Guide for Ninh Binh's Local Cuisine: what and where for local food

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 flavours but also with the sophisticated combination of ingredients and special cooking techniques.

Top 9 famous Ninh Binh Local Cuisine

1. The most Ninh Binh popular food: mountain goat 

Ninh Binh mountain goat is cooked in many special recipes

One of the popular Ninh Binh dishes is 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 flavour that is unforgettable after just one taste!

• Rare goat with lime: Thinly sliced goat meat mixed with lime, lemongrass, galangal, and chili, served with fermented soy sauce.
• Grilled goat: Marinated and grilled over charcoal for a smoky aroma.
• Rice-husk-roasted goat: Goat roasted under rice husk for crispy skin and tender meat.

2. Sticky rice ant eggs - Unique food in Ninh Binh

Famous  sticky rice ant eggs in Binh Binh

In addition, Ninh Binh is also famous for its dish called sticky rice and 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-fried until cooked. When combined with sticky rice and fried shallots, the resulting flavour 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 -  A local taste you can try in Ninh Binh

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 flavour. 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.

Note: These snails live on limestone cliffs in Nho Quan and Tam Diep, only found in the rainy season (April–August). Their meat is firm and aromatic with herbal notes. The best way to enjoy this unique Ninh Binh food is simply boiled with lemongrass and ginger.

4. Eel Vermicelli

Just from 2 USD/bowl of Eel Vermicelli in Ninh Binh

A beloved Ninh Binh street food, featuring crispy or tender fried eel with glass noodles and a flavorful broth made from eel and pork bones. It’s a comforting, local-style breakfast or lunch.

5. Fermented Fish Salad

Remember to ask the staff how to enjoy this dish in the right way 

A famous coastal Ninh Binh speciality from Kim Son District. Fresh snakehead fish is cleaned, mixed with roasted rice powder and herbs, and served with a sour-fermented dipping sauce made from rice paste.

Also called: Kim Son Nhech Raw Fish. This raw fish salad is prepared with roasted sticky rice powder and fresh herbs. It’s not fishy but full of flavour, combining the richness of the fish with the sour taste of vinegar and the spiciness of ginger, chili, and lemongrass. A true taste of Ninh Binh’s coastal cuisine.

6. Yen Mac Fermented Pork

It's safe and tasty, eat with local fresh vegetables and dipping sauce

Once served to kings, this Ninh Binh speciality is made from lean pork, pork skin, and roasted rice powder, wrapped in guava and banana leaves. It has a light, sour taste and natural aroma - ideal as a travel snack or souvenir.

7. Bird Dishes

Bird dishes are always the favourite food for local people and international friends

Thanks to the region’s wetlands, Ninh Binh is home to many delicious bird dishes, especially in Van Long and Kim Son. Popular options include:

• Grilled wild pigeon
• Steamed quail with lemongrass
• Fried stork or heron

8. River Fish Dishes

Fish is one of the main courses in the meal, and it won’t disappoint you.

Fresh fish caught from the Day and Van Rivers are turned into rustic but flavorful Ninh Binh local dishes like:

• Braised perch with banana and tofu
• Steamed carp with ginger
• Grilled snakehead fish served with rice paper and herbs.

9. Crispy Rice

Eat on spot with soup or buy as a local gift for your friends and family 

A must-try Ninh Binh speciality dish, made from fragrant sticky rice cooked, dried, and deep-fried until golden. It’s best enjoyed with a rich sauce made from goat meat, pork floss, or organ stew - a perfect local snack or gift.

Vietnamese food is great to try, don't miss a chance to enjoy the above food when arriving in Ninh Binh 

In addition to the aforementioned dishes, Ninh Binh also has many other specialities. All of these dishes are imbued with the authentic flavours 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

 Duc De restaurant always crowded with both domestic and foreigners 

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 specialities at a local restaurant with the beautiful river view

Some notes to choose or pre-order 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: 

Top Ninh Binh Accommodation Options

Best Night Activities in Ninh Binh

Tam Coc Food Guide: From Best Local Dishes to Vegetarian Options & Restaurants with a View

If you are looking for a day tour in Ninh Binh, see our Best Ninh Binh Daily Tour 

Full-Day Ninh Binh Highlights Tour with Local Taste

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.