Visit Phu Quoc January 2020 Visitor's Guide

Eating & Drinking Guide
All you need to know about Bún Quậy
A local food that that you cannot miss!
by Lộc Thị Phương
What are we going to eat and where?
This is always one of the first important questions that come up when you arrive at any new
destination.
Bún Quậy is a local specialty that I highly recommend while you are on Phu Quoc island, definitely,
do not miss it! Bún Quậy is a rice noodle soup but this one tastes like no others you have tried before! The base
ingredient of this soup is indeed the same as other soups but Bún Quậy’s preparation and ingredients will leave you
with an unforgettable impression.
Firstly the base ingredients are freshly mashed fish, shrimps, squid, chopped shallots blended into a hot broth
and is eaten with a sauce made from fresh kumquat, chili, salt, sugar and pepper.
No need for any marinade or oil, this dish is very simple, quite light, and very tasty.
In Phu Quoc there are many places to enjoy Bún Quậy but the most famous restaurant is Bun Quay Kien Xay at
28 Bach Dang, Duong Dong, just a few dozen meters away from the night market. The food there is very good and
even local people prefer this place to others.
The family owning this restaurant has been selling Bún Quậy for over 20 years and it is very popular among locals
and Vietnamese tourists alike. They serve both breakfast and dinner with the same dish, but I strongly encourage
you to eat it at night, as it is more fun to experience at that time.
When entering the restaurant, if you arrive at the rushing time, you may be overwhelmed by how busy it is and
may even feel a bit lost, as there is no menu in English, no waiter, and the organization may seem chaotic at first.
Don’t worry, we are going to guide you through your order!
Also, it is not rare for a Vietnamese customer to come to the rescue of a foreigner when they see that he is
lost and this place only serves one thing so you can’t go wrong: The first thing you need to do is head toward the
counter near the kitchen while you are waiting for your turn, you will witness how rice noodles are traditionally
freshly squeezed and cooked on the spot on a wood fire, and then served immediately to customers.
Then take your order where you can choose according to your taste: either shrimp, fish, squid or a mix of the
three, once this is done, it is going to take some time for your bowl to be ready.
This is the time for you to prepare your accompanying sauce, take a little bowl and squeeze some fresh kumquat
over salt, sugar and chili until it fits your taste.
When this is done, your bowl should be nearly ready to take to your table, add some pepper to your liking and
enjoy!
When stirring the dish, you will notice that the seafood paste will stick together after being cooked, you can dip
it in the sauce you have just prepared and will feel the freshness of seafood along with the rich flavors of the soup
along with the sweet, spicy, salty and sour tastes of your sauce.
If you are thirsty, order a glass of freshly pressed sugarcane juice, this is a really good mix!
ISITPHUQUOC.INFO
Bún Quậy a dish bearing the culture of the people of the sea, its simple, casual and fresh so don't miss the
chance to experience this very local food!
Article provided by Green Hat Holiday
+84 982 780 304 | www.greenhatholiday.com
48 VISIT PHU QUOC • 12 th edition JAN-JUL 2020