History
In the 19th century the Doan family of the Old Quarter grilled fish for their neighbours, and the community helped them open an eatery on Hang Son Street in 1871. It was nicknamed Cha Ca La Vong after a statue inside, and the street was later renamed Cha Ca. Michelin gives Cha Ca Thang Long a Bib Gourmand; it has three branches on one street, and its cha ca is Hemibagrus catfish seasoned with turmeric and cooked in a hot pot with spring onions and herbs.
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Common allergens: Fish, Shrimp (mam tom), Peanut
Make it at home
Ingredients
- 500g catfish or hemibagrus fillet, cubed
- 2 tbsp ground turmeric
- 2 tbsp galangal, grated
- 2 tbsp fish sauce
- 2 tbsp yogurt or sour cream
- 2 large bunches fresh dill
- 4 spring onions
- 1 tbsp shrimp paste (mam tom)
- 200g rice vermicelli
- Crushed roasted peanuts
- Fresh chilli and lime
Method
- Marinate the fish in turmeric, galangal, fish sauce and yogurt for 30 minutes.
- Heat 4 tbsp oil in a heavy pan or wok over high heat.
- Pan-fry the marinated fish for 3-4 minutes until just cooked, golden and aromatic.
- Reduce heat. Add the dill (snipped into 3 cm lengths) and spring onions, tossing until just wilted.
- Mix the mam tom with lime juice and sugar at the table to make a dip.
- Serve over rice vermicelli with peanuts, fresh chilli and the mam tom dip on the side.
Tip from the editors. Hemibagrus is traditional but catfish is fine. Don't overcook the dill: 30 seconds of wilting is enough.
Where to eat chả cá
Chả Cá in Hanoi
Chả Cá Lã Vọng ★ 4.0
Chả Cá Lã Vọng is a Vietnamese restaurant at 14 Cha Ca, Hang Dao, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi.
Chả Cá Thăng Long ★ 4.4
Chả Cá Thăng Long grills chả cá lăng, turmeric-marinated catfish with spring onion and dill, at 6B Duong Thanh in the Old Quarter since 1994.
OrderChả cá lăng, the catfish marinated with turmeric and grilled golden on a hot pan with spring onion and dill.
TipA fake Google Maps address is in circulation, the restaurant warns; its branches are 2D and 6B Duong Thanh.
More places near Chả Cá Lã Vọng and Chả Cá Thăng Long
Not on this list, but close by, nearest first. Every one is in our guide with its address, hours and what to order.
- Don Duck Old Quarter Vietnamese, about 100 m away
- Phở Gia Truyền Bát Đàn Vietnamese, about 150 m away
- Phở Bò Lâm Noodle, about 200 m away
- Banh Mi 25 Street food, about 200 m away
- Streetside Dining Casual dining, about 250 m away
- Bún Bò Nam Bộ Bách Phương Casual dining, about 250 m away
More cities are in research. Want chả cá covered somewhere specific? Tell us where you want to eat.