Nestled in the misty heart of the Northern Highlands, Sapa Cuisine Restaurant (Ẩm Thực Sa Pa) has long been known as one of the town’s most iconic dining destinations.
Located right in the center of Sapa, our restaurant welcomes guests with a warm, cozy atmosphere — featuring traditional highland architecture, wooden interiors, and panoramic views of the mountain town below.
Here, you’ll discover the true essence of Sapa’s ethnic cuisine — where ancient recipes meet modern refinement. From smoked buffalo meat, bamboo sticky rice, and black chicken hotpot, to the region’s most famous specialty — Thắng Cố, the legendary horse hotpot of the Northwest.
🐎 What Is Thắng Cố?
Thắng Cố is one of the oldest and most distinctive dishes of the H’Mông people in Sapa and the surrounding highlands.
Traditionally made during festivals or market gatherings, it was a communal dish — a symbol of unity, shared around a fire with music, laughter, and rice wine.
Originally, Thắng Cố was cooked from horse meat and offal simmered in a large pot with mountain herbs and spices, such as mắc khén (wild pepper), cardamom, lemongrass, and star anise.
Today, the dish has evolved into a flavorful horse hotpot, maintaining its rich cultural roots while offering a more refined taste suitable for modern palates.
🍲 The Sapa Horse Hotpot at Sapa Cuisine
At Sapa Cuisine, we bring this traditional delicacy to your table with care and authenticity.
Thắng Cố Hotpot Menu – 150,000 VND per person
- Fresh horse meat and innards simmered in a fragrant herbal broth
- A blend of highland spices and medicinal herbs
- Assorted Sapa vegetables
- Tofu and fresh noodles, rice, or vermicelli
- Seasonal fruits
- Traditional Vietnamese tea
The broth is aromatic, slightly spicy, and layered with deep herbal notes — warming your body and awakening your senses, especially on cool Sapa evenings.
Dip the fresh horse meat into the bubbling pot, enjoy the tender texture, and savor the distinct flavor that represents the spirit of the mountains.
🌄 A True Taste of Sapa Highlands
Few dishes capture the highland soul like Thắng Cố — rustic yet rich, strange yet comforting.
It’s more than just food; it’s a window into the culture of the mountain people — their hospitality, their resilience, and their love for gathering around a hot pot to celebrate life.
When you visit Sapa Cuisine, you’re not just enjoying a meal — you’re tasting a story that has been passed down for generations in the misty valleys of Northwest Vietnam.
📍 Visit Us
Sapa Cuisine Restaurant
📍 Address: 11 Hoàng Diệu Street, Sapa Town, Lào Cai, Vietnam
📞 Hotline: +84 0964 267 569
📧 Email: cuisinesapa@gmail.com
🌐 Website: www.SapaCuisine.com
Thắng Cố – a taste of mountain heritage, best enjoyed in the warm glow of Sapa Cuisine’s hearth.