Vietnamese Squid Jerky (Khô Mực): A Guide to Vietnam's Favorite Seafood Snack
Walk into any Vietnamese family gathering, karaoke night or backyard party and you will probably find a plate of khô mực, dried squid, somewhere near the drinks. It is one of the most loved snacks in Vietnam: chewy, savory, lightly sweet and perfect for slow snacking with friends.
If you have never tried it, here is a simple guide to Vietnamese squid jerky and the other dried seafood snacks that go with it.
Mực Xé Hấp Nước Dừa – our shredded squid jerky, soft, chewy and ready to eat.
What is khô mực?
Khô means "dried" and mực means "squid" (roughly pronounced "kho muk"). Squid is cleaned, seasoned and dried until it becomes firm and chewy. In Vietnam it is sold everywhere, from beach towns along the central coast to street carts in Saigon, where vendors grill whole dried squid over charcoal and press it flat.
Popular styles of Vietnamese squid jerky
- Mực xé (shredded squid): squid pulled into thin, tender strands. Easy to eat straight from the bag, and the most beginner-friendly style.
- Mực cán (rolled squid): whole squid pressed thin and seasoned, often warmed before eating.
- Grilled whole dried squid: the classic street-food version, toasted until smoky and torn into pieces by hand.
What does it taste like?
Good squid jerky is savory and gently sweet, with a natural seafood flavor that is not fishy. The texture is chewy, so you eat it slowly, one strand at a time. That is exactly why it is such a popular drinking snack: it lasts the whole conversation.
How to eat it
- With a cold beer. In Vietnam, khô mực is the number one mồi nhậu, the snack you share over drinks.
- Dipped in chili sauce. Sriracha, Vietnamese tương ớt or a squeeze of lime with chili adds a spicy, tangy kick.
- Warmed up. A few seconds in a dry pan or air fryer makes it fragrant and slightly crispy at the edges.
- In salads. Toss shredded squid into a green papaya or mango salad for extra texture and savory flavor.
- With rice paper. Roll it up with herbs and chili sauce in rice paper for a quick street-style snack.
🦑 Shop Mực Xé Hấp Nước Dừa – Shredded Squid Jerky →
Other Vietnamese dried seafood snacks to try
If you like squid jerky, you will probably enjoy these too:
Khô ghẹ sữa (crispy dried baby crabs): tiny whole crabs, crunchy and savory. Eat them shell and all.
Cá mai sốt lá chanh (dried fish with lime leaf): sweet and savory little fish with a citrusy lime-leaf aroma.
Cá bống cát nướng (grilled sand goby): small grilled fish, great dipped in chili sauce.
Khô cá thiều (shredded dried fish): a meaty, ready-to-eat dried fish that is perfect with beer.
How to store it
Keep dried seafood sealed in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. After opening, press out the air and close the bag tightly so it stays soft and does not dry out further. Always follow any storage notes on the package.
Where to buy Vietnamese squid jerky in the US
Bếp Ông Bụi is a small family business in Garden Grove, California, selling Vietnamese jerky and snacks since 2018. We ship to every state, usually arriving in 2–5 days by USPS Priority.
- Mực Xé Hấp Nước Dừa – Shredded Squid Jerky
- Khô Ghẹ Sữa – Crispy Dried Baby Crabs
- Cá Mai Sốt Lá Chanh – Dried Fish with Lime Leaf
- Cá Bống Cát Nướng – Grilled Sand Goby
- See all dried fish and squid snacks
Questions? Call or text us at 678-392-7154.
New to Vietnamese jerky? Read our guide: What Is Vietnamese Beef Jerky (Khô Bò)?