Quang Tri – a land of tranquility that has endured the ups and downs of history, stands out with its enticing specialties. Each dish is a delicate fusion of traditional flavors and the essence of the Central Vietnamese region, humble yet imbued with its people’s warmth, offering unforgettable culinary experiences. Let’s explore the must-try specialties of Quang Tri with Vietnampeace.com!

1. Unmissable Specialties When Visiting Quang Tri

1.1 Mai Xa Clam Noodle – Top 100 culinary dishes, a typical specialty of Vietnam

Mai Xa Clam Noodle (or Mai Xa tight noodle) originates from Mai Xa village, Gio Linh district, Quang Tri province. Despite being called clam noodles, the main ingredient of this specialty is the tight clam – a smaller freshwater creature resembling clams. The meat of tight clams is fragrant, more decadent in color than clams, and rich in nutrients.

In addition to tight clams, Mai Xa clam noodles are made from simple ingredients such as noodles, aromatic herbs, bean sprouts, roasted peanuts, broth, etc. However, this dish has a uniquely unique flavor. The broth of Mai Xa clam noodles is simmered from pork bones, creating a sweet and refreshing taste. The tight clams are boiled, their flesh extracted and then stir-fried with spices, creating a rich flavor. Mai Xa clam noodles are served with fresh herbs, bean sprouts, and roasted peanuts, creating a harmonious dish in terms of taste and color.

To savor the authentic flavor of Mai Xa clam noodles when traveling to Quang Tri, you can visit Mai Xa village, Gio Mai, and Gio Linh and enjoy this specialty at any local market.

1.2 Buffalo Meat with La Trong Leaves

This dish is made from young buffalo meat, La Trong leaves, and various spices. The buffalo meat is cleaned, thinly sliced, and marinated with herbs and La Trong leaves. La Trong is a specialty leaf of Quang Tri, which is only found wild in this region. The La Trong leaves used in this dish are young, with a strong spicy taste and a very characteristic aroma.

Buffalo meat with La Trong leaves is usually prepared in grilled and stir-fried ways. Grilled buffalo meat with La Trong leaves has a sweet, tender taste, accompanied by fresh La Trong leaves, thus retaining a natural and fragrant flavor. Meanwhile, stir-fried buffalo meat with La Trong leaves offers a rich blend of buffalo and leaves with a solid and aromatic scent.

Some addresses serving delicious buffalo meat with La Trong leaves in Quang Tri include:

– Song Chieu Restaurant, Street No. 1, Tran Nguyen Han, Dong Giang, Dong Ha, Quang Tri.

– Hong Hoi Restaurant, Bich Khe, Trieu Long, Trieu Phong, Quang Tri.

– Loc Huong Restaurant, 178 Highway 9/20 Truong Han Sieu, Dong Ha City, Quang Tri.

1.3 Vạc Giường Porridge

This dish is made from brown rice flour, snakehead fish, aromatic herbs, and spices. The brown rice flour is finely ground and then kneaded thoroughly. The longer you knead the dough, the more tender and delicious the porridge will be. After the dough is thoroughly cooked, it is rolled thinly and sliced into small strands resembling bamboo strips, perhaps why it’s called Vạc Giường porridge.

The dough strands are cooked in a broth with the sweet taste of pork bones, the rich flavor of snakehead fish, the spicy kick of chili, the fragrant aroma of scallions, the refreshing scent of coriander, along with some finely crushed roasted peanuts, and delicious fish sauce. All these elements combine to create a harmonious dish in flavor and color.

Vạc Giường porridge is a rustic dish bursting with the flavors of Central Vietnam. It’s a harmonious blend of simple ingredients, resulting in a delicious, nutritious, and enticing dish. Therefore, this Quang Tri specialty is beloved by many, not just the locals but also first-time visitors.

Because it’s a local dish, diners can easily find and savor this special porridge anywhere in Quang Tri. And the price is quite affordable, just around 20,000 VND per bowl.

1.4 Quang Tri Savory Pancake

At first glance, it may look like a regular pancake, but this is one of Quang Tri’s most delicious specialties. Quang Tri savory pancake is a rustic dish rich in the flavors of Central Vietnam. The pancake is poured into a round mold with a moderate thickness and filled with shrimp, meat, and bean sprouts. It is served with fresh vegetables, dipping sauce, and rice paper.

The dipping sauce is what determines the deliciousness of this Quang Tri specialty. It is made from simple ingredients such as fish sauce, sugar, garlic, chili, vinegar, and lime, but it is prepared with great care and complexity. Therefore, the dipping sauce is fragrant and flavorful, with a harmonious blend of sweet, sour, spicy, salty, and fatty tastes.

If you can visit Khe Sanh town, Huong Hoa district, Quang Tri province, try visiting a pancake shop along Le Duan Street. A plate of Quang Tri savory pancakes costs only about 30,000 – 50,000 VND for 3 – 4 people.

1.5 My Chanh Tapioca Cake

This Quang Tri specialty originates from My Chanh village, Hai Chanh commune, Hai Lang district, Quang Tri province, passed down through many generations, and has become a famous dish.

My Chanh tapioca cake is made from fresh, carefully selected ingredients. The cake batter is made from ground cassava roots and has a mild and less pungent smell. What gives the unique taste to this famous cake is the shrimp and pork filling, marinated and prepared according to a special recipe. The cake is wrapped in banana leaves instead of bamboo leaves like in other places, giving it a simple and homely appearance with a strong local flavor.

When visiting Quang Tri, you will have the opportunity to experience the flavor of this special tapioca cake and witness the entire process of making this famous cake from start to finish. When unwrapping the shiny, fatty cake, the aroma of banana leaves will fill the air. Dipping the cake into the sweet and sour dipping sauce, with a side of fresh vegetables, you will feel the chewy texture of the cake, the sweetness of pork and shrimp, the sweet and sour taste of the dipping sauce, the spicy flavor of chili, and the aroma of herbs. You won’t get tired of eating it because the tapioca cake is not greasy like other cakes, and the filling is incredibly flavorful.

My Chanh tapioca cakes are sold in all markets and eateries throughout Quang Tri, especially along Highway 1, passing through My Chanh village, Hai Chanh commune, and Hai Lang district.

1.6 Quang Tri Jackfruit Salad

Jackfruit salad is a rustic specialty of Quang Tri land. This dish is made from young jackfruit, pork, pig skin, glass noodles, peanuts, raw vegetables, etc. Young jackfruit is boiled until tender, then stir-fried with pork, pig skin, glass noodles,… When you take a bite of jackfruit salad, you will taste the sweetness of young jackfruit, the richness of pork and pig skin, the nuttiness of peanuts, and the freshness of raw vegetables.

You can visit Dong Ha Market or a jackfruit salad stall on Le Quy Don Street, Dong Ha City, Quang Tri (next to Sao Xanh café) to enjoy this particular dish.