Da Lat’s food scene is a mix of highland produce specialties, French-influenced techniques, and innovative Vietnamese cooking. The cool climate produces ingredients not found elsewhere in Vietnam.
Named restaurants in Da Lat
Le Rabelais (12 Trần Phú, inside the Dalat Palace Heritage Hotel) - French cuisine served in a 1922 colonial hotel dining room. The most atmospheric restaurant in Da Lat, with dark wood, white tablecloths, and views over Xuan Huong Lake. 400,000–800,000 VND/person.
Quan Hoa Restaurant (6 Phan Đình Phùng) - centrally located, with good Vietnamese highland cuisine. Lẩu (hotpot) is the speciality, available in several broths with local vegetables and meats. 100,000–200,000 VND/person.
Goc Ha Thanh (8 Nguyễn Chí Thanh) - a local favourite for bánh căn (mini pancakes) and bún bò Huế. Busy at lunchtime and early evening. Basic surroundings, reliable food. 50,000–100,000 VND/person.
Thanh Thảo (1 Phan Đình Phùng) - long-running local restaurant, good for cơm tấm (broken rice) and bò một nắng (air-dried beef, a Da Lat highland specialty). Consistent and unpretentious. 80,000–150,000 VND/person.
Da Lat Night Market (Nguyen Thi Minh Khai area, from around 17:00) - the evening market below the main market building is the most accessible street food hub in the city. Grilled corn with salt and lime butter, bánh tráng nướng (grilled rice paper), hot vịt lộn (balut), strawberry drinks, and fresh produce. 10,000–40,000 VND per item.
Banh Mi Hotpot (Lau Banh Mi)
A Da Lat invention. Sliced baguette dipped in a beef and tomato fondue broth, similar to a French fondue but with Vietnamese spicing. Originated in Da Lat because of the French baguette tradition and the cool evenings that make fondue-style eating appealing.
Available at small restaurants near the central market. ₫50,000–80,000 ($2–3.20) per portion.
Avocado dishes
Da Lat grows avocados (one of the few places in Vietnam where the climate permits). Avocado milk shake (sinh to bo) and avocado ice cream are local specialties. The avocado smoothie - blended avocado with condensed milk and ice - is rich and substantial. ₫25,000–40,000 ($1–1.60).
Highland barbecue (Banh Trang Nuong Da Lat)
Rice paper grilled over charcoal with egg, spring onion, and dried shrimp - similar to the Da Nang version but Da Lat claims the dish as their own in a slightly different form. Evening street food. ₫15,000–30,000 ($0.60–1.20).
Banh Mi Da Lat
Da Lat’s banh mi uses a lighter, crispier baguette than the southern versions - attributed to the French colonial bakery tradition. The local style is simple: pate, butter, pickles, and fresh herbs. No egg version is common. ₫20,000–40,000 ($0.80–1.60).
Strawberries and local produce
Da Lat strawberries - smaller and more flavourful than supermarket equivalents - are sold at the market and from roadside stalls throughout the area. Artichoke tea (Atiso tea) is a Da Lat specialty drink. Fresh raspberry jam and preserved strawberries are popular market purchases.
Lam Vien Restaurant
The city’s most recommended restaurant for set-menu highland cuisine. Dishes incorporate local produce (artichoke soup, grilled highland venison, forest mushroom dishes). ₫150,000–350,000 ($6–14) per person.
Long Hoa Restaurant
A long-established local favourite. Vietnamese food with highland ingredients. Simple, unpretentious, and consistently good. ₫80,000–180,000 ($3.20–7.20) per person.
Night market (Cho Da Lat Night Market)
The area below the main market building operates as a street food night market from 17:00. Grilled corn (with salt and lime butter), banh trang nuong, strawberry drinks, fresh fruit, and various street snacks. ₫10,000–40,000 ($0.40–1.60) per item.
Take a Guided Food Tour of Da Lat
Da Lat’s highland food scene is unlike anywhere else in Vietnam — local strawberries, artichoke tea, avocados, and fresh vegetables grown in the cool mountain climate feature in dishes that don’t exist in the lowland cities. A guided food tour covers the Da Lat night market, banh trang nuong stalls, and the local wine and produce culture of the central highlands. For first-time visitors, having a guide who can navigate the maze of market vendors and explain the highland produce makes a significant difference.
Book a guided food tour of Da Lat on GetYourGuide
More in Da Lat
- Best Cafes to Work in Da Lat 2026: Highland Cafes with Wifi
- Best Hostels in Da Lat 2026: Budget Stays in the Highland City
- Best Hotels in Da Lat 2026: Colonial Villas and Lake View Hotels
- Da Lat Coffee Guide 2026: Weasel Coffee, Cau Dat Farm and Cafe Culture
- Day Trips from Da Lat 2026: Coffee Farms, Nha Trang Drive and Waterfalls
- Da Lat Food Guide 2026: What to Eat in Vietnam’s Highland City
- Hiking in Da Lat 2026: Bidoup Park, Waterfalls and Highland Trails
- Things to Do in Da Lat 2026: Waterfalls, Coffee Farms and Hiking
- Vegan Food in Da Lat 2026: Highland Produce and Plant-Based Cafes
- Best Hotels in Da Lat 2026: Lakeside Villas to Budget Guesthouses
For a deeper look at Da Lat’s local dishes, highland ingredients, and food culture, see our Da Lat food guide.
Plan Your Trip
Book food tours in Da Lat Get travel insurance Stay connected with a Vietnam eSIM Back to Da Lat Guide