Looking for delicious local dishes to try in Chau Doc in just one day? Here’s a guide to must-try foods in this riverside city.
Street Food at Chau Doc Market
Chau Doc Market, located on Bach Dang Street, is a paradise for street food lovers. The market offers an array of sweet treats made from palm sugar, such as palm cakes, palm fruit water, and palm rice. Other popular snacks include “su sê” cakes, mini sticky rice cakes (bánh tét), sweet buttered baguettes, crispy waffles, and candied canarium fruits.
Address: 1 Le Loi, Chau Phu B Ward, Chau Doc City
Bun Ca Co Le (Fish Noodle Soup)
Bun Ca Co Le is a famous eatery known for its flavorful fish noodle soup. The broth is light and sweet, paired with tender snakehead fish fillets. A unique twist at this stall is the addition of crispy roasted pork, making the dish even more indulgent. The soup is also complemented by fresh “dien dien” flowers, a specialty of the Mekong Delta.
Address: 23 Thu Khoa Nghia, Chau Phu A, Chau Doc
Cay Tao Flan (Caramel Flan)
Cay Tao Flan is a well-known dessert spot serving a unique flan that isn’t steamed in small cups but in large rectangular molds. The flan is cut into cubes and served with rich condensed milk and finely crushed ice. Another must-try is their egg pudding, which is creamy and fragrant without any unpleasant eggy taste.
Address: 224 Le Loi, Chau Phu B, Chau Doc
Nhieu Sock Coffee
Nhieu Sock Coffee is a small, rustic café with over 20 years of history. It’s famous for its traditional “sock” coffee, where the coffee is brewed through a fabric filter instead of a metal drip filter. The result is a strong and aromatic cup of coffee, perfect for starting your day in Chau Doc.
Address: 148 Suong Nguyet Anh, Chau Phu A, Chau Doc
Chau Doc Hotpot with Fermented Fish (Lau Mam)
One of the most iconic dishes in Chau Doc is hotpot made with fermented fish. The broth is prepared using a blend of three different fermented fish varieties: “sac,” “linh,” and “tren.” The hotpot is accompanied by over 35 types of fresh local vegetables, including “dien dien” flowers, water lilies, and wild ferns.
Popular spots for Lau Mam:
- Da Ly Fish Noodle and Hotpot: 160 Trung Nu Vuong, Chau Phu B, Chau Doc
- Ha Gia Hotpot: Vinh Khanh Hamlet, Vinh Te Commune, Chau Doc
- Chau Doc Assembly Hall: 68 Hoang Dieu, Chau Phu B, Chau Doc
Crispy Fried Basa Fish Stomach
Basa fish stomach is a local delicacy in Chau Doc, often cooked in various ways, such as stir-fried with onions or braised in coconut water. However, the deep-fried version is a must-try. The fish stomach is stuffed with minced pork, wood ear mushrooms, and spices, then battered and fried until crispy. It is typically served with tamarind sauce, salt and pepper, and fresh herbs.
Best places to try it:
- Thanh Phuong Basa Fish Stomach: 24 Le Loi, Chau Phu B, Chau Doc
Tu Thieng Beef Restaurant
Tu Thieng Beef Restaurant is a popular eatery serving nearly 30 different beef dishes. Whether you prefer boiled, stir-fried, grilled, or stewed beef, this place has it all. Signature dishes include deep-fried beef tail with fish sauce, lemongrass beef skewers, beef grilled with “chuc” leaves (a local citrus plant), and hotpot with beef organs.
Address: 654 Vinh Tay Hamlet, Nui Sam Ward, Chau Doc City