Phu Quoc is a tropical paradise in the south with a rich culinary scene. One of the standout dishes that visitors must try is the famous herring salad Phu Quoc. This dish is served in many renowned restaurants around Phu Quoc's tourist spots at reasonable prices. This article will introduce how to make Phu Quoc herring salad as delicious as the locals do, as well as the top 11 restaurants serving incredibly tasty herring salad in Phu Quoc.
Herring salad is one of the distinctive dishes in the cuisine of Kien Giang Province.
Herring is not only available in Phu Quoc, but Phu Quoc herring salad is considered a signature dish. The herring in the southwestern maritime region is particularly thick and fresh compared to other regions. With the skill and creativity of Phu Quoc natives, fresh herrings turn into a special dish with a unique flavor.
The exact origin of this herring salad is unknown, but it is known that after coming back from fishing trips, locals used to make salad with various fish like barracuda, cobia, smelt whitings, silver croaker, and herring. Over time, it was discovered that herring was the best for making salad because of their delicious and distinctive flavor.
Although herring salad is a simple dish, the preparation process is quite elaborate to achieve the best flavor. The fish used for the salad should be fresh, with tender, sweet, and slightly oily flesh, as well as a minimal fishy taste. During preparation, the chef will remove their scales, gut, head, fins, and tail. Then, when fileting them, the chef uses a thin knife to ensure the freshness and characteristic flavor of herring filets.
When eating Phu Quoc herring salad, you'll experience a slight sourness, sweetness, and rich taste combined with the distinctive guava aroma of the dipping sauce that will excite your taste buds. This is a must-try dish for visitors to this pearl island.
What makes Phu Quoc herring salad special?
At Phu Quoc night market, you can get a delicious plate of herring salad for just 100.000 - 150.000 VND. At Dinh Cau night market, the price is around 100,000 VND while the price ranges from 150,000 - 250,000 VND per plate for two people in the fishing village Rach Vem.
In central Phu Quoc restaurants, the price ranges from 150,000 - 300,000 VND per plate for two people. Prices differ based on the location you select. Notably, restaurants with sea views tend to be significantly more expensive.
To have a chance to enjoy hygienic, fresh, and delicious herring salad, you should choose reputable places.
Eating herring salad in Phu Quoc at night markets
Here’s a list of top places that offer incredibly delicious Phu Quoc herring salad that everyone should experience in Phu Quoc.
One of the most popular herring salad spots in Phu Quoc among international tourists is Xin Chao Restaurant. Here, diners can enjoy a variety of delicious dishes from sentinel crab, squid, lethrinidae, herring, oysters, sea urchins, and so on, to unique cocktails. Additionally, the restaurant impresses visitors with its beautiful beachfront view and an upscale, comfortable setting.
Delicious herring salad at Xin Chao Restaurant, Phu Quoc
Nothing could be better than enjoying each slice of herring marinated with rich flavors paired with a glass of fine wine while watching the romantic sea view.
Spacious and airy space with a breathtaking sea view
Address: 66 Tran Hung Dao, Phu Quoc City, Kien Giang Province
Opening hours: 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Price range: 60,000 - 500,000 VND per plate
Hotline: 090.128.37.66
The herring salad at Viet Phu Quoc Restaurant is known for its unique preparation method, substituting lotus stem, papaya, or banana blossom with shredded coconut. This special combination offers a novel flavor that leaves a lasting impression on diners. The price of the herring salad here is also quite reasonable, ranging from 130,000 to 250,000 VND, much cheaper than elsewhere. If you're looking for a distinctive culinary experience, you have to try this delicious dish.
Enjoying the sunset while eating herring salad
Visitors also get to enjoy delicious food while watching the stunning sunset here. The best time to dine here is around 5:30 - 6:00 PM to fully enjoy the sunset.
Enjoy tasty herring salad Phu Quoc in a stunning sunset
Address: 261 Nguyen Trung Truc, Duong Dong Town, Phu Quoc
Opening hours: 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Price range: 100,000 - 130,000 VND per plate
Hotline: 0932.620.779
One of the must-visit restaurants for delicious herring salad in Phu Quoc is Trung Duong Marina. With a spacious and luxurious setting, tables are arranged to provide privacy and reduce noise during peak times.
The fresh and mild-tasting fish, combined with the nutty flavor of peanuts and the rich taste of the fish sauce always captivates anyone who tries it.
Delicious Phu Quoc Herring Salad at Trung Duong Marina Restaurant
Additionally, diners can enjoy many other delicious dishes, including clams, shrimp, fish, squid, and shellfish, prepared in both Asian and European styles. Notable dishes include Phu Quoc herring salad, crab fried rice, and seafood hot pot.
Address: 136 April 30 Street, Duong Dong Town, Phu Quoc
Opening hours: 9:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Price range: 250,000 - 385,000 VND per plate
Hotline: 0297.3980.540
When mentioning excellent herring salad restaurants in Phu Quoc, Com Bac 123 Phu Quoc cannot be overlooked. This family restaurant is located about 300 meters from the Phu Quoc Night Market. It offers a variety of dishes including herring salad, sea cucumber hot pot, crispy roasted pork, steamed free-range chicken, stir-fried seafood, and crab and eggplant soup,.. especially herring.
