For Vietnamese food, the three Truc Linh restaurants are extremely popular and tourist-friendly. Across all restaurants Vietnamese seafood is a speciality, with the catches displayed outside nightly. They also have an extensive range of western foods on the menu. Truc Linh 2 has some Thai options, and Truc Linh 3 some Chinese options.

Swanky Thien Minh has a stone garden area for outside dining, where 'fusion' dishes are advertised on the menu, although perhaps not wisely as no real fusion is taking place, only a typically broad menu covering traditional Vietnamese and Western foods. This restaurant is not as expensive as it looks.

In town, Lac Canh is the place to go. Long established and always packed with locals, expats and tourists alike, Lac Canh is a typically bustling Vietnamese street side restaurant, where you can BBQ your own food at the table or enjoy any of the other seafoods or rice dishes on offer.

If you're looking for some real Vietnamese food and you want to get away from the tourist scene, Nha Trang has plenty of places to sample the further you get from the beach, but typically you'll find no English-language menu -- you can always pick and point and try your luck, but we thought we'd start you out with a couple of places we found.

There's a string of street-side 'Lau Bo-Lau De' places along Nguyen Thi Minh Khai between Me Linh and Nguyen Huu Huan Streets. 'Lau,' means 'hotpot,' a Vietnamese variation on sukiyaki -- Bo (as is 'baud,' without the 'd') is beef and De (as in 'yet' without the 't') is goat. It's a great meal for groups -- usually served with dried noodles you can add to the broth once you're done with the meat. If you can't decide which place to chose, follow the crowds to Quan 6 Phong. To get a better taste of a truly local dining scene, head to Quan Cay Man (Plum Tree Restaurant) on Nguyen Cong Tru. The main restaurant has a plum tree growing on the roof, but most of the seating is on either side of the street nearby. The Lau Bo here is cheap and tasty. It's only open from 14:00 to 20:00 daily, so plan accordingly.
If you're up to your ears eating pho for breakfast and lunch, a good alternative is mi quang nam -- fat noodles in a bit of savoury broth with meat or veggies in it, served with a slice of rice cracker and fresh greens. We found some absolutely delicious dishes at Quan 127 -- just a normal little noodle joint where they happen to do things a good bit better. If you're wrestling with the menu, hen is mussels, xao means fried, mi quang thap cam is a medley of meats and fish, and tom thit is shrimp. Meals are served with a glass of warm ginger tea, compliments of the house.

The selection of Italian food is superb. La Taverna is a popular place on Nguyen Thien Thuat St, with excellent pasta dishes, and of course the ubiquitous pizza that isn't too bad either. Just across the road, the long established Cyclo Cafe has a decent Italian menu along side it's Vietnamese dishes. Food here is very good and comes recommended as 'cheap and cheerful' -- it's certainly one of the best budget cafes in the area. Another Italian here is of nationwide fame, having branches in five other cities. Good Morning Vietnam is a more spacious dining area both inside and out, and food is cooked by an Italian chef. Carlo's Restaurant is good for takeaway pizzas and they also have a Vietnamese/Italian menu which includes risotto, gnocchi and seafood. Delivery is free.
An extremely popular Indian restaurant is Omar's. The Indian owners and chef will boast to you about their quality fare, and rightly so as this small yet busy place feeds spicy sub-continental food to the masses.

A part of the Good Morning chain, Good Morning Thailand is the only Thai restaurant in the area -- expect the usual spicy salads, sea food hotpots and fried rice. A small Cafe called Same Same But Different also has some Thai dishes on offer, along with Vietnamese and western food. Austrians and Germans can celebrate, because also at Same Same are German sausages along with tasty side dishes such as potato salad.

The French have plenty to choose from, including Nha Trang Yacht Club which boasts 'grand French cuisine' with specialities such as Clams in Saffron Cream Sauce and Fillet Steak with French Blue Cheese. The restaurant also has a takeaway menu which includes baguettes with pate and freshly baked croissants.
There is even a Mexican option, El Coyote, although it too serves French food on top of the nachos and tortillas.
If all this continental food is getting a bit much and the belly is striving for a taste of home and some egg &chips, head over to Shorty's, the self proclaimed 'best from the west', from the full English Breakfast to the real hamburgers. Also, Shorty's has an extensive library of books available for sale or exchange.

Nha Trang Seafood Restaurant

Popular with Japanese groups (or local fat cats out to impress their mistresses), Nha Trang Seafood serves it fresh and delicious as you like it: grilled, steamed, or fried. Viet-style preparation is sweet, sour, and/or spicy; grilled items are good, and the shrimp in coconut, clay-pot dishes, and hot pots are affordable and delicious. The atmosphere is plain, best by candlelight on the second floor when the place is crowded (dull by the light of day). The staff is fun-loving and friendly.

