Old Quarter Institution · Turmeric Fish
Chả Cá Lã Vọng
Photo: Lionel Ng / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0
The dish gave its name to the street it's served on — Hàng Sơn Street was renamed Chả Cá Street after the family who invented it.
Chunks of catfish marinated in turmeric and galangal are grilled, then finished tableside in a sizzling pan of oil with scallion and heaps of fresh dill, eaten over rice noodles with peanuts and pungent shrimp paste. The same family has served it from the same Old Quarter address since 1871.
Why it's made this way: The Đoàn family opened their eatery on Hàng Sơn Street in 1871; under later managers it also served as a meeting place and hideout for anti-colonial rebels, and the family's restaurant has specialized in nothing else for over 150 years.
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Part of World of Street Food — 3248 dishes from 118 countries.
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