1. Grilled Loi Am Chicken of Ha Long - Famous Specialty of Quang Ninh
Quang Ninh's cuisine has long been associated with the sea, with squid cake, horseshoe crab, geoduck, or grilled oysters with scallion oil. However, among these myriad delicacies, the Grilled Loi Am Chicken of Ha Long possesses a very unique identity, a flavor of the mountains blended with the salty taste of the sea.
If you have ever passed through the Dai Yen ward area, near Yen Lap Lake, you will easily encounter scenes of small eateries nestled side-by-side under the forest canopy, with charcoal smoke rising thickly. The smell of grilled chicken blends with the mountain wind, carrying a hint of the scent of pine forests and the distant chime of Loi Am pagoda bells. All this creates a very characteristic picture, both serene and warm.
1.1. The Special Origin of Grilled Loi Am Chicken of Ha Long
The name 'Grilled Loi Am Chicken' originates from the small eateries specializing in grilled chicken located around the foot of Loi Am pagoda, an ancient and sacred pagoda in Ha Long city, situated by Yen Lap Lake. During festival seasons or on weekends, when tourists come to visit, the crackling of fire on charcoal stoves and the fragrant smell of grilled meat have seemingly become a familiar part of the journey.
Initially, Grilled Loi Am Chicken was just a simple, rustic meal for the people living around this area. They raised free-range hill chickens, and when pilgrims visited, they were often invited to share the meal. Gradually, that flavor spread, becoming a beloved dish and an indispensable stop on every spiritual journey to Loi Am pagoda.
More than just a dish, Grilled Loi Am Chicken is also a part of the culture of the mountainous region of Ha Long, where people live in harmony with nature, utilizing the most exquisite gifts bestowed by heaven and earth.
Grilled Ga Loi Am, a dish carrying the flavor of the mountains mixed with charcoal smoke. (Source: Dan Tri)
1.2. Highlights of Ha Long's Grilled Ga Loi Am
The most special aspect of this dish lies in its ingredients. The chicken is raised free-range on hills, completely natural, eating grass, corn, and cassava, resulting in firm meat, golden skin, and natural fragrance. Each chicken is prepared only when a customer orders, thus always ensuring absolute freshness and deliciousness.
After being cleaned, the chicken is marinated with a traditional spice mixture including salt, lemongrass, pepper, chili, wild honey, and lime leaves. The grillers use long bamboo or iron skewers, placing the chicken over glowing charcoal, continuously turning it so the meat cooks evenly while retaining its sweetness. When the skin turns chestnut brown and emits a characteristic aroma, the dish is ready.
The dining space is also a unique, inimitable "essence". Not luxurious restaurants, but small eateries by the stream, right near the Lôi Âm pagoda ferry landing. Amidst the afternoon smoke, the sound of wind rustling through the leaves, and the fragrant smell of grilled chicken, diners sit around bamboo tables, savoring each hot piece of meat, a strangely peaceful feeling.
1.3. Reasons to try Grilled Ga Loi Am when visiting Ha Long
If seafood is the taste of the sea, then Ga Loi Am is the soul of the mountainous region by the bay. This is not just a delicious dish but also an experience rich in local identity.
Each piece of grilled chicken is the crystallization of the hard work of the mountain people, of days raising free-range chickens in the forest, and meticulousness in every processing step. Enjoying this dish is not just about tasting the flavor but also about feeling the slow, authentic rhythm of life of the people in the mining region.
Small eateries by the stream at the foot of Loi Am pagoda are where the rustic grilled chicken dish was born and has been associated with the people of the mining region. (Source: Collected)
2. Experience and actual feelings when enjoying Loi Am grilled chicken Ha Long
2.1. Actual taste highly rated by tourists
What makes Loi Am grilled chicken unforgettable is its flavor. The chicken meat is tender but not mushy, the skin is crispy and golden yellow, and each piece is naturally sweet. When torn by hand, smoke rises profusely, the aroma of lemongrass, pepper, and honey blends together, stimulating the taste buds to the point where you just want to keep eating.
Many tourists commented that the chicken here has a different flavor compared to ordinary grilled chicken. Perhaps it's due to the special marinating method and grilling charcoal: using dry forest charcoal, which produces no harsh smoke, helping the dish cook just right while retaining its natural aroma.
Golden hill chicken roasted over charcoal. (Source: Collected)
2.2. Side dishes and authentic tasting methods
To make the chicken dish more complete, you must have a bowl of spicy lime and pepper salt, a little wild vegetables or thinly sliced lime leaves, and a plate of crispy pickled vegetables. Some people like to dip it with homemade chili sauce, which is both spicy and fragrant.
The best way to eat is to tear it by hand right at the restaurant. The chicken is just cooked, piping hot, when torn into pinkish-white meat fibers, the aroma spreads, and the rich sweetness fills the tongue. If you are in a group, you can order more sticky rice, boiled wild vegetables, or sour fish soup. These are light side dishes that make the meal filling without being greasy.
Salt, pepper, and lime, wild vegetables, and sticky rice are the perfect trio that enhances the flavor of grilled Lei Am chicken. (Source: Collected)
3. Reference prices and prominent Lei Am grilled chicken restaurants in Ha Long 2025
3.1. Latest prices for Lei Am grilled chicken in Ha Long 2025
According to 2025 updates, the average price for a grilled Lei Am chicken ranges from 300,000 - 350,000 VND/chicken, depending on the weight and quality of the chicken. Some restaurants offer combos including sticky rice, wild vegetables, and drinks, priced around 400,000 - 450,000 VND for a group of 2 to 3 people.
