Dalat Vietnam is renowned for its breathtaking landscapes, attracting tourists with its cool year-round climate and natural beauty. Alongside this are the exquisite culinary delights that visitors cannot afford to miss when visiting the land known as the "City of Thousand Flowers."
1. Characteristic food in Dalat
Upon arriving in Da Lat for the first time, visitors immediately fall in love with the fragrant, savory aroma emanating from grilled seafood, pork dishes, or large beef chunks, enjoyed alongside a bowl of rich, flavorful sauce for each roll.
However, it's not just grilled dishes that tantalize the taste buds of travelers from near and far; even the flavors of hotpot dishes are enough to pique curiosity about Da Lat's cuisine. Most dishes or food in Dalat carry a distinctive smoky flavor to gently complement the occasional chilly air of the city. And undoubtedly, the sweet taste of enticing desserts never fails to captivate both local and international palates.
2. Which food in Dalat must you try?
2.1. Pan-fried Bread
In the Korean show "Battle Trip 2", the guests couldn't resist the mouthwatering allure of pan-fried bread, adorned with toppings ranging from succulent pieces of meat, flavorful sausages, to delectable meatballs, all nestled beneath a freshly cracked egg. The harmonious blend of flavors, enriched by the aromatic sauces like soy sauce and chili sauce, tantalizes the taste buds in a way that leaves diners craving for more with each bite, truly capturing the essence of its irresistible taste.
2.2. Soy Milk
Pan-fried bread is incomplete without soy milk, and soy milk is best enjoyed alongside grilled rice paper - two indispensable items when savoring Da Lat's soy milk. The slight sweetness of soy milk, paired with the rich flavor of pan-fried bread, combined with the creamy texture of grilled rice paper, creates a harmonious blend of flavors, evoking a full spectrum of emotions when enjoyed together.
2.3. Meatball Bread
When it comes to delicious food in Da Lat, meatball bread resonates with a symphony of the finest, most refined flavors. The distinct richness of the meatball layer nestled within the soft bread, biting into a piece, feels like a symphony of taste dancin’ on your palate, engulfing your senses in a melody of flavors.
2.4. Chicken and Elecampane Hotpot
This dish ranks among the top specialties of Dalat. Missing out on ordering chicken and elecampane hotpot in Da Lat would be a huge missed opportunity. The tender chicken meat, combined with the fragrant aroma of elecampane leaves cooked together, enriches the hotpot with a depth of flavor, resembling a stream of sensory delight flowing in the mouths of those indulging in it. Chicken and elecampane hotpot is typically served with fresh noodles and a side of raw vegetables, becoming even more enticing when accompanied by freshly sliced Vietnamese chili peppers.
2.5. BBQ
This is the epitome of Da Lat cuisine, with BBQ featuring a variety of seafood and meats grilled amidst the cool evening weather, making everyone fall in love with Da Lat's BBQ amidst its misty surroundings in Vietnam.
2.6. Strawberries
When it comes to desserts, Da Lat is renowned for its vast strawberry gardens, with tourist attractions dedicated to strawberry picking. Juicy strawberries add an extra layer of excitement and delight for many tourists when indulging in this treat.
Enjoying strawberry at a farm in Dalat - Source: Internet
2.7. Grilled Rice Paper
A popular street food, this dish can be found in every night market across the city. Grilled rice paper, topped with ingredients like sausages, eggs, spring onions, and drizzled with creamy mayonnaise and Vietnamese chili sauce, all wrapped in crispy rice paper, creates a harmonious blend of flavors unique to Vietnamese street food.
2.8. Artichoke Tea
This famous beverage from Da Lat is often overlooked by many tourists. However, it's a drink that's not only delicious but also beneficial for health, cherished by many Vietnamese people whenever they set foot in the land of Da Lat.
Another dish that mesmerizes travelers in the culinary world is the small claypot rice cooked in a clay pot, paired with the incredibly fragrant grilled chicken. The crispy chicken skin, deeply marinated flavor penetrating every piece of chicken meat, combined with the sweet taste of sticky rice and the rich flavor from the grilled chicken, ignites a fiery explosion of flavors amidst the cold weather of Dalat.
Grilled chicken claypot rice - Source: Internet
2.10. Dried Candied Persimmons
The last item on the list of Da Lat's culinary delights that travelers shouldn't miss is the dried candied persimmons. While we often see dried persimmons in Chinese period dramas, stepping into the land of thousand flowers in Vietnam introduces you to a whole new experience with chewy, fragrant, and sweet dried persimmons, adding a touch of novelty to this delicacy also known as "wind-hanging persimmons."
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