If you are planning to take a tour to Phu Quoc Island on your next vacation, enjoying Phu Quoc food should be one of the top activities on your bucket list. Read on to discover various tasty dishes and Phu Quoc restaurants suggested in this article and have a unique culinary journey on the pearl island.
1. The signature Phu Quoc foods that bring renown to its cuisine
Is your trip to the pearl island drawing near but you have not figured out what dishes to try and Phu Quoc where to eat? Don’t worry, we have got your back!
1.1. Ken noodles
With a mixed flavor of sweetness and sourness, Ken noodles is a popular dish for locals as well as visitors in Phu Quoc. Its name comes from the Khmer people, which means a dish made from coconut milk.
To make this dish, people use barracuda or silverfish – 2 types of fish that are almost only found on the pearl island. The fish-based broth made from coconut milk and lemongrass is poured over white rice noodles. On top of the noodles are a variety of fresh herbs, pulverized fish, bean sprouts, and a crunchy mixture of shredded green papaya and cucumber.
1.2. Herring salad
Herring salad, or salad from herring, is a famous dish with a harmonious mix of fresh herring and other ingredients including onions, grated coconut, fried minced garlic and chili. This combination creates a perfectly mixed and unique flavor for the dish.
To fully enjoy the dish, it is better to layer the rice paper with raw vegetables and a few pieces of herring, then gently roll it up, dip it in fish sauce and slowly feel it melting in your mouth.
1.3. Stirring vermicelli (bun quay)
Stirring vermicelli, or “bún quậy” in Vietnamese, is an extremely well-known dish of Phu Quoc cuisine. Fish paste and shrimp paste are finely ground, mixed well, and then pressed around the bowl. Boiling water is added immediately to cook the paste so that the freshness and sweetness of the broth can be maintained.
Interestingly, the meaning behind its name is that customers have to stir (quậy) the dipping sauce themselves to enjoy the noodles.
2. Phu Quoc food tour: TOP mouthwatering seafood dishes to try
2.1. Grilled sea urchin
Grilled sea urchin with salt, pepper, and lemon is a tasty and healthy Phu Quoc dish. The urchin is grilled after being coated with oil, toasted peanuts, and fresh spring onions. The dish is ready when you can smell its appetizing aroma.
2.2. Ham Ninh steamed crab
Ham Ninh Village is home to a famous dish in Phu Quoc – steamed sentinel crab. Ham Ninh crab is not too big but its meat is firm, fresh and mouth-watering. It is best when dipped with salt, pepper, and lemon juice. The crab can also be used to make other tasty dishes such as crab hotpot, crab porridge, beer steamed crab, etc.
2.3. Grilled trachurus
Grilled trachurus is a must-try Phu Quoc street food. Seasoned with salt and chili, the succulent beef is wrapped in rice paper with herbs and veggies. Trachurus meat is firmer than other types of fish and tastes less fishy.
2.4. Crab rice
Crab rice can be found at almost all Phu Quoc restaurants. This dish is made of aromatic white rice, fresh cooked crabs, fried eggs, and a unique sauce. All of these ingredients will make a delicious plate that visitors to this lovely island should not miss out on.
2.5. Sea cucumber soup
Sea cucumber soup is another must-try Phu Quoc food which can be found in any restaurant on the pearl island. Sea cucumber is popular for its crunchiness, chewiness, and pleasant aroma. This dish is somewhat more expensive than others, ranging from 1,000,000 to 4,000,000 VND, yet it will be worth every penny.
2.6. Grilled slipper lobster
Slipper lobster grilled with butter garlic is one of the most exquisite dishes on Phu Quoc. It is served both in high-end restaurants and the bustling night market. The meat of slipper lobster is like a mix between shrimp and lobster, and its flavor is much sweeter than other types of lobster.
2.7. Crab blood pudding
As a must-try Phu Quoc food for any visitor to Phu Quoc Island, this dish has crab fluid solidified into jelly with an unusual taste. It is often served with rice paper and fresh veggies like coriander, fishy leaves, sliced green star fruits, green bananas, and so on. Many Phu Quoc restaurants offer crab blood pudding at 850,000 – 1,000,000 VND per dish, depending on the price of the crab.
2.8. Noodle soup with fish balls
This dish has thick noodles made from a combination of rice flour and cassava flour. Its broth comes from cooked shrimp, fish, and pork with fish sauce and certain herbs. Typically served with mackerels, fish balls, and sometimes fried tofu, this dish usually costs around 30,000 VND in Phu Quoc restaurants.
2.9. Fried squid with sauce
Fried squid with sauce is another popular Phu Quoc dish for visitors. The squid is cooked with fish sauce, sugar, sauté, garlic, chopped spring onions, and chili to create an appealing aroma and flavor. This dish can also be found in other parts of Vietnam, yet Phu Quoc is the only place where you will try the freshest and most authentic fried squid with sauce.
2.10. Grilled snail with onion fat
Phu Quoc is well-known for its numerous delectable and appealing seafood dishes, the most notable of which is grilled snail with onion fat. The snail meat is super tasty and rich, which will be skewered with a bamboo stick and dipped in sweet and sour sauce.
3. Choose the top-rated Phu Quoc restaurants to be best served
When exploring Phu Quoc cuisine, the best restaurants Phu quoc Island will surely give you the best experience. Some recommendations are as follows:
- The restaurants and bars of Vinpearl Phu Quoc are your ideal choices. At this culinary paradise of Vinpearl restaurants, bars, 5-star resorts and hotels, besides traditional Vietnamese dishes, you can find a diverse Asian-European menu in the bustling Grand World Food Street.
- There are also many other top restaurants Phu Quoc in Duong Dong Town, such as Trung Duong Marina Restaurant, Monaco Seafood Restaurant Phu Quoc, Ot Ngot Restaurant, Xin Chao Phu Quoc Restaurant, and so on. The average meal at these places costs around 60,000 – 500,000 VND.
- Or, you can choose to enjoy Phu Quoc street food at the night market. Here, you can dine to your heart’s content, freely shop around and immerse yourself in the bustling atmosphere of Phu Quoc at night.
The pearl island has not only many delectable Phu Quoc foods but also lots of attractive destinations to be explored. One of which is the entertainment paradise VinWonders Phu Quoc, the largest theme park in Vietnam. Here, visitors of all ages and preferences can have fun in 6 subdivisions inspired by famous world civilizations and fairy tales. You will surely enjoy a magical experience at this park.
>>> Book tickets of VinWonders Phu Quoc to have lots of fun at this wonderful park!
Hopefully, the information above about Phu Quoc food and restaurants will be useful for your upcoming trip to the pearl island. To have a perfect vacation with your family and friends, remember to book voucher, combo, tour to Phu Quoc in advance to get the best deals.