If you’re looking to explore the diversity of central Vietnamese cuisine, Nghe An province should definitely be on your list. Nghe An cuisine is known for its unique flavors and freshness of ingredients. So when it comes to what to eat in Nghe An, the options are endless. The best part is that the price of Nghe An local food is quite affordable, ranging from 20,000 to 100,000 VND, depending on the store or restaurant. Below, we’ve compiled a list of 15 Nghe An local foods, ranging from savory to sweet, that will definitely tantalize your taste buds.
Porridge Soup (Cháo canh)
Porridge soup is one of the popular dishes in Vinh City, Nghe An. You can see this Nghe An local food everywhere when traveling to this province. The dish is made with a combination of flour and rice flour that is kneaded finely and then cut into strands before being blanched and drained.
The broth for the soup is rich and flavorful, made from pork bones, and is typically served with toppings such as meat, quail eggs, scallions, and pepper. If you have tried this dish, you will never forget its delicious taste.
Suggested addresses:
- Viet Dung thick noodle soup with snakehead fish: 55 Hermann Gmeiner, Hung Phuc, Vinh City, Nghe An
- Ba Vinh porridge soup; 136 Hong Bang, Le Mao, Vinh City, Nghe An
- Di Quy thick noodle soup with snakehead fish: 69D Hermann Gmeiner, Hung Phuc, Vinh City, Nghe An
- Average price: 30,000 and 40,000 VND.
Grilled Corn with Spicy Sauce
One of the popular street foods in Nghe An is grilled corn with spicy sauce. You can find this dish in almost every nook and cranny of the province, especially at the sidewalk eateries in the evening.
To make this dish, the corn is washed and drained before being coated with a chili sauce made from butter and chili. It is then grilled over charcoal. This dish is a must-try for anyone visiting Nghe An.
Suggested addresses:
- Hai Vy grilled chicken and grilled corn: 558, Hung Xa, Hung Nguyen, Nghe An
- Late-night eating area: 8 Ho Sy Duong, Hung Binh, Vinh City, Nghe An
- Cong Thanh Grilled corn: Tran Phu, Hung Dung, Vinh City, Nghe An
- Average price: 10,000 VND to 15,000 VND.
Grilled Squid from Cua Lo
If you’re visiting Nghe An, don’t miss out on trying Cua Lo‘s famous grilled squid. The unique taste of this dish is unforgettable. This is because it’s made from fresh squid caught from the sea and grilled immediately over charcoal. The squid is crispy, chewy, and sweet, making it irresistible.
Suggested addresses:
- Lan Huong Restaurant: 174 Cua Lo, Binh Minh Street, Nghi Huong, Cua Lo, Nghe An
- Thuy Hieu Restaurant: Binh Minh, Nghi Huong, Cua Lo, Nghe An
- Trung Hong Restaurant: Kiot 30, 31, 32 at the beach, Binh Minh, Thu Thuy, Cua Lo, Nghe An
- Average price: 400,000 VND – 700,000 VND/kg
Steamed thin rice pancake (Bánh mướt)
If you’re looking for a nutritious breakfast option in Nghe An, try the steamed thin rice pancake. It has white color and is kind of similar in appearance to the North’s steamed rolled rice pancake (banh cuon).
It’s usually served with spring rolls, Vietnamese sausages, and sweet and sour fish dipping sauce, making it the perfect breakfast option.
Suggested addresses:
- Viet Hiep hot steamed thin rice pancake: 31 Nguyen Thai Hoc, Le Loi, Vinh City, Nghe An
- Lan Thanh steamed thin rice pancake: No. 7 Phan Chu Trinh, Doi Cung, Vinh City, Nghe An
- Steamed thin rice pancake: 16 Nguyen Kiem Street, Truong Thi, Vinh City, Nghe An
- Average price: 15,000 VND – 25,000 VND
Molasses-sweetened glutinous rice cake (Bánh ngào)
Molasses-sweetened glutinous rice cake is a traditional dessert that can be easily found throughout the region, from markets to street vendors.
This cake is similar to the northern floating rice cake (bánh trôi). It is made from glutinous rice flour and molasses. This cake is soft and chewy, with a rich flavor from the sweet molasses. It’s the perfect treat on a rainy day, providing warmth and comfort.
