During a recent month travelling through five destinations in Central Vietnam, we discovered a multitude of delicious dishes imbibed at an eclectic range of eateries.
Beyond world-renowned Vietnamese food, when we dined on delicate crepes and croissants and drank good coffee in the many cafes in Da Lat (evoking the country’s French connection), we found that Vietnam also offers a wide range of delicious international cuisine, which makes the dining experience in this welcoming country so very interesting.
But that also makes it hard to pick favourites among the wonderful assortment of local and global cuisine on offer. With that in mind, below is a list of my 7 favourite places and some of the best dishes we especially enjoyed during our adventure through this diverse and interesting land.
1. The Drinkery
This intriguing place was our neighbour. It was directly across the road from our hotel. We could see it from our balcony. That made it an easy choice for our first meal in Dalat.
A large 2-story premises, painted entirely black inside and decorated with lush green tropical plants, plus huge windows supporting outdoor window boxes with cascading Boston ferns, gives the impression that the front-of-house restaurant may be a cover for a place that “goes off” at night. (As we later found out, the Drinkery was closed after 10 p.m) There was no nightclub scene to be seen!
Nonetheless, as we chowed our early meal at a favoured leaner table near the front door, we were treated to a steady parade of locals coming to dine too. They were an array of fashionistas in the edgiest gear I’d seen since I was much younger and staying in London. Even young families were decked out in “nothing but the best”, looking like they belonged to a special sartorial club.
Watching such interestingly and beautifully dressed people drift into a place where they clearly felt at home made us realise that Da Lat is full of well-to-do millennials and Gen Zers who add a distinctive layer to the city’s vibe. This is a cutting-edge city, mixed with a rich mosaic of French colonial history and indigenous heritage. The same is true of the food.
Cool mood music played, and a doorman in his mid-twenties ambled around in his “avant-garde” jacket and jeans, hair cut just so, with a serene smile.
When he wasn’t busy hanging around the front door, he gently and sweetly squatted to light the candles around the miniature Buddha statue, burn incense, and refresh the pretty floral offerings. Of course, being curious, we shared our imaginings about the possible lives they led.
As for the food, the Drinkery is a “smart casual” eatery, and the eclectic fare was top-shelf.
The chef was a young, innovative man who, although English wasn’t his first or second language, was kind and caring enough to take the time to chat with us about his life and how he got to be running a very stylish restaurant in the middle of Dalat.
Besides, his culinary skills and the menu spoke for themselves. The quality and flavours of the dishes were five-star, the choices clearly well thought out, and the prices surprisingly reasonable. He had obviously had some excellent training.
He even “blanded down” the moreish asparagus soup with ricotta for me on a day I wasn’t feeling well, and we really appreciated him taking time out of his work to chat with us on a couple of occasions. It was a treat to get to know him, even if only a little bit.
Here are some pictures highlighting the meals we enjoyed at The Drinkery, as well as the staff and chef who made them all possible.
2. Boho Restaurant
Owned and managed by the very elegant Thuy, we discovered this delightful place by mistake.
After spending little money but too much time eating almost inedible dumplings at a central city cafe, we were very keen to find a place to relax, enjoy a drink, take in our surroundings, and savour some good food. At Boho, we got this; plus.
Tucked in a small, narrow side street between two main roads in Central Dalat, we found a softly lamp-lit doorway down an ambling, crazy-paved footpath. It was a charming welcome and a big relief.
We were in Dalat at the time of year when the city is quiet, so, needless to say, the restaurants were too. Only one other couple was enjoying a late lunch when we arrived. Because of this, we had no trouble choosing a table, were served our drinks promptly, and enjoyed the lull – absorbing our surroundings.
Beyond its general charm, this place delighted me with its fabulously rich, original decor. Several different chandeliers sparkled over the tables; large, abstract, colour-filled paintings hung on various walls and kept catching my eye; lush colours abounded in the orange covered chairs and the colourful glass filled walls.
And so as not to forget why they’re in business: an unapologetically large (almost NYC-style) bar with a massive selection of top-shelf spirits and beer was on magnificent display. An adjacent full-sized pool table, the triangle set with coloured balls shining under the spotlight on the rich green felt, waited to be “broken” for a game. We didnt resist the tempatation to play a couple of games after dinner.
Other lights dimmed to the two levels of small stages for singers and a small amphitheatre built up high to host live bands.
All this splendour evoked a gentler version of a 1920s subterranean nightclub.
While soaking up the beauty and warmth of this eatery, I devoured fresh, smoky fried rice made on the spot by Thuy’s mama, the in-house chef, and he devoured his delicious lasagna with handmade pasta and four-cheese beef. So, if you’re in Dalat, Boho is a “must-go” experience.
3. Anna’s Coffee House
You will find this delightful cafe by heading out of the city centre and into the highlands, tucked into the side of Robin Hill.
The Coffee House sits approximately 4,000 feet above sea level, offering slightly cooler, more refreshing temperatures, spectacular views, great food, and coffee, all run by the wonderful Anna and her adorable staff.
