Ninh Binh rocky mountain snail is a famous rustic specialty, loved by many people because the snail meat is chewy, crispy, and fragrant with very nutritious herbal medicine. But where to eat quality Ninh Binh rocky  mountain snails? In this article, Focus Asia Travel will explore with you the top places to eat delicious rock snails that you can visit when traveling here.

Stone mountain snail – a unique specialty in Ninh Binh

Ninh Binh rocky mountain snail is similar to an apple snail but grows horizontally, about 2 fingers wide, with a flared mouth and milky white color. Delicious and unique flavor thanks to eating forest leaves and medicinal plants, so it has the taste of Chinese medicine. The meat is crispy, rough, rich in nutrients, good for health, especially reducing the risk of heart disease and increasing resistance.

Photo: @Crytalbay

The rainy season, from April to August, is the time when Ninh Binh stone snails are most numerous. Heavy, prolonged rainfall causes them to crawl out of their burrows to feed and breed, often early in the morning. To catch snails, people have to get up early, endure wind and rain, and climb on dangerous mountain slopes. In other seasons, mountain snails often hide underground, in thick leaves or rock caves, making them very difficult to find. Coming to Ninh Binh, don’t forget to enjoy this specialty!

Where to eat Ninh Binh mountain snails: places to visit

1. Cuc Phuong Restaurant

Address: Cuc Phuong forest road, Cuc Phuong, Nho Quan district, Ninh Binh
Visit Cuc Phuong forest, don’t miss Cuc Phuong Restaurant on the way in to enjoy the famous mountain snail dish. Ninh Binh mountain snails have a sweet, crunchy, herbal scent, a specialty that is not always available. Cuc Phuong Restaurant is not only famous for its specialty mountain snails, but also attracts diners with many other delicious dishes such as scorched rice and dishes made from fresh Ninh Binh mountain goat meat.

Photo: @Fb Cuc Phuong Restaurant

2. Lac Hong Restaurant

Address: Hang Mua Tourist Area, Khe Ha Ward, Ninh Xuan Ward, Hoa Lu District, Ninh Binh.
Lac Hong Restaurant, conveniently located near Mua Cave, serves delicious Ninh Binh dishes with a professional style. Although there are mountain snails on the menu, this dish is only available from April to August to ensure the freshest ingredients. Mountain snail dish is prepared with typical ingredients, combined with modern processing methods by professional chefs, but still retains the traditional flavor.

Photo: @Lạc Hồng Terrace

3. Zelda Restaurant

Address: 10/18, D. Ngo Quyen, Son Ha, Nho Quan District, Ninh Binh.
Zelda Restaurant, although located in a small alley, is not difficult to find. The restaurant is famous for its fresh Ninh Binh mountain snails. Snails are taken directly from Nho Quan cave, pre-processed to retain the characteristic medicinal flavor. Mountain snails are processed by chefs into many attractive dishes so everyone can enjoy them.

Photo: @Msquare

The restaurant’s most famous dish is probably the onion snail salad. The snails are cleaned, prepared (not steamed) and then mixed with onions, helping diners fully feel the sweet, crunchy taste of the snails and the strong aroma of the onions, creating an attractive flavor. In particular, besides Ninh Binh specialties, Zelda restaurant also serves European dishes such as pizza, pasta,… to serve international tourists.

4. Thang Long Restaurant

Address: Trang An, Truong Yen Ward, Hoa Lu District, Ninh Binh.
Opening hours: 08:00 – 22:00.
Price from: 180,000 VND – 350,000 VND.
Thang Long Restaurant, although not located in Nho Quan district, is still an ideal destination to enjoy fresh Ninh Binh mountain snails. The convenient central location of Trang An helps the restaurant attract many tourists and make it easy to move to other attractions quickly without wasting time. Thang Long Restaurant is famous for its Ninh Binh stone snail specialty, so the ingredients are carefully selected and meticulously prepared by experienced chefs.

Photo: @Fb Thang Long Restaurant – Ninh Binh Mountain Goat Specialties

5. Thao Linh Restaurant

Address: Nga 3 Village, Cuc Phuong, Nho Quan District, Ninh Binh.
Ninh Binh mountain snails are only found in limestone caves in Nho Quan district, so not every restaurant in Ninh Binh can prepare this dish. A restaurant that is highly appreciated by diners that we would like to recommend is Thao Linh restaurant. Although the space is not spacious or the design is eye-catching, Thao Linh scores points for the friendliness and agility of the staff and the dishes rich in traditional flavors.

Photo: @Hoang Long

Above are some suggestions on where to eat delicious Ninh Binh rocky mountain snails, please refer to them! Hope you find a suitable restaurant and have a wonderful trip! Don’t forget to check out other great articles on the Focus Asia Travel page!