Cha Ca La Vong

Cha Ca La Vong at number 14, Cha Ca Street

Cha Ca La Vong restaurant has been around since 1871. It is the oldest restaurant in Vietnam. Therefore, it is one of its kind. Cha ca refers to pan-fried fish with turmeric and dill. It was first cooked by Doan family in Hanoi. Since then, it became a popular dish. The street where this restaurant is situated is named after the dish cha ca.

The set for two people at USD 17

It cost 170,000 dong (RM 25.50) per person without drinks. The set consisted of two plates of rice vermicelli, a bowl of coriander, dill, spring onions, dipping sauce and a pan of fish fillet. The waiters did not speak much English. Therefore, they were armed with a small blue card describing the dish and its price per pax. There was one and only dish served here; cha ca. 

Cha ca being fried in pan

The bowl of dills and spring onions

The bowl of coriander

Fried groundnuts

The set was served with the fish fillets frying in a pan with oil. We just had to wait for them to be cooked while adding in the coriander, spring onions and dills ourselves. After they were cooked, we just topped the fish fillets, coriander and dills on our bowl of rice vermicelli and added the dipping sauce and fried groundnuts.

Add in the coriander, dills, and spring onions into the pan

My bowl of cha ca as dinner

The verdict: the fish fillets were delicious, fragrant and had nice turmeric taste. The portion of the fillets were too little for two people for that price we paid. The rice vermicelli was plain but the dipping sauce was its saviour. So, here again we value the experience of trying a new dish in Hanoi.

The tables on the second floor

I am not sure whether there are tables on the ground floor as the waiters seemed to be ushering their patrons upstairs. Better be early, if you are coming to dine here as I noticed that the place was packed very soon after we stepped in at about 6.30 p.m.

The details of the restaurant:

Address: 14 Cha Ca Street, Hanoi, Vietnam.