Food in Sapa: Foodlovers’ Guide to Eating

Traveling is not just about appreciating the natural beauty of a place and its inhabitants; it’s also about learning about the unique culinary traditions of that region. Vietnam tourism must include a visit to Sapa, a highland sanctuary with an excellent food scene. Let’s explore the finest of Sapa cuisine in this post, featuring the top food in Sapa that you just must taste to experience the distinctive flavors of the northwest. Let’s check it out!

Thang co (Horse Meat Soup) – A must-try meal on every Sapa culinary trip

Thang Co

Thang co, a traditional cuisine of the Hmong ethnic group in Sapa, is well-known for being a distinctive Sapa delicacy with a distinctive scent. The main components are more than 20 different herbs mixed with horse and buffalo meat, bones, and offals. In a large pan, sauté these items until tender. Though the somewhat bitter soup may seem overpowering at first, a bowl of thang co can let you enjoy the beauty of this place even amid Sapa’s winter.

One of the greatest dishes in Sapa is Thang Co, which is widely available in restaurants due to its popularity as a delicacy of this hilly region:

• Thang Co A Quynh Sa Pa: No. 15, Thach Son, Sa Pa town, Lao Cai
• Thang Co Hoa Dong Tien: No. 29 Cau May, Sa Pa town, Lao Cai
• Thang Co Ngoc Cu: Luong Khanh Thien, Duyen Hai, Lao Cai

Xoi Bay Mau (Seven-color Sticky Rice)

Xoi Bay Mau

Sapa is home to several ethnic minority groups, which contributes to the region’s culinary diversity. The traditional meal of the Nung people, who reside in Muong Khuong, Lao Cai, is seven-color sticky rice. The sticky rice comes in seven different hues, as the name implies: red, magenta, pink, light blue, green, light green, and yellow. The locals utilize various natural forest leaves to tint the sticky rice. It contributes to bringing the unique flavors of the alpine woodland. To bring good fortune, this meal is typically offered during the Tet celebration. This is one food in Sapa that all foreign visitors must try. 

The Place That Sells Delicious Seven-Color Sticky Rice In Sapa:

• Ba Bam sticky rice: Muong Hoa Street, Sapa – in front of the town’s medical station.
• Mr. Dung: 06, Xuan Vien, Sapa
• Peach Blossom: 48, Le Van Tam, Sapa
• Sapa food: 545, Victoria Xuan Vien hotel alley, Sapa

Com Lam – Sticky rice cooked in a bamboo tube

Com Lam

Vietnamese sticky rice, or “com lam,” is a straightforward yet delectable Sapa delicacy that’s frequently sold by street sellers and local markets. It is packing rice inside a bamboo tube that has been covered in banana leaves, then roasting the tube over embers that are quite hot. An inviting meal with an olfactory impression is created by combining the fragrant perfume of rice with the subtle scent of bamboo. Com lam is frequently eaten with chicken skewers, grilled pork, and salty roasted peanuts.  

Lau ca tam – Salmon and sturgeon hotpot

Salmon and sturgeon hotpot

In Sapa, sturgeon and salmon hotpots are two well-known delicacies. In Sapa, sturgeon and salmon are prized for their robust texture and abundant nutritious content. A steaming pot of hot and sour soup prepared with fish bones, fresh veggies, and Sapa-grown mushrooms perfectly complements them. Indulging in the distinctive Vietnamese hot pot of fish and sturgeon hotpot is a must-try if you’re planning a cold-weather Sapa cuisine trip.

Address of delicious salmon in Sapa:

• Hoa Dao shop: 48 Le Van Tam, Sapa town, Lao Cai.
• A Quynh: 15 Thach Son, Sapa town, Lao Cai.
• Sapa salmon restaurant: 039 Xuan Vien, Sapa town, Lao Cai.
• Song Nhi: Silver Waterfall, Sapa town, Lao Cai.

Thit Trau Gac Bep (Dried Buffalo Meat)

Thit Trau Gac Bep

Thit trau gac bep is made for you if you enjoy finger foods. Another name for “Thit trau gac bep” is smoked or dried buffalo meat. This is a famous food in Sapa. It was first created to keep food fresh during wet weather. Typically, salt, pepper, garlic, and ginger are used by the black Thai people to flavor the meat. You may detect a unique fragrance from the smoke coming from the kitchen when you taste dried buffalo meat. You might find this recipe a little tricky to start, but once you taste it, you’ll be hooked. 

