Sapa is not only famous for its picturesque scenery but also known as the Northwest culinary paradise “holding on to” tourists from everywhere.

Sapa food not only reflects the unique beauty of Northwestern mountains but also represents the rich culture of the locals here. Under the chilly weather of the foggy town, having a chance to enjoy the specialties of this land is nothing better.

Let’s explore the most delicious food in Sapa with us!

>>> SEE MORE: Things to do in Sapa: TOP 31 Activities and Attractions

1. Food in Sapa Vietnam – What to Eat in The Mist Town?

Thang Co (Horse meat soup)

Thang Co is known as the traditional dish of the H’Mong people, originating from the mountains of Ha Giang.

Previously, indigenous people processed this dish from an entire horse and didn’t throw anything. Later, beef was also brought into this unique food. In Sapa, numerous visitors highly recommend Thang Co in Bac Ha, Muong Khuong, Sa Pa – Lao Cai.

thang co sapa food

Thang Co is cooked quite simply. Before cooking, the meat and organs of animals are washed clearly, boiled, marinated with spices, then put in a pot of broth with horse bones, viscera, blood, etc.

Thang Co of the ethnic minority people also added some corn, vegetables, and spices such as ginger, cardamom, tangerine peel, lemon leaf, and so on. All are about 12 traditional spices of highland people.

Everything is simmered for many hours to bring a mouthwatering Thang Co. When eating, you can enjoy with a little chili, pepper or salt.

Suggestions for some restaurants:

  • Hai Lam Restaurant

Address: 72 Luong Dinh Cua, Sa Pa

Telephone: 090 157 6888

  • Cau May Sa Pa Restaurant

Address: 92 Ngu Chi Son Street, Sa Pa

Telephone: 098 452 0688

  • A Phu Sa Pa Restaurant

Address: 15 Fan Xi Pang, Sa Pa

Telephone: 0868 159 900

  • Thang Co A Quynh Restaurant

Address: 15 Thach Son Street, Sa Pa

Telephone: 0214 3871 555

Lon Cap Nach (Carried-under-arm pig)

In the villages of ethnic minorities, along with the stunning Sapa terraced rice fields, people also raise cattle in a free manner, including pigs.

Cap Nach pigs in Sapa are not as big as pigs in the farms. They weigh 10 – 20kg and are brought to the market by people who carry them under their arms.

cap nach pork sapa

This is the reason why the unique name Cap Nach pigs or Cap Nach pork appears.

The dishes from this type of pork are always delicious and attractive to visitors. Pork is sweet, fragrant, and skin is crispy, it can be processed into many dishes from simple to complex accompanied by the typical spice of indigenous people.

Among different ways of processing, the most delicious dish is roasted Cap Nach pork. The hot, aromatic pork pieces are smoked, inside the crispy cut layer is a thin layer of fat followed by soft and sweet lean meat.

Where to eat the most flavorful Cap Nach pork:

  • A Phu Restaurant

Address: 15 Fansipan, Sapa, Lao Cai

Opening hours: 09: 00-23: 00

Price ranges from VND 25,000 to VND 1,000,000

  • Hoa Dong Tien Restaurant

Address: 29 Cầu Mây, Sapa, Lào Cai

Opening hours: 07: 00-22: 00

Price ranges from VND 100,000 to VND 275,000

  • Dung Trau Restaurant

Address: 85 Xuan Vien, Sapa, Lao Cai

Opening hours: 09: 00-00: 00

Price ranges from VND 50,000 to VND 250,000

  • Sapa Grilling Area

Address: Cau May Street, Sapa Town

Hours: in the evening

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Sapa Salmon 

Salmon has many good nutrients for the body, is typical seafood of the temperate zone, has been successfully cultivated in Sapa – where the climate is similar.

Salmon in Sapa is bright pink, firm and sweet, each grain of meat looks beautiful as if someone used the color to paint.

food in sapa salmon

Sapa salmon is cooked into many different dishes such as salmon hotpot, grilled salmon, etc. Each dish has its own nuance, but diners still feel the sweetness, softness, and the unforgettable taste of salmon.

In the chilly climate, enjoying the delicious salmon hot pot is one of the best things to do in Sapa. The broth is tasty, juicy, sour thanks to salmon head, stewed tubers, sliced ​​pineapple, and tomatoes.

And salmon meat is sliced ​​thinly dipped into a pot of boiling broth, making diners feel all of its flavorful, sweet taste.

To make the hot pot more attractive, it is often served with fresh noodles and locally available fresh vegetables such as cabbage, spinach, and so on.

salmon hot pot sapa

Places to eat salmon in Sapa: 

  • Song Nhi Sapa Restaurant

Address: Thac Bac, Sapa, Lao Cai

Opening time: 07:00 – 23:00

Price ranges: 70,000 – 500,000 VND

  • A Quynh Restaurant Sapa

Address: 15 Thạch Sơn, Sapa, Lào Cai

Opening time: 07:00 – 23:30

Price ranges: 100,000 – 330,000 VND

  • Hoa Dao Restaurant Sapa

Address: 48 Le Van Tam, Sapa, Lao Cai

Opening time: 10:00 am – 10:00 pm

Price: 80,000 – 176,000 VND

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Grilled stream fish

Grilled stream fish in Sa Pa is very popular with tourists because it is a rustic but very attractive dish. The Sapa stream fish is not as big as the fish living in a pond but has the characteristics of firm meat, soft bones, delicious and especially not fishy.

