Hai Ca Nha Trang Review: Authentic Squid Noodle Soup

Hello everyone!

I'm Nabongsun, your travel influencer.

My mom and I recently enjoyed a wonderful trip to Nha Trang, Vietnam,

where we relaxed, explored the city's shopping,

and savored delicious local eateries.

Even before hitting the hotel breakfast, we were up bright and early

to find a fantastic local spot in Nha Trang

and had some incredibly good value Hai Ca squid noodle soup!

Nha Trang Must-Try: Hai Ca Squid Noodle Soup at a Local Downtown Restaurant #NhaTrangEats #NhaTrang #NhaTrangDowntown #VietnameseFood #NhaTrangSoloTravel During our trip to Nha Trang, Vietnam, we found a truly authentic Vietnamese local restaurant, Bún Cá Hai Cá in the city center, offering delicious squid fish cake noodle soup – a true culinary adventure!m.blog.naver.com

As a quintessential Vietnamese dish, budget-friendly pho comes in a surprising variety of types.

But beyond the usual beef or chicken, imagine a deeply savory squid fish cake noodle soup!

Today, I'm excited to share all the details about Bún Cá Hai Cá,

a local Vietnamese gem in downtown Nha Trang, including its location, menu, and, of course, the incredible taste.

1. Hai Ca: Your Free-Spirited Morning Feast Location

While many budget-friendly hotels downtown offer decent breakfasts,

I was determined to treat my mom to an authentic local pho experience for our foodie 'filial piety' trip,

rather than the standard hotel fare.

On previous family trips, my husband isn't a big fan of seafood,

so I'd only saved Hai Ca (with its amazing squid!) on my map, always waiting for the perfect moment.

Finally, my mom and I got to visit!

https://maps.app.goo.gl/pdPnWLqicxjo83sn7

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Bún Cá Hai Cá

Squid Fish Cake Noodle Soup

Quán Bánh Canh - Bún Cá Hai Cá

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Address

156 Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai, Nha Trang,

Khánh Hòa 650000 Vietnam

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Opening Hours

06:00 - 21:30

Even now, it definitely has that charming, old-school local eatery vibe,

but having watched it evolve over several years, I can tell you the place has gotten much cleaner than before!

As word-of-mouth spread among tourists,

they even opened another branch right next door! We visited super early, practically at dawn,

and managed to snag a spot at the original main branch.

This budget-friendly pho spot is right in the heart of downtown Nha Trang,

just a 5-minute walk from the Regalia Gold Hotel.

These local eateries typically don't have air conditioning,

so I highly recommend visiting early in the morning or in the evening, like I did,

rather than in the scorching midday heat.

My mom and I are both early risers, so we strolled over around 6:30 AM

and found many locals already enjoying breakfast with their families,

plus quite a few Western visitors too!

Even though it's a local restaurant, the staff wore hats,

uniforms, and aprons, and the entire place looked remarkably clean and well-kept.

2. The Menu: Delicious & Budget-Friendly Vietnamese Cuisine

As someone who visits Nha Trang for both travel and business once or twice a year,

I'd say I've tried pretty much all the famous eateries here.

However, Hai Ca, being a seafood noodle soup spot, often had varying preferences among my travel companions, so I'd postponed visiting.

Finally getting to experience it with my mom on our special trip made the anticipation even greater,

and it was absolutely worth the wait!

The signature dish is #1, the Squid Fish Cake Pho,

and it's the most popular among Koreans.

Beyond that, depending on combinations of squid, fish cakes,

jellyfish, fish roe, and offal,

there are a total of 8 pho menu options.

You can also order just the fried squid fish cakes and fried fish cakes

separately.

We ordered #1 Squid Fish Cake Pho (65,000 dong)

and #3 Squid & Fish Cake Pho (65,000 dong).

To cut to the chase, the squid fish cake had a much stronger umami flavor

and was more delicious than the fish cake. So, I highly recommend you also go for

Option #1 – you won't regret it!

Locals often enjoy pho with fish roe and fish offal.

