Cha Ca (Grilled Fish with Turmeric and Dill)

Background of Cha Ca

A grilled fish with dill and turmeric, a national craze, was brought to the Old Quarter by a restaurant. In the nineteenth century, this restaurant began offering cha cha. The Doan family came up with the idea of cha ca. In the years of the French dominance period, they produced very tasty cha ca to feed their guests. The dish's popularity grew quickly, and the family opened a restaurant in Hanoi's Old Quarter at 14 Hang Son Street with the support of guests. Due to the popularity of this cuisine, Hang Son Street was renamed Cha Ca Street. At the time, the restaurant had a statue of La Vong-Khuong Tu Nha – the God of Fishman. Many individuals like the name Cha Ca La Vong because of this.

Ingredients of Cha Ca

Snakehead fish are commonly used in this meal. It is a freshwater fish found across Vietnam. Nowadays, there are various variations of the cha ca dish, with different types of fish being used. The one made with snakehead fish, though, is still the best.

Starting with the marinade, the grilled fish with dill and turmeric is a difficult dish to make. Turmeric, garlic, shallots, galangal, salt, sugar, and fish sauce make up the marinade. Before being grilled, the fish is marinated for at least one hour. They fried the meal in oil just before presenting it to the visitors.

Enjoy Cha Ca

It's such a unique experience to eat this great dish in a traditional restaurant. You settle down, place your order, and a sizzling hot pan of marinated fish, as well as a basket of accoutrements, will be delivered to your table. Vermicelli, fresh herbs (dill, basil, spring onion), roasted peanuts, chili, and mam nem are common ingredients (a fermented shrimp paste). The fish and herbs will be cooked right in front of your eyes, and the turmeric marinade will give the fish fillet a lovely golden color.

Enjoy bite-sized slices of fish with herbs, vermicelli, and salty peanuts while the dish is still sizzling. This will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to sample one of Vietnam's most famous and delectable dishes. On weekends, Hanoi residents enjoy this renowned dish with their families, friends, and coworkers.

When travelers visit Hanoi, Vietnam, they should sample "Cha Ca," a delicious delicacy. It is one of Hanoi's most sought-after dishes due to its long history, complicated ingredients, and distinct flavor.

Leading Cha Ca restaurants in Hanoi:

Cha Ca La Vong (Original) – 14 Cha Ca street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi
Cha Ca Ha Thanh – 20 Nguyen Van Huyen road, Cau Giay district, Hanoi
Cha Ca Vong Ngu – 29 Nguyen Chi Thanh road, Ba Dinh district, Hanoi
Cha Ca Lang – Floor 1, 18 Lo Su street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi
Ong Gia Cha Ca – Floor 9, 18 Ly Thuong Kiet street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi