1. Overview of cuisine and eateries in Cam Pha
1.1. Overview of the culinary culture of Cam Pha
The culinary culture in Cam Pha is closely associated with the sea, thanks to the abundant fresh seafood from Bai Tu Long Bay. Every day, local fishermen go out to sea at night, bringing back catches of freshly caught shrimp, fish, squid, and crab for the eateries in Cam Pha. A prominent feature here is the blend of traditional Quang Ninh dishes such as cha muc, bun tom Nha Tho, sea worm soup, and modern cuisine. Visitors can easily find Korean-style BBQ restaurants, Japanese-style seafood preparations, or various barbecue buffet restaurants right in the city center.
Additionally, many restaurants in Cam Pha have beautiful sea-view spaces, serving both familiar dishes and premium options on the same menu. As a result, the culinary experience here is both familiar to local residents and appealing to visitors from many different regions.
Culinary culture in Cam Pha is closely associated with the sea, thanks to the abundant fresh seafood from Bai Tu Long Bay. (Source: Collected)
1.2. Reasons to explore Cam Pha eateries when you visit?
Cam Pha eateries have many attractive points that make visitors unable to resist visiting. The menu is diverse, from fresh seafood, spicy and flavorful hot pots, fragrant BBQ, to local specialties, all at affordable prices. A highlight is that many restaurants are equipped with seafood tanks for customers to choose directly, ensuring the freshness of ingredients.
The restaurant spaces are also very diverse, from rooftop terraces with sea views, private rooms for families, to spacious areas ideal for large groups. The professional and friendly service staff at Cam Pha eateries always assist with ordering and create a pleasant atmosphere for diners. Many restaurants are located near tourist attractions such as Cua Ong, Ben Do, making them very convenient for tourists' exploration journeys.
1.3. Suggested itinerary for the most attractive culinary experience in Cam Pha
Below is a list of the top 10 Cam Pha eateries carefully selected based on food quality, service, and customer reviews. Each restaurant will be introduced in detail with its address, signature dishes, opening hours, and contact information to help you easily plan. Additionally, the article provides a suggested culinary itinerary combined with sightseeing from morning to night, helping you fully enjoy the flavors of Cam Pha during your trip.
2. Top 10 outstanding Cam Pha eateries
2.1. Duong Huong Restaurant
Located in the center of Cam Pha ward, Duong Huong Restaurant is a familiar address for tourists thanks to local seafood dishes prepared in a traditional style. The restaurant's ambiance is decorated with a strong coastal theme, creating a friendly and cozy atmosphere for diners. This is an ideal place to fully enjoy the culinary flavors of Cam Pha in the most rustic way.
The menu mainly consists of fresh seafood dishes supplied daily by local fishermen. The restaurant focuses on preserving the natural taste of the ingredients, allowing diners to clearly feel the characteristics of the mining region in each dish.
The restaurant space is decorated with a strong coastal vibe, bringing a friendly, intimate feeling to diners. (Source: Collected)
2.2. Cong Vang Frog Hotpot
Located at Hamlet 5, Area 6C, Cam Pha Ward, Cong Vang Frog Hotpot impresses diners with its spicy, flavorful frog hotpot. Fresh frogs are carefully selected, combined with broth simmered from pork bones and special spices, creating an unforgettable flavor. Frog hotpot is not only appealing but also nutritious, suitable for family gatherings or meals with friends.
The restaurant has a cozy atmosphere, with round tables conveniently arranged for everyone to enjoy the hotpot together. The staff enthusiastically guides on how to eat and provides attentive service, bringing a comfortable feeling to diners. This is very suitable for those who love rustic hotpot dishes and wish to explore new flavors.
2.3. Ngoc Giang Restaurant
Located at 215 Tan Binh Street, Cam Pha Ward, Ngoc Giang Restaurant is a highly rated address by the tourism community. The restaurant serves a variety of Vietnamese dishes from traditional to modern, with a highlight of fresh and delicious seafood. The space is spacious and airy, modernly designed yet retaining traditional Vietnamese characteristics.
The menu includes many fresh seafood dishes such as shrimp, crab, fish, and squid, with ingredients caught from Cam Pha sea. The restaurant always focuses on the quality of ingredients and exquisite preparation methods, ensuring dishes are both visually appealing and delicious. Professional and dedicated service attitude is also a reason why diners are satisfied when visiting.
Ngoc Giang Restaurant is a highly rated address by the tourism community. (Source: Collected)
2.4. Dai Duong Restaurant
Located at 670 Ly Thuong Kiet Street, Cua Ong Ward, Dai Duong Restaurant welcomes guests from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM daily, contact via phone 034 668 6888. Thanks to its proximity to Cua Ong Temple, visitors can conveniently combine sightseeing and culinary enjoyment. The restaurant specializes in fresh seafood and has received many positive feedback from customers.