We spent the last two nights of our stay in Dalat at a hotel directly across the road, so Anna’s became our go-to spot for breakfast in the mountains, providing an incredibly alluring place to sit and let time drift by.
Beyond the charming interior, you will find a roomy outdoor seating area perfectly set up to gaze at panoramic views across the highlands and rich green forest, neighbouring gardens, and a multitude of potted flowering, fruiting, and flourishing plants; a pitch-black cafe cat in residence; while you savour something from the healthy, everything-cooked-from-scratch menu.
This is a place you will want to relax into.
With its welcoming ambience, Anna’s attracts people from all over the world. So while you enjoy your chosen meal and sip your preferred beverage among the outdoor plants and breathtaking views, it’s also a perfect spot to people-watch and maybe even eavesdrop on a conversation if they happen to be speaking your language!
Anna takes great pride in her homemade, high-quality, nutritious food, and she has every reason to. Her place offers everything any visitor would want in a beautiful, unique setting, and it will always remain one of my absolute favourites.
Be sure to visit if you’re ever travelling to Dalat.
4. Yamasaki
Beachside destinations in Vietnam always offer plenty of seafood options.
However, this particular restaurant in the Sala Beach dining and bar area of central Tuy Hoa was one of the best Japanese eateries we have ever dined at.
Set on adjacent land to Tuy Hoa beach, with a large outdoor area and a spacious, beautifully decorated indoor restaurant complete with pretty bamboo floating lights, we sat at a delicate wooden table. Another part of the restaurant offers more formal dining, but we preferred casual.
Our table was set with dainty ceramic pouring jugs and side dishes. Each of us received a small, round, pale blue china dish and a pair of delicate chopsticks.
The head waiter greeted us warmly, his headscarf tied in a knot and wearing a long dark blue apron. He was seriously attentive and helpful. None of the staff spoke English, so we communicated through pointing, nodding, and thumbs-upping, with lots of smiles and head bows.
When our meal arrived, we admired the food’s visual beauty, savoured its freshness, and tucked in. We feasted on fresh salmon roe (large, reddish-orange iridescent caviar eggs) that popped in our mouths. Then there was the sashimi platter (see photo on the right) and the mouth-watering crumbed pork fillet (centre pic).
We were so impressed that we returned the next night and devoured a plate of freshly made sushi (see left pic) and a shared bowl of hot noodles.
This restaurant is definitely recommended if you are ever in this part of the world. We walked in without a reservation.
5. Ciao Bella
This is a lovely little local with a great wine list and food. And conveniently just down the road from the hotel we stayed at; Silverland Jolie Hotel
Very attentive staff will show you to a table; there are cute little faux-Italian cafe tables with red-and-white checked tablecloths, or, upstairs, a more upmarket atmosphere.
We chose a small cafe table and took in the street sights as we browsed the interesting and varied menu and (especially me) checked out the **wine list.
**(I have to qualify my running scepticism about wine lists in Asia by noting that, having travelled throughout the region, wine isn’t a priority drink. As a result, wine drinkers are often offered poor-quality house white and/or house red. So, finding a cafe/restaurant with a relatively comprehensive wine choice is worth the special mention.**
Italian-inspired, the menu was suitably convivial; share plates were the flavour of the day. His was a traditional wood-fired artisan pizza, deliciously oozing mushroom and parmesan, and mine was two small plates: charred grilled octopus (heavenly) and a serving of scrummy, lemony-tanged, deep-fried halloumi. We washed it all down with a local (as in Italian) rosé and, for him, a ubiquitous Peroni. We enjoyed every last bite and every last sip & glug.
This was our second visit to Ciao Bella, which we originally discovered in 2024, so this lunch was a fabulous way to begin our return to Saigon for a few days.
This divine place was a happy accident. We were feeling lazy and didn’t want to walk far so we took a short stroll to the left of the hotel and stumbled upon this sensational restaurant.
Outside the entrance, the maître d’ greeted us and asked if we had a booking; when we said no, she disappeared inside to see if they could fit us in. Fortunately, they made room for us at the kitchen bar. Perched on comfy bar stools, we were served the best gastronomic treats of the trip.
The ambience was dark and secretive, but the number of people crowded into the room, sitting at long and small tables, and at the kitchen bar that stretched the length of the restaurant, bears testament to this eatery’s obvious popularity.
The mix of people represented an ideal society. Families and friends dined in groups, and women dined alone, comfortable in a space that let them enjoy either solitude or company.
Why so popular? It soon became clear how special the delicious menu is. They make each item from scratch in front of customers: no hiding here, and no reason to.
The menu is long, with sophisticated options, accompanied by a comprehensive range of sake and other top-shelf beverages, including high-quality whiskeys and gins, as well as a short but discerning cocktail selection.
We were so impressed we went all out and chose a little of something we both wanted to taste, including stunningly presented red glossy fish roe piled on sushi rice, prettily wrapped in the brightest of green seaweed, chargrilled asparagus, a pork kebab that just oozed mouth-watering yumminess, and sweetly presented other varieties of sushi adorned with pansy flowers.
