I like Vietnamese food, and I like eating raw fish; therefore, when I was presented with the option of getting a Sapa Sashimi, it was pretty much a no-brainer for the Street Food Guy!
What, though, is Sapa, and indeed, what is a Sapa sashimi? Well, this is my guide to both of these things!
What the Sapa?
Sapa, or if you really want to write it properly, Sa Pa, is a small mountainous town in the north of Vietnam that borders China and is a huge hit with tourists. This is largely because of the stunning views, as well as the hiking opportunities.
Another surefire draw is that because it is in the mountains—and, rather like Dalat in southern Vietnam or Baguio in the Philippines—its cold climate makes it a bit of a winter capital. This means it makes a perfect break from the monotony of the bone-breaking heat that you get in much of the rest of the country.
And then there’s the culture and food of Sapa. Basically, the area is predominantly occupied by the Hmong tribes, which means they not only dress a bit differently from the rest of the country, but also eat differently. This means there are quite a few specialties unique to the area, such as horse meat and buffalo jerky, as well as the aforementioned Sapa sashimi.
Fish in Sapa
Having a northern colder climate, as well as fairly important rivers and lakes, means that the climate of Sapa allows for some great fish that aren’t common in the rest of the country. The most important of these is sturgeon—which is native to the region—along with trout (cá hồi vân) and salmon (cá hồi). In actuality, though, most of what you get is trout, but it is sold as salmon since salmon is far posher and sexier than some old trout!
And they are served in a whole heap of ways, such as Salmon hotpot (Lẩu cá hồi), Grilled Trout – Cá Hồi Nướng, Deep-Fried Trout with Rice – Cá Hồi Chiên Giòn Ăn Kèm Cơm Trắng, and Skewered Grilled Fish – Cá Xiên Nướng, to name just a few! There are also things like squid at the night market, but these are far from endemic! And of course, there’s the sturgeon sashimi (Gỏi cá tầm)! Or rather, Sapa Sashimi.
Sapa Sashimi!
So, Sapa sashimi is, alongside the many horse and buffalo dishes, one of the most popular meals in the city. For the most part, this consists of sturgeon sashimi (Gỏi cá tầm) and salmon sashimi in Sapa (Gỏi cá hồi), AKA trout. I personally gave the salmon a miss as I’ve had it in many countries before, but the sturgeon I just had to try.
I picked a restaurant down in Sapa Town, leading towards the bars of the city, that looked decent enough and offered said sashimi for around $10. Now, while I love having raw fish with soy sauce and wasabi, what I really love is when you get sashimi served in a different way. I have had tuna with vinegar and hot sauce in Nauru, as well as the famous Chinese Shunde Sashimi, which comes with Crushed peanuts (花生碎), Pickled ginger (姜丝), Coriander (香菜), and Chili slices (小米辣).
And Sapa Sashimi takes us on another weird tangent, as it is primarily served with Pickled ginger (gừng ngâm), Chili slices (ớt thái lát), Lime wedges (chanh tươi), and Salt and pepper mix (muối tiêu chanh). I, however, had mine served with crushed peanuts (đậu phộng rang) and a lightly spicy mix that both stuck snugly onto the damp Sapa sashimi. You know what? It really did work well. The sturgeon was fresh, and while I would go for wasabi if I had the choice, the peanut mix was a decent, sexy little change.
Where to Eat Sapa Sashimi?
Where is the best place to eat Sapa sashimi? Well, not to state the obvious, but Sapa, of course! Aside from the obvious, I will suggest some decent restaurants though.
Chapa Valley Restaurant
A bit of a tourist trap, but offers stunning views and is renowned for its fresh food.
A Quynh Restaurant
The sashimi is served Vietnamese style here with the ground peanut, and they offer both sturgeon and salmon. They are also well known for their fish hotpot, if that’s something you’d fancy giving a try.
Red Dao House
This is an ethnically local restaurant located in downtown Sapa that is always pretty busy with patrons. It has a number of other local dishes, as well as fresh Sapa sashimi.
Sapa O’Chau Restaurant
These guys market themselves as having “ethical produce and sourcing,” which I literally have no idea what it means! It’s a nice, intimate setting, rather than the busy hustle and bustle of some other places.
Fansipan Terrace Cafe & Restaurant
These guys offer Sapa salmon (trout) served with local dipping sauces and herbs, rather than the ground peanuts. Another place that offers great views.
Conclusion on Sapa Sashimi
If you don’t already like sashimi, then to be honest, you’re not suddenly going to love the sashimi in Sapa. However, if raw fish is your thing, then this is well worth a try, if nothing else, because it’s something a little different from what you’re probably used to!
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