Grilled mudskipper fish in reed tubes (cá kèo nướng ống sậy) is extremely popular in Vietnam thanks to its unique flavor—tender, sweet white meat with high nutritional value. Especially the bile sac, which leaves an unforgettable lingering taste.
Mudskipper fish (also called cá bống kèo) lives in brackish, muddy, tidal areas. It is especially common in the Mekong Delta Southwest region, particularly in ponds, lakes, and brackish waters of provinces like Sóc Trăng, Bạc Liêu, Cà Mau, and Kiên Giang.
Mudskipper can be prepared in many delicious ways: braised with pepper, deep-fried until crispy, braised with Vietnamese coriander, grilled with salt & chili, grilled with garlic butter, mudskipper fish hotpot with fermented fish sauce, mudskipper porridge… and one of the most elaborate yet rustic dishes is grilled mudskipper in reed tubes.
Choose young, plump, juicy reed stalks for grilling—cut them into sections with one end open to insert the fish. Clean the live mudskippers and marinate them with seasonings. When stuffing the fish into the reed, leave the tail sticking out. Grill slowly over glowing red charcoal embers. This direct grilling method makes the fish exceptionally tender and sweet, as the reed juice seeps out, infusing the fish with its characteristic sweet and aromatic flavor. When the reed tube turns golden and starts to collapse quickly, the fish is perfectly cooked thanks to the heat from the released reed moisture.
Fresh herbs and sour green bananas are the perfect accompaniments. Grilled mudskipper in reed tubes pairs well with almost any dipping sauce—just salt, chili, and lime is enough!
Tear open the reed tube, and hot steam rises from the fish. Take a piece into your mouth—the sweetness of the fish blends perfectly with the subtle sweetness of the reed. The spicy, salty, sour kick from the lime-chili-salt dip creates an incredibly unique and irresistible flavor. The true deliciousness of mudskipper lies in its liver and especially the bile sac—rich, slightly bitter, but with a wonderfully lingering sweetness.
Join us in savoring this dish that embodies the rich, authentic soul of Southern Vietnam!
