1 Bun cu ky, a specialty defining Quang Ninh's culinary fame
Alongside renowned specialties such as Ha Long horseshoe crab, Dong Trieu sand worm omelet, and Tien Yen hill chicken, diners exploring Quang Ninh's cuisine will undoubtedly be intrigued by bun cu ky. True to its name, this tempting dish is prepared with cu ky (stone crab)—a delicacy found exclusively in the coastal waters of Quang Ninh. From the very first taste, the harmonious blend between the delicately sweet broth and the rich, savory crab meat will leave you thoroughly delighted.
Bun cu ky is one of the unique specialties that have established Quang Ninh's culinary reputation
2 Discovering bun cu ky, a dish brimming with ocean flavors
2.1 Ingredients for making bun cu ky
The main ingredient of this noodle soup is cu ky (also known as thunder crab, stone crab, or cum vum crab). This is a crab species that lives in rock crevices and submerged timber commonly found along coastlines and mangrove forests. Belonging to the crab family, they possess claws that are noticeably larger in proportion to their body size. Cu ky is an aggressive, tenacious creature; once it clamps its claws on an opponent, it is said to only let go when it hears thunder. That is why this species is also known as the thunder crab.
In general, cu ky is classified into two types based on color: black and red. Red cu ky has an eye-catching appearance and more delicious meat, making it the preferred choice for cooking. According to local residents, bun cu ky originated in coastal fishing villages. During the cu ky season, instead of merely grilling or steaming them, locals came up with the idea of cooking them with noodles. Because this crustacean has abundant roe, it is wonderfully suited for making crab noodle soup.
The main ingredient of this specialty noodle soup is cu ky—a delicacy concentrated in the waters of Quang Ninh
Cu ky has claws noticeably larger than its body size, offering exceptionally firm meat
2.2 How this specialty noodle dish is cooked
After being caught and cleaned, almost the entire cu ky is utilized to cook the noodle soup. The body is quite porous, so it is finely ground and strained to extract the broth base. The rich, creamy roe is lightly sautéed with garlic and chili, then turned into crab paste (rieu). The broth not only carries the fragrant aroma of the roe, but when combined with the cu ky meat, it also gains an exceptionally delicious and irresistible flavor.
As for the claws, the cooks crack the hard outer shells, carefully extracting the meat to keep its original shape intact, and arrange it on top of the noodle bowl. Although cu ky meat is not as sweet as that of sea crabs, it is very firm, fresh, and never greasy. Because this crustacean has relatively large claws, it also yields plenty of meat to enjoy.
This specialty is cooked similarly to bun rieu, but uses almost the whole cu ky crab for preparation
2.3 The universally captivating flavor of bun cu ky
Bun cu ky is prepared in a manner similar to crab noodle soup (bun rieu), giving it an enticing aroma and a mild, pleasant sourness. With just a chopstick-full of noodles accompanied by a generous piece of claw meat and a spoonful of broth, you will immediately feel the harmony between the tenderly sweet meat, the rich roe, and the savory broth.
A proper bowl of bun cu ky features rice noodles at the bottom, topped with claw meat, alongside an array of toppings such as mantis shrimp, prawns, scallions, fried tofu, elephant ear stems, and is finally ladled over with steaming hot, delicately sweet broth. When dining, you can squeeze in some fresh lime and add pickled bamboo shoots with chili to further enhance the dish's flavor.
Adding a squeeze of lime and enjoying bun cu ky with pickled bamboo shoots and chili elevates its flavor even more
3 Top delicious bun cu ky spots in Quang Ninh
It would be a tremendous omission to miss the opportunity to savor delicious, mouth-watering bun cu ky during your travel journey in Ha Long. It is not by chance that this dish wins over the hearts of so many food lovers, even the most demanding ones. The reason you must enjoy it in Ha Long, Quang Ninh rather than anywhere else is that cu ky is freshly caught right from this sea, paired with the distinctive preparation and seasoning techniques of the locals to bring you an authentic specialty.
To enjoy bun cu ky with its true, delicious taste, here are some addresses that MIA.vn recommends you visit:
Bun cu ky 268
Address: 268 Gieng Don, Cao Thang Ward, Ha Long City, Quang Ninh
Reference price: 25,000 - 30,000 VND/portion
Opening hours: 5:00 - 12:00
Huong Beo Bun Cu Ky
Address: 10-56 Tan Mai, Bai Chay, Ha Long City, Quang Ninh
Reference price: Around 50,000 VND/portion
Opening hours: 5:30 - 21:00
Quoc Huy Bun Cu Ky
Address: Ha Long Trade Union Hotel, Kiosk No. 3, Bai Chay, Ha Long, Quang Ninh
Reference price: Around 50,000 VND/portion
Opening hours: 5:00 - 17:00
Ba Lan Bun Cu Ky
Address: Garden Area, Lot 12 Thuong Mai, Cai Dam Ward, Bai Chay, Ha Long
Reference price: Around 50,000 VND/portion
Opening hours: 5:30 - 22:00
Bun cu ky - Mong Cai Seafood
Address: PG1-08 Vinhomes Dragon Bay Urban Area, Hong Gai Ward, Ha Long
Reference price: 50,000 - 60,000 VND/portion
Opening hours: 6:00 - 12:30
*Note: Prices were updated in October 2023 and are for reference only.
Huong Beo is a familiar bun cu ky eatery for both locals and travelers
A hearty bowl of bun cu ky at Ba Lan eatery
The unique flavor of bun cu ky stems not only from the fresh ingredients harvested directly from the waters of Quang Ninh, but also from the distinctive cooking and seasoning style of the locals. Therefore, do not forget to save this specialty noodle dish in your personal travel guide so you will not miss the opportunity to taste it during your journey exploring the coastal paradise of Ha Long.
