Where to Buy Delicious Squid Sausage: Price and Trusted Sellers

Ha Long squid cake has long been a famous specialty, loved by foodies across the country for its chewy, crunchy texture and sweet, fragrant sea flavor. However, to buy squid cakes with an authentic taste, good price, and guaranteed quality is not an easy task. The following article from Ola Squid will help you clearly understand Ha Long squid cakes, how to choose the right standard, and suggest reputable addresses today.

1. What is Ha Long Squid Cake?

Characteristics of Ha Long squid cakes

Ha Long squid cake is the culinary essence of Quang Ninh province, standing out for its rich flavor of the sea and the traditional processing techniques of the Ha Long people. What makes this dish different lies in the manual hand-pounding process, which helps maintain the natural crispness and chewiness that a grinder cannot replicate.

The raw material to make premium squid cakes is fresh bigfin reef squid caught in the Ha Long sea, where the nutrient-rich environment creates thick, firm, naturally sweet meat with a characteristic milky white color. As a result, the squid cake fibers are naturally sweet, blended with natural spices, creating a golden-brown cake when fried with an irresistible aroma.

The famous production process of Ha Long squid cakes

To create batches of delicious and authentic Ha Long squid cakes, the people of Quang Ninh go through many meticulous and sophisticated processing stages:

• First, the bigfin reef squid are carefully selected to ensure freshness and washed many times to completely remove impurities.
• Each squid is cleaned and unnecessary parts are removed, keeping only the thick, nutrient-rich meat to ensure the quality of the cake.
• The squid is pounded with a wooden pestle; while pounding, it is continuously stirred to help the meat fibers blend together, creating a natural chewiness and crispness.
• Seasoning according to secret recipes such as onion, garlic, pepper, and other spices are mixed evenly, creating a unique aroma and a distinctively rich flavor.
• The squid mixture is shaped into pieces, then fried golden or left raw depending on the purpose of use. The finished products are carefully packaged and stored in deep cold at -18°C, helping to preserve the full flavor and quality until they reach the consumer.

2. Good tips for choosing to buy fresh, authentic Ha Long squid cakes

Experience in accurately selecting Ha Long squid cakes

To choose the right premium Ha Long squid cake, the most important thing is to prioritize hand-pounded squid cakes. Therefore, when you buy squid cakes, you should note:

• Clearly ask the seller and request to see the cake cut in half to check.
• Texture: the cake piece is firm and cohesive; you can see individual large pieces of squid. Ground squid cakes have a porous, hollow texture and do not stick together tightly.
• Observe the color: Good squid cakes have a natural ivory-white color, not too white or blotchy.

• Smell: A light squid scent, not fishy or harsh, with no chemical smell.
• Check the firmness: Touching the piece of cake feels solid, not mushy or watery.
• When fried: The piece of cake puffs up slightly, releases a sea aroma, and makes an attractive sizzling sound.

How to distinguish between real and fake Ha Long squid cakes

To identify standard quality Ha Long squid cakes, you need to carefully observe the color, taste, and texture of the cake.

• Natural color: Real squid cakes have an ivory-white or light yellow color after frying. Fake cakes are often pure white, dark yellow, or have unusual colors due to mixed flour or coloring.
• Characteristic aroma: Real cakes have a gentle scent of fresh squid. Fake cakes have a harsh fishy smell, a pungent odor, or smell like artificial flavorings.
• Cake texture: Real squid cakes are firm to the touch, have good elasticity, and large pieces of squid can be seen inside. Fake cakes are often porous, hollow, or soft due to starch mixture.
• Surface when cut: Real cakes, when cut, show a tightly blended texture with few hollow holes. Fake cakes easily show air bubbles, hollow holes, or an inconsistent meat layer.
• When frying and tasting: Real cakes puff up slightly, radiate a clear aroma, have a natural chewiness, and a deep sweet squid taste. Fake cakes are usually less fragrant, crumbly, bland, and have a floury taste or chemical smell.

3. How much is Ha Long squid cake per kg? Updated latest price list

The price of Ha Long squid cakes on the market varies depending on the quality of ingredients, processing methods, and the reputation of the seller. High prices often correspond to hand-pounded squid cakes using 100% fresh bigfin reef squid. Conversely, types of cakes mixed with flour, mixed with shrimp, or machine-ground will have cheaper prices.

Below is a reference price list compiled from many reputable establishments in Quang Ninh:

However, the price to buy squid cakes above may change according to the fishing season or raw material supply. To ensure you buy authentic, delicious Ha Long squid cakes, you should choose reputable stores with clear origins and quality commitments.

4. Addresses to buy quality squid cakes

If you want to enjoy or buy authentic Ha Long squid cakes that are reputable, you should look for famous establishments with long-term experience in processing and preserving squid cakes. Here are some addresses trusted by many diners:

• Thoan Squid Cake: Thoan Squid Cake, established in 1998, is one of the most famous squid cake brands in Quang Ninh, becoming a familiar destination for tourists when visiting Ha Long. The product is processed according to a traditional recipe, combined with continuous creative research, bringing a characteristic flavor that is both rich and familiar, preserving the full chewiness of fresh squid.
• Hien Nhung Ha Long Squid Cake: Hien Nhung squid cakes are processed entirely from fresh squid caught in the Quang Ninh sea, with traditional hand-pounding methods that help maintain the natural smoothness and flexibility of the squid. The squid cakes here are diverse with many types, from small balls to large cake pieces, packaged or vacuum-sealed, providing convenience and a wide range of choices for tourists to enjoy or buy as gifts.
• Phuc Ha Long Squid Cake: Phuc squid cake is famous for its pieces of fresh squid, attractive golden-brown color, and characteristic aroma. The product is processed according to a traditional recipe, combined with fresh bigfin reef squid selected from Co To, Van Don, etc., weighing from 1kg/squid or more. After hand-pounding, the cakes are shaped with a firm, chewy texture inside and a fragrant aroma.
• Quang Phong Hand-pounded Squid Cake: Quang Phong squid cake is a place not to be missed when coming to Ha Long, ensuring quality and food hygiene safety. The product is processed from fresh Ha Long squid, carefully selected, combined with a meticulous traditional hand-pounding process, preserving the full chewiness and original flavor of the squid.

See more: Common types of squid in Vietnam, how to distinguish and choose to buy

5. What delicious dishes to make with squid cake? Suggestions for attractive dishes

Instructions for simple home processing of squid cakes

Squid cake is an easy-to-process ingredient, so it can be used to make many attractive dishes such as:

• Fried squid cake: Deep-fry the hand-pounded squid cakes until golden, drain the oil, and enjoy with spicy chili sauce. This dish is crispy and fragrant, even more attractive when paired with a little beer or a soft drink.
• Squid cake rice vermicelli: Use cut-up squid cakes in a broth simmered from bones, combined with sour bamboo shoots, tomatoes, and pineapple, creating a refreshing sweet liquid dish, both chewy from the squid and fresh from raw vegetables.
• Squid cake with sticky rice: Served with hot white sticky rice, added fried shallots and chili sauce, creating a nutritious and delicious breakfast, especially suitable when the weather is chilly.
• Squid cake pyramid dumpling: Replace the traditional pork roll filling with chewy crispy squid cakes, combined with hot pyramid dumplings, bringing a strange, delicious, and nutritious breakfast.
• Squid cake in tomato sauce: Simmer or braise the squid cakes in a sweet and sour tomato sauce; the cake pieces are evenly seasoned, eating with hot rice is very appetizing.
• Steamed rice rolls with squid cake: Use hot crispy squid cakes as a topping or side for steamed rice rolls, replacing traditional pork rolls or boiled meat, creating a unique and interesting combination for all diners.
• Squid cake sandwich: Use squid cake as a sandwich filling for a quick, delicious, and nutritious breakfast.

Secrets to preserving fresh Ha Long squid cakes for a long time

Ha Long squid cake is a specialty that is easily spoiled if not preserved correctly. To keep the freshness, chewiness, and characteristic squid flavor, you should note some of the following secrets:

• Refrigerate immediately after purchase: Hand-pounded squid cakes or pre-fried squid cakes should be kept in the refrigerator compartment or freezer compartment immediately upon bringing them home. The ideal temperature for preservation is from -18°C to 0°C, helping to limit bacterial growth and maintain the chewiness of the squid.
• Package tightly: Before putting in the refrigerator, the squid cake should be wrapped tightly with food film or placed in a plastic box with a lid, avoiding direct contact with air. This helps the squid cake not to lose water, not to be tainted with odors, and to keep its natural flavor.
• Do not store with strong-smelling foods: Squid is a food that easily absorbs odors, so avoid storing it with foods like salted fish, raw onion, garlic, or other pungent foods in the refrigerator.
• Limit storage to no longer than 1-2 months: Even when stored frozen, squid cakes should be used within 1-2 months to ensure the best quality. Squid cakes kept for too long will lose their chewiness, aroma, and easily become less delicious.

6. Frequently Asked Questions about Ha Long Squid Cakes (FAQs)

How many calories are in Ha Long squid cakes?

Ha Long squid cake is a specialty processed entirely by hand, from pounding fresh squid and seasoning to shaping into round flat pieces and frying golden. On average, in 100 grams of Ha Long squid cake, there are about 260 kcal, providing a source of protein from the squid along with a sufficient amount of fat from the frying process.

How to defrost squid cakes properly?

When using frozen squid cakes, you should not defrost them with hot water or a microwave immediately. It is best to let the squid cake move from the freezer to the refrigerator compartment for a few hours before processing, helping to maintain the structure and natural sweetness of the squid.

Above is detailed information about the characteristics, selling prices, how to choose and how to process, and addresses to buy Ha Long squid cakes. To find out more attractive articles about various other processing methods from fresh squid and dried squid, don’t forget to visit the Blog page of Ola Squid today!

If you love delicious squid dishes, don’t miss our whole dried squid with its chewy, fragrant, authentic sea flavor, or our savory seasoned dried squid for ultimate convenience. Each product is carefully selected, ensuring freshness and safety for your meals. Explore our full range of premium seafood products at the OlaSquid shop.