Address To Buy Kitchen Buffalo Meat:

• Sapa night market on Dien Bien Phu street
• Viet’s Farm: No. 26 Dong Loi, Sapa town, Lao Cai province
• A Thinh campus: Cau May Street, Sapa Town, Lao Cai province

Tao Meo Wine – H’mong’s Whiskey (Wine from Assam Apple)

Tao Meo Wine

Tao Meo is a renowned wine variety in Sapa, known for its wonderful flavor. It is sufficiently tart, sharp, and sweet. Additionally, this wine improves the function of the heart muscle and lowers blood pressure, blood fat, and blood vessels. Made using fresh Assam apples, it is beautifully dark and has a distinct “mountain flavor.” When you are in Sapa, make sure to give this treatment a try since it is both beneficial and efficient.

Where to sell delicious Vietnamese apple wine in Sapa:

• Quoc Cuong: No. 74 Thach Son, Sapa town, Lao Cai province
• H’Mong wine cooperative: 130 Dien Bien Phu, Sapa town, Lao Cai province
• Northwest Wine: No. 09 Silver Waterfall, Sapa town, Lao Cai province

Ga den (Black chicken)

Ga den

It is strongly advised to sample black chicken meat, a special Sapa dish made from uncommon blackbirds when visiting Sapa. There are several methods for preparing it. The most often used method is grilling honey-marinated black chicken. An amazing culinary experience is created when the chicken is cooked over hot charcoal, resulting in perfectly crisp skin and a wonderful blend of honey and chicken tastes.

Addresses To Enjoy Delicious Black Chicken:

• Hoang Minh: 23-23, Sapa food court, Sapa town, Lao Cai province
• Sapa Smile: No. 18 Cau May, Sapa town, Lao Cai province
• Hung Thinh: 356 – 358, An Duong Vuong, Sapa town, Lao Cai province

Con sui – A well-known, flavorful food in Sapa, Vietnam

Con sui

Con sui, also known as dry pho Sapa, is a cuisine that comes from the Chinese minority in Sapa. Rice noodles, roasted peanuts, fried shallots, herbs, chile, meat, and sauce make up this meal. You may drizzle the sauce over the rice noodles to enjoy con sui. Con sui is generally served with freshly picked veggies, and a dash of chili sauce amplifies its flavor in a way that is very appropriate for Sapa’s chilly climate.

Here are some well-known places to enjoy con sui in Sapa:

• Co Lich Restaurant: 01 Thac Bac Street, Sapa, Lao Cai
• Hoa Dong Tien Restaurant: 29 Cau May Street, Sapa, Lao Cai
• Viet Deli Restaurant: 01 Le Van Tam Street, Sapa, Lao Cai

Mam Da Vegetable

Mam Da Vegetable

Mam Da is a type of vegetable that grows in mountains and is collected from November to the end of March. It tastes a lot like Chinese broccoli, but it’s harder to acquire and purchase. It also has a sweeter flavor. Locals frequently boil Mam Da, then eat it roasted with sesame seeds or dip it in well-known fish sauce. The finest approach to savoring Mam Da’s unique flavor is as follows. Buffalo meat is another option for cooking it.

Address with delicious pork armpits in Sapa:

• Dong Tien Flower Shop: 29 Cau May, Sapa town, Lao Cai.
• Dung Trau restaurant: 85 Xuan Vien, Sapa town, Lao Cai.
• A Phu restaurant: 15 Fansipan, Sapa town, Lao Cai.
• Phuong Ngoan restaurant: 13C Nguyen Hue, Sapa Town, Lao Cai.

Read more: Glass bridge Sapa – An exciting new aspect of your journey to Sapa

Ca suoi nuong (Grilled stream fish)

Ca suoi nuong

Another delicious dish to enjoy in Sapa is grilled fish. The natives marinade fresh fish, collected from Sapa’s immaculate streams, in local seasonings before cooking it over fire. With the addition of sour leaves, green bananas, pineapples, and a hot dipping sauce, the outcome is a fragrant-grilled fish. As visitors eat at the top restaurants in Sapa, this wonderful mix is likely to make an impact.

Address of delicious grilled stream fish restaurant in Sapa:

• Hoang Minh: 23-24, Food court in Sapa, Sapa town, Lao Cai.
• Chapa: 40 Cau May, Sapa town, Lao Cai
• Thai Bac: Km12, Thac Bac tourist area, Sapa town, Lao Cai.
• Sapa Lotus: 34 Cau May, Sapa town, Lao Cai.

Men Men (Type of Rice Made of Corn)

Men Men

One of the H’Mong people’s most common meals is men men. It is made from local maize and has a strong scent in addition to being flexible. The H’Mong used to grind maize by hand using a stone grinder, which required a lot of time. Then, before heating it in the pan, they beat the cornmeal and water combination. Men Men’s unique sweet taste is the end product. It is frequently eaten with soups, including bone broth or pumpkin soup.

