Rotten crab vermicelli (a black, pungent crab noodle rice vermicelli soup with crab sauce) is a must-try specialty for visitors in Pleiku city in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai.
Gia Lai cuisine has many attractive but unique and strange dishes, it is definitely indispensable for the famous crab noodle dish. The delicious rotten crab noodle shops in Gia Lai have always been the favorite culinary address of traveling devotees whenever they have the opportunity to come to this highland mountain country.
Rotten crab vermicelli Gia Lai is known with many names, of which the most common is rotten crab vermicelli, crab vermicelli is one of the most famous specialties in the mountain town. Visitors coming to Gia Lai if they want to find the most typical dishes to enjoy, the crab vermicelli is one of the first dishes suggested next to two bowls of pho or rice paper.
Locals refer to this dish as “smelly vermicelli” as the soup has a strong smell that comes from the way it is made.
Locals refer to this dish as “smelly vermicelli” as the soup has a strong smell that comes from the way it is made.
To prepare the dish, several kilos of freshwater crabs are washed and crushed after their shells are removed. This is then strained with water and set aside for a day to ferment. The water turns black and gives off a strong odor.
The cook slices fresh or dried bamboo shoots and puts them into a pot of boiling crab water on a low fire. The longer these are cooked, the sweeter the bamboo shoots are, making the crab broth tastier.
Besides crab and bamboo shoots, the dish also contains deep-fried pork skin or shrimp crackers and fried onions.
Customers can choose between side dishes of spring rolls, pork sausage and fresh vegetables. The dish is served with fish sauce and spicy minced chili peppers to increase the flavour.
A bowl of bún mắm cua includes vermicelli, bamboo shoots, a duck egg, deep-fried pork skin, fried onions and crushed peanuts, topped with crab.
Locals often eat two or even three bowls to satisfy their cravings.
Recommended Places to eat Rotten crab vermicelli
- Bún cua Chi: 02, Phung Hung street, Pleiku city, Gia Lai ( the oldest places to sell rotten crab vermicelli in Gia Lai)
- Night market Pleiku: No. 38 Nguyen Thien Thuat Street, Pleiku City, Gia Lai
- Gia Lai Crab Noodles Restaurant: No. 302 Nguyen Tat Thanh Street, Phu Dong, Pleiku City, Gia Lai
Visiting a rotten crab vermicelli shop on the sidewalk, ignoring the scent of “moldy” and the initial impression, watching the hand saleswoman quickly arrange the ingredients in a bowl and then pour the vermicelli a spoonful of crab fish sauce, add bamboo shoots and bacon and enjoying is an extremely enjoyable experience.
No matter where you choose to eat Rotten crab vermicelli in Pleiku, you are sure to enjoy this delicious and iconic dish. So why dont you book the trip to Vietnam to enjoy the authentic Rotten crab vermicelli dish as well as many delicious Vietnamese foods.
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*This above information is for reference purpose only
Source: vietnamtourism.gov.vn