Australian newspaper hails Vietnamese grilled fish as must-try dish

According to Ben Groundwater, a writer with more than 20 years of experience in the field of culinary tourism in Australia, visitors can’t leave northern Vietnam without having tried this absolute treat.

The author described Chả Cá Lã Vọng as the classic Hanoi dish. Chunks of freshwater fish, usually catfish, are typically marinated in a range of ingredients such as turmeric before then being fried in oil until golden brown and served with a tonne of fresh dill, spring onions, peanuts, and often rice noodles.

In 2019, the US-based multinational news channel CNN also praised Chả Cá Lã Vọng as one of the must-try delicacies for tourists when visiting Hanoi.

With regard to the history of the dish, the author revealed that more than a century ago when Vietnam was part of French Indochina, the Doan family had begun a business of selling grilled fish, ostensibly to make money. As well as serving great food, it also provided a secret meeting place in central Hanoi for resistance fighters battling colonial powers.

At present, the Doans’ restaurant still exists at 14 Chả Cá street in Hanoi’s Old Quarter. He advised tourists to be wary as it is surrounded by many similarly named establishments acting as imitations.