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La Vong fish cake is a Hanoi specialty that was born in the 70s of the 19th century. At that time, there was a Doan family living at 40 Hang Son. This family often used their house as a place to shelter the De Tham army (Yen The uprising) and often made fish cake to treat guests. Because they found this dish delicious, those guests secretly helped the Doan family open a fish cake noodle shop, which was both a source of income and a secret meeting place.

Hanoians have always valued their outstanding culinary culture, especially the dishes served to guests must be delicious and luxurious. La Vong fish cakes are made from the best fish, especially catfish, which fully expresses the flavor of this dish. The unique combination of fish cakes creates an unforgettable delicacy. The fish meat is carefully boned, sweet, golden and fragrant, and soaked in spices. Dill and chopped green onions are mixed in the hot fish pan. When eaten, it is combined with grilled rice paper, vermicelli and shrimp paste – indispensable ingredients to create a rich flavor.

From the cozy feeling by the fire, the sizzling sound of fat, the fish and vegetables stirring, to the fragrant smell rising and the delicious taste spreading from the first bite, all bring a unique and lingering flavor. This dish must be eaten while still hot and served with crispy sesame rice paper, vermicelli, roasted peanuts, coriander, Vietnamese basil, dill, and chopped fresh onions. Use chopsticks to pick up all of these and dip them into a bowl of shrimp paste that has been whipped with lemon juice.

There are two popular ways to enjoy fish cakes: First, put the grilled fish in a pan of oil, add onions and dill. When the vegetables are half-cooked, take them out and eat them with vermicelli, herbs, roasted peanuts and shrimp paste mixed by putting a little vermicelli in a bowl, adding vegetables and a few pieces of fish cakes on top, sprinkling some roasted peanuts, pouring a little shrimp paste and mixing to eat. When eating, the smell of shrimp paste blends with the sweetness of the fish, the smell of vegetables and the rich taste of roasted peanuts. Because it has a lot of fat, when eating, it must be accompanied by chopped fresh onion stalks soaked in diluted vinegar.

Some places with mouth-watering fish cakes tourists should check out when visiting Hanoi:

1/ Original La Vong Fish Cake – 14 Cha Ca Street, Hang Bo, Hoan Kiem District

2/ Ha Thanh Fish Cake – 32 Nguyen Van Huyen, Cau Giay District / 67 Pho Duc Chinh, Ba Dinh District

3/ Thang Long Fish Cake – 19-21-31 Duong Thanh Street, Hoan Kiem District

4/ Gia Nguyen La Vong Fish Cake – 339 Tran Khat Chan Street, Hai Ba Trung District

5/ Anh Vu Fish Cake – 120K1 Giang Vo Street, Ba Dinh District

6/ Fish Cake King – 26C Tran Hung Dao