingredients come from fresh seafood caught by the locals in Thanh Khe District. Cha Ca Co Tam has one of the most delicious and high-quality fish cakes in Da Nang. It is located at 190 Chau Thi Vinh Te. Another place that is also familiar to foreign tourists is Cha Ca Thuy at K116 Bach Dang.
2.3. Quang Ngai: Dinh Tan fish cake
Dinh Tan village in Quang Ngai is known as “the village of fish cakes”, as Dinh Tan fish cake is an extremely famous specialty produced by many generations in this area. The highlight of this brand among other Vietnamese fish cakes is that only pure redfish caught in the Hoang Sa – Truong Sa fishing grounds of Vietnam is selected by the people to be processed into fish cakes.
Dinh Tan fish cake is smooth, chewy, and has the characteristic aroma of redfish (Source: Collected)
2.4. Binh Dinh: Quy Nhon fish cake
Quy Nhon fish cake is a pride of the local cuisine and is always one of the top favorite dishes of tourists when they visit this land. Quy Nhon fish cake can be combined with many other ingredients to create various famous brands, such as Banh Canh Cha Ca Quy Nhon at 53 Lam Van Thanh or Banh Mi Cha Ca Co Bay at 38 Nguyen Lu.
2.5. Khanh Hoa: Nha Trang fish cake
Fish cake soup and fish cake with vermicelli salad are the main reasons why Nha Trang is known as “the city of seafood noodle soups”. Some establishments selling high-quality fish cakes verified by many tourists are Cha Ca Hoa Suong (81 Phan Boi Chau), Banh Canh Cha ca Nguyen Loan (123 Ngo Gia Tu), and Banh Canh Cha Ca Co Sen (42 Vo Thi Sau).
Nha Trang fish cake soup is a must-try in this coastal city (Source: Collected)
2.6. Binh Thuan: Phan Thiet fish cake
Aside from stunning resorts and beaches, Phan Thiet coastal town also has wonderful cuisine, varying from sweet to savory delicacies. Fish cake with vermicelli salad is a specialty that you definitely must not miss out on in Phan Thiet. It will leave the rich flavor of the sea in your mouth. You can enjoy the appetizing taste of Phan Thiet fish cake with vermicelli salad at Bun Ca Mai at No. 21, Nguyen Van Cu Street, Phan Thiet.
2.7. Ba Ria – Vung Tau: Long Hai fish cake
Not only is it a rustic and familiar dish of the people of Ba Ria – Vung Tau, Long Hai fish cake is also known by consumers across the country thanks to its special taste. It is also an indispensable part of Vung Tau’s specialty, banh mi.
A loaf of crispy banh mi filled with hot Long Hai fish cake (Source: Collected)
Along with the above destinations, you can easily find Vietnamese fish cake in Ho Chi Minh City, Phu Quoc, Hoi An, etc.
Vietnamese fish cake is unquestionably a superb delectable food which can be served with numerous other well-known dishes. It has a distinctive color and flavor which you should not miss out on. Hopefully, with the above information, you will be able to find the perfect places to enjoy the authentic Vietnamese fish cakes when you have the opportunity to visit this beautiful country.
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