Nha Trang is famous throughout Vietnam for its seafood, and the city takes this reputation seriously. The best seafood is found not in the tourist restaurants on Trần Phú but in the local places on the back streets south of the Cathedral and along Bà Triệu and Nguyễn Thiện Thuật streets. Point at the tanks, agree a price, and watch it cooked.
The local speciality is bún cá (fish noodle soup), a Nha Trang dish of yellow turmeric broth with fresh fish, thick rice noodles, and a pile of fresh herbs. It is usually eaten for breakfast. Nem nướng (grilled pork rolls) with rice paper, fresh greens, and a peanut dipping sauce is another Nha Trang staple worth tracking down.