Suggested addresses:
- Doi Cung Cake: 030 Dao Tan, Doi Cung, Vinh City, Nghe An.
- Average price: 10,000 VND to 15,000 VND
Dry rice wafer with baby basket clam (Bánh đa xúc hến)
Another must-try Nghe An local food is dry rice wafers with baby basket clams. This dish is made from simple ingredients found in the rustic countryside of the Central region.
It is prepared by cleaning the collected baby basket clams and boiling them to separate the shells. The mussel meat is then stir-fried with garlic, onion, chili, and other spices before being served with dry rice wafers and roasted peanuts. Despite its simplicity, this dish leaves a lasting impression on diners.
Suggested addresses:
- Ba Ly Eatery: 203 Phan Chu Trinh, Quang Trung, Vinh City, Nghe An
- Van Anh Beer Shop: 120 Hai Thuong Lan Ong, Ha Huy Tap, Vinh City, Nghe An
- Average price: 15,000 VND to 25,000 VND.
Stir-fried snails
If you’re in the mood for something different, try the stir-fried snails, a popular Nghe An local food. This dish is usually served with dry rice wafers and fresh vegetables. It has a rich and spicy flavor with a crispy texture. The dish is affordable, so you can eat to your heart’s content without breaking the bank.
Suggested addresses:
- La Snail Eatery: 23 Nguyen Sy Sach, Hung Binh, Vinh City, Nghe An
- Ba Lien Snail Eatery (best snail eatery in Vinh City): 78 Nguyen Thai Hoc, Le Loi, Vinh City, Nghe An
- Hoa Snail – Truong Chinh Street, Le Loi, Vinh City, Nghe An
- Average price: 30,000 VND – 50,000 VND per dish
Nhut Thanh Chuong
Nhut Thanh Chuong may sound like a strange name, but it is actually a famous Nghe An local food. To make this dish, first the locals selected green-skinned jackfruit, washed it, and removed the seeds. Then, the jackfruit is soaked in rice water to be cleaned thoroughly.
Afterward, the jackfruit is cut into strands and left in the sun to dry and shrink for about an hour. Finally, it is put in a jar to soak with ingredients such as garlic, ginger, and salt water. After about seven days, it is ready to be eaten.
Suggested addresses:
- Nhut Thanh Chuong: Thanh Chuong Town, Thanh Chuong, Nghe An
- Reference Price: 40,000 VND – 60,000 VND/kg
Nam Dan steamed calves sausage (Giò bê Nam Đàn)
Nam Dan steamed calves sausage is one of the famous Nghe An local foods that can be bought as a gift. This dish is made from simple, homegrown ingredients, but the processing is extremely delicate, resulting in delicious pink calves sausage with the sweetness of the meat. This dish is also combined with rich spices like fish sauce, pepper, and eggs to create a greasy and nutritious taste.
Suggested addresses:
- Son Cam steamed calves sausage: Crossroads 3 of Market, Nam Nghia, Nam Dan, Nghe An
- Tuyen Hung Restaurant, specializing in Nam Nghia Veal: Hamlet 1 Nam Hung, Nam Dan, Nghe An
- Minh Hien steamed calves sausage: Highway 15, Nam Nghia, Nam Dan, Nghe An
- Reference Price: 220,000 VND – 280,000 VND/kg.
Cua Lo Clam Porridge
Cua Lo Clam Porridge is a must-try dish when visiting Cua Lo, as its unique flavor cannot be found anywhere else. Diners would definitely regret not trying it.
The porridge is mixed with chewy and sweet clam meat, combined with crispy fried onions and herbs, making it hard to resist.
Suggested addresses:
- Ba Ly Eatery: 203 Phan Chu Trinh, Quang Trung, Vinh City, Nghe An
- Hong Loc 98 Restaurant: Cua Hien Beach, Nghi Yen, Nghi Loc, Nghe An
- Huy Huong Cua Lo Restaurant: Tom Lake, Nghi Khanh, Nghi Loc, Nghe An
- Reference Price: 35,000 VND – 40,000 VND/bowl
Ramie leaves rice cake (Bánh gai)
Ramie leaves rice cake is an indispensable Nghe An local food during Tet holidays. This cake is made from simple ingredients such as glutinous rice, mung beans, and fresh coconut. However, selecting the right ingredients is crucial to making delicious cakes.
