Gỏi Cá Trích & Phú Quốc Fish Sauce: The Renowned Specialty of the Pearl Island

"Fresh herring salad tossed with grated coconut and fragrant herbs, dipped in rich Phú Quốc fish sauce – Phú Quốc’s signature dish that captivates every diner from the very first bite."

Gỏi Cá Trích & Phú Quốc Fish Sauce is more than just a dish; it is the very essence of the Pearl Island’s culinary culture. Made with ultra-fresh herring from the sea, meticulously prepared to retain its natural sweetness, and paired with premium fish sauce for dipping, this creation offers a unique taste journey blending refreshing sourness, natural sweetness, creamy richness, and spicy depth – an unforgettable experience for every visitor to Phú Quốc.

Gỏi Cá Trích is the specialty you must try to truly know Phú Quốc. Born from fishermen’s offshore expeditions, it has become the culinary pinnacle of the Pearl Island thanks to the abundant herring from the Southwest Sea. During the southwest wind season (lunar months 7-8), fishermen sail about 10 km out to cast fine-mesh nets and return with the freshest catches. Locals insist the best gỏi cá trích is found at Bai Khem.

Crafting the salad demands meticulous skill: select live fresh fish, scale it cleanly, remove guts, head, fins and tail, then fillet the thin meat from both sides while keeping the delicate skin intact. The fillets are rinsed with salted lemon water and soaked in diluted lemon juice for about 5 minutes to completely remove any fishiness and preserve their crisp, natural sweetness – the secret that makes Phú Quốc herring truly distinctive.

The accompaniments are rich and inviting: thinly sliced onions, shredded carrots, grated coconut for creamy texture, golden fried garlic, and fresh cilantro, plus crisp herbs for wrapping. Everything is tossed with the fish in a signature sour dressing made from guava vinegar instead of ordinary lemon, seasoned with salt and sugar to deliver a refreshing, delicately fragrant tang unique to the island.

Once prepared, the fish is thoroughly mixed with the ingredients and sour dressing, then topped with crushed roasted peanuts. The finished salad must retain the fish’s natural sweetness, remain crisp and fatty without any trace of fishiness – a rustic yet refined masterpiece of Phú Quốc cuisine.

The true soul of the dish lies in the dipping sauce: premium Phú Quốc fish sauce – world-famous for its deep, aromatic richness – blended with minced garlic and chili, crushed roasted peanuts, sugar, and lemon. This bowl creates perfect harmony of sweet-sour-spicy notes that elevates every bite to specialty status.

To savor it the authentic Phú Quốc way, wrap rice paper with fresh herbs, cucumber slices, and the herring salad, then dip generously into the fish sauce. The fresh, fatty sweetness of the fish and coconut, combined with aromatic herbs and the bold dipping sauce, will leave you utterly enchanted by the flavors of the Pearl Island.

In Phú Quốc, enjoy this dish at renowned restaurants such as Nhà hàng Xin Chào (Trần Hưng Đạo), Quán Việt (Nguyễn Trung Trực), or Sông Xanh (30 Tháng 4) in Dương Đông. Portions cost 120,000–200,000 VND (serves 3), each offering its own creative twist – from sea morning glory to signature family fish-sauce recipes – while staying true to the island’s authentic taste.