Bánh căn - savoury mini pancakes

bánh căn, savoury crunchy mini pancakes, topped with a small egg or shrimp, served with fresh mint and lettuce

Bánh căn is one of the best snack available in Da Nang. It is a small "fried" savoury pancake, similar to bánh xèo. It is made of rice flour, lard and eggs and contain toppings like a quail egg or a shrimp (as shown in the picture). NOT to be mistaken with bánh canh, a chewy udon-like noodle that is served in many different flavored broths (in Da Nang bánh canh cá is very popular, with fish broth). When written, you can just spot the difference, but when spoken, it is all the same. They will tell you it is really pronounced differently but after many failed attempts, I decided to use pictures instead.

the chef and her food cart, frying up some crunchy bánh căn

The ones on the picture are topped with a shrimp or a quail egg with a salad of lettuce and mint on the side. They also serve you a small bowl with sweet fish sauce and green papaya and carrot strands, that are probably marinated shortly in vinegar and sugar. Some places in Vietnam use a different sauce, like peanut sauce.
They lady supposedly sells them every weekday after 15.00h till she runs out of her batch that day. But, just like many other street food, there is no guarantee she will be there. So whenever you pass it, you abruptly turn around and treat yourself on a portion since you'll never know when you'll have the chance again. Luckily, across the street are some restaurants that sell bánh căn too. I was told this lady makes the best ones, so I didn't try the restaurant, but they are probably better than having non. 

Details

Food stall

At the north east of the intersection of Nguyễn Chí Thanh - Hải Phòng.

Supposedly on weekdays from 15.00h on till it's sold out. 

What to order

Salad and pickles are always included, so you only need to order the pancakes.

bánh căn tôm - mini pancake with shrimp

bánh căn trứng - mini pancake with eggs

cho một dĩa bánh căn tôm - can I have a plate of banh can with shrimp

cho một dĩa bánh căn trứng - can I have a plate of banh can with eggs

One portion costed about 20.000 VND