Chuồn Chuồn Kim: a traditional and rustic Vietnamese dining experience in downtown Nha Trang

Sometimes you want home cooking, but you don't want to cook at home. For traditional Vietnamese cuisine with a comfortable homestyle ambiance, try Chuồn Chuồn Kim on Đ. Hoàng Hoa Thám street, in downtown Nha Trang.

The open concept dining and kitchen seems to beckon you from the sidewalk with its brightly colored, yet subtly tasteful, decor. It feels like you’re walking off the street right into a Vietnamese village in the countryside. The dining area is cozy, with just a handful of tables. Darkly finished wooden tables and benches, and exposed brick and cinder block walls reinforce this impression. 

The restaurant is brimming over with plant life, like a village garden in miniature, and the calming sound of running water from a small fountain combines soothingly with the sounds of cooking and dining. 

The Menu is simple but varied, including traditional appetizers, as well as pork, beef, chicken, fish, and vegetarian dishes. The food arrives in generous bowls and wicker baskets, inviting you to dig in. 

We tried the stir fried beef with anchovies (120k VND), mixed vegetables with ground peanuts (45k), iced (cooling) tea (30k). But the real star was the fried pork belly with salt and lemongrass (95k): The rich taste of the pork combined perfectly with the citrusy-gingery tang of the lemongrass. It’s no wonder this dish is at the top of their most recommended list!