5 Must-Try Signature Dishes When Visiting Cua Tung Beach

Herring salad is a simple yet sophisticated dish, favored in Cua Tung thanks to the fresh source of herring caught directly from this sea area. The herring here has firm, sweet, and mild-tasting flesh with little fishiness, perfect for preparing salad.

Addresses:

• Bien Xanh Seafood Eatery (near Cua Tung Beach) is a famous spot for fresh herring salad. Reference price: 120,000 – 200,000 VND/portion.
• You can also buy fresh herring at Cua Tung seafood market and request to have it prepared at coastal eateries.

Cua Tung oysters are naturally farmed in clean coastal waters, offering a sweet taste, plump flesh, and rich flavor. Grilled oysters are a must-try choice for seafood enthusiasts.

Fresh oysters are grilled over charcoal, topped with a layer of fragrant scallion oil and roasted peanuts. The rich taste of oysters blends with the aroma of scallion oil to create an unforgettable culinary experience. As a modern variation, oysters are topped with melted cheese and grilled to a golden brown, appealing to younger tastes.

Addresses: 

• Hai Quang Cuu Eatery: Near Cua Tung Beach.
• Goc Bien Restaurant: Famous for seafood dishes. Address: Cua Tung Coastal Road. 
• Sky Garden Restaurant Cua Tung: A restaurant serving unique, rustic dishes with a variety of fresh seafood options.

Agar-agar rice cake is a unique snack from Vinh Linh land, especially popular in Cua Tung. Unlike northern Banh Duc, Cua Tung agar-agar rice cake combines rice flour, crunchy agar-agar, and a rich dipping sauce.

The cake is made from rice flour mixed with agar-agar powder, steamed, and cut into bite-sized pieces. The agar-agar adds a light crunch, while the rice flour provides a soft texture. The cake is served with fermented fish sauce seasoned with chili, garlic, sugar, and sometimes topped with dried shrimp or minced lean pork, creating a rich, rustic flavor.

You can find this dish at street food carts or snack stalls near Cua Tung Beach. 

Grilled shellfish with scallion oil and peanuts is a memorable dish due to the perfect combination of the natural sweetness of fresh shellfish, the rich fragrance of scallion oil, crunchy fried shallots, and savory roasted peanuts. If you are a fan of modern and rich flavors, grilled scallops with cheese are a must-try choice. Fresh scallop meat topped with a layer of rich, melted cheese over red-hot coals creates a unique, highly fragrant, and flavorful taste.

Lobster is the shining star of Cua Tung cuisine. Caught from clean waters, every lobster here features firm, naturally sweet, and deliciously chewy meat. Cua Tung is famous for various premium lobster types such as green lobster and red lobster, offering unforgettable culinary experiences for diners. 

With superior quality, Cua Tung lobster can be prepared into many appealing dishes:

• Steamed lobster: This is the most popular way to enjoy the full original sweetness of the lobster. Whole lobsters are steamed, preserving all the essence of the sea. When enjoying, you can dip it in spicy green chili salt or aromatic garlic butter sauce to enhance the flavor.
• Lobster porridge: A great choice for those seeking nourishment and warmth. Lobster is cooked with fragrant rice, finished with chopped scallions, cilantro, and ground pepper, creating a smooth and sweet porridge. This dish is especially suitable for chilly evenings, warming your stomach and restoring energy.

Addresses: 

• Goc Bien Restaurant
• Sky Garden Restaurant Cua Tung

Cua Tung Beach entices visitors not only with its pristine natural beauty, clear blue water, and smooth white sand, but also leaves lasting memories with its rich Central Vietnamese culinary flavors. Specialties like fresh herring salad, rich grilled oysters, refreshing agar-agar rice cakes, aromatic grilled scallops with scallion oil, or flavorful grilled lobsters all carry the soul of the sunny and windy land of Quang Tri. This is not only an ideal place for relaxation, but also a starting point for exploring other prominent landmarks such as the Vinh Moc Tunnels – a heroic historical monument, La Vang Sanctuary – a famous spiritual destination, or Hien Luong Bridge – Ben Hai River, symbols of separation and reunion. Visitors can also combine their trip with a tour to Con Co Island, an ecological paradise with rich marine life. Plan and book your Cua Tung tour today to fully enjoy a unique beach, culture, and culinary experience.