Food & Restaurants in Hue

Cuisine

Vegetarianism in Hue’s food is one of the most glaring disparities between it and the rest of central Vietnam. People as a part of their Buddhism heritage do not eat meat two times per lunar month. The town has several herbivore-friendly restaurants to cater for such people. Another characteristic that sets apart Hue dishes from other Vietnamese provincial cuisines is their smaller than normal portion size and exquisite presentation reflecting the influence of royal cuisine. Often, Hue food is known for its extreme spiciness.

Hue culinary art has both intricate and common rustic meals. Hue royal delicacies are a harmonious blend of elegance and taste born out of a rich historical past. This cuisine consisting numerous small pieces of food was originally developed to satisfy appetites Nguyen feudal lords, emperors with thousands concubines and wives.

Apart from Bun Bo Hue, there are some other popular recipes:

Banh beo originated from the city of Hue in Vietnam. It is made up rice flour together with tapioca flour also called cassava flour by others. Its components include rice cakes, soy sauce marinated dried shrimp, crispy pig skin, scallion oil and dipping sauce consisting mainly fish sauce. It classifies as street food which can be eaten at whatever time for lunch or supper.
Com Hen (rice with mussels) is a uniquely Huean dish. Com Hen consists local mussel cooked rice, star fruits, fish sauce, cabbage leaves, onion bulbs pepper corns peanuts chilies herbs etcetera (At this point suggest what else you should include). The uniqueness in this meal is all these ingredients plus chili being coldly chilled(“chillyness”); when eating Com Hen the above item comes first while on top goes the slow dropping down mussel broth mixed with Chilli sour (the only hot thing in Com Hen). Among all kinds of Com Hen dishes we have tasted so far; this one tastes so hot that after having one course people can still feel its flavor in their mouth.
Bánh ướt thịt nướng (steamed rice pancake with grilled pork) is the most famous delicacy of the Kim Long-Hue people. It consists of a steamed rice pancake, Vietnamese mint herb, basil leaves, lettuce, cucumber and cinnamon leaves, pork and dipping sauce.
Bánh khoái (Hue shrimp and vegetable crepe) is a variant of Bánh xèo. It is deep-fried and served with pork liver-containing Hue peanut dipping sauce. Its ingredients include egg, liver, shrimp, pork belly or sausage meat and carrot. Lettuce is also accompanied by balm mint from Vietnam as well as green mint together with star fruit with this food.
Bánh bột lọc (Vietnamese shrimp and pork dumplings) may either be wrapped in banana leaves or not. Banh bot loc might have been originated in Nguyen Dynasty Hue city, Viet Nam. It consists mainly of tapioca flour along side shrimps with bits of bacon added to it at times which sometimes comes with sweet chili fish sauce on top.
Banh it ram (fried sticky rice dumpling) is a Central Vietnamese speciality. It has chewy fried sticky rice balls on top while crispy stick rice cake forms the bottom.

Additionally, Hue is known for its delicious sweet desserts like lotus seed sweet soup, lotus seed wrapped in logan sweet soup areca flower sweet soup grilled pork wrapped in cassava flour sweet soup green sticky rice sweet soup among others.

Budget Restaurants in Hue

Dong Ba Market, Chương Dương, Phú Hòa. This is a particularly intriguing flea market with a variety of food stalls serving traditional cuisine for between 10,000 and 40,000 Vietnamese Dong. In an episode of “No Reservations,” Anthony Bourdain visited this location to eat Bun Bo Hue. You should be extremely specific about what you wish to acquire and ensure that the pricing is indicated, as it normally is. Do not accept any additional dishes in addition to those you have ordered. Some of the food stands have developed the habit of bringing you large quantities of low-quality food without your request. If you consume it, you will be charged around ten times the value of the snacks. If you’re not diligent, you might expect to spend 30,000 VND for a dinner and end up with a bill of 200,000 VND. Stick to your menu selections; if they bring you anything else, send it back.

