Cha Ca: Grilled Fish With Dill And Turmeric

Cha Ca is one of the unique specialties of the Hanoi people and definitely a must-eat food in Hanoi.

This Hanoi food is said to be more than 130 years. It was first created by the local Doan family to serve Vietnamese fighters against the French occupants. The original restaurant Cha Ca La Vong still operates today. We loved this dish so much and can absolutely say it is a dish worth flying for.

The special ingredient in cha ca is grilled fish, typically mudfish or snake-head fish. According to the restaurant, the best fish to use is Hemibragus. This southeast asian fish has fewer bones and a tasty flesh.

Fresh herbs, vermicelli rice noodles, a bowl of roasted peanuts and a dipping fish sauce with sliced chilies. In the pot is the fish grilling with mounds of dill and turmeric.