Hai Cử – Da Nang's Legendary Cá Diếc Soup, Roe and All

It's rainy season in Da Nang, which means the crucian carp are full of roe and Hai Cử is at its very best. Locals who move away make this their first stop when they come home. Tucked away at 63 Yên Bái in central Hải Châu, this no-frills spot has built its reputation on one dish: cá diếc rau răm (crucian carp soup with Vietnamese coriander). The fish are bought live, picked only if they're carrying roe, and dropped whole into boiling water so the scales stay intact. Those slightly crunchy scales are part of the pleasure. The broth should be clear enough to see the bottom of the bowl, fragrant with spring onion and rau răm, with a tart kick from trái cớt, a sour green local fruit. Beyond the signature soup, there's crispy fried climbing perch, rich caramelized braised fish, shrimp rice porridge and plenty of classic Vietnamese drinking snacks. ✨ Why you should go: 🐟 Whole carp, scales on, bellies packed with rich roe in a clean, sweet broth 🌿 Rau răm, spring onion and tart trái cớt give it a true Central Vietnam flavor 🍲 A fish-lover's menu: fried perch, braised fish, shrimp porridge, apple snails 🍻 Casual and local, generous plates, great for lunch or beers with friends 📍 63 Yên Bái, Hải Châu, Da Nang 📞 +84 236 3825 588 🕐 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM daily