Muc nuong — grilled squid — is a Vietnamese drinking food that Dallas restaurants along the Walnut Street corridor serve with varying degrees of charcoal authenticity. The best versions require proper grilling equipment and a kitchen that understands the crucial technique of not overcooking the squid.
Bistro B top-pick
Bistro B's muc nuong is the most popular version in Dallas, with proper char marks and a sweet-savory marinade that caramelizes beautifully. The squid is tenderized, scored crosshatch-style for even cooking, and served with nuoc cham and fresh herbs. At a restaurant this high-volume, the squid turns over fast enough that you are always getting a fresh batch.
La Me best-value
La Me's muc nuong is the more refined version — slightly more delicate seasoning, a lighter hand with the marinade, and a more elegant presentation. The squid here has a more pronounced lemongrass flavor, which pairs naturally with the natural sweetness of the seafood. It is the grilled squid you would order alongside a bowl of canh chua for a surf-and-turf Vietnamese experience.
Mot Hai Ba hidden-gem
Mot Hai Ba's muc nuong is the most polished version in Dallas, reflecting the restaurant's modern Vietnamese approach. The squid is perfectly tender, the char is delicate rather than aggressive, and the accompanying sauce is more nuanced than the standard nuoc cham. It is the version to order when you want Vietnamese drinking food in a dinner-party setting.nnFor muc nuong in Dallas, Bistro B delivers the most popular and consistently fresh grilled squid experience.
Recipe for This Dish
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