This price is considered quite reasonable, especially when the chicken is naturally raised, handcrafted, and enjoyed on-site. Notably, during the Lei Am Pagoda festival season (Lunar January), customer volume increases significantly, so visitors should go early or book in advance to avoid waiting.
The price of grilled Loi Am chicken will depend on the quality and weight of the chicken. (Source: Collected)
3.2. Top famous grilled Loi Am chicken restaurants to try
When you move to the foot of Loi Am Pagoda mountain (Dai Yen ward, Quang Ninh), you will easily encounter a series of famous grilled chicken restaurants concentrated along the ferry landing and the road leading up to the pagoda. Here are three addresses highly rated by both locals and tourists:
Dam Da Restaurant Address: 09 Loi Am, Dai Yen ward, Quang Ninh
Located right at the Loi Am Pagoda ferry landing, Dam Da restaurant has a convenient location with a view overlooking Yen Lap Lake, making it very cool, facing the airy mountain foot space. The grilled chicken here is usually prepared with charcoal, the skin is eye-catching golden, and the meat is firm. The reference price is relatively suitable: from about 150,000 VND to 300,000 VND/chicken. The restaurant is crowded during peak hours, so you might have to wait a bit for your order.
Chuyen Phuong Restaurant Address: 176 Dai Yen, Quang Ninh.
The restaurant is rated as suitable for large groups because of its spaciousness and relatively fast service. The chicken is well-marinated, evenly grilled, and retains the characteristic sweetness of hill chicken. The reference price is about 300,000 - 350,000 VND/chicken.
Hue Da Restaurant Address: Loi Am Thuong Pagoda Ferry Landing, Dai Yen ward, Quang Ninh
Another unmissable option is Hue Da restaurant, highly rated by many diners for its attractive chicken dishes and spacious, airy ambiance. The price is commonly around 300,000 - 350,000 VND/chicken.
Each restaurant has its own marinating method, but all maintain the traditional flavor. The common point is that the chicken is always grilled as soon as customers order, served hot and fragrant. Additionally, the owners are often friendly, offering guests forest leaf water or green tea while they wait for their dishes to be cooked.
Simple grilled chicken restaurants around the ferry landing of Loi Am pagoda are always crowded with customers thanks to their unforgettable flavors. (Source: Collected)
3.3. Tips for choosing a Loi Am grilled chicken restaurant in Ha Long
To have a complete experience, you should note some small tips:
Choose restaurants crowded with locals, as these are usually places with fresh, delicious chicken that is continuously prepared.
Observe the grilling area: if the charcoal stove is evenly red, with no black smoke and a pleasant aroma, it indicates the chicken is grilled with clean charcoal.
Ask carefully about the chicken size and accompanying combos before ordering to avoid waste.
If traveling in a large group or during festivals, call ahead to book for faster service.
A small tip shared by many is to come in the afternoon after visiting the pagoda. This is when the restaurants start their fires, the atmosphere is bustling, and a delicious aroma fills the air.
Choose a restaurant popular with locals, chicken grilled over charcoal and marinated with natural spices. (Source: Collected)
4. Suggested itinerary combining enjoying Loi Am grilled chicken of Ha Long and exploring Loi Am Pagoda
If you have a full day in Ha Long, spend the morning to find peace at the Buddhist temple and the noon to enjoy rustic delicacies amidst the mountains and forests.
Morning: From the city center, travel to Loi Am ferry terminal, take a boat across the calm Yen Lap lake. On both sides are green forests, in the distance, the sound of temple bells echoes. The mountain climbing journey of about 30-40 minutes is not too difficult, just enough for you to feel the fresh air and the tranquility of the meditation place.
Noon: After visiting the pagoda, immediately visit the grilled chicken stalls by the stream at the foot of the mountain. Order a golden-brown hill chicken, add a plate of sticky rice and wild vegetables, sit amidst the cool breeze, the smell of charcoal smoke mixed with the fragrant aroma of chicken – that alone is enough to make the lunch memorable. This is when everyone chats and shares, feeling the simplicity and warmth of the people in the coastal mountainous region.
Afternoon: When the sun softens, you can return to the center of Ha Long, stroll along the coast, visit Sun World Ha Long or wander through the market to buy souvenirs. A gentle but complete ending.
Itinerary for a full day: morning visiting Lei Am Pagoda, noon enjoying grilled chicken by the stream, afternoon visiting Sun World Ha Long. (Source: Collected)
Ha Long Lei Am grilled chicken is not just a dish, but a part of the memory of the land of Quang Ninh, where mountains and sea, people and nature converge. The smell of chicken grilled over charcoal, the rich sweet taste in every piece of meat, the sound of a babbling stream, and the distant chime of temple bells… all combine to form an unforgettable culinary experience.
If you have the chance to visit Ha Long, dedicate an afternoon to Lei Am Pagoda and a lunch of grilled chicken by the stream. It will be a meaningful journey, both finding peace and savoring the culinary essence of the mining region's mountainside.
