When visiting the "Garlic Kingdom", in addition to admiring the majestic natural scenery, visitors are also captivated by the unique and rich cuisine of Ly Son. The dishes here are infused with the flavors of the sea, prepared from the freshest ingredients, promising to awaken all the senses of diners.

If you are planning a trip and wondering what to eat in Ly Son, let Vietjet help you keep this list of the Top 10 delicious dishes in Ly Son and the addresses of affordable restaurants below!

1. General Introduction to Ly Son Cuisine

Ly Son is not only famous for its garlic but also a paradise for various types of fresh seafood. The delicious dishes of Ly Son are often simply prepared to preserve the natural sweetness of the ingredients. From humble roadside eateries to luxurious beachfront restaurants, you can find unforgettable flavors everywhere. Especially, the prices of seafood in Ly Son are quite reasonable compared to the quality, allowing you to indulge without worrying about "breaking the bank".

For many first-time visitors, the question "what to eat in Ly Son?" is always a top concern. From rustic dishes to high-end seafood, Ly Son has enough to satisfy every palate.

Ly Son is not only famous for its beautiful scenery but also a paradise for garlic and fresh seafood.

See more: Tips for traveling to Ly Son Island independently and economically

2. Top 10 Must-Try Dishes in Ly Son

Below is a list of "must-try" dishes that any food lover cannot miss:

2.1 Seaweed Salad

Seaweed salad is one of the most popular delicious dishes in Ly Son. The seaweed in Ly Son is harvested naturally, crispy, and has a salty taste of the sea. Fresh seaweed is mixed with herbs, roasted peanuts, and a harmonious sweet and sour dressing. The dish has a refreshing, light crunch, making it perfect for enjoying on sunny days.

2.2 Young Garlic Salad from Ly Son

When mentioning Ly Son cuisine, one cannot forget the young garlic salad - a dish associated with the “garlic kingdom”. The young garlic stalks are briefly blanched in boiling water to reduce their pungency, then mixed with various seasonings. The dish has a distinctive garlic flavor, a crunchy texture, and a sweet aftertaste, making it very unique and healthy.

2.3 Ly Son Fish Cake

Ly Son fish cake is made from fresh red mullet (also known as cham fish), a type of fish characteristic of the island's waters with firm, sweet, white flesh and few bones. The fish is finely minced with Ly Son garlic and spices.

The fish cake is chewy, sweet, and aromatic, which can be fried or steamed. Fish cake noodles with a sweet broth from fish bones, served with fresh herbs and a bit of shrimp paste, make a perfect breakfast for travelers.

2.4 Huynh De Crab

Dubbed the "king of crabs", Huynh De crab from Ly Son has a unique shape, firm, sweet, and rich meat. This is a high-end seafood in Ly Son, often steamed or stir-fried with tamarind to preserve its flavor. Crabs are usually steamed or grilled to retain their natural taste. You can enjoy this dish at large seafood restaurants on the island.

2.5 Giant Snail - Stir-fried Snails with Lemongrass and Chili

Snails such as giant snails and stir-fried snails frequently appear on the island's seafood menu. Giant snails are large sea snails with crunchy and sweet meat. Stir-fried snails are smaller but also very popular. Both types of snails are often steamed with ginger or stir-fried with lemongrass and chili, making a great snack by the beach.

2.6 Sea Urchin Porridge / Grilled Sea Urchin with Scallion Oil

Sea urchins (cau gai) are a nutritious seafood. Sea urchin porridge has a rich, sweet flavor, making it excellent for replenishing energy after a long day of exploration. Additionally, grilled sea urchins with scallion oil are also an enticing option.

Sea urchins are also one of the delicious dishes in Ly Son that should not be missed.

2.7 Sticky Rice Cake with Gai Leaves

This traditional cake is a popular dessert or gift. The cake's outer layer is soft and fragrant with gai leaves, filled with sweet mung beans or coconut, wrapped in fresh green banana leaves, embodying the rustic soul of the countryside.

2.8 Seaweed Sweet Soup

Unlike the salad, seaweed sweet soup is a traditional sweet dish that helps cool down in the summer. Seaweed is cooked with rock sugar and fresh ginger, creating a sweet, cool bowl of soup that dispels the sweltering heat of the coastal island.

2.9 Red Oysters Stir-fried with Papaya

Red oysters are small oysters with red flesh and a sweet taste. When stir-fried with shredded green papaya, the dish combines the sweetness of the oysters, the crunch of the papaya, and the aroma of various herbs, creating a very special dish from Ly Son.

2.10 Grilled Ta Ma Fish

The name "tà ma" comes from the fact that this fish is very agile and hard to catch. Tà ma fish has white, firm, sweet, and fatty flesh. Grilling it over charcoal and dipping it in chili salt is the best way to enjoy its original flavor.

3. Top Delicious and Affordable Seafood Restaurants on Ly Son Island

To fully enjoy the flavors of Ly Son cuisine, you can visit the following reputable addresses:

3.1 Seafood/Main Meals on the Island

• Son Thuy Restaurant – Near Hang Pagoda, Ly Son Island

The restaurant has a spacious, elegant space with beautiful natural views. It is famous for dishes like steamed squid, grilled stingray, sea urchin porridge, Huynh De crab, seaweed salad, and young garlic salad from Ly Son. The dishes are served quickly, and the staff is friendly.