Queen Restaurant, 29 Vo Thi Sau (Hue city), 0989177686. 4. The Queen Restaurant is located in a prime location and serves delicious food. They feature an outdoor area where you can relax. 3$.

Nina’s Café, 16/34 Nguyen Tri Phuong, small family restaurant located in a substreet of a substreet. Fairly affordable (for tourist food prices). This restaurant is frequented nearly exclusively by foreign tourists, some of whom like the food tremendously. Others, however, find it tasteless and Westernized. To obtain a local experience, you must travel somewhere.

Family Home Restaurant, 11/34 Nguyen Tri Phuong, next door and same concept as Nina’s Cafe. Extremely affable and pleasant personnel, delectable regional cuisine provided by the family, and complimentary green tea.

You and Me, 38 Tran Cao Van. This establishment appears to have degraded in quality or changed hands. Previously recommended, the restaurant’s’specialty’ pancakes are now inedible, meat dishes are devoid of meat, and the service is aggressive (they decrease rates to urge you to get the “fery fery good” (really fery fery poor) spring rolls). Despite being reasonably priced, the product is of poor quality. bottled beer is delicious! Leave it there.

Bun Bo Hue, 11B Ly Thuong Kiet. (small and very local – far away from river on south bank). This eponymous eatery specializes in its namesake dish. 35000 dong gets you a bowl with a generous, mouth-meltingly soft (if fatty) cutlet plopped on top. Others: Bún Mụ Rơi (Nguyễn Chí Diễu st), Bún Cây Đa (Nguyễn Sinh Cung st), Bún Nguyễn Du (Nguyễn Du st)

Bun Cam, 38 Tran Cao Van st, Extremely popular with locals, but only open from 6 a.m. to noon, or until the soup runs out. This is the genuine article, prepared in the native style, and not altered for the Western palate. Try it with their chili sauce, another local specialty not to be overlooked. The woman seated behind the soup pot is Cam, the business’s chef and namesake. She only knows Vietnamese, but just look in the pot and indicate what you want, as the natives do. The pricing varies based on the number of items selected.

Bún Cha Hà Nôi, 20 Nguyen Tri Phuong. This family-run restaurant provides exclusively authentic HaNoi-style Bun Cha: a dish consisting of pork spring rolls, meatballs, cabbage and carrot sauce with hot peppers, and noodle bundles for dipping in the sauce. The establishment opened in April 2011 and the proprietors are quite hospitable to tourists. As is the case with all Vietnamese dishes, the hungry may need to order twice at a fee of 25.000 dong, which is not too awful. The restaurant has a pleasant atmosphere while retaining the authenticity of a local eatery.

Banh Khoai “Hong Mai”, Dinh Tien Hoang – Nguyen Bieu corner Str. (Inside the Purple Forbidden City) is known as the best Banh Khoai(Pancake) in Hue. It’s a family-friendly eatery. Banh Beo and Nem Lui, which is minced pork cooked with lemongrass over coal. Bánh Khoái Lc Thin, located on Trn Ho street.

Banh Khoai – ‘Hạnh’, 11 Phó Đức Chinh (small street between Ben Nghe and Tran Quang Khai), 054-833552. Locals frequent this family-run eatery to eat the low-cost, excellent Hue specialties. Nem Lui costs 50,000 dong, whereas Ban Khoai costs 25,000.

Brown eyes restaurant 1/34 Nguyen Tri Phuong – Tel: 054 832572 . You need cheap food and big plates? Go to Brown Eyes and you will be satisfied for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Suitable for young people. Changed name, and now bad service.

Friendly restaurant, D Pham Ngu Lao, an excellent choice with charming staff and a wide range of Vietnamese and European food. Opened in 2005 and owned by a Vietnamese family, Friendly restaurant is in the town’s centre.

