Phu Quoc, fondly known as the "pearl island," is a captivating destination for many tourists. The island’s pristine, white sand beaches, world-class resorts, and vibrant culinary scene offer endless appeal. Phu Quoc’s cuisine is a paradise for food lovers, with an array of delectable local dishes to enjoy.
Join Ama Journey to explore some of Phu Quoc’s must-try dishes, each based on our authentic experiences on this beautiful island.
2. Sardinella salad
3. Ham Ninh crab
4. Squid egg
5. Pen shell
6. Slipper lobster
7. Sea urchin
8. Grilled seafood in a bowl
9. Palmyra Palm juice
10. Palmyra Palm Cake
11. Chou Chou peanuts
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1. Bun Quay
Address: No. 34, 30/4 Street, Duong Dong Town, Phu Quoc - Kien Xay Restaurant, the oldest restaurant in Phu Quoc today
The first dish that must be mentioned in the list of Phu Quoc dishes is "Bun Quay – Stir vermicelli". At first glance, it is not very eye-catching, but when you eat it, you will know. Bun Quay is a noodle dish that combines all the elements: from the freshness of squid, and shrimp cakes; to 100% clean of hot vermicelli noodles made right on the spot with a press. The boiling vermicelli broth with lots of onions and pepper contributes to making the bowl of the stir vermicelli even more impressive.
The most unique part of this dish is the part where you mix the dipping sauce yourself with salt, sugar, chili, and lime... then use chopsticks to "stir" it up. Depending on each person's taste, there will be a bowl of the right dipping sauce to eat with the vermicelli. The name "Bun Quay" also comes from here.
2. Sardinella salad
Address: Trung Duong Marina Restaurant - 30/4 Street, Duong Dong, Phu Quoc City, Kien Giang
Raw sardinella salad is the best among the snacks in Phu Quoc. The sardinella used for salad must be fresh fish that has just been caught, cleaned and cut into fillets, then dipped in vinegar and lemon juice for about 5 minutes. Finally, line the fish with roasted peanuts, herbs, onions... and a little dried shredded coconut and you will have a delicious, fatty salad.
Roll the fish with rice paper, and raw vegetables, dip it in super delicious garlic and chili fish sauce. All of them mix with the soft, fatty aroma of fresh fish that will surely delight you.
3. Ham Ninh crab
Address: Floating houses in Ham Ninh Fishing Village such as Be Ghe seafood restaurant - a popular seafood floating house right in the fishing village.
Ham Ninh Fishing Village is famous for its sea crab dish. The crabs are always firm and fresh because they are caught right at the wharf and traditionally steamed to preserve the freshness and sweetness of the crab.
Cooked crabs have a crispy shell, you can easily separate the shell with your hands, then slowly pull the crab meat out and dip it in the super delicious salt and pepper.
4. Squid egg
Address: Floating houses in Ham Ninh Fishing Village
In the list of boiled and steamed dishes, squid egg is a reasonable nomination. The chewy, sweet, rich taste of squid meat combined with the rich, fatty, fragrant taste of its eggs makes many culinary hearts melt.
The aroma of freshly steamed squid is so fragrant that it makes you want to jump into the dish right away. Squid eggs can be dipped with super delicious green chili salt.
5. Pen shell
Address: Floating houses in Ham Ninh Fishing Village
Also known by the scientific name Atrina pectinata, the pen shell is a familiar seafood in the waters of Phu Quoc. This seafood has the shape of a mussel, but its body is large and its shell swells like a banana flower, so fishermen sometimes call it a banana flower.
Pen shell has a flavor that is both oyster and clam, but it still has a very distinctive taste. Grilling them with scallion oil is an excellent way to prepare them.
6. Slipper lobster
Address: Floating restaurants in Ham Ninh Fishing Village
More luxurious than crab and squid, slipper lobster is on the list of high-class specialties of Phu Quoc. It has a bright pink color, firm meat, fragrant, chewy, soft and sweet. Grilled slipper lobster with garlic is an attractive suggestion to enjoy this appealing dish.
7. Sea urchin
Address: Phu Quoc Night Market - Bach Dang, Duong Dong Town, Phu Quoc
Sea urchin is an uncommon seafood in the sea of Vietnam and Phu Quoc is a rare place to have them. Grilled sea urchin with hot scallion oil and peanuts, you can blow on it while eating, and enjoy the sweet chewy taste of sea urchin and its irresistible aroma.
8. Grilled seafood in a bowl
Address: Phu Quoc Night Market - Bach Dang, Duong Dong Town, Phu Quoc
Among the "must-try" dishes at Phu Quoc Night Market, grilled seafood in a bowl is the dish that many tourists choose. You can order a variety of seafood bowls from squid, scallops, octopus, oysters... Having them grilled in a bowl with fatty eggs will melt in your mouth with the taste of fresh seafood.
And indispensable dishes are dried squid, dried fish, dried shrimp... They’re suitable for men to drink and women to buy to cook.
9. Palmyra Palm juice
Address: Phu Quoc Night Market - Bach Dang, Duong Dong Town, Phu Quoc
A familiar specialty of Phu Quoc in particular and the Western provinces, in general, is palmyra palm juice. This is the water extracted from the palmyra palm tree trunk with a fresh, cool, pleasant taste and is a familiar soft drink here.
10. Palmyra Palm Cake
Address: Phu Quoc Night Market - Bach Dang, Duong Dong Town, Phu Quoc
The next snack to introduce is a dish that is both familiar and strange to many people. Phu Quoc Palmyra Palm Cake has a dark brown color, and a sweet taste, and is continuously steamed so you don't have to worry about it getting cold. Biting into a hot piece of cake with a few strands of dried coconut will give you an unforgettable taste experience.
11. Chou Chou peanuts
Address: Phu Quoc Night Market - Bach Dang, Duong Dong Town, Phu Quoc
These are simply roasted peanuts, marinated with sweet and fatty spices, rich in flavor but they’re very attractive to the eyes and taste buds of visitors. Anyone who goes to the night market must visit the Phu Quoc Chou Chou peanuts stand. And this dish has created a unique and strange experience worth trying, with more than 30 flavors such as sesame, salt and pepper, ginger, green tea, and chocolate... stimulating the taste buds of visitors.
Let us write a few lines about Phu Quoc Night Market: It can be said that if you come to Phu Quoc without visiting the Night Market, it is a mistake because you will immediately see a miniature island town in the size of a... market. If you are a foodie, you definitely cannot miss it. If you are an extrovert, you should not refuse, because a night market life appears before the eyes of tourists with countless colors of cuisine, of the people of the sea and islands and very Kien Giang here.
Finally, to calculate the budget for your wallet, in my opinion, you only need to hold 300,000 VND to enjoy the delicious seafood here. Now, what are you waiting for? Save these 11 extremely interesting Phu Quoc delicacies to your must-eat culinary list when coming to this pearl island!
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