Ramie leaves rice cake is a blend of smooth and flexible glutinous rice flour, fragrant mung beans, and the fleshy taste of crispy and fatty chopped coconut meat.
Suggested addresses:
- Doc Dua gai cake: Highway 7, Tuong Son, Anh Son, Nghe An
- Giap Ngoc gai cake: Tuong Son, Anh Son, Nghe An
- Doi Lan gai cake: Tuong Son, Anh Son, Nghe An
- Reference Price: 2,000 VND – 3,000 VND/cake
Sugarcane steamed with ginger
If you’re in Vinh City, don’t miss out on the chance to try steamed sugarcane with ginger. This is a delicious street food dish that can be found throughout the city.
To make this dish, the sugarcane is first washed, peeled, and cut into small pieces. Then it is combined with crushed ginger to create a unique and flavorful taste. This Nghe An local food is especially perfect for cold winter days. You can find this treat on the sidewalk of Dinh Cong Trang Street, Vinh City, Nghe An, for a price ranging from 5,000 VND to 7,000 VND.
Vinh eel porridge
Another Nghe An local food worth mentioning is Vinh eel porridge, which is made from carefully selected field eels and rice. This nutritious and tasty porridge has a sweet taste and a characteristic flavor. It’s commonly served with green onions and coriander.
Suggested addresses:
- Hong Son eel soup: Ha Huy Tap, Vinh City, Nghe An
- Sy Binh Eatery – Cong Thanh spicy eel porridge: Vinh City, Nghe An
- Xuan Leo eel soup: 66 Dang Thai Than, Cua Nam, Vinh City, Nghe An
- Reference Price: 30,000 VND to 60,000 VND/bowl
Cua Lo Mackerel
If you’re in Nghe An, you shouldn’t miss the chance to taste Cua Lo’s grilled mackerel. This dish is famous not only for the carefully selected ingredients, but also for the sophisticated grilling process.
To prepare this dish, fresh mackerel with white meat, weighing at least 3 kg, is selected and grilled to perfection. It’s also a great gift to bring back home to family and friends.
Suggested addresses:
- Nghi Thuy fishing village, Cua Lo town, Nghe An
- Reference Price: When purchased directly from the manufacturer, it costs 160,000 VND to 200,000 VND per kg. If purchased through intermediaries, the price can range from 340,000 VND to 360,000 VND per kg.
Water fern cake (Banh beo or Bánh bèo)
Water fern cake is made from Vietnamese tapioca dumpling mix (bột lọc nêm) and has a texture similar to rice dumpling cake (bánh bột lọc).
To make this cake, the dough is carefully kneaded multiple times, divided into small pieces, and flattened before being filled with shrimp meat. The cake is then boiled until it floats and the filling is visible. It’s served with fish sauce and is delicious whether you eat it when it is hot or cold.
Suggested addresses:
- Ba Hoa Hue water fern cake: Hong Bang, Le Mao, Vinh City, Nghe An
- Lien Hue water fern cake: Quang Trung, Le Mao, Vinh City, Nghe An
- Crispy Vietnamese pancake eatery: 28 Nguyen Van Troi, Ben Thuy, Vinh City, Nghe An
- Reference Price: 15,000 VND to 20,000 VND per disc.
In conclusion, Nghe An cuisine is an integral part of the rich culture of central Vietnam, offering a wide range of dishes with unique flavors and ingredients. We hope you have enjoyed reading about these 15 famous Nghe An local foods and that it has inspired you to explore more of this region’s culinary delights. Don’t forget to follow us for more exciting articles on Vietnam’s diverse cuisine.
Read more Nghe An travel guides:
- TOP 17 Nghe An – Ha Tinh tourist attractions
- Delight in Diversity: 20 Nghe An Restaurants Offering Culinary Excellence
- Nghe An Travel Guide – For Your First Time to The Origin of Vietnam’s Great People
