The Ultimate Guide to Da Lat’s Best Kept Secret: Chicken Rice Heaven

Unlike other chicken rice dishes, Dalat Chicken Rice stands out with its golden, aromatic rice cooked in chicken broth and seasoned with distinctive spices, creating an irresistible appeal. The chicken is prepared by boiling or roasting, resulting in tender and sweet meat, typically accompanied by fresh herbs, cucumber, and spicy ginger fish sauce.

Dalat Chicken Rice offers not only a delectable taste but also a fascinating culinary experience in the chilly atmosphere of the highlands. For visitors, indulging in this dish will undoubtedly be an unforgettable memory, prompting a return to explore more delights in this romantic city.

Listed below are some of the best places to savor the ultimate Dalat Chicken Rice experience:

Dalat Pho Chicken Rice

This restaurant serves chicken rice cooked in the style of Hoi An, a city known for its delicious cuisine. The rice is golden, fragrant, and fatty as it is cooked with chicken broth using a unique steaming and incubating technique. The restaurant prioritizes quality by sourcing free-range chickens from local families in the outskirts of Dalat, ensuring that diners enjoy firm, aromatic, and fatty chicken meat. Additionally, fresh and crispy Dalat vegetables are served on the side.

Conveniently located in the heart of Dalat, just 200 meters from the market and across from the Cối Xay Gió bakery, this restaurant is a popular choice among tourists, so expect a lively crowd. Visit during lunch or dinner to fully enjoy their offerings.

In addition to chicken rice, the restaurant offers a variety of other dishes such as wet cake with chicken, shrimp paste bread, and grilled pork with vermicelli, providing a range of options to suit different tastes. One of the standout features of this restaurant is its architectural style inspired by Hoi An, with yellow roof tiles and lantern lighting, offering a perfect backdrop for post-meal photos. The restaurant is spacious and clean, and the best part is that the food is very affordably priced.

Son Ky Chicken Rice

Mentioning Dalat Chicken Rice without including Son Ky Chicken Rice would be a significant oversight. Complete your lunch experience in Dalat with a visit to this renowned restaurant. Their signature dishes include chicken fried in grease, chicken dipped in fish sauce, and boiled chicken with five spices. The rice here is delicious, and the chicken is seasoned to perfection, leaving a lasting impression on anyone who tries it.

A portion of chicken rice here costs only about 45,000 VND, and the chicken portion is quite generous. The restaurant offers a spacious, airy, and clean environment, earning high marks from diners. Most customers leave satisfied, praising both the quality of the food and the comfortable seating.

Khương Duy Restaurant

When it comes to grilled chicken with bamboo-tube rice in Dalat, Khương Duy Restaurant is a must-visit. Conveniently located on the main road leading to popular destinations such as Golden Valley, Pink Grass Hill, and Cù Lần Village, it’s an easy stop on your itinerary.

The owner of the restaurant is an ethnic minority, and the dishes here reflect the unique flavors of the mountainous region, offering a distinct and palatable dining experience. The menu is diverse, ranging from wild game to stir-fried vegetables, but they are particularly famous for their bamboo-tube rice with grilled chicken.

The grilled chicken, cooked whole, retains its moisture and tenderness, and is paired with a unique salty dip. The bamboo-tube rice has a crispy exterior and a soft, sticky texture inside, complemented by sesame salt and crushed peanuts. The fresh wild herb salad adds a refreshing touch to the meal without overwhelming the palate.

While the restaurant’s ambiance is simple, it offers a cool and comfortable space. The pricing is reasonable, and they also offer liquor to enhance your dining experience. The owner is friendly and welcoming, contributing to an overall enjoyable visit. For weekend visits, it is advisable to make a reservation to avoid waiting for the grilled chicken.

A Vu Chicken Rice with Grease

A Vu restaurant serves an exceptionally delicious and appealing dish of chicken rice with grease that will satisfy any fan of chicken rice. The restaurant is a simple wooden house decorated in a modest and familiar style, creating a cozy atmosphere. The space is airy and exudes a retro charm that piques the curiosity of passersby, inviting them to step in and try the food.

The chicken rice portions here are generous, featuring tender and juicy chicken thighs infused with just the right amount of seasoning. The rice is cooked to perfection, and the dish is prepared with minimal oil. The rice used is of the highest quality, ST24, currently the best rice variety available. Notably, the restaurant also wholesales and retails this premium rice variety. The chicken is greased using a specialized chicken greasing machine, adding a modern and sophisticated touch to the traditional dish.

Lam Ha Chicken Rice with Grease

One of the most highly regarded delicacies in Dalat is the chicken rice with grease from Lam Ha. The rice here has a golden hue due to the addition of turmeric. The chicken is fried to a golden brown and coated with a hint of honey, resulting in a subtle sweetness. The restaurant specializes solely in this signature dish, prepared using a unique recipe, and does not offer boiled chicken.

Known for its delicious food, the restaurant is often bustling with customers. The space is clean and hygienic, featuring stone tables, and the staff is attentive and courteous. You can always count on being served hot and tasty plates of Dalat chicken rice here.