Fresh herring wrapped in rice paper with a touch of coconut, and fresh greens and was eaten with the distinctive dipping sauce.
Address: 60 April 30 Street, Zone 1, Duong Dong Town, Phu Quoc, Kien Giang Province
Opening hours: 9:30 AM - 10:00 PM daily
Price range: 150,000 VND per plate
Irresistible Herring Salad at Com Bac 123 Phu Quoc
Song Xanh Restaurant offers many Southern-style dishes, with the standout being the herring salad, which is known for its rich flavor and freshness. If you haven't found a great spot for herring salad in Phu Quoc yet, Song Xanh Restaurant is a suggestion for you.
Address: 217 April 30 Street, Duong Dong, Phu Quoc
Price Range: 100,000 - 300,000 VND per plate
Opening Hours: 3:00 PM - 11:00 PM daily
Song Xanh Restaurant - A Must-Visit for Herring Salad in Phu Quoc
Dinh Cau Night Market in Phu Quoc is not only a street food paradise but also famous for its stalls selling fresh herring salad and other delicious seafood. This place attracts many visitors because of its affordable prices.
Address: 40 Mac Thien Tich, Duong Dong, Phu Quoc City, Kien Giang Province
Opening hours: 6:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Price range: 100,000 - 150,000 VND per plate
Dinh Cau Night Market in Phu Quoc is a nighttime attraction
Ra Khoi Phu Quoc Restaurant is a popular spot chosen by many diners when visiting Pearl Island. The restaurant is impressive with a spacious setting and a variety of dishes including herring salad, salt and chili grilled mudskipper, grilled sea urchin with scallion oil, sauté diced beef, and salted crab. Especially, when enjoying herring salad, tourists will experience the perfect combination of fresh fish meat, fatty peanuts, refreshing vegetables, and rich flavor from salad dressing.
Address: 131 April 30 Street, Duong Dong Town, Phu Quoc, Kien Giang Province
Opening hours: 9:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Price range: From 150,000 VND per plate
If you're unsure where to go for dinner, Ngheu So Oc Hen Restaurant is a high recommendation. The restaurant is famous for its dishes such as grilled squid, crab soup, seafood hot pot, and particularly herring salad, which attracts many diners. This place is popular with many tourists and locals.
Address: 37A Tran Hung Dao, Phu Quoc City, Kien Giang Province
Opening hours: 7:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Price range: 100,000 - 150,000 VND per plate
Zen Restaurant’s traditional design enhances its unique appeal. With a thatched roof and wooden dining tables and chairs, the restaurant provides a familiar, inviting, and refreshing ambiance. Notable dishes include herring salad Phu Quoc, seafood salad, crab dishes, and fish hotpot.
Address: 30/4, Zone 1, Duong Dong Town, Phu Quoc City, Kien Giang Province.
Price range: 150,000 - 200,000 VND per plate.
Opening hours: Daily from 10 AM to 10 PM.
The lovely setting of Zen Restaurant
Located right by the beach and surrounded by a lush, green garden, Vuon Tao Phu Quoc Restaurant offers a spacious venue ideal for events and meetings. Besides delicious herring salad Phu Quoc, the restaurant also serves other tempting dishes such as seafood hotpot, fried red snapper, and squid hotpot.
Address: 01 Tran Hung Dao Street, Duong Dong, Phu Quoc
Opening hours: 8 AM – 6:30 PM daily
Price range: 120,000 – 280,000 VND per dish
If you have the opportunity to visit Phu Quoc, Ham Ninh fishing village is an excellent choice. This place is renowned as a seafood paradise, so you will easily find delicious and enticing herring salad here.
Address: Ham Ninh Fishing Village, Phu Quoc City, Kien Giang Province
Price range: 90,000 - 200,000 VND per dish
Here’s a simple guide to preparing the original Phu Quoc herring salad.
Step 1: Gather ingredients
Fresh herring
Onion, shallots
Lime, chili, coconut, Phu Quoc fish sauce
Sugar, garlic, roasted peanuts
Fresh herbs such as lettuce, cilantro, mint
Wild herbs
The ingredients of herring salad
Step 2: Prepare the salad
After scaling, gutting, washing, and removing the head and tail, slice the fish thinly. Restaurants often filet the fish for a more attractive presentation. Also, mix the fish with julienned onions, shallots, chili, shredded coconut, and crushed roasted peanuts.
Step 3: Prepare the dressing
Combine Phu Quoc fish sauce with lime juice, chili, garlic, sugar, and a bit of crushed roasted peanuts. The ideal dressing balances sour, spicy, salty, and sweet flavors with the richness of peanuts.
Step 4: Serve and enjoy
The perfect herring salad Phu Quoc keeps the fish’s natural sweetness and firmness while avoiding any fishy taste. You should eat the salad with rice noodles, the prepared dressing, fresh herbs, and shredded coconut.
Enjoy the delicious herring salad.
With this straightforward recipe for Phu Quoc herring salad, you can easily prepare a delicious dish for your family. Please follow the Phu Quoc-style recipe shared by Salinda Resort for an authentic experience.
