It’s no exaggeration that street food is my favorite thing about living in Da Nang. You can get a cheap, tasty meal that’s cooked fresh, right in front of you. Because most places only make one or two dishes, they generally make them very well. And you can sit outside in the open air, which is perfect in a place like Da Nang that is (usually) warm and pleasant both morning and night. But there’s one place that has stepped up their game in a big way; City High is cranking out some truly gourmet street food in Da Nang.
City High in Da Nang
That’s the Aussie beef, nestled in a bed of (mostly hidden) mashed potatoes with a side of steamed veggies. Looks like something you’d get in a nice restaurant and be very happy with. Except you didn’t get it in a nice restaurant. You got it from City High, a place that, until 5 pm, operates as a car wash.
Low tables, red plastic stools, al-fresco setting; this place has all the makings of a typical street food shop. They’ve even got some reggae tunes pumping in the background. While the chef was making our bacon salad appetizer…
…I walked over to have a brief chat with him. Here’s the gist:
Shaun: We’ve heard some pretty awesome things about your food. Where did you learn to cook?
Boss-Man: I used to work as a chef at the Intercon.
Shaun: Wow, that must have been a great job.
BM: Yeah, but after two months I decided I would rather do something on my own.
Shaun: Oh cool, so then you opened this place?
BM: No, I went to Malaysia to do my MBA. I just got back, and then I decided to open this place.
Shaun: Wait, so you went to a foreign country to do a Masters in Business so you can open a food shop on the sidewalk in Da Nang?!
BM: Why not? This is a business. This is what I like!
The pictures pretty much speak for themselves, so here’s some more eye candy, featuring a French goose, a very hungry Taiwanese girl and Boss-Man himself.
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Update: City High has since relocated slightly. It’s now down the alley next to Perdu Bar, which is a couple of shops north of the original car wash location at 29 Ngo Gia Tu.
Want to check out some other great local food spots? Come on a food tour!
