Ninh Binh mountain goat — what to order
If you leave Ninh Binh without eating goat, you have missed half the trip. Since the tenth century, when Hoa Lu was the capital of Dai Co Viet, these limestone hills have been ideal goat country: the animals graze free, climbing the rock faces for wild herbs and leaves. The meat comes out lean, firm and distinctly sweet — nothing like penned goat elsewhere. At Thang Long Restaurant it is cooked in the full range of dishes the old capital knows. Here is each one and how it is eaten, so you can order like a local.
Seven goat dishes worth knowing
There are 31 goat dishes on our menu, but these seven will get you through any goat table in Ninh Binh:
1. Rare goat with lime, lemongrass and sesame (Dê tái chanh)
The classic opener on every Ninh Binh goat table. Thin slices of goat are seared just enough to lose their rawness, then tossed with lime, lemongrass, shredded lime leaf and toasted sesame. You wrap a slice in a fresh leaf with a piece of green banana, a slice of star fruit and a pickled fig, and dip it in fermented soybean sauce. Lightly sour, nutty, and sweeter the longer you chew.
2. Charcoal-grilled goat slab (Dê nướng tảng)
A whole marinated piece of goat grilled over charcoal and sliced at your table. Smoky and crisp at the edges, tender in the middle. This is the one people order in the evening, with cold beer, after a day at Trang An or Mua Cave.
3. Goat steamed with lemongrass (Dê hấp xả)
The plainest treatment and the most honest one: goat steamed with lemongrass, nothing to hide behind. If you want to know what mountain goat actually tastes like — sweet, firm, not gamey — start with this.
4. Goat stir-fried with lemongrass (Dê xào lăn)
Goat stir-fried with lemongrass, shallot and warm spices. This is the dish locals eat with rice, or spoon over crispy rice so the sauce soaks in.
5. Goat spring rolls (Nem dê)
Goat spring rolls eaten with fresh herbs and the house dipping sauce. Mild and easy — the dish to order for someone at the table who is nervous about goat, and for children. Please order in advance.
6. Salt-roasted goat (Dê rang muối)
Savoury and crisp on the outside, tender inside. On a group table it is usually the first plate to empty.
7. Goat hotpot (Lẩu dê)
A shared pot for four to ten people: a deep, long-simmered goat broth with seasonal greens to dip as you go. The right thing to order on a cool evening, or as the last meal of a long day.
Dish photo — a painting redrawn from a real photograph taken at the restaurant (tranh vẽ lại từ ảnh chụp thực tế).
Dish photo — a painting redrawn from a real photograph taken at the restaurant (tranh vẽ lại từ ảnh chụp thực tế).
Dish photo — a painting redrawn from a real photograph taken at the restaurant (tranh vẽ lại từ ảnh chụp thực tế).
How much to order
- Two to four people: goat with lime, one hot dish (grilled or stir-fried) and a plate of crispy rice. That is enough food and the full range of flavours.
- Five to ten people: add goat spring rolls and salt-roasted goat, or switch to a goat hotpot for something warming.
- Tour and company groups: we serve set menus at a fixed price per person — see group set menus and groups & events.
Menu prices for the best-known goat dishes (last checked 31/08/2026): goat with lime 220,000₫ · goat stir-fried with lemongrass 220,000₫ · grilled goat slab 300,000₫ · salt-roasted goat 230,000₫ · goat spring rolls 210,000₫ (pre-order) · goat hotpot from 450,000₫ (small pot) to 690,000₫ (special). All 31 goat dishes with prices are on the menu page. Prices can change; call +84 975 155 458 to confirm.
Quick questions about goat
Does goat meat taste gamey?
Mountain goat prepared properly barely does. The meat is firm, sweet and carries the herbs and spices well. If you are unsure, start with steamed goat with lemongrass or goat spring rolls — both are mild.
What if someone in our party does not eat goat?
No problem. We also serve free-range hill chicken, pork, beef, fish, rice, soups and vegetables. Say so when you order or when you book, and we will build the table around it. The full list is on our menu page.
How much does a goat meal cost?
Menu prices, last checked 31/08/2026: goat with lime 220,000₫, goat stir-fried with lemongrass 220,000₫, grilled goat slab 300,000₫, salt-roasted goat 230,000₫, goat spring rolls 210,000₫ (pre-order), goat hotpot from 450,000₫ up to 690,000₫ for the special version. All 31 goat dishes with prices are on the menu page.
How do we get here after the Trang An boat trip?
The restaurant is on the main Trang An – Bai Dinh road, a few minutes by car from the boat wharf. See directions, or open our pin in Google Maps and show it to your driver.
Book a table for goat
Call ahead so the kitchen can prepare and we can hold a table — lunchtime in high season fills with tour groups.