Nha Trang Dining Guide: Local Vietnamese at Chao Mao & Korean Comforts

It's hard to believe, but despite Banh Xeo being a quintessential Vietnamese dish, I hadn't had the chance to try it yet!

So, with Banh Xeo on my mind, I set out to explore the best restaurants in Nha Trang, specifically seeking out authentic local eateries.

Referencing the Benaza City Map, I pinpointed two fantastic spots to share with you: one for incredible local Vietnamese flavors and another for a taste of home with Korean cuisine.

1. Chao Mao

2. An Kitchen

Chao Mao

Chao mao Nha Trang

This was the first Nha Trang restaurant I visited. The cute character by the entrance and the striking, tall lanterns lining the building immediately caught my eye.

You could tell they put a lot of thought into the interior design, with charming little decorations found everywhere.

I ordered Banh Xeo, Cha Gio (fried spring rolls), Garlic Shrimp, and a beer. While skipping morning glory with Vietnamese food feels almost criminal, I wasn't ordering rice, and with four dishes already, I wasn't confident I could finish it all. So, I decided to pass on it this time.

After ordering, I took a quick stroll around. Vietnamese buildings are often tall and narrow, so exploring means going up and down, not just side to side. I remember this place had about four floors, all adorned with quaint decorations.

My food arrived shortly after I returned. First the beer, then the dishes one by one.

The presentation was definitely a hit!

A staff member kindly cut the Banh Xeo into perfect, bite-sized pieces. Once everything was served, the table was completely full!

I thought it might be too much for one person, but it was so delicious that I ended up eating far more than I expected.

The Cha Gio came in two varieties, and personally, I found the white-fried version to be more flavorful.

There was no way I could have eaten rice with all this food – good thing I didn't order it! Although unintentional, the meal paired wonderfully with beer, making for a truly satisfying dining experience.

Chao Mao is definitely a great Nha Trang restaurant for enjoying authentic local Vietnamese cuisine.

An Kitchen

An Kitahen

My second stop was An Kitchen, a restaurant that proudly announces itself as a Korean eatery. When you're traveling abroad for over a week, a craving for Korean food inevitably kicks in. After a week, it's just a thought, but after two weeks, it becomes a desperate yearning!

At local Vietnamese restaurants, portions aren't usually huge, so ordering three dishes is often manageable. However, at a Korean restaurant, even a great Nha Trang spot, I knew three dishes would be too much for one person, so I settled on two. They offer a diverse menu, from Samgyeopsal (pork belly) to stews, Jeyuk-bokkeum (spicy stir-fried pork), and various jjigaes (stews).

I was in the mood for something spicy and comforting, so I chose Kimchi Jjigae (kimchi stew) and Seafood Pajeon (savory pancake).

The tables were set up in a familiar Korean style, with cutlery and tissues conveniently tucked away in a side drawer.

Soon, familiar-looking banchan (side dishes) began to appear.

These didn't arrive with the main dishes but separately, and for a moment, I actually thought this large plate was the Seafood Pajeon! I was thinking, "This can't be right..." but then realized it was just a generous portion of side dishes, which was a pleasant surprise.

Even two dishes were a lot for one person, especially with all the banchan. The portions were certainly ample.

There's something truly re-energizing about having a taste of your home country's food while abroad, especially on longer journeys. For shorter trips, like 2-3 or 3-4 days, you're usually busy enough just enjoying the local cuisine.

You can find these spots using a city map, but if you don't have one, their locations on Google Maps are listed above. That concludes our look at some great Nha Trang restaurants, covering both authentic local Vietnamese and comforting Korean options!