Most often, bone-rich stream fish should be mostly grilled or deep-fried to eat both bones and meat rather than cooked or steamed.

The fried fishes in the pan turn into a yellow color and have a greasy aroma. You will enjoy the crunchy, fragrant and sweet flesh layer, and even chew the small fish bones.

sapa grilled fish

Or the grilled fishes are also an ideal choice.

The aromatic scent spreads when the grilled fish starts to ripen and when eating, visitors will feel the sweet, impressive, and delicious taste of a dish with the flavors of the mountains and nature.

Besides, the tasty sauce is indispensable for grilled fish. With pepper and some spices from local plants grown in the garden, this dish will make all your senses feel satisfied.

Enjoying grilled fish with sticky rice and a few cups of corn wine, cider wine will show the special feature of the Sapa food.

Where to try this dish:

  • Hoang Minh restaurant

Add: number 23-24 Sapa food court (the corner of Xuan Vien st and Thac Bac st)

Opening hours: 9.00 – 22:00

  • A Phu Restaurant

Address: 15 Fansipan, Sapa, Lao Cai

Opening hours: 09:00 – 23:00

Com Lam (Sticky rice cooked in bamboo)

The ethnic groups in the Northwest of Vietnam have a featured dish – Com Lam.

Different from other versions of cooking rice, rice of Com Lam is absolutely cooked in bamboo sections. With each small section is at about 25 – 30 centimeters in length, rice is mixed with a little bit of salt and bamboo is stuff up with it.

Next to the charcoal stove, the tubes made from fragrant sticky rice rise up the aroma that makes visitors feel irresistible.

COM LAM SAPA

People usually eat Com Lam with sesame salt, which brings an unforgettable taste.

One tip to have a perfect Com Lam dish is that people need to resolve the bamboo steam while grilling. When the food is cooked well, people will remove the burnt bamboo steam outside.

Because of the delicious taste of the sticky rice, the fragrance of bamboo and the harmonious combination of rice, Com lam become one of the special food of Sapa which tourists should not skip.

Address:

  • Red Dao Restaurant

Address: 4B Thac Bac, Sapa, Lao Cai

Opening hours: 08: 00-22: 30

Price ranges from VND 80,000 to VND 220,000

  • Cau May Restaurant

Address: 92 Ngu Chi Son, Sapa, Lao Cai

Opening hours: 10:00 – 22:00

Price ranges: VND 100,000 – VND 500,000

  • Hoa Phuong Restaurant

Address: Group 7C Ham Rong, Sapa, Lao Cai

Opening hours: 09: 00-23: 00

Price ranges from VND 10,000 to VND 300,000

If you want to seek some Sapa food to bring back as a gift, check out this: Shopping in Sapa – Journey to the Hidden Charm of Sapa

2. Where to eat in Sapa – The best places to enjoy local food!

Sapa Restaurants

sapa restaurants

There is an astonishing number of high-qualified restaurants in Sapa. They provide the best services with friendly staff, fresh and delicious Sapa food, and a warm and cozy atmosphere.

Even some of which have been existed for a long time, bringing the most traditional flavors of Sapa cuisine.

To get more detailed information about what are the best restaurants in Sapa, you can see here:

Sapa Grilling Area

With the cold weather at night, the charcoal grill and some hot grilled dishes in delicious food stores in Sapa are extremely wonderful.

sapa grilling area

The fragrant charcoal mixed with the smell of sweet potatoes, eggs, Com Lam, dried buffalo meat, vegetable rolls, mushrooms, wild pork, etc.

A few aromatic hot grilled dishes, a small sip of wine will fulfill your dream of a food lover. Let’s go forward Sapa and get lost in Cau May Street!

Address: Cau May Street, Sapa Town

Hours: in the evening.

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Sapa snack n food – Ham Rong street area

Fulfill your stomach with snacks in Sapa is also a very interesting suggestion.

Besides the warm stove of the local women, you can enjoy corn, potatoes, sesame salted rice, baked eggs, boiled eggs, etc. Everything is simple and homely but very delicious, creating the unique taste of the highland.

ham rong snack

Coming to Ham Rong Street, you will be served with delicious and affordable dishes. Don’t miss up on this precious chance, guys!

Address: 1 Ham Rong, Sapa, Lao Cai.

Opening hours: 07:00 – 17:00.

Price from: 10,000 – 30,000 VND

AZ Local Trip hopes that this article is helpful and informative for you! Contact us if you need any helps!

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