Hanoi’s cuisine is known for its delicacy and elegance from the simplest dish. Cha ca (grilled fish), a simple but truly tasty dish, characterizes the essence of the capital city’s gastronomy.  

Cha ca is so exceptional that Hanoi has a street named after it. The dish can be found in many restaurants and has been recommended by top global cuisine websites and magazines as a must-try dish in Hanoi.

The ingredients of cha ca consist of catfish, dill, onion, turmeric, galingale, fermented rice, fermented shrimp paste, pepper, chili, lemon, sugar, fish sauce and herbs.

To make a tasty cha ca, fermented rice and fermented shrimp paste are indispensable ingredients. Cha ca is recommended as a must-try dish in Hanoi.

It is not too difficult to cook the dish. Clean the fish, drain and cut it into square pieces which are then marinated with turmeric, galingale, fermented rice, fermented shrimp paste, pepper and fish sauce for at least an hour.

After that, put the fish in bamboo clips and grill them over charcoal until both sides turn yellow.

Then fry the fish in a pan with hot oil and dill and spring onion for a couples of minutes.

Cha ca is served hot with rice vermicelli, toasted peanuts and herbs, and a dipping sauce made from fish sauce, vinegar, salt, sugar, garlic and chili. The dipping sauce can also be made from fermented shrimp paste mixed with sugar and lemon juice.

Cha ca is not only a popular dish for Hanoians but also a favorite of many foreigners. 
 

Story: Vy Thao - Photos: Thanh Giang