Thang Long Restaurant — Ninh Binh Goat Specialties
Tinh hoa ẩm thực Ninh Bình
The Essence of Ninh Binh Cuisine
Serving lunch & dinner
Welcome! We are a local restaurant on the Trang An – Bai Dinh road in Ninh Binh, just a few minutes' drive from the Trang An boat wharf — right in the land of Hoa Lu, Vietnam's first capital in the 10th century. Our kitchen does what this region is known for: mountain goat dishes and com chay — crispy rice served hot with a rich goat sauce. We have an English menu, plenty of space for groups, and a large parking lot for cars and tour buses.
Open daily 7:00 AM – 10:30 PM · Please call ahead on public holidays.
What to order — a 2-minute guide
Ninh Binh's signature meat is mountain goat. The goats graze on limestone karsts around Hoa Lu, so the meat is lean, firm and naturally sweet — nothing like the gamey goat you may have tried elsewhere. Here is what locals order:
- Dê tái chanh — thin slices of lightly seared goat tossed with lime, lemongrass and toasted sesame. Eaten wrapped in leaves with green banana and starfruit, dipped in fermented soybean sauce. The classic starter.
- Grilled goat (dê nướng) — marinated and charcoal-grilled, smoky and tender. Great with cold beer.
- Steamed goat with kaffir lime leaves (dê hấp) — the mildest way to try goat for the first time.
- Com chay (crispy rice) — golden fried rice cakes served hot, with a ladle of goat gravy poured on top. Crunchy, savory, addictive — the must-try Ninh Binh dish.
- Hill chicken (gà đồi) — free-range chicken, for anyone at the table who prefers not to eat goat.
- Goat hotpot (lẩu dê) — a shared pot for groups of 4–10, good on cooler evenings.
Prices (official menu, updated Aug 31, 2026): most goat dishes 180,000–300,000₫ (≈$7–12), hotpot from 450,000₫, set menus for groups from 150,000₫/person. Full price list (in Vietnamese) is on our menu page; call +84 975 155 458 to confirm current prices. An English menu is available — just ask.
Getting here from the Trang An boat tour
The restaurant sits on the main road between Trang An and Bai Dinh Pagoda, in Chi Phong hamlet, Tây Hoa Lư ward (the Hoa Lu / Truong Yen area). From the Trang An boat wharf it is only a few minutes by car.
- By Grab or taxi: ride-hailing apps work well in Ninh Binh. Set your destination to "Nhà hàng Thăng Long" near Trang An, or show the driver our Google Maps pin. The fare from the wharf is small — it is a short hop.
- By motorbike or bicycle: follow the Trang An – Bai Dinh road toward the Hoa Lu ancient capital; the restaurant is on this road. There is space to park.
- With a tour or private driver: most drivers know the restaurant — it is a regular lunch stop on the Trang An – Bai Dinh route. Buses park in our own lot.
A good day plan: morning boat ride at Trang An, lunch here, then afternoon at Bai Dinh Pagoda (same road) or Mua Cave viewpoint. Note for spelling: our name is Thăng Long ("Thang Long") — there is a differently owned restaurant nearby with a similar-sounding name ("Thanh Long"), so check the map pin.
Groups & tour operators welcome
The dining hall is large — total capacity is up to 1,000 guests per seating, with private rooms available. For tour operators we can fix a set menu at an agreed price per person in advance, including options for guests who do not eat goat. There is a big parking lot for 45-seat buses, plus WiFi and air conditioning.
To arrange a group lunch, call +84 975 155 458 or email thanglongnk@gmail.com with your group size, date and budget.
Questions travelers often ask
Do you have an English menu?
Yes — ask for the English menu when you sit down. Staff can also point you to the local favorites listed above.
How much does a meal cost?
Most goat dishes cost 180,000–300,000₫ (≈$7–12), hotpot from 450,000₫, and group set menus start at 150,000₫/person. See the full price list on our menu page.
When is the restaurant busiest?
Lunchtime, about 11:30–13:00, when boat-tour groups arrive. If you are a group of 4+, call ahead and we will keep a table for you.
What if someone in our group doesn't eat goat?
No problem — we also serve free-range chicken, rice, vegetables and side dishes. Tell us when you order or book.
Reserve your table
Open daily 7:00 AM – 10:30 PM. Call or message us on Zalo — we will confirm right away.