Introduction
We're updating our Hue eating list right now. We'll be back with a fresh list soon. Thanks for your patience!
Hue’s imperial past has bequeathed to the city a delicate cuisine utterly distinct from Vietnam’s other culinary offerings and unique in all of Asia. Set some time aside for culinary exploration here.
The most authentic options for local Hue specialities are to be found in the hole in the wall “quan” restaurants spread throughout the city. These may not feel like the most hygienic places to eat - but that’s where the real cuisine is best found.
A foray into Hue cuisine can leave many travellers feeling apprehensive. It tends to be highly refined making it difficult to know what it is you’re eating simply by looking at it and tasting it. Don't hesitate to ask. You'll find most flavours are as delectable as they are accessible.
The most famous of Hue’s specialties are Banh Khoai and Bun Bo Hue. Both of these dishes are now found throughout the country and are savoured by Vietnamese and foreigners alike.
We’ve made a list of some of our Hue favourites below -
Banh Khoai (aka Banh Xeo) - Probably the most famous of Hue dishes and found throughout Vietnam. Banh khoai is a delicious Vietnamese pancake with minced pork, shrimp, bean sprouts and more.
Bun Bo Hue - A spicy beef soup
Banh Beo - Rice paste topped with dried shrimp, fish sauce, spring onion and more.
Cha Tom - A rice cake with shrimp
Chao Tom - Shrimp paste on sugar cane.
Goi mit - Jackfruit salad - an unusual and wonderfully tasty salad.
Photo: Mark BowyerNem Lui, Hue
Hue’s tourist quarter around Pham Ngu Lao and Vo Thi Sau St hosts a plethora of similar restaurants all sporting voluminous menus covering everything from Hue specialties to pizza, pasta and hamburgers. Convenience means that this is where most travellers elect to spend their meal times.
Most of these restaurants will do an acceptable job on all of their offerings but the Vietnamese specialties are likely to be an adaptation from what the owners think foreigners like rather than Vietnamese cuisine as Vietnamese eat it. You’re not likely to see a Vietnamese person in these restaurants either - except those serving you.
Make sure you don't spend every Hue mealtime in the traveller area. In our restaurant selection listed here, we've included our favourite local spots as well as some of the best restaurants of the traveller quarter.