The restaurant's menu is diverse, including local specialties and seafood dishes prepared in various ways. The space is spacious and airy, suitable for families and friends. The service staff is always ready to advise on menus suitable for the tastes of each group of customers.
2.5. Hanh Cua Restaurant
Located at Ben Do, Cam Pha Ward, Hanh Cua Restaurant accepts reservations via phone 078 332 2666. True to its name, the restaurant is famous for its delicious fresh crab dishes prepared in various ways such as boiled, tamarind stir-fried, salt and chili grilled, crab stir-fried with spicy tamarind sauce. The restaurant's rooftop offers a view overlooking Ben Do, providing an interesting and romantic dining experience amidst natural scenery.
Besides crab dishes, the menu is also rich with many fresh seafood types such as shrimp, fish, and squid, elaborately prepared. The restaurant has VIP rooms for intimate parties or families needing private space. Thanks to stable service quality and attractive food flavors, this is one of the Cam Pha eateries that is always popular.
The menu is also rich with many fresh seafood dishes such as shrimp, fish, and squid, elaborately prepared. (Source: Collected)
2.6. Pho Bien Restaurant
Located at 319 Bao Bien street, Cua Ong ward, Pho Bien Restaurant serves from 8:00 AM until sold out, contact via two numbers 0358629862 and 035 8780772. This venue is characterized by its live seafood tanks, allowing customers to choose ingredients directly. The restaurant's spacious ambiance attracts a large number of diners with its quality dishes and reasonable prices.
Some outstanding dishes include fragrant stir-fried sea shrimp with lime leaves, rich Truong Tho spicy hot pot, and a delicately sweet, nutritious mushroom hot pot. Ingredients are prepared immediately after customers select them from the tanks, ensuring the freshest taste. The prompt and friendly service staff always assist customers, even during peak hours.
2.7. Pho Vit Restaurant
Located at 91 Thanh Nien street, Cam Pha ward, Pho Vit Restaurant specializes in duck dishes with various preparation methods. The menu includes roasted duck, grilled duck, duck hot pot, and stir-fried duck dishes, each with its unique character. Ducks are carefully selected, ensuring firm meat and natural sweetness.
The restaurant's ambiance is cozy, ideal for meals with family or friends. Reasonable prices and consistently high-quality dishes make Pho Vit Restaurant a familiar spot for many families in Cam Pha. Dedicated service and quick dish preparation are also notable advantages.
2.8. Oc Tung Duong
Located at Hamlet 3, Area 6C, Cam Pha ward, Oc Tung Duong is an ideal place for shellfish lovers. The eatery serves a variety of fresh shellfish dishes such as grilled with scallion oil, boiled with ginger, stir-fried with curry, along with many attractive snacks. Its location near residential areas makes it easy for visitors to find and experience.
The eatery's ambiance is rustic and clean, creating a friendly atmosphere. The shellfish dishes here are famous for their freshness and rich preparation. Reasonable prices suit a wide range of customers. This is a perfect choice for gatherings with friends or enjoying evening snacks.
2.9. Binh Tien Restaurant
Located in Cam Pha ward, Binh Tien Restaurant is a highly-rated destination for many tourists. The restaurant specializes in local dishes using carefully selected fresh ingredients. The cozy ambiance is suitable for family meals or gatherings with friends.
The menu is diverse, ranging from seafood to poultry, prepared in the traditional style of Cam Pha. Service quality is consistently stable, with reasonable prices, attracting a large number of regular customers. The friendly staff always provides dedicated support to ensure customers have the most pleasant experience.
2.10. Quang Hien Restaurant
Quang Hien Restaurant is located on Hoang Quoc Viet street, opens from 10:00 AM to 10:30 PM. The restaurant stands out with signature seafood dishes such as rich tuna braised with pork belly, unique seafood pasta, and refreshing Russian salad. Notably, the tamarind-sauce seafood platter is a dish loved by many diners.
The modern, airy space overlooking Ben Do lake creates a relaxing atmosphere. The professional and dedicated staff always receives positive feedback from customers. The convenient location and stable food quality make Quang Hien Restaurant a preferred choice for tourists visiting Cam Pha.
Diverse menu, from seafood to poultry, prepared in the traditional style of Cam Pha. (Source: Collected)
3. Culinary specialties to try when visiting Cam Pha eateries
3.1. Bun Tom Nha Tho
Bun Tom Nha Tho is considered a symbol of Cam Pha cuisine, especially famous in Cua Ong ward, where this dish originated. The highlight is the small, fresh land shrimp with hard shells, cleaned of their black veins before cooking. The clear broth, simmered from pork leg bones for many hours, creates a delicate, unforgettable sweet flavor.
