If you’re looking to discover a unique and captivating dish in Nha Trang, try the grilled fish wrapped in rice paper. It’s one of the delicious dishes that contribute to the culinary identity of this city.
Grilled Fish Wrapped in Rice Paper: A Distinctive and Appealing Delicacy in Nha Trang
Rice paper rolls are very popular in Vietnam. While you might have heard of and tried famous wraps like grilled pork wrapped in rice paper and rice paper rolls with pork, there’s another familiar yet unique wrap you can try. That is grilled fish wrapped in rice paper, a signature dish of the coastal city of Nha Trang.
With simple, cost-effective ingredients, and through the refined culinary tastes of the locals, they have become magical delicacies, leaving an unforgettable impression on even those who have only tried them once.
Thin slices of fish cake, combined with fried rice paper, boiled eggs, rice noodles, and dipped in a tangy fish sauce, offer visitors a unique gastronomic experience
The main ingredient of grilled fish wrapped in rice paper is the fish cake. Fish cakes are typically made from fish like mackerel, tuna, and other similar varieties. The fish meat is filtered, seasoned, and then ground to a fine paste. The finer the paste, the chewier the fish cake. After grinding, it’s molded into small pieces and then either fried (fried fish cake) or steamed (steamed fish cake).
The ingredients for the fish cake should be prepared the same day. Hand-grinding ensures the ideal chewy texture of the fish cake.
Using these familiar ingredients, when combined, they become a renowned delicacy loved by many
Once the fish cake is prepared, it is thinly sliced and arranged on a plate. Other fresh ingredients include: julienned green mango, green banana, cucumber, and various herbs.
If desired, additional ingredients can be added like grilled sausage, different types of fish cake, crispy fried rice paper, and more.
The grilled fish wrapped in rice paper can be varied with different ingredients
At a glance, the grilled fish wrapped in rice paper looks similar to the grilled pork wrapped in rice paper from Nha Trang. However, the fundamental difference lies not just in the grilled fish ingredient but also in the dipping sauce. While the dipping sauce for grilled pork is made from bean paste, sticky rice, and minced meat with its characteristic yellow color, the sauce for grilled fish wrapped is usually a garlic-chili sauce or fermented fish sauce.
The ingredients for the garlic-chili dipping sauce include garlic, chili, lemon, sugar, and fish sauce. Crush the garlic and chili finely, then add sugar and fish sauce, stirring well until the consistency resembles a sticky fish sauce. Add a squeeze of lemon or lime to finish. This dipping sauce offers a harmonious blend of sour, spicy, salty, and sweet flavors.
Grilled fish wrapped in rice paper is dipped in a tangy and sweet garlic-chili sauce
Additionally, there’s a dipping sauce recipe that uses finely ground peanuts and olive oil. Mixing these two ingredients with a bit of fish sauce, toasted sesame seeds, and chili paste will complete the sauce. This sauce has a salty, creamy, and slightly spicy flavor.
Finally, tightly wrap the fish cake and various herbs in the chewy rice paper, dip it in the sauce, and savor it. Once you’ve tried it, it’s unforgettable.
Here are some popular places for grilled fish wrapped in rice paper in Nha Trang
Nha Trang’s Grilled Fish Wrap
Address: 59 Lac Thien, Vinh Tho Ward, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa.
Opening hours: 8 AM – 5 PM
Price: 40-50k per combo for one person
What makes this eatery stand out and win over customers from the get-go is its dipping sauce: a perfectly balanced blend that’s both sweet and spicy
Lac Thien’s grilled fish wrapped in rice paper offers basic toppings such as grilled fish, grilled fish wrapped in young rice, deep-fried ground shrimp paste, steamed ground shrimp paste, boiled eggs, and fresh vegetables
Here, they serve fried fish cake, steamed fish cake, and the unique and delicious grilled fish wrapped in young rice. Additionally, they have deep-fried ground shrimp paste, steamed ground shrimp paste, boiled eggs, and fresh vegetables. All are wrapped in soft rice paper and dipped in a sweet and spicy sauce, creating an exquisite taste..
The dishes at the eatery look extremely tempting
This is a simple, modest eatery with basic seating. However, the owner is quick and friendly in serving the customers.
Grilled Fish PRO
Address: 05 Thai Nguyen, Phuoc Tan Ward, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa.
Opening hours: 8 AM – 10 PM
Price: 35-70k per combo for one person
Grilled Fish PRO is a brand under the AFV company, specializing in producing grilled fish using a protein-linking fermentation method (PRO). The restaurant chain under the Grilled Fish PRO brand specializes in Nha Trang delicacies with two main ingredients: fish noodles and grilled fish.
Grilled Fish PRO offers a variety of toppings
The restaurant has a spacious and neat space. The dishes are beautifully presented, and the service is quite professional. The toppings are diverse. They even offer seaweed spread over fried fish cake, squid whiskers or crispy fried squid, along with a range of fresh vegetables.
Enjoy wrapping with rice paper, noodles, and various fresh vegetables
The dipping sauce is also excellently prepared and very palatable. Overall, this grilled fish wrapped in rice paper restaurant is definitely worth experiencing when you visit Nha Trang.
Above are some insights into the Nha Trang grilled fish wrapped in a rice paper dish, one of the prominent and appealing specialties of the region. If you’re traveling here, make sure to take some time to enjoy and experience this delicacy.