Discover Do Son Cuisine
Must-Try Delicacies
Do Son cuisine is a harmonious blend of fresh ingredients and unique cooking techniques. If you have the chance to visit Do Son, don’t forget to try these delicious specialties!
Jellyfish Salad – A Crisp and Refreshing Appetizer
Do Son jellyfish salad is not only a refreshing dish but also meticulously prepared.
After being caught, the jellyfish are soaked in fresh water for 1-2 days to remove the sea’s saltiness. Then, they are cleaned and marinated with alum salt, Indian laurel leaves, mangrove bark, brown tubers, and guava leaves to completely eliminate toxins.
When prepared, the jellyfish are thinly sliced and skillfully mixed with lotus stems, fresh herbs, and finely cut boiled pork sausage. The dish combines the crunchy texture of jellyfish, the refreshing taste of vegetables, and the rich flavor of pork sausage.
The well-balanced seasoning enhances the natural ocean flavor without making it too salty, making it a perfect dish to enjoy on hot summer days.
Crab Cooked with Water Spinach – A Unique Combination
Crab cooked with water spinach is a distinctive dish found only in Do Son. Fresh, meaty crabs are carefully selected and paired with crisp, green water spinach to create a soup with a signature ocean flavor.
What makes this dish special is that the broth is sourced from Suối Rồng (Dragon Spring), a natural underground stream flowing from the Cửu Long Sơn mountain range, giving the soup a naturally sweet taste.
After being cleaned, the crabs are briefly stir-fried with oil, garlic, and seasoning to release their natural sweetness. They are then simmered with water spinach, resulting in a clear, flavorful soup. When enjoyed, diners can savor the rich sweetness of the crab, the refreshing taste of the spinach, and the natural aroma of the broth.
Horseshoe Crab – A Tempting Specialty
Horseshoe crab is a signature delicacy of Do Son. This dish is best enjoyed from March to June (lunar calendar) when the crabs are at their fattiest and most flavorful.
Preparing horseshoe crab requires care and expertise to remove the intestines and liver, as they can cause allergic reactions. The meat has a cooling nature, so it is often cooked with galangal, lemongrass, chili, betel leaves, onions, Vietnamese coriander, and dill to balance the flavors.
Visitors to Do Son can enjoy sweet and sour stir-fried horseshoe crab, stir-fried with vermicelli, horseshoe crab hotpot, or grilled horseshoe crab eggs.
Grilled horseshoe crab eggs are the most popular, featuring a rich, nutty taste complemented by sour pomelo, fresh herbs, and roasted peanuts. The unique flavor of this dish leaves a lasting impression on anyone who tries it in Đồ Sơn.
Shrimp-Stuffed Steamed Rice Rolls – Rich Ocean Flavor
Shrimp-stuffed steamed rice rolls are a simple yet captivating dish, thanks to the delicacy in preparation.
The rice batter is made from high-quality, soft, and fragrant rice, finely ground and steamed into thin layers. The filling consists of fresh, peeled sea shrimp, finely chopped and stir-fried just enough to retain its natural sweetness.
The rolls are skillfully wrapped and served with Cát Hải fish sauce mixed with a touch of sour and spicy flavors, along with sliced chili and fresh herbs to enhance the taste. When enjoyed, diners will experience the smooth texture of the rice rolls, the sweet aroma of shrimp, and the rich depth of the fish sauce, creating an unforgettable culinary experience.
Stir-Fried Buffalo Meat with Water Spinach – Delicious and Nutritious
Stir-fried buffalo meat with water spinach is a rustic dish that embodies the distinct flavors of Do Son. When made with the famous fighting buffalo meat, it becomes even more enticing. The firm, sweet buffalo meat pairs perfectly with the crisp, fresh water spinach.
When enjoyed, diners can savor the natural sweetness of the buffalo meat, its slightly chewy and crunchy texture, and the fragrant aroma of garlic and Vietnamese coriander.
White Sardine Salad & Thryssa Hamiltonii Salad – Fresh and Unique Flavor
White sardine salad and Thryssa Hamiltonii salad are true tastes of the sea, offering a fresh and refreshing flavor. The carefully selected fresh fish is deboned and mixed with lime juice to lightly cure the meat.
This salad is served with fresh herbs, bitter banana slices, and sour starfruit, accompanied by a rich sweet and sour fish sauce. The dish retains the natural sweetness of the fish while blending harmoniously with sour, spicy, salty, and sweet flavors, creating an explosion of taste with every bite.
This is a must-try delicacy when visiting Do Son.
Your culinary journey in Do Son will be even more complete when you visit Royal Restaurant. Located on the first floor of Doson Resort & Casino, the restaurant offers a diverse seafood menu.
Here, you can enjoy a variety of seafood, including crab, sea crab, mantis shrimp, grouper, seabass, clams, oysters, geoduck, and pen shell. Each dish is expertly prepared by a team of skilled chefs, ensuring rich and delicious flavors.
>> For more information: Signature Dishes of Royal Restaurant
