Bánh Bèo Bọt Biển Thanh Hải: Da Nang’s Hidden Bánh Bèo Locals Have Loved for 40+ Years
If you’ve tried bánh bèo in Hue, you might think you know it: tiny, paper-thin rice cakes with a sprinkle of shrimp. Now forget all that. In Da Nang there’s a completely different bánh bèo, and my favourite place to eat it is a little shop called Bánh Bèo Bọt Biển Thanh Hải at 27 Hoàng Tích Trí. My family has been eating here for more than 40 years. It’s my childhood in a bowl, and I’d love more people to discover it.
What makes Da Nang bánh bèo different from Hue bánh bèo?
| Hue-style bánh bèo | Bánh bèo bọt biển (Thanh Hải, Da Nang) | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Small, thin cakes in tiny saucers | Thick, full cakes that fill the bowl |
| Texture | Thin and slightly chewy | Soft and fluffy, like a sponge (bọt biển means “sponge”) |
| Topping | Tôm chấy (dried shrimp floss) | Cá chấy (dried fish floss) |
| On the side | Fish sauce | Mắm ớt tỏi (chili garlic fish sauce), crispy tóp mỡ and fried bread with shallots |
There’s only one topping here, and somehow you never get tired of it. The cake is soft and bouncy, and the cá chấy gives it a savoury, slightly smoky crunch.
What to order (and how to eat it like a local)
- Bánh bèo: order a few bowls each. At around 7,000 VND a bowl, you won’t hold back.
- Mắm ớt tỏi: spoon this spicy, garlicky fish sauce over each bowl. It’s the reason I keep coming back. I’m completely hooked on it.
- Tóp mỡ and fried bread: a bowl of crispy pork crackling and little cubes of bread fried with shallots comes on the side. Scatter them on top for crunch.
- Eat it straight from the bowl with a spoon: slide the cake out and take it in one or two bites.
A locals-only spot, hidden down a small lane
You won’t find tour groups here. The shop isn’t near the beaches or the tourist areas, and it sits a little way down a small street, so almost everyone eating is from the neighbourhood. That’s exactly why I love it: it’s a taste of everyday Da Nang that most visitors never see.
Price, opening hours and how to get there
- Address: 27 Hoàng Tích Trí, Da Nang (open in Google Maps)
- Price: about 7,000 VND (around US$0.30) per bowl
- When to go: it’s open into the evening, but it’s so popular it often sells out by around 7 PM, so don’t leave it too late.
- Getting there: take a Grab, or ride there if you’ve rented a motorbike. Show the driver the address in Vietnamese.
More Da Nang dishes to try
If you love local food as much as I do, try Mì Quảng, Da Nang’s signature noodle dish, then the best bánh mì in Da Nang and the snack stalls at Con Market.
FAQ
What is bánh bèo bọt biển?
It’s a Da Nang style of bánh bèo: thick, soft, sponge-like steamed rice cakes (bọt biển means “sponge”) topped with cá chấy (dried fish floss) and eaten with chili garlic fish sauce, crispy pork crackling and fried bread.
How much does bánh bèo cost in Da Nang?
At Thanh Hải (27 Hoàng Tích Trí) it’s about 7,000 VND per bowl.
When is the best time to go?
Go early. The shop is open into the evening, but it often sells out by around 7 PM.