Address to eat Men men in Sapa:

• Ethnic Minority Villages: Various Hmong villages around Sapa such as Cat Cat, Ta Van, and Lao Chai.
• Hmong Sisters Bar and Restaurant: 31 Muong Hoa Street, Sapa, Lao Cai
• A Quynh Restaurant: 15 Thach Son Street, Sapa, Lao Cai

Thit lon cap nach (Sapa Cap-Nach Pork)

Thit lon cap nach

Pork of this variety, often weighing less than 20 kg, comes from free-range pigs.

In Sapa, cap nach pork is a well-known dish. The fields or forests are used to rear the pigs. They have to get meals on their own even though they are not imprisoned. This meal can be made in a few different ways. The most popular method involves roasting the entire pig over charcoal, which results in an extremely brittle exterior and juicy inner meat. Some people like their pork stir-fried with various herbs.

Address with delicious pork armpits in Sapa:

• Dong Tien Flower Shop: 29 Cau May, Sapa town, Lao Cai.
• Dung Trau restaurant: 85 Xuan Vien, Sapa town, Lao Cai.
• A Phu restaurant: 15 Fansipan, Sapa town, Lao Cai.
• Phuong Ngoan restaurant: 13C Nguyen Hue, Sapa Town, Lao Cai.

Banh Hat De (Chestnut cake) 

Banh Hat De

One of the greatest Vietnamese desserts, chestnut cake, is a must-have on any cuisine trip through Sapa. This cake is baked by hand and has two layers: a puréed chestnut inside and a crispy exterior layer made from nicely browned fried wheat flour. Enjoy this delicious delicacy and purchase it as a kind present for loved ones.

Here are some recommended places in Sapa where you can enjoy this delicious treat:

• Sapa market: Bac Cuong, Sapa, Lao Cai
• Le Gecko Restaurant: 033 Xuân Viên, Sapa, Lao Cai
• Hoa Sua Bakery: 57 Xuan Vien, Sapa, Lao Cai

Black Mushroom

Sapa is the region where black mushrooms are concealed inside the trees due to its low temperatures. Should you get the opportunity to visit Sapa’s fair, you will be welcomed to purchase these mushrooms and informed that they are a specialty of the region’s mountains. You may ask for Chinese black mushroom meals at the eateries. Typically, they serve dry squid or beef with stir-fried black mushrooms.

You may savor meals made with black mushrooms at the following suggested locations in Sapa:

• Red Dao House Restaurant: 04 Thac Bac, Sapa, Lao Cai
• A Quynh Restaurant: 15 Thach Son, Sapa, Lao Cai
• Sapa Cuisine Restaurant: 29 Cau May, Sapa, Lao Cai

Grilled food

Grilled food

Sapa’s cool weather at night is a great idea to enjoy delicious grilled dishes. Savoring grilled specialties at night has evolved into a staple of Sapa’s nightlife. You may savor a wide variety of meats and vegetables, from pig and chicken to corn and tao meo, while meandering around Sapa’s night market. These street meals from Sapa have distinctive tastes because of their inventive marinating and seasoning techniques.

The following are a few of Sapa’s top spots for grilled food:

• Sapa Night Market: Sapa Town, Lao Cai
• The Hill Station Signature Restaurant: 37 Fansipan Street, Sapa, Lao Cai
• Chapa Valley Restaurant: 24 Cau May, Sapa, Lao Cai

Hat de nuong (Roasted chestnut) 

Hat de nuong

With the favor of nature and the nourishment of the Northwest mountains, especially the SaPa mountains, the chestnuts here have certain differences in their shape and quality. Therefore, chestnuts can be considered a delicious specialty in Sapa.

The smell of roasted chestnuts filling the air will entice your senses as you wander through the town’s colorful streets. Often, vendors erect improvised stands, their open flames crackling as they perfectly roast the chestnuts. These chestnuts are a delicious blend of creamy texture and nutty richness, with a unique earthy taste. Not only are roasted chestnuts a delicious snack, but they also make excellent presents. These chestnuts, which come in charming boxes or little bags, perfectly express the spirit of the area.

Here are several well-known locations in Sapa for mouthwatering Hat de nuong:

• Sapa Night Market: Bac Cuong, Sapa, Lao Cai
• Fansipan Street Stalls: Fansipan Street, Sapa, Lao Cai
• Cau May Street Vendors: Cau May Street, Sapa, Lao Cai

You shouldn’t pass up the chance to sample these delicious delights when visiting Sapa. Furthermore, you are blessed with nature’s breathtaking scenery and attractions. The special quality of Sapa cuisine is that tourists visit this place as well. Contact Vietnam Allure Travel right now to arrange a trip or if you require a Sapa cuisine guide for this stunning location!

Read more: The top best food in Sapa to enjoy the tastes of the northwest