Phu Quoc flavors
Gỏi Cá Trích (Herring Salad)
Phu Quoc's signature dish — paper-thin raw herring cured in lime, tossed with fresh and toasted coconut, onion, and herbs. Wrapped in rice paper with vegetables and dipped in a sweet roasted-peanut and fish-sauce dressing.
About this dish
Herring (cá trích) run in vast schools through the warm waters around Phu Quoc, and turning the day's catch into a raw salad is the island's most beloved way to honour their freshness. The fish is filleted into translucent slices and 'cooked' only by the acidity of lime and vinegar, then dressed with both fresh and toasted grated coconut — a flavour signature unique to this coconut-rich island. Diners assemble each bite themselves: a sheet of soft rice paper, a few raw vegetables and herbs, a portion of herring, all rolled and plunged into a thick dipping sauce ground from roasted peanuts and the island's prized fish sauce. The interplay of cool acidic fish, sweet coconut, fragrant herbs, and rich peanut sauce captures everything Phu Quoc cuisine is about: simple, fresh, and inseparable from the sea.
Allergen information
Preparation methods may vary by restaurant. Always confirm with staff if you have severe allergies.
Where to try
Nhà Hàng Vườn Táo and Trung Dương Marina (Dương Đông); fresh-seafood restaurants island-wide