• Ly Son Thanh Loi Seafood – Passenger Port, Ly Son Island, Quang Ngai

This restaurant is famous near the pier, and you can walk there as soon as you step off the boat. The airy space on high can catch the sea breeze, with a diverse menu of fresh seafood provided by local fishermen. Each dish is seasoned just right, served quickly, making it very suitable for your first lunch or dinner on the island.

• Dai Hang – Tay Village, An Vinh Commune, Ly Son, Quang Ngai

This is a very popular seafood restaurant that is very loved, located right near the pier. The menu here is quite affordable yet still plentiful and fresh. Sour fish soup, seaweed salad, or pineapple sâm are highly rated by many customers.

• Bien Ngoc Restaurant – Ly Son Island, Quang Ngai

The space is airy, with a large capacity, suitable for group visits. The menu is rich with grilled dishes and Vietnamese dishes like grilled snakehead fish, grilled cobia fish, snail hotpot, steamed clams, and stir-fried blood cockles with tamarind.

• Ut Ngoc Seafood Restaurant – Dong Village, Ly Son, Quang Ngai

This is a budget-friendly place but the quality is not inferior to larger restaurants. The menu is diverse with dishes like sour fish soup, ta ma fish, and stir-fried snails with lemongrass and chili… Friendly service, very reasonable prices, suitable for solo travelers or small groups.

• Hoang Khuyen Seafood – An Vinh, Ly Son, Quang Ngai

The menu is very diverse with fresh seafood, from grilled and steamed dishes to stir-fried and local specialties. The airy space and attentive service team make it a good choice if you want a complete seafood meal with many options.

3.2 Notable & Local Restaurants

• Dai Hang Seafood Rice Restaurant – Tay Village, Ly Son

The restaurant is located right along the beach road, in a convenient and easy-to-find location. The menu is rich with many fresh Ly Son seafood dishes such as seaweed salad, young garlic salad from Ly Son, stir-fried squid with garlic, stir-fried snails with lemongrass and chili, fish cake rolls, fried squid with fish sauce, and Huynh De crab. Notably, grilled sea urchins with scallion oil are a favorite among many diners. The restaurant has a spacious, modern, clean, and tidy atmosphere, with neatly arranged wooden tables and chairs, creating a comfortable dining experience. The staff is quick and friendly, with reasonable prices, suitable for both solo travelers and large groups.

• Bien Nho Seafood Restaurant – Ly Son Island

Fresh seafood, prepared to retain its natural sweetness. The restaurant has a beautiful sea view, spacious atmosphere, suitable for lunch or dinner.

• Phuong Chau Fish Cake Noodle Restaurant – Ly Son Island

A popular breakfast spot for locals. The fish cake noodles are affordable, with firm fish cakes and a natural sweet taste. There are also bone soup noodles and beef noodles available.

• Sang Sang Snail Restaurant – Ly Son Island

Famous for its flavorful stir-fried sea snails with lemongrass and chili. Additionally, there are many other types of snails and seafood, all at affordable prices in a spacious environment.

• 49 Snail Restaurant – Dong Village, Ly Son

The restaurant is famous for its fresh local snail dishes, especially various types of snails like sea snails, giant snails, and Huynh De crabs... It is conveniently located for tourists to enjoy seafood from Ly Son Island.

4. Dining tips in Ly Son

To have a complete and economical culinary experience, keep the following tips in mind:

• Ask for prices beforehand: Especially in the Night Market area or seafood restaurants in Ly Son with a sea view to avoid being overcharged.
• Buy seafood at the market early: You can go to Dong Village market or right at the port in the early morning (5-6 AM) to personally select fresh seafood just off the boat. Then, ask a restaurant or homestay to prepare it for you with a processing fee of about 50,000-100,000 VND/kg. This way is both cheap and ensures freshness.
• Make a reservation in advance: During peak tourist season (April-August), popular restaurants like Long Hien and Phat Hai are often fully booked. Call ahead to reserve a table to avoid long waits.
• Try seasonal dishes: Each season, Ly Son will have its own special seafood (shrimp, crabs, fish…). Ask the locals to choose the best dishes in season.

See more: What is the best time to visit Ly Son Island, and what is interesting?

Hopefully, with the list of delicious dishes in Ly Son and seafood restaurants above, you can answer the question of what to eat in Ly Son and have memorable experiences on your upcoming trip. Especially, to conveniently reach Ly Son, travelers can fly to Chu Lai Airport with flights from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City operated by Vietjet. Vietjet offers extremely affordable flight ticket prices to Chu Lai, starting from 90,000 VND (excluding taxes and fees). In addition, Vietjet frequently provides many attractive promotions, helping you save costs and easily plan to explore the cuisine and beautiful scenery of Ly Son.

Fly to Ly Son, enjoy the cuisine and beautiful nature with Vietjet.

To update on flight schedules to Chu Lai, ticket prices, as well as the latest promotions from Vietjet, you can follow the airline's official information channels below: