There is only one way to better understand the uniqueness of Hue food: try them all. Or at least you should finish the list of the 16 most famous dishes below. To make your culinary exploration easier, we have suggested reputable addresses for each. Read carefully for the best taste of Hue!
1. TOP 5 Hue noodles - Among the best Hue food
1.1. Banh Canh Nam Pho (Nam Pho Thick Noodle Soup)
Nam Pho thick noodle soup is an impressive Hue appetizer, which is highly recommended by locals. It is also a wonderful breakfast choice that can set you up all day long.
Banh Canh Nam Pho is served hot, with thinly sliced pork belly and prawns on top. The soul of this dish is the pure, naturally sweet broth made of crab and shrimp. Fresh herbs are added for additional aroma to make the dish even more delectable.
Where to eat Banh Canh Nam Pho:
- O Thu – 374 Chi Lang street.
- Co Thuy – 16 Pham Hong Thai street.
- O Hang – 16 Ha Huy Tap street.
1.2. Bun Thit Nuong (Vermicelli with grilled pork)
"Once you taste it, you will never forget it"—that is how tourists describe the grilled pork vermicelli—one of the most iconic treats of Hue cuisine.
This dish's ingredients are simple, including vermicelli, pork, pickles, peanuts, and fish sauce. But its flavor is not that rustic. Instead, Bun Thit Nuong always comes with a pleasant and enjoyable taste.
Here are the three best eateries that visitors should try:
- Hanh – 11 Pho Duc Chinh street.
- Huyen Anh – 50 Kim Long street.
- Ba Ty – 81 Dao Duy Tu street.
1.3. Bun Bo Hue (Hue Beef Noodle Soup)
Hue Beef Noodle Soup is a delicious and nutritious choice for all-time eating: breakfast, lunch, and even dinner. This is the most popular Hue food in Vietnam. However, only in Hue can tourists find the best version of the most traditional one.
Thick vermicelli, thin slices of beef, and an unmistakably spicy broth are three things that make Bun Bo in Hue stand out from other regions. The broth with beef bones, fish sauce, and local spices will satisfy even the pickiest eaters.
Five famous Hue Beef Noodle Shops in Hue;
- Me Beo – 20 Bach Dang street.
- Ba Tuyet – 47 Nguyen Cong Tru street.
- Ong Vong – O Phung – 14 Nguyen Du street.
1.4. What to eat in Hue? Banh Canh Ca Loc
Banh Canh Ca Loc (snakehead fish thick noodle soup) is a great hot dish to enjoy on rainy or cold days. The noodle is soft, moderately chewy, and comes in an amazing clear white. Meanwhile, the snakehead fish has a rich taste, not fishy or broken. And the broth is crystal-clear but tastes perfectly rich.
Three famous places to enjoy Banh Canh Ca Loc in Hue:
- Di Huong – 14 Le Thanh Ton street.
- Hai Trieu – Hai Trieu street, An Cuu ward.
- Dao – 156 Nguyen Hue street.
1.5. Banh Uot Thit Nuong (Rice Noodle Rolls with Grilled Pork)
Banh Uot Thit Nuong (Rice Noodle Rolls with Grilled Pork) is a famous Vietnamese food in Hue. The dish is served with barbecued meat, noodle rolls, dipping sauce, local herbs, and vegetables.
What makes this dish special is the signature dipping sauce made of soybean paste. All the ingredients of this dish together produce a fusion of flavors and textures: the thin and soft noodle rolls; the slightly spicy, creamy dipping sauce; the tender, well-seasoned grilled meat; and the fresh, fragrant herbs.
Three famous places for Banh Uot Thit Nuong in Hue:
- Banh Uot Xu Truoi Dung Ngo – 54 Ba Trieu street.
- Huyen Anh – 126 Kim Long street.
- Tai Phu – 2 and 4 Dien Bien Phu street.
2. Iconic Hue dumplings and crispy pancakes for your bucket list
2.1. Banh Khoai (Hue Crispy Rice Pancake)
Banh Khoai is a well-known royal dish of Hue food. Everyone who enjoys it will love its fragrance and crispiness. This famous pancake has a complex recipe with so many ingredients. Even the dipping sauce is made of ten different spices and herbs, among other components.
Top three famous places for Banh Khoai in Hue:
- Chi Hanh – 11 Pho Duc Chinh street.
- Lac Thien – 6 Dinh tien Hoang street.
- Thu Suong – 86 Kim Long street.
2.2. TOP 16 mouth-watering Hue foods? Banh Nam (Flat Steamed Rice Dumpling)
Banh Nam is made from tapioca flour, rice flour, shrimp, and banana leaves. It remains the most popular Hue street food because of its delicacy and unique shrimp flavor.
When presented, Banh Nam has a milky white tint with a lovely orange color from the shrimp on top. On tasting, the dish is soft but not greasy. It is best when paired with sweet-and-sour fish sauce.
Where to eat Banh Nam in Hue:
- Ba Do – 8 Nguyen Binh Khiem street.
- Trung Bo – 16 To Hien Thanh street.
- Di Xinh – 82 Le Thanh Ton street.
2.3. Banh Bot Loc (Hue Clear Shrimp and Pork Dumpling)
Banh Bot Loc is loved in many Vietnamese localities. The authentic taste, however, can only be appreciated by savoring it in Hue.
When enjoying it, diners first feel the soft yet chewy wrapper before soaking in a rich filling of simmered shrimp and pork. This is an experience that everyone must try at least once.
Top 3 best places to try Banh Bot Loc in Hue:
- O Giau – 109 Le Huan street.
- Ba Cu – 23/177 Phan Dinh Phung street.
- Ba Do – 7 and 8 Nguyen Binh Khiem street.
2.4. Banh Beo (Steamed Water Fern Rice Cake)
Banh Beo is a quite simple street food in Hue. However, this dish can enrich visitors’ Hue food tours with its unique flavors. This cake is served in a ping-pong bowl with shrimp filling, green onions, and sweet-spicy fish sauce. Everything matches beautifully, creating a true Hue royal vibe.
Where to eat Banh Beo Hue?
- Ba Do - 8 Nguyen Binh Khiem street.
- Hue Xua - 1 Nguyen Binh Khiem street.
- O Le - 101 Kim Long street.
2.5. Banh Ep (Thin Scallion Pancakes)
Hue food is always distinct and flavorful, and Banh ep is one such dish. The pancake is thin and as small as the palm of your hand, but the inside is full of yummy shrimp paste. When it comes to “heirloom” dipping sauce, no one can get enough of it.
Where to eat Banh Ep in Hue:
- Chi Hue - 116 Le Ngo Cat street.
- Gia Di - 52 Ba Trieu street.
- Cau Hai - 9 Truong Dinh street, Cau Hai village.
2.6. TOP must-try Hue street food? Banh Ram It
Besides popular Hue foods like Bun Bo or Banh Canh, tourists should try Banh Ram It once when coming to Hue. This dish has a very eye-catching appearance, and its flavor is exquisite, too, thanks to the excellent combination of softness and crispiness.
Best places to eat Banh Ram It in Hue:
- Ba Do – 8 Nguyen Binh Khiem street.
- Thuy - 16 Pham Hong Thai street.
- Chi - 2/64 Hoang Dieu street.
3. AWESOME rice dishes in Hue to satisfy your hunger
3.1. Com Am Phu
Com Am Phu is served with white rice, spicy chili garlic fish sauce, and many of Hue's delicacies. To fully enjoy the delightful taste of this dish, diners should mix the rice well with other ingredients and drizzle a little fish sauce.
Where to eat Com Am Phu in Hue:
- Com Am Phu Hue - 51 Nguyen Thai Hoc street.
- Com Am Phu Hue - 35 Nguyen Thai Hoc street.
- Com Am Phu Hue 54 - 54 Phan Chu Trinh street.
3.2. Best food in Hue? Com Hen (Clam Rice)
Calm Rice is a combination of rice, clams and local spices. This simple dish is one of the best Hue foods that can offer foodies the most distinctive flavor of the city. Usually, this dish will be served with various toppings such as clam water, fish sauce, local herbs and veggies, etc.
Where to eat Com Hen in Hue?
- Dap Da restaurant – 01 Han Mac Tu street.
- Lanh – 38 Ngo Gia Tu street.
- Ba Cam – 49 Tung Thien Vuong street.
4. Other unmissable Hue food
4.1. Va Tron (Hue Mixed Figs)
Previously, Hue Mixed Figs were only cooked at family parties or holidays, but now visitors can order this type of Hue food from any restaurant.
In fact, this dish has a simple preparation and uses familiar ingredients like meat, herbs, fish sauce, and figs. However, once you try this, you will definitely remember it forever.
Tourists can find mixed figs in many restaurants in Hue Vietnam:
- Buffalo Restaurant – 68 Nguyen Huu Tho street
- Song Xanh Restaurant – 103 Nguyen Lo Trach Street
- La Tus Restaurant – 103 Nguyen Lo Trach street.
4.2. Nem Lui (Hue Lemongrass Pork Skewers)
Nem Lui in Hue is always something tourists cannot leave without taking a bite of. The dish is mainly made from pork and pork skin. Locals cook it on a charcoal grill to create the appealing aroma.
Nem Lui is best when eaten hot with rice paper, local herbs, and the signature dipping sauce.
Best places to eat Nem Lui in Hue:
- Tai Phu – 2 Dien Bien Phu street.
- Ong Me Gia – 25 Dao Duy Tu street.
- Ba Ty – 81 Dao Duy Tu street.
4.3. Hen Xuc Banh Trang
Hen Xuc Banh Trang is not as famous as other Hue foods, but it is certainly worth trying. The dish is a mixture of dry roasted clams, spices, and crispy fried rice paper. When eating, diners will use rice paper as a spoon to collect clams and eat them together.
- Dap Da restaurant – 01 Han Mac Tu street.
- Ba Cam – 49 Tung Thien Vuong street.
- Com Hen Nho – 137 Han Mac Tu street.
Hue is not huge, but there are many specialties to taste, things to do, and destinations to visit. Among them, the Mausoleum of Emperor Khai Dinh, Tomb of King Thieu Tri, Trang Tien Bridge, Perfume River are some famous stopovers. With that in mind, travelers should carefully consider selecting suitable accommodation in advance.
In the event that tourists want to combine visiting Hoi An and Da Nang in a Hue trip, it is advisable that tourists book rooms at Vinpearl Resort & Golf Nam Hoi An for transporting convenience.
>>> Book rooms in Vinpearl Resort & Golf Nam Hoi An and enjoy a memorable trip in Vietnam!
Having Hue food could be the most satisfying experience for food lovers in Vietnam, and the 16 suggestions above are all scrumptious delicacies you should try here. Keep them in your journey note to feed your hunger when traveling here!
