Beyond its striking flavor and satisfying crunch, the dish also surprised the Western guest with its price - just VND18,000 per plate (US$0.70).
Dalton Rhone, an American traveler currently journeying from north to south across Vietnam, has been immersing himself not only in the country’s culture and landscapes but also in its diverse local cuisine.
In a recent video documenting his trip to Lam Dong - formerly part of Binh Thuan province - Dalton highlighted several dishes visitors should not miss when in Mui Ne - Phan Thiet.
Alongside familiar options like duck Quang noodles and stir-fried vermicelli, one particular street snack left a lasting impression on him: squid teeth.
Dalton enjoys local cuisine during his trip to Lam Dong.
In reality, squid teeth are small circular muscles located near the head of the squid, hidden among the tentacles. They have an ivory-white color, covered by a thin layer of flesh, and contain two small hard shells inside.
Their appearance, resembling tiny teeth, is what inspired locals to give them their name.
Once largely overlooked during squid preparation, this part has been transformed through local ingenuity into a distinctive and flavorful street food in Mui Ne - Phan Thiet.
To try the dish, Dalton visited a long-standing local eatery on Vo Thi Sau Street in Phan Thiet Ward.
Squid teeth are turned into a range of unique street snacks in Mui Ne - Phan Thiet. Photo: Dao Do An
In reality, squid teeth are small circular muscles located near the head of the squid, hidden among the tentacles. They have an ivory-white color, covered by a thin layer of flesh, and contain two small hard shells inside.
Their appearance, resembling tiny teeth, is what inspired locals to give them their name.
Once largely overlooked during squid preparation, this part has been transformed through local ingenuity into a distinctive and flavorful street food in Mui Ne - Phan Thiet.
To try the dish, Dalton visited a long-standing local eatery on Vo Thi Sau Street in Phan Thiet Ward.
The American traveler tries three squid teeth dishes at a long-standing local eatery.
As for the fried version, he noted a mild fishy aroma but found it delicious. “The squid teeth are coated in batter and fried. The outside is crispy while the inside is dense and smooth - it’s the perfect snack,” he shared.
The butter garlic version, served with crispy grilled rice paper, earned even higher praise.
“The first two were already good, but this one is even better. The sauce is really interesting - it has butter and garlic, but also other seasonings that make the flavor rich and well-balanced,” he added.
Dalton also pointed out that the eatery offers side ingredients such as green chili, Vietnamese coriander and pickled vegetables, which help cut through the richness of the dish.
“Squid teeth dishes are truly impressive. This is probably the best thing I’ve eaten today,” he said.
Beyond squid teeth, Dalton also recommended that visitors try duck Quang noodles and stir-fried beef vermicelli.
Duck Quang noodles and stir-fried beef vermicelli.
Regarding duck Quang noodles, he observed that the dish has been adapted to suit local tastes, making it noticeably different from the traditional versions in Da Nang and Quang Nam.
In terms of appearance, he described the noodles as resembling hu tieu, served with a more generous amount of broth.
Flavor-wise, he praised the tender duck meat and the broth, which carries a rich fish sauce aroma.
“I’ve tried Quang noodles in Da Nang and Quang Nam many times, so experiencing a new variation like duck Quang noodles in Phan Thiet is quite interesting,” Dalton said.
As for stir-fried beef vermicelli, he found the dish simple in name but distinctive in taste. Although the noodles are served cold, the sautéed beef adds a pleasant warmth.
“The vermicelli, combined with condiments like chili sauce and pickles, creates a balance of sour, spicy, salty and sweet. The accompanying fermented sauce has a slightly strong smell, similar to mam nem, but lighter and easy to eat,” he commented.
Vietnamnet.vn
Podcast
.svg){kind=icon}