Mandarin Café, 24 Tran Cao Van. Mr. Cu has purchased property and constructed on this new location to ensure that he will not be compelled to relocate again in the near future. The proprietor is also a talented photographer, as evidenced by the abundance of his work on the walls. Consistently delicious regional and Western cuisine is served here. Try his banana pancakes. They are the same quality as they were ten years ago.

Phuong Nam Cafe, 38 Tran Cao Van – Tel: 054 3849317 is a nice little restaurant with decent but very cheap food and excellent fruit shakes.

Banh Bao, in the corner of Ben Nghe and Nguyen Tri Phuong. is an street vendor that sells wonderful Banh Bao 5000 dong.

Hot Tuna, 37 Vo Thi Sau (Corner of Vo Thi Sau & Chu Van An) – Tel: 84.54.3616464 is a nice restaurant, friendly staff and our meals were excellent. The chicken breast with mushroom sauce and mashed potatoes, which costs 80,000 Dong, is certainly worth every penny. The finest I’ve tasted in Asia. Duck also quite delicious. Meals range in price from 40,000 (sandwiches) to 160,000 (fish), with many selections in the middle price range.

8 Dinh Tien Hoang. Food is delicious and well priced. There are several Hue specialties available, and the proprietor will demonstrate how to consume them if you appear confused. There are plenty additional dishes offered. Bun Bo Bu 30,000vnd, Nem Lui 30,000vnd, Bah Khoai 20,000vnd, Bun Thit Nuong 30,000 vnd, Banh Beo 20.000vnd.

Mid-range Restaurants in Hue

Hue Waterland Bar-Restaurant, 35 Chu Van An St. Tel : 054.3844844. Dining, lunch, breakfast. They serve both Vietnamese and Western cuisines. Such as Bun Bo Hue, Banh Loc, Banh Beo, Banh Nam, and Nem Lui, as well as burgers, sandwiches, pizza, spaghetti, spring rolls, fish, shrimp, pork, noodles, and rice. Perfume River is within a few minutes from the center of the tourist district. View of a garden with a bamboo tree and a candle.

Japanese Restaurant Ta-ke, 34 Tran Cao Van, 054-834457. -22:00. This Japanese restaurant offers reasonably priced sushi comparable to that of Southeast Asia. 80,000-250,000 dong.

Japanese Restaurant Jass, 12 Chu Van An, 054-3825146. 18h30-21h30, mon-sat. Social Profit Japanese restaurant with outstanding flavors.

Không Gian Xưa, Điện Biên Phủ st. A pleasant spot to taste delicious regional cuisine in a structure fashioned in the traditional style.

Ong Tao, 31 Chu Van An. 054.823031. Try the pork rolls (wrapped in mint leaves) or the fried spring rolls, which are extraordinarily crispy. Not too crowded and somewhat concealed on the first floor. Not to be missed. All dishes ($1-$7) are available in small and large sizes, allowing you to buy multiple.

Paradise Garden Restaurant (Nha Hang Vuon Thien Dang), 17 Le Loi Street, Hue (in front of Saigon Morin Hotel), 838485. 07.00 – 23.00. Expensive, nice settings, not very authentic but still good- cheap by normal standards obviously. The live music is good. 1-5 USD.

Splurge Restaurants in Hue

Tinh Gia Vien, 20/3 Le Thanh Ton, tel. +84-54-522243. A bonsai lover renovated a beautiful ancient Hue-style nha vuon garden cottage on a quiet side street, the former abode of a princess, into a restaurant serving Imperial cuisine. There are three set meals priced at $15/$20/$25 (“large,” “bigger,” and “biggest” according to the menu), but all of them consist of 11 courses and are certain to satisfy. The cuisine receives great marks for presentation, but it is sadly a bit too mild for international tastes.

