Guide for Ninh Binh's Local Cuisine: what and where for local food
Ninh Binh cuisine always surprises and delights visitors, even making them reluctant to leave! Not only does it have famous scenic spots, but the local food in Ninh Binh is also impressive. Let's explore and see if you have tasted all of the following dishes.
Don't miss a chance to try Ninh Binh's local food
Ninh Binh is a province located in northern Vietnam, where there are many famous tourist attractions such as Tam Coc, Bai Dinh, and Trang An. Besides visiting these scenic spots, visitors can also explore the local food in Ninh Binh. With unique and diverse dishes, Ninh Binh cuisine not only attracts tourists with its distinctive flavors but also with the sophisticated combination of ingredients and special cooking techniques.
Top 3 famous Ninh Binh Local Cuisine
1. The most popular food: mountain goat
Ninh Binh mountain goat is cooked in many special recipes
One of the popular Ninh Binh dishes is a mountain goat. Raised on the rocky mountain slopes, Ninh Binh's goat meat is extremely firm and chewy, and visitors to Ninh Binh must try this dish at least once. Goat meat here is also prepared into many delicious dishes with different cooking methods such as goat spring rolls, steamed goat, grilled goat, or the most famous one: goat with ginger and sauce or Goat with lemon leaves... These dishes provide a unique culinary experience that is hard to find elsewhere. The sweet and chewy meat, combined with various spices, creates a harmonious flavor that is unforgettable after just one taste!
2. Sticky rice ant eggs
Famous sticky rice ant eggs in Binh Binh
In addition, Ninh Binh is also famous for its dish called sticky rice ant eggs. The ant eggs used in this dish come from the limestone mountains of Nho Quan. The ant eggs are washed, seasoned with spices, and stir-fry until cooked. When combined with sticky rice and fried shallots, the resulting flavor is incredibly unique and irresistibly delicious. One particularly interesting aspect of this dish is the sound of the ant eggs popping in your mouth with each bite.
3. Mountain snail
Authentic Ninh Binh cuisine: mountain snail
Another dish that is well-known is the authentic Ninh Binh cuisine mountain snail. While snails are found in many mountainous regions in the north of Vietnam, the highlight here is the flavor. Ninh Binh mountain snails have a sweet and refreshing taste, with a crunchy texture and a hint of traditional herbs. They come in moderate sizes and can be cooked in various ways, such as stir-fried with tamarind, steamed with ginger, boiled, or used in salads. A bowl of sweet and mild mountain snails is enough to make your taste buds go wild. The sweet and nutritious flesh of each snail, combined with a dipping sauce of lime and chili fish sauce, will definitely bring you a unique and unforgettable taste experience.
In addition to the aforementioned dishes, Ninh Binh also has many other specialties such as Dam Van Long Snakehead fish, Yen Mac Fermented Pork Roll, Burnt Rice... All of these dishes are imbued with the authentic flavors of Ninh Binh cuisine and are interesting destinations for those who love local cuisine.
Ninh Binh Culinary Tourism is becoming increasingly popular with tourists both domestic and international. It can be said that cuisine plays an important role in tourism. It is not only a common dining service, but also many interesting stories and cultural aspects of local life are conveyed through dishes or through the interaction between chefs or vendors and customers.
The allure of delicious cuisine at each destination is a driving force to keep tourists coming back, as well as promoting it to others. In Ninh Binh, the cuisine is diverse and easily found in every area, with reasonable prices, enthusiastic locals, and ensured food safety and hygiene.
Let's take note of the Top restaurants in Ninh Binh for more options
Top 5 restaurants in Ninh Binh
1. Huong Que Restaurant
Huong Que restaurant offers eye-catching local food
Address: 05 Nguyen Luong Bang, Tan Thanh Ward, Ninh Binh City
Huong Que Restaurant is loved by tourists visiting Ninh Binh for its modern and luxurious space. This Ninh Binh restaurant has a 5-story tube-shaped design with many private rooms for you to choose from. The tables and chairs at Huong Que Restaurant are all made of wood with the same color tone as the room's interior, making it even more eye-catching. Therefore, this famous Ninh Binh restaurant is not only a familiar dining spot for tourist groups but also a place to organize parties and birthdays for local people.