This is a place that is easy to fall in love with. Not only is the service sublime. (All the staff stand up, bow, and wave goodbye when customers leave) but the food is so tenderly prepared that it puts average cooking skills to shame.
Before heading out, we reserved a table for the next night. We were already looking forward to the same time, same place experience. We couldn’t resist the beautifully prepared, scrumptious food, served in an ambience of sophisticated big-city attitude, with a focus on “how to look after customers and give them an experience they will always remember”. Mayonakasushi is an especially special eatery.
The images below show our second night’s dinner: an appetisingly light, crunchy, tasty selection of vegetable tempura and a platter of melt-in-your-mouth sashimi, as fresh as if it had come straight from the sea. All washed down with a couple of cold Asahi beers.
All dishes are accompanied by an assortment of palate-pleasing sauces.
For more about eating and being in HCMC click here : https://mytravelroom.co.nz/travelling-vietnam-ho-chi-minh-city/
Part of the Mekong Riverside Boutique Resort and Spa in the Cai Be district, Mekong Delta, southern Central Vietnam.
This story is more of a personal thank-you to the restaurant staff and management for providing us with delicious, fresh, authentic Vietnamese fare three times a day during our 5-day stay, especially since we were the only guests at this large resort that normally serves over 100 people.
When we arrived, a big wedding party had just checked out, and another was due in 10 days. We lucked in. With everything at our fingertips, we felt like royalty.
The staff at the rather OTT formal restaurant treated us like VIPs. Full service and a varied menu of fresh options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner were on hand.
The lunch and dinner menus didn’t vary, so what you missed at lunch can be ordered for dinner.
We tried the crispy Vietnamese pancakes (or crepes) with chicken. Delicious and delicate.
I also ordered the “homegrown” Mekong River fish for dinner one night. It was very white, tender and fresh. The fish are farmed in clean ponds on the property.
Plus, there are a couple of curry dishes (seafood and beef) and lots and lots of fresh, crunchy Vietnamese vegetables and herbs to accompany the food.
We spent every meal al fresco on the restaurant’s deck, stretching over the Mekong River. As the sunset cast its pink hues across the distant greenery and the endless variety of vessels chugged back and forth along the river, we let the serenity envelope us – our own little paradise.
Mornings started with fresh coffee, a warm-from-the-oven baguette, a platter of juicy tropical fruit, and a cooked breakfast available to order. Eggs any way and the ubiquitous Vietnamese breakfast dish, Pho, were also available.
This tranquil riverside property is set on 10 acres of lush orchard and organic cropland, so all the herbs, vegetables, and fruit used for resort meals are grown on-site – fresh every day.
Dalat Breakfast – Not an easy meal to find around town, but we thankfully happened upon Trang’s Cookery and walked there from our central hotel, Le Macaron, every day we were in the city.
Run by the lovely Laea, she cooks fresh, scrummy breakfasts to order. Her cafe is a charming little place, furnished with burnished, glossy tables and windows overlooking pretty potted flowers on the windowsill. A frequent and special sight in Vietnam: fresh flowers within line of sight.
Dalat Snack or Lunch – Try Tiem an Da Lat Pho
For authentic, super-fresh handmade Vietnamese spring rolls, go no further than this lovely eatery in central city Dalat. A popular, local spot, be prepared to wait as you anticipate, with a watering mouth, the deliciousness of their spring rolls and coffee. This cute little eatery has a cosy sit-down at a small wooden table almost right on the street side, making it a great place for people-watching as well! Or, if you prefer, enjoy a timeless garden vista from the side window.
**P.S. The menu also has a variety of other freshly made Vietnamese food options. **
Dalat Pizza – Papa’s Bistro is a tiny nook in the city centre where we tucked into a moreish handcrafted pizza and beer. They also do pasta dishes.
The ambience is akin to a low-key, stylish cocktail bar, without the noise of a crowd. When we arrived, they served a curious but tasty, crispy snack presented on a plate of red beans (decoration only).
The service blended modern (use this QR code to order) with charm; a helpful young Vietnamese woman served cocktails, and smiling chefs diligently made pizzas in an open, intimate kitchen, all contributing to the low-key yet stylish ambience.
Tuy Hoa – In the centre of the city, we found an intriguing restaurant serving global cuisine called Hayan Taste of the World. Upstairs in a mysterious, narrow, prettily lit spot, we found their sheltered outdoor deck and sat under a variety of ambient hanging lights, chandeliers, and flowering plants .
The food was inviting, with varied choices, cooked by a Middle Eastern gentleman and served by a serene young Indian woman. We tucked into a tender, flavourful beef curry and a chicken-and-mushroom pasta dish, both equally delicious. Thirst-quenching drinks were served throughout.
Important information: Most places mentioned in this story don’t have websites. However, all of them have details online. Google their names to find menu information, addresses, and additional photos or click on the link provided.
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If you would like to know more about this or any of the other stories published on the Mytravelroom website, please get in touch with me at janeco@mytravelroom.co.nz