Ancient Hue Royal Cuisine and Gallery : One of Hue’s largest restaurants. The prices are reasonable, the food is delicious, and the establishment is immaculate. A skilled team and foreign chef serve all guests. It is also a collection of antique residences surrounded by expansive gardens, which helps visitors feel at ease. In addition, the food carvings and service are very noteworthy. Expect to pay between $30 per person, with the lowest bottle of wine costing $25 and beers beginning at $3.50, which is very expensive considering that a beer only $1 elsewhere. Even with Google Maps, it can be difficult to locate the location; therefore, a cab is recommended.

Vegetarian Restaurants in Hue

Hue has more vegetarian restaurants than other parts of Vietnam due to its residents’ consistent vegetarianism. Vegetarian restaurants are so crowded for supper on the 1st and 15th days of every lunar month that finding a seat is very difficult. Next to street vendors, vegetarian eateries offer the cheapest food.

Bo De, D Le Loi. Managed by Huong Giang travel company. This place is highly popular among local people who adore eating great vegetarian starters and courses here at less than $2-$3 per head price range in average . Although this restaurant serves very tasty low-priced vegetarian food, the staff are not very friendly to foreigners/ tourists there. It takes time to browse through such a menu where half the meals cannot be ordered.
Lien Hoa, D Le Quy Don On the grounds of Lien Hoa pagoda opposite football stadium.. During lunchtime, monks and nuns eat in this place quite often. Near entrance there is small shop that sells Vietnamese Buddhist texts as well as prayer beads plus icons .
Com Chay (vegetarian rice) is near any house by the river on ‘the new side’. –Simple but good and cheap veggie dishes.
Tinh Tam (or “calm soul”) located at 12 Chu Van An tel.823572 In this backpacker area of town there is a Buddhist restaurant which cheats in some small way. There are two menus: one with English language which includes exotic items sold at premium prices while another one in Vietnamese that lists traditional Vietnamese foods at regular rates . If you try ordering from the Vietnamese menu, you will be told that some items are not available. If you happen to be able to order something in Vietnamese, the chef will bring out a dish with no name and claim that it is what you ordered even though it is a plate of noodles with tomatoes for 4-5 times the price. If any complaints occur, suddenly English is not spoken by the owner. There are many negative consumer reviews about this company on the net. Avoid. Vietnamese: 5,000 dong; Other races: 40,000-50,000 dong.
91 Vo Thi Sau in backpacker area Quang Tinh – Open 6am-10pm; Very simple eatery that serves noodles, rice etc from 10,000d upwards. Also sells cigarettes and spirits.
San May Vegetarian Restaurant – The beautiful San May restaurant designed with Hue-style architecture has Buddha pictures inside as well as an indoor garden full of lovely trees where vegetarian tourists can sit and enjoy tasteful seasonal gourmet vegan dishes . The special dishes at this restaurant are braised mushrooms and tofu, fried Thien Ly flower and stir-fried bitter melon with mushroom sauce. Location: 8 Thanh Tinh Street. Price: 10.000 – 265.000 VND
Dieu Lac Vegetarian Restaurant – Dieu Lac Vegetarian Restaurant is a wonderful restaurant located on the Trang Tien Bridge. This vegan restaurant offers food made from fresh ingredients that are reasonably priced. The crispy spring rolls, kimbap, seaweed, fried noodles, kimchi, and hotpots are a must-have there. Moreover, Dieu Lac Vegetarian Restaurant has become increasingly popular among Vietnamese people because it takes little time to serve customers. Place: 1 Han Mac Tu Street. Price: 10.000 – 70.000 VND
Lien Hoa Hue – Lien Hoa Hue restaurant is placed in villa style building surrounded by green garden which can be considered as one of the most attractive vegetarian restaurants in Hue city at all times. All the interiors have been designed with rustic and environmentally friendly attributes like the use of bamboo and rough woods for finishing inside. This high-end establishment’s menu consists of approximately 150 items catering to almost every taste bud out there. A single dish will cost between fifteen thousand and fifty-five thousand Vietnam Dong. Place: 3 Le Quy Don Street. Price: 15.000 – 50.000 VND
Vuon Ngu Ha –The moment you step into