I'll have to try that next time!

A hearty bowl of pho costs around ~$2 - ~$3,

so my mom kept checking the price multiple times,

saying that Vietnamese food really has to be eaten in Vietnam.

3. Generous Portions, Umami-Packed Pho That Lives Up to Expectations

First, the staff brought out a generous plate of fresh vegetables,

and soon after, our Hai Ca Squid Pho was served.

Hai Ca specializes in Southern and Central Vietnamese-style seafood pho in Nha Trang,

so you won't find strong-smelling cilantro here.

Instead, they prepare a selection of crisp, refreshing, and clean-tasting vegetables

like bean sprouts, shredded banana blossom, lettuce, and Thai basil.

First, I tried the broth as-is, just the original flavor,

and my mom and I just looked at each other and gasped in delight.

Though it looks like a clear broth, its deep and refreshing taste

made it feel like I was sobering up from a drink I didn't even have the night before!

Then, to suit our preferences, we added a little chili, lime,

and various sauces.

These small, firm green Vietnamese chilies

enhance the spiciness cleanly without any muddiness,

but they are intensely spicy, so start with just one!

With four different sauce containers on each table,

you might be wondering what to add.

Sate (Sate Tế) is a chili paste, often fried or marinated with oil and garlic,

and it's intensely spicy and rich with lots of chili seeds.

It completely cuts through the richness of the broth and enhances the umami.

Tuong Ot is Vietnamese-style chili sauce.

It's a homemade chili sauce made by finely grinding chilies with a hint of acidity,

creating a spicy and sweet flavor. It's great to add when you want to boost the sweetness.

Even when traveling in Nha Trang, Vietnam,

it's hard to find Mắm Tôm, or Mắm Tôm Bắc,

at restaurants frequented by many Koreans.

It's made by fermenting tiny shrimp, giving it a thick, rich texture,

and you can think of it as a deeply fermented and ground shrimp paste, similar to Korean saeujeotgal.

It's a secret seasoning that deepens the flavor of seafood broth,

but be warned: it can be polarizing!

This is fish sauce with chili.

It's a Nuoc Mam (fermented fish sauce) base with thinly sliced red chilies,

and it's great to add when you want to make the broth saltier

and adjust its seasoning.

By combining these various sauces,

you can create your ideal broth flavor, exactly to your liking!

Hope you'll check it out!

The noodles are thin and soft, and since they're rice noodles, my mom mentioned that even eating a generous portion first thing in the morning, they didn't feel heavy at all, unlike wheat flour noodles.

The fish cake on the left was a bit bland, so it wasn't my favorite, but the squid fish cake on the right was fantastic! It had a great texture from the finely chopped squid inside, and a burst of umami flavor that made it truly delicious.

While fancy restaurants and hotel buffets are lovely, there's an incredibly rewarding joy in embarking on a true foodie adventure like this, exploring local flavors independently with my mom.

4. After Breakfast at a Vietnamese Local Gem in Nha Trang City

Waking up bright and early to avoid any queues, we headed to this beloved local Vietnamese spot in the cool morning weather. With a bowl of their incredibly affordable pho, a dish that's been cherished for ages, we were able to kick off our day feeling completely energized!

On our way back to the accommodation for a second breakfast at the hotel (yes, a second breakfast!), the neighborhood dogs were so playful and charming that we couldn't help but smile and laugh.

On this special mother-daughter 'filial piety trip' (a journey dedicated to showing appreciation to parents), being able to enjoy authentic Vietnamese food at such a charming local restaurant, right alongside the locals, truly allowed us to create some unique and heartfelt memories.

If any of you are planning a trip to Nha Trang, Vietnam, and have a city itinerary in mind, I truly hope you'll dedicate at least one day to waking up early, enjoying a refreshing morning stroll through the city in the cool weather, and indulging in a hearty bowl of Hai Ca Squid Pho. It's an experience you won't want to miss!

#NhaTrangCity

#NhaTrangFoodie

#HaiCaSquidPho

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