Sapa is not only famous for its misty mountains and colorful hill tribes but also for its unique highland cuisine. From sizzling grilled dishes and hearty hotpots to fresh salmon and local pork, food in Sapa captures the very essence of Northwest Vietnam — simple, flavorful, and full of character.
Among the must-try dishes are:
grilled skewers, black chicken, salmon and sturgeon hotpot, bamboo sticky rice (cơm lam), horse stew (thắng cố), local corn wine, apple wine (rượu táo mèo), grilled stream fish, salmon salad, and roasted “cắp nách” mountain pork.
Most local restaurants and affordable eateries are concentrated in Sapa Food Market area, where you can enjoy delicious local dishes at reasonable prices. During cold evenings, there’s nothing better than sitting around a steaming hotpot (lẩu) with friends, sipping apple wine, and tasting the flavors of the mountains.
Recommended Local Restaurants
If you want to try fresh sturgeon or salmon, restaurants here usually sell by the kilo — about 500,000 VND/kg including vegetables and broth for hotpot. Expect to pay around 150,000 VND per person for a full meal.
Some travelers recommend Quán Huy Hoàng, known for tasty dishes and generous portions. Others suggest Nhà Hàng Cô Lịch (03 Fansipan Street) and Nhà Hàng Quỳnh Anh (Fansipan Street) for great local food and friendly service.
In Sapa’s chilly weather, colorful grilled skewers — meat, corn, eggs, or vegetables — fill the night air with irresistible aroma, warming both your body and your soul.
FOR BREAKFAST
- Phở Gia Truyền Nam Định (Ba Ngọc) – Traditional northern-style pho, open all day, cheaper than restaurants in the town center.
📍 078 Lương Đình Của Street, near the new bus station. - Phở Tùng Hà Nội – Famous for beef pho, slightly higher price but rich flavor.
📍 71 Xuân Viên Street, Sapa Town. - Phở Quyên Sapa – The locals’ favorite chicken pho, known for its fresh free-range chicken.
📍 Tuệ Tĩnh Street, near the old market. - Bún Chả Nga Cảnh – Offers bún chả, steamed rice rolls, grilled pork skewers, and duck eggs.
📍 050 Điện Biên Phủ Street, near the District Army Office. - Nhà Hàng Suối Bạc – A well-known spot for affordable and tasty Vietnamese meals.
📍 030 Tuệ Tĩnh Street. - Bún Bò Huế – Authentic spicy beef noodle soup from Central Vietnam.
📍 028 Thạch Sơn Street.
You can also find delicious bánh cuốn (steamed rice rolls) just outside town, in a small wooden house always full of locals — a true hidden gem!
LUNCH & DINNER – Local Favorites
- Nhà Hàng Hồng Long – 69 Xuân Viên Street
- Nhà Hàng Hoa Đào – 48 Lê Văn Tám Street
- Nhà Hàng Quỳnh Anh – 05 Fansipan Street
- Nhà Hàng Sapa Cuisine – 11 Hoàng Diệu Street (near Victoria steps)
📞 +84 964 267 569 | 🌐 www.SapaCuisine.com
These restaurants serve local dishes like grilled black chicken, salmon hotpot, and mountain pork sets (“lợn mẹt”) — all at fair prices and friendly service.
If you want something a bit more elegant, try:
- Nhà Hàng Bốn Mùa Sapa (09 Thác Bạc) – Set on a hilltop with a panoramic view.
- Nhà Hàng Cầu Mây (70 Fansipan) – Warm and cozy with a mix of ethnic and European style.
- Nhà Hàng Lotus Sapa (34 Cầu Mây) – Always busy; famous for its salmon hotpot.
- Red Dao Restaurant (4B Thác Bạc) – Known for fresh mushroom soup and creative dishes.
- Baguette & Chocolat Sapa – A charming French café run by local trainees, great for breakfast and pastries.
NIGHT EATS & STREET FOOD
When night falls, Sapa’s grill streets come alive — especially around the Stone Church and Hàm Rồng Mountain path.
There you’ll find endless options: grilled eggs, corn, chicken, pork skewers, purple potatoes, sticky rice, tofu, and even grilled horse sausage.
Each stall has its own secret marinade — no two flavors are the same!
If you just want to snack and explore, you’ll still end up full — and happy. But remember to ask prices before ordering, as some stalls don’t display menus.
LOCAL SPECIALTIES YOU SHOULD TRY
- Cá suối nướng (Grilled Stream Fish): Small mountain fish, crispy outside but tender inside — perfect with a cold beer.
- Cá hồi & Cá tầm (Salmon and Sturgeon): Sapa’s famous cold-water fish — fresh, firm, and naturally sweet.
- Lợn cắp nách (Local Free-Range Pig): A unique Sapa delicacy — small native pigs roasted whole, their meat tender and sweet.
- Rau su su (Chayote Shoots): A local vegetable symbol of Sapa — best enjoyed simply boiled and dipped in sesame salt.
- Ngồng cải (Flowering vegetable stems): Seasonal highland greens, stir-fried with garlic or meat, offering a sweet yet slightly bitter flavor.
EATING IN SAPA – TIPS TO AVOID TOURIST TRAPS
To enjoy Sapa food without worries:
✅ Always check the menu and prices before ordering.
✅ For salmon hotpot, expect around 500,000 VND/kg (including vegetables). Ask staff to weigh and prepare the fish in front of you.
✅ A typical set for 5–6 people includes salmon salad, fried fillets, crispy skin, and hotpot or porridge with the bones.
✅ Choose lively places with many locals — they usually serve fresher ingredients and fair prices.
Whether you’re a backpacker looking for local flavors or a traveler seeking a cozy mountain dinner, Sapa’s food scene will always surprise and delight you.
From a steaming bowl of pho at sunrise to a sizzling grilled skewer at midnight — every bite tells a story of this charming mountain town.