Cha Ca Hanoi Recipe - All You Need To Know About An Iconic Hanoi Dish

1. What Is Cha Ca Hanoi?

What is cha ca Hanoi?

Cha ca is a type of fried fish made from sliced ​​fish, born in 1871 by the Doan family. The fish used to make the dish is usually fresh lentils because it has fewer bones, is sweeter, and more fragrant than other fishes.

Cha ca is often used with vermicelli, shrimp paste, herbs, dill, and roasted peanuts. If you can't eat shrimp paste, you can replace it with fish sauce.

Additionally, there are 2 ways to enjoy this dish: Put the grilled fish into a boiling fat pan with onions and dill or put the sausage and other ingredients in a bowl and pour the boiling fat.

To fully enjoy the flavor of this dish, you must eat it as soon as it is finished baking. This is considered a unique feature of Cha ca. 

>>>You might also like: What To Eat: Best Food In Hanoi Old Quarter You Should Try

2. How To Make Cha Ca Hanoi Recipe?

With this special cooking process, Cha ca completely retains the special sweetness of the fish, combined with other flavors.

Ingredients required:

• Fish fillet: 500g

• Dill: 100g

• Onions: 100g

• Roasted peanuts: 50g

• Grease water: 1 cup

Then, follow the process to complete your Cha ca Hanoi dish:

• Step 1: Clean and wash the fish intestines. Remember to remove the fishy smell of fish by soaking it in white wine mixed with a few slices of thinly sliced ​​ginger.

• Step 2: Wash and drain fresh basil, scallions, lemongrass, and dill.

• Step 3: Marinate fish with a mixture of 1/3 tsp salt, 1/3 tsp pepper, 3 tsp shrimp paste, 1 tsp minced lemongrass, 2 tsp batch, then add 3 tsp of turmeric juice and mix well.

• Step 4: Put the grilled fish in a pan with a little red coal. Sprinkle some green onions and dill on top. 

3. Where To Eat Cha Ca Hanoi?

There are many Cha ca restaurants in Hanoi, but you need to find the right one with a rich heritage of traditions.

3.1. Cha Ca Thang Long Restaurant

Cha Ca Thang Long Restaurant

Cha ca Thang Long is located on a small street near Hanoi Old Quarter. This is a must-visit address for many gourmets.

The restaurant has 3 dishes made from fish, grilled fish, fish stomach, and fish soup. When processing, the chef will leave the thick skin on the outside of the fish, making the fish more chewy. You can see that Cha ca here has a dark brown color that is soft and not dry at all.

Address: No. 21, Duong Thanh Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

Time: 8:00 - 23:00 daily

3.2. Cha Ca La Vong Restaurant

Cha Ca La Vong Restaurant

Cha Ca La Vong is an esoteric dish of the Doan family, from 1871. After more than 150 years, the dish still retains its flavor as a traditional taste and becomes a special gift for any diner.

Grilled fish here are made from salmon and Channidae. Therefore, the fish meat is always firm and delicious, never falling apart even though it is stirred many times in the pan. Each piece of fish is cut to taste and each fried one is crispy on the edge. 

Address: No. 14, Cha Ca Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

Time: 9:00 - 23:00 daily

3.3. Cha Ca Kinh Ky Restaurant

Like its name, this restaurant serves Cha ca Hanoi with a distinctive flavor of the ancient city. The raw material for making it is salmon. The pieces of fish meat are filtered and marinated for a few hours before being grilled over hot coals. During the eating time, you will also be impressed by the restaurant's services.

Pieces of grilled fish, next to green spices such as dill, herbs, and scallion,... will make you fall in love on the first try.

Address: No. 43, Cua Dong Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

Time: 10:00 - 22:00 daily

3.4. Cha Ca Ong Gia Restaurant

Cha Ca Ong Gia Restaurant

The restaurant was born with the aim of preserving the culinary beauty of old Cha ca Hanoi. It chooses the familiar fish that can be used when making grilled fish.

Moreover, the fish meat here is always fresh, firm, and made during the day. When marinated and processed, the taste is just right. You can eat it with herbs, shrimp paste, or fish sauce.

Address: No. 19, Ly Thuong Kiet Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

Time: 10:30 - 22:00 daily

3.5. Cha Ca King Restaurant

Cha Ca King Restaurant 

Cha Ca King Restaurant is known to many visitors as a delicious grilled fish restaurant in Hanoi with a luxurious and high-class exterior space. Entering the inside, you can still see the preserved tradition. 

About grilled fish, the restaurant has its own esoteric recipe to create delicious dishes. But the first factor is to choose fresh, low-bone, delicious, and sweet fish. Such a full piece of Cha ca Hanoi will give diners a taste of the capital that is hard to forget.

Address: No. 9, Ly Thuong Kiet Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

Time: 10:30 - 22:30 daily

4. Conclusion

Already have useful information about delicious Hanoi dishes and Cha ca Hanoi recipe, what are you waiting for to enjoy right away? Hope you will have a memorable experience with these great grilled fish!

And don't forget to share with goviettrip about your great experiences!