When eating, Bun Tom is usually served with crispy fried chili, fresh raw vegetables, and crunchy sour pickled bamboo shoots. The aromatic, rich flavor of shrimp blends with the naturally sweet broth, creating a distinct spicy and rich taste that lingers in the memory of diners. This is a must-try dish when visiting Cam Pha eateries .
Bun Tom Nha Tho (Cathedral Shrimp Noodle Soup) is considered a symbol of Cam Pha cuisine, especially famous in Cua Ong ward, where this dish originated. (Source: Quang Ninh Newspaper)
3.2. Canh Sa Sung (Sipunculid Worm Soup)
Sipunculid worm soup is a nutritious dish made from the "sea ginseng" species, rich in protein and minerals. Sipunculid worms in Cam Pha are often used to cook sour soup with betel leaves, scallions, pineapple, and tomatoes, creating a naturally sweet and clear flavor. The chewy texture of the sipunculid worms combined with the slight sourness of pineapple and tomatoes creates a dish that is both delicious and unique, pairing perfectly with white rice.
Besides sour soup, sipunculid worms can also be cooked with betel leaves for a distinctive aroma. This dish is often featured on the menus of restaurants such as Quang Hien Restaurant and Hanh Cua Restaurant. Visitors should try it to fully appreciate the unique flavor of Cam Pha's sea.
3.3. Cha Muc Cam Pha (Cam Pha Squid Cake)
Cam Pha squid cake is made from fresh squid, pounded finely, then formed into chewy, naturally sweet patties, and finally fried until golden. This dish can be eaten on its own, served with rice paper, or eaten with sticky rice, creating the famous sticky rice with squid cake dish. With its rich sea flavor and irresistible chewy sweetness, squid cake is a meaningful gift from Cam Pha.
Visitors can find squid cake at Cam Pha eateries or at Ben Do Market to buy as gifts for relatives. Many reputable squid cake vendors are concentrated around large seafood restaurants, ensuring quality and freshness. This is a specialty that is both delicious and convenient to buy as a souvenir after the trip.
Cam Pha Squid Cake is made from freshly ground squid, then formed into a chewy, naturally sweet cake, and then fried golden. (Source: Collected)
4. Experience choosing delicious, cheap, and suitable Cam Pha eateries
When choosing Cam Pha eateries, prioritize restaurants with live seafood tanks such as Pho Bien Restaurant or Hanh Cua Restaurant to ensure ingredients are always fresh and safe. Pay attention to the water in the tank and the liveliness of the seafood before ordering.
Spacious and airy space is also an important criterion. Hanh Cua Restaurant has a rooftop with a beautiful view, Quang Hien Restaurant has a large space, very suitable for large groups. Professional and enthusiastic service staff at places like Dai Duong Restaurant or Pho Bien Restaurant also help make your trip more complete.
On holidays or weekends, it is advisable to book a table in advance via the restaurant's phone number to manage your time proactively. Many modern Cam Pha eateries also support booking via Facebook fanpage, helping tourists easily plan a reasonable dining itinerary.
5. Suggested itinerary for culinary and travel experiences in Cam Pha
Start the morning with a rich Bun Tom Nha Tho or enjoy squid cake in the Cua Ong ward area. After breakfast, you can visit Cua Ong Temple to learn more about the culture and history of this land. The combination of cuisine and culture will kickstart a new day full of energy.
Lunch is a great opportunity to enjoy attractive seafood dishes at Dai Duong Restaurant on Ly Thuong Kiet street or Hanh Cua Restaurant in the Ben Do area. Dishes like tamarind stir-fried crab, seafood hotpot are sure to satisfy every family member or group of friends. The spaciousness of these two restaurants is very suitable for parties or gatherings.
In the afternoon, you can spend time strolling along Cua Ong beach or walk around Ben Do lake to enjoy the fresh climate of the city. Don't forget to visit Ben Do market to buy seafood or local specialties as gifts. End the day in the evening with a fragrant grilled meal at Pho Bien Restaurant or enjoy snail dishes at Oc Tung Duong, while exploring the vibrant nightlife of the food street.
If you spend several days exploring Quang Ninh, combine the experience of playing at Sun World Ha Long after fully enjoying Cam Pha cuisine to make the trip more meaningful.
If you spend several days exploring Quang Ninh, combine it with fun experiences at Sun World Ha Long.
Cam Pha restaurants are not only diverse in delicious dishes but also score points thanks to their distinctive flavors, reasonable prices, and friendly service style. Whether you are a local or a tourist visiting Quang Ninh, choosing a quality Cam Pha restaurant will make your culinary journey more complete. Don't forget to save the list of delicious Cam Pha restaurants to enjoy attractive specialty dishes and have a memorable experience when visiting this mining region.
