The Noodles of Quảng Nam
If you’re in Hoi An, you have to try Mì Quảng. This delicious noodle dish is famous in the Quảng Nam Province (hence the name Mì Quảng, or “Quang noodles”). You can find it in other cities such as Saigon, but if you’re coming to Central Vietnam we suggest you hold out on trying Mì Quảng til you get here. It’s a popular breakfast dish, but you can also find Mì Quảng for lunch before 1:00pm. One bowl of this deliciousness typically costs around 15,000-20,000VND (about $1 USD!).
Meet My.
My runs a classic Vietnamese red tabled street food vending spot over on Thai Phien here in Hoi An, and has been cooking Mì Quảng for 16 years. So settle down as she fixes up some mouthwatering Mì Quảng for you.
You may be wondering, what makes Mì Quảng so special?
First things first- the noodles. The thick cut Mì Quảng noodles have the perfect balance of softness and chewiness, and are made on a daily basis so they’re always fresh. (You can actually try making these noodles on our Rural Villages Experience tour!)
Next- the toppings. The most common Mì Quảng has slices of moist roasted pork, fresh lettuce, local mint & basil amongst other herbs, garlic, and spring onions are the perfect combination. However, Mì Quảng takes this to the next level by adding some local river shrimp, boiled quails eggs, and crushed peanuts. This is all topped with a savory broth which is usually pork based with a slight sweetness of Vietnamese fish sauce. Mì Quảng can have many variations, so dishes may have something different like chicken or beef depending on what street food stalls or restaurants you go to.
(If you’ve never had local Vietnamese river shrimp before then they may seem really tiny. Here’s a quick tip- you don’t peel them. I know this might be odd to some people, but the shells are pretty soft so the shrimp will have a small crunch to them.)