Address: 46 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Str, Nha Trang. Tel: 058.3822664

Ngoc Suong Restaurant

Nha Trang has dozens of good seafood restaurants, but this one leads the pack. Whether in the very pleasant thatched outdoor pavilion or the vaguely nautical, softly lit interior, it's "seafood as you like it" served by a helpful, friendly staff. Whole fish and crustaceans can be chosen by pointing in the large tank and smiling greedily; the day's catch, including shrimp and crab, is ordered by the pound, grilled, fried, or boiled with basic spices like tamarind or pepper and lemon. The oysters, if they have them, are small but succulent. The name of the restaurant refers to a delicate marinated whitefish salad, one of the specialties and a great appetizer. This is a popular local and expat favorite.

Address: 96 A Tran Phu Str, Nha Trang. Tel: 058.3525677

Truc Linh Restaurant

Vietnamese seafood restaurant attached to the popular Quoc Te (International) Hotel. The restaurant specializes in Nha Trang's excellent seafood and is an ideal venue for large groups.

Address: 21 Biet Thu Str, Nha Trang. Tel: 058.3820089

Mai Anh Restaurant

Mr. Tinh and his wife have owned and operated the Mai Anh restaurant for many years. He is a master chef for the last 8 years cooking Italian, Vietnamese and international foods. Mai Anh is located on a quiet street so you can be assured of a peaceful meal only a block away from where the majority of the travelers' Hotels are located. So when you need a quiet place to have a great meal, stop in at the Mai Anh and you will be glad you did.

Address: 1/26 Tran Quang Khai Str, Nha Trang, Tel: 058.3815920

Lac Canh Restaurant

Long established and always packed with locals, expats and tourists alike, Lac Canh is a typically bustling Vietnamese street side restaurant, where you can BBQ your own food at the table or enjoy any of the other seafood or rice dishes on offer. The most well known dish from restaurant is grill marinated beef. The Chinese-influenced Vietnamese cuisine here is all about its ingredients, so go for the basics. Try the fresh seafood in a light marinade that you cook yourself on a rustic, cast-iron brazier frill. The place is packed with locals and tourists. Try to sit outdoors, because the atmosphere is smoky. They don't speak English as well as staff at Truc Linh 2 , but the food is better -- and cheaper. This is definitely the local "greasy spoon," and it makes for a fun evening.

Address: 44 Nguyen Binh Khiem Str, Nha Trang. Tel: 058. 3821391

Little Italy Restaurant

Who knows why good Italian food is so easy to get in Vietnam? Here is yet another example. Little Italy serves up tasty pastas and salads, and the bruschetta, with good olive oil, fresh tomatoes, capers, and garlic, is to die for. The house wine, available by the glass, isn't bad, but the pizza is only so-so. Service is friendly and attentive. The casual, open-air seaside setting can also provide a good lunch experience, as guests can swim and use the restaurant's deck chairs.

Address: 1 Tran Phu St., Nha Trang. Tel: 058.3828964

Omar's Indian Restaurant

Omar's is an original Indian restaurant with delicious Indian and Vietnamese cuisine cooked by master chef Mr. Omar from New Delhi India. Mr Omar is the only Indian chef in Nha Trang and you can taste the difference. Omar has restaurants in Nha Trang, Hoi An and Hue. Satisfaction is guaranteed. Prices are reasonable and we are open from 8 am to 11 pm every day. A special dessert is free with every meal.

Address: 96A/8 Tran Phu St., Nha Trang. Tel: 058.3814489

Tex Mex El Coyote Mexican Restaurant

Tex Mex El Coyote Mexican restaurant is the first and only Mexican restaurant in Nha Trang. Tex Mex El Coyote offers all kinds of Mexican cuisine by a Mexican chef from Martini Rosso, Martini blanco, Costillas el Coyote, Burritos de Marisco and more. The restaurant plays Latin music and has a free pool table.

Address: 76 Hung Vuong Str, Nha Trang, Tel: 058.3820202

Cafe des Amis

Franco-Vietnamese inspired seafood is the specialty at this restaurant close to the beach. Also serves decent vegetarian dishes.

Address: 2D Biet Thu Str, Nha Trang. Tel: 058.3813009

Casa Italia

Very good Italian food, great pizza, pasta and seafood dishes etc. Pleasant courtyard setting at the Sailing Club. Professional service, reasonable prices.

Address:  At the Sailing Club 72-4 Tran Phu Str, Nha Trang.Tel: 058.3826528