One of the best things about HCMC’s extensive food scene is that there are regional specialties on offer from truly everywhere in the country to explore and enjoy, and often the twists manage to perfectly encapsulate the ‘same same but different!’ meme. In todays post we are headed to the country’s center!
Gia Lai is a mountainous province in the Central Highlands, located inland bordering Cambodia between Danang and Nha Trang cities and is host to a number of specialty dishes. All three of these spots are offering unique regional variations on popular dishes that people in the south make differently. Variety is truly the spice of life.
Món Ngon Gia Lai
Hours: 6am-9:30pm everyday
222 Nguyễn Văn Lượng, Phường 10, Gò Vấp
https://maps.app.goo.gl/g9FjyL8Lcy296BBT7?g_st=ic
I have actually never been to Gia Lai Province, so these and a few other restaurants are the extent of my experience. And this one was my very first! A great menu and pretty reasonably priced. I usually get the bún thịt nướng which is a little different than the Saigon version (well, same same but different, you know? You know). It features pork loaf, ground meat, and fried rice paper in addition to the regular toppings. The bun riêu, which I normally don’t like, is also pretty good.
Phở Khô Gia Lai
Hours: 6am-9pm everyday
58 Hoa Sứ, Phường 7, Phú Nhuận
https://maps.app.goo.gl/RiQDGVaoSLoakyEe6?g_st=ic
If you’re looking for a Pho variation that you don’t see everyday, this is a must try. The noodles are different from the usual - they are more akin to hu tiêu noodles: flatter, skinnier, and slightly chewier. I always get my soup on the side and eat it dry because hot soup? In this weather?! Be for real. They have a great variety of options and everything I’ve had was delicious.
Bánh Mì 81 - Hương Vị Pleiku Gia Lai
Hours: 6-11am, 2:30-7pm everyday
4 Đ. Trần Quang Long, P.19, Bình Thạnh
https://maps.app.goo.gl/xtPhg8aQXajbEEN28?g_st=ic
No one can argue (or at least, I hope they wouldn’t even try) that the banh mi sandwich is not a masterpiece of sandwich artistry. Absolute tops in global cuisine! Well imagine my surprise when I discovered that there’s a Pleiku-specific version perfectly suited to the cooler weather? Admittedly, I still prefer the local styles better, but this was a nifty change of pace. The interior of the baguette is hollowed out and the whole thing is grilled to finish it, so it’s just a crispy shell with the yums inside. A toasted banh mi in the central highlands morning mist sounds so comforting. Apparently there are a few branches but this is where I went.
Thanks for visiting Gia Lại Province with me today! If you’ve got any other good Pleiku/Gia Lai foods in the city please drop them in the comments. I’d like to try more!
-Ben
Ben, what are my chances of finding anything even close to authentic here in the states? Ruth and I share a desire to try authentic foods along with another couple and we're always looking for plaaces to try.
That all looks like a LOT of food!