In addition to serving dishes for tour groups with Ninh Binh specialties, the highlight of this famous Ninh Binh restaurant is the river crab hotpot. The dish is beautifully presented, full of flavor, and suitable for the taste of different regions, which is the advantage of Huong Que Restaurant in Ninh Binh.
2. Thang Long Restaurant
Thang Long restaurant has their own special taste
Address: Trang An, Truong Yen, Hoa Lu, Ninh Binh
Thang Long Restaurant is one of the Ninh Binh restaurants specializing in serving groups of up to 500 guests. This famous Ninh Binh restaurant has a modern and elegant design. The restaurant space is spacious and airy, with many auxiliary halls suitable for each group of guests. In addition, Thang Long Restaurant is also equipped with a system of sound, light, and stage to serve the needs of banquets, gala dinners for large groups of guests
3. Hai San Pho Restaurant Ninh Binh
Seafood is a competitive strength of Hai San Pho Restaurant
Address: 57 Ton Duc Thang, Dong Thanh Ward, Ninh Binh City
Located in the center of Ninh Binh city, Hai San Pho Restaurant Ninh Binh has two floors with a modern and elegant design mixed with a touch of ancient style.The restaurant space is quite spacious, including a main hall and many private rooms with a capacity of about 300 guests.
The main dishes of Hai San Pho Restaurant Ninh Binh are mainly fresh seafood. The menu of the restaurant is extremely diverse with various types of shrimp, crab, fish, and snail. In addition, the chefs of the restaurant also have a lot of experience, so even though they prepare many dishes, the food still retains the freshness and deliciousness of seafood. However, the prices of food and drinks at this famous Ninh Binh restaurant are reasonable and stable.
4. Duc De Restaurant
Address: 446 Nguyen Hue Street, Ninh Binh City
The most famous specialty of Ninh Binh is mountain goat, and to enjoy delicious mountain goat, you must visit Duc De Restaurant. This restaurant specializes in goat dishes that are not only popular with international tourists but also with locals. The menu of Duc De Restaurant is mainly made from goats. The plates are always fresh and flavorful.
In addition, the space of this Ninh Binh restaurant is quite spacious, elegant, and clean. Duc De Restaurant is designed in a modern 2-storey style, maximizing the use of space. The restaurant can accommodate about 200 guests.
5. Tam Gia Trang Restaurant
Tam Gia Trang restaurant at night
Address: No. 12, Trang An 2 Street, Tan Thanh Ward, Ninh Binh City
Tam Gia Trang Restaurant in Ninh Binh has a unique Chinese-inspired design that is quite interesting. The two-story building is simply designed with brick walls and is decorated with a water pond, bamboo garden, and some martial arts paintings to create an enjoyable space for diners, especially for young groups of tourists.
Even the reception, conversation, and dish names at Tam Gia Trang are also transformed into Chinese-style. The menu offers a variety of dishes, from local Ninh Binh specialties to salmon and sturgeon, among others. However, the downside of this restaurant is that it is quite small, only suitable for groups of families with up to 20 people.
Aloha tourists enjoy Ninh Binh specialties at a local restaurant
Some notes when choosing and pre-ordering at restaurants in Ninh Binh:
- Most restaurants are run by local people who do not speak English, so communication may be limited. If possible, you should contact your tour guide or book a travel agency beforehand.
- The food is prepared with many different spices and ingredients, so if you are allergic to any particular substance, you should notify the restaurant in advance so that they can prepare separate dishes or give the best advice.
- If you want to experience more, you should try the buffet, which ranges from 200,000-250,000 VND (~8.5-10.6 USD), or choose a set menu from the restaurant. It is recommended to go with a group of people to experience more dishes.
- Prices booked through travel agencies will be cheaper and better advised, suitable for the traveler's itinerary.
- Restaurants do not stay open too late, and it is recommended not to eat before 1 p.m.
Read more about Top Ninh Binh Accommodation Options in 2023
Article for Best Night Activities in Ninh Binh
If you are looking for a day tour in Ninh Binh, see Our Best Ninh Binh Daily Tour
Above, you have explored the top local foods in Ninh Binh and the top restaurants in Ninh Binh that have delicious food, polite service, and reasonable prices. Why not pack your bags and make a trip to Ninh Binh right away? Just leave your information, and we will contact and advise you. Wish you a trip to Ninh Binh with many exciting experiences.
