What to eat in Chau Doc – Top specialty you must enjoy

Chau Doc is a city in An Giang province, not only captivating tourists with its meticulous architectural works like Ba Chua Xu Temple, Tay An Pagoda, and Thoai Ngoc Hau Tomb… Chau Doc also leaves a lasting impression on travel enthusiasts because of its unique and exotic culinary treasures. Let’s explore what to eat in Chau Doc town – Top specialty you must enjoy.

What to eat in Chau Doc – Top specialty you must enjoy

Chau Doc Fish Noodle Soup

This dish features a broth made from simmered bone broth, snakehead fish, and dried shrimp. In addition to noodles and fish, it also includes fresh turmeric, fermented shrimp paste, garlic, lemongrass, and chili.

Like many other noodle soups, Chau Doc fish noodle soup captivates diners with its flavorful broth. The broth is prepared from simmered pork bone broth with snakehead fish sautéed with turmeric and various types of fermented shrimp paste. The combination of distinctive ingredients gives the broth a sweet and savory taste, rich aroma of fermented shrimp paste, and a vibrant yellow color from turmeric.

Chau Doc fish noodle soup is best enjoyed with a variety of local greens such as water lily stem, banana flower, bitter herbs, water mimosa, and water spinach. Spicy fish sauce and chili salt are two condiments typically served with the noodles. Taking a bite of the tender fish dipped in chili fish sauce brings out the flavors of the broth, leaving a memorable gastronomic experience that you won’t forget.
Recommendations for delicious Chau Doc fish noodle soup spots in Chau Doc, An Giang:

1. Bun Ca Be Hai: Chi Lang Street, Chau Phu A Ward, Chau Doc City, An Giang Province
2. Bun Ca Thuy Chau Doc: 25 Nguyen Van Thoai Street, Chau Phu B Ward, Chau Doc City, An Giang Province

Banh bo thot not (Palm sugar honeycomb cake)

Banh Bo Thot Not  is a visually stunning treat, its vibrant yellow color being natural from pure sugar. This cake is soft and slightly fragrant, with a subtle sweetness derived from Thot Not sugar, and a creamy richness from coconut milk.

To craft a batch of these cakes with their tender texture and intricate patterns inside, the key ingredients include Nang Khen rice flour and fermented rice to aid in fermentation, along with the skilled hands of experienced bakers. Banh bo Thot Not comes in various shapes such as round and square, and some places serve it with coconut milk, shredded coconut meat, and roasted sesame seeds.

Places to buy Thot Not sugar cakes in Chau Doc, An Giang:

• All large and small markets in Chau Doc city, An Giang province
• Along the road leading to Ba Chua Xu Temple (at the foot of Sam Mountain, Nui Sam ward, Chau Doc city, An Giang province)

Chau Doc Fermented Fish

Chau Doc in An Giang is a region abundant in fish and shrimp, hence producing a variety of delicious fermented fish pastes. If you’re a fan of Vietnamese fermented foods, you must try the fermented fish from Chau Doc. In the local markets, you can easily find numerous types such as Thai-style fermented fish, stuffed fermented fish paste, and small anchovy fermented fish paste.

These fermented fish pastes can be enjoyed in various ways, including straight from the jar, steamed, braised, fried, or used in hotpot and noodle soups. Eating Chau Doc fermented fish traditionally involves pairing it with fresh vegetables, either dipping a handful of raw vegetables or wrapping a piece of fermented fish paste with them. This enhances the flavors and awakens your taste buds to a whole new experience.

Locations to buy diverse and delicious Chau Doc fermented fish pastes:

• Chau Doc Market – Bach Dang Street, Chau Phu An Ward, Chau Doc City, An Giang Province.

Chau Doc Thai sticky rice (Xoi Xiem Chau Doc)

Xoi Xiem Chau Doc is a dish originating from Thailand, introduced to Chau Doc and becoming a local specialty in the 1970s. This sticky rice is made from Thai glutinous rice infused with pandan leaves, giving it both a chewy texture and a fragrant aroma.

The authentic Xôi Xiêm is served with a sauce made from fresh coconut milk, sweetened with palm sugar, and enriched with finely ground durian and wheat flour. The sticky and fragrant rice is complemented perfectly by the lightly sweet and creamy sauce, which is the hallmark of Xôi Xiêm. For those who enjoy extra toppings, additional options may include sugar, shredded coconut, and in some places, a layer of creamy mung bean paste beneath the sauce.

Xoi Xiem is prepared simply, and in Chau Doc, you can enjoy a satisfying serving for less than 20,000 VND. With its perfect blend of ingredients, this dish offers a rich, sweet flavor that’s memorable and not overly heavy. Just one taste and you’ll remember it forever.

Beef

Beef in Sam mountain is a beloved specialty of Chau Doc. True to its name, this dish consists of 7 beef dishes, including: stir-fried beef with betel leaf, boiled beef heart, beef mixed with bread crumbs, beef steak, beef sautéed with vegetables, and beef porridge. The beef used in this dish comes from cattle raised in the That Son (Seven Mountains) region, specifically young beef. It’s uncommon to purchase beef by the kilogram for preparation; instead, the entire animal is often used.

However, please note that each restaurant may vary in the selection of beef dishes, and it may not necessarily include all 7 dishes mentioned above.”

Places to buy Seven-course beef in Nui Sam, Chau Doc, An Giang:

1. Tu Thieng Restaurant – Highway 91, Group 6, Vinh Tay Ward, Nui Sam Town, Chau Doc City, An Giang Province.
2. Truong Nhut Restaurant – Old Highway 91, Vinh Tay 1 Group, Nui Sam Ward, Chau Doc City, An Giang Province.

Not only diverse in terms of tourist attractions, but the specialties of Chau Doc, An Giang, also captivate tourists. With a rich culinary backdrop blending the flavors of the Mekong Delta and a touch of Khmer culture, the delicious dishes in Chau Doc always provide tourists with extremely unique gastronomic experiences.

Crispy fried pangasius fish stomach

Although it’s just a snack, crispy fried pangasius fish stomach encapsulates the distinctive flavors of the Mekong Delta: simple, rustic, yet rich and delicious. In Chau Doc, there are only two places that sell this dish, both of which are popular with all diners. The restaurant is located opposite the city park and opens from late afternoon until evening. The price is very affordable, at just 20,000 VND for 100 grams of hot, crispy fried fish stomach.