Grilled chicken with mắc khén (a type of spice) is a prominent specialty dish of the Northwest mountainous region, especially popular in provinces such as Son La, Dien Bien, Lai Chau, and Hoa Binh. The dish's unique characteristic lies in the special flavor of mắc khén seeds – a rare spice found only in the high mountains of the Northwest, often referred to as "forest pepper." Mắc khén seeds possess a pungent, mildly spicy flavor, blended with a unique, rich aroma unlike any other spice.

Grilled chicken with mắc khén is made from two main ingredients: free-range chicken – a type of chicken with firm, naturally sweet meat – combined with mắc khén and several other common, characteristic spices. After marinating, the chicken is grilled over charcoal. When cooked, the skin is golden brown and crispy, while the meat inside is tender and sweet, perfectly complemented by the spicy kick of mắc khén, creating a truly appealing dish.