A First-Hand Review: Shamballa Danang – Michelin Bib Gourmand Vegetarian Restaurant

If you’re exploring Da Nang and looking for a restaurant that delivers both remarkable vegetarian cuisine and a deeply soothing dining experience, Shamballa Danang should be high on your list. Awarded the Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2025, it has quickly become one of the city’s most-talked-about destinations — not just among plant-based travelers, but among anyone seeking meaningful, memorable food.

During my recent visit, I found Shamballa to be more than a restaurant.
It’s a quiet world of its own — a place that blends flavor, design, and philosophy into an experience that gently slows you down.

Why Visit Shamballa Danang

Choose Shamballa when you want:

• Some of the best vegetarian cuisine in Da Nang
• A Michelin-recognized restaurant that’s accessible and welcoming
• A peaceful, reflective break during your travels
• Dishes that go far beyond the typical “healthy vegetarian” stereotype

Shamballa also consistently appears on lists of the best restaurants in Da Nang, Vietnam, especially for travelers seeking something thoughtful and unique.

What Is the Michelin Bib Gourmand?

The Michelin Guide highlights two key recognitions:

• Stars (★): extraordinary culinary skill
• Bib Gourmand: excellent food at great value

Shamballa receiving the Bib Gourmand — as a vegetarian restaurant — says a lot.
It means its flavors stand strong not as “good vegetarian food,” but as good food, period.

Among all the results you see when searching “Michelin restaurants in Da Nang Vietnam”, Shamballa stands out for its philosophy as much as for its cuisine.

Why Shamballa Stands Out

Arrival – A Quiet Entrance Into Another World

After a short drive along the Han River, a heavy wooden door with a subtle, exotic presence comes into view.
Next to it hangs the Michelin Bib Gourmand plaque — understated, yet unmistakably proud.

The moment you step through the entrance, the city fades away.

Interior & Atmosphere – A Layered, Peaceful Environment

A bamboo-lined corridor leads you inside, decorated with handcrafted items and house-made condiments.
It feels like a soft transition from the outside world into something more intentional and still.

The name Shamballa comes from Sanskrit and means
“a place of peace, stillness, and joy.”
Every corner of the building reflects this philosophy.

The multi-level space offers several distinctly curated environments:

Main Dining Area — warm lighting, Tibetan-inspired décor

Greenhouse Garden Dining — airy, lush, and sunlit

River Balcony — quiet seating overlooking the Han River

Cooking Studio — for workshops and private classes

An unexpectedly serene smoking area — clean, calming

It’s one of the most thoughtfully designed restaurants in the city.

What We Ordered – Vegetarian Dishes That Surpass Expectations

Before visiting, I’ll admit that I thought vegetarian food was often light, refreshing, but not always fully satisfying.

Shamballa completely changed that.

Here are the dishes that stood out.

Da Nang–Themed Cocktails

Da Nang By Night（left）｜175,000VND (~US$7)

A stronger “adult” cocktail with a surprisingly cute, gummy-like aftertaste.

Hello Da Nang（right）｜175,000VND(~US$7)

A sweet, pop-style drink featuring Malibu × Blue Curaçao × Pineapple.
Fun, colorful, and perfect for toasting your night in Da Nang.

Que Son-Style Cassava Salad -135,000 VND (~US$5)

A refreshing sweet-and-sour salad of handmade cassava noodles, herbs, carrots, and nuts.

The chewy cassava and aromatic herbs create a cleansing sensation — almost like your body feels lighter after the first bite.

Shamballa Crispy Mushrooms -135,000 VND (~US$5)

【価格：135,000VND（約800円）】

Their signature dish.

Crispy on the outside, thick and juicy inside — almost like fried chicken.
The pepper placed on top isn’t the Sichuan kind you often find in Chinese cooking; it’s much milder and brings a gentle, subtle bite instead of heat.

Perfect with the sweet-spicy sauce.

Signature Fried Rice -195,000 VND (~US$7.5)

This dish looks more like a creamy gratin than fried rice.

Under a blanket of thick mozzarella cheese lies naturally green rice, colored with pineapple leaves and spinach.

Inside are mushrooms, carrots, and vegetables with a pleasing bite.
A surprising and memorable dish unique to Shamballa.

Wild Vegetable & Garlic Stir-Fry -105,000 VND (~US$4)

A simple yet flavorful dish with crisp stems and aromatic garlic — the kind of plate you could eat every day.

Marinated Mushroom Bao -95,000 VND (~US$3.5)

A fluffy steamed bao filled with “meaty” Hericium erinaceus mushrooms.
The texture is so rich you might forget it’s not pork belly.

A wonderfully satisfying way to finish the meal.

What I Loved Most

• Vegetarian dishes with real depth and richness
• A truly immersive atmosphere that feels like stepping into another world
• Unique ingredients rarely found outside Vietnam
• Warm, attentive service that makes the experience feel personal

Whether you’re a vegetarian or simply curious, it’s easy to see why Shamballa appears on so many lists of the best vegetarian restaurants in Da Nang.

The Story Behind Shamballa – A Sanctuary Born From a Life-Changing Moment

The founder, Jade, once experienced a near-death moment while staying in a Tibetan monastery in the Himalayas — a moment that reshaped her understanding of life.

She realized:

• how fragile life truly is
• how much time is lost chasing external desires
• what genuine happiness feels like

Shamballa was created as a sanctuary,

a place where people can step back from noise and reconnect with themselves through thoughtful vegetarian food and Buddhist-inspired philosophy.

Final Thoughts – A Place to Pause, Breathe, and Reset

Shamballa is more than a restaurant.
It is a space that gently slows your pace and invites clarity — a quiet refuge in the middle of Da Nang.

Its Michelin recognition feels fully deserved:
not only for its flavors, but for the care woven into every detail of the space.

If you’re looking for an experience that goes beyond the usual vegetarian meal,
Shamballa is absolutely worth seeking out.

A place to pause.
A place to breathe.
A place to return to.

Basic Information

Restaurant Name: Shamballa Danang
Opening Hours: 10:00–22:00
SNS： Instagram / TikTok
Reservation：official website or Facebook Messenger
Credit Card: Accepted

📍277 Trần Hưng Đạo, An Hải, Sơn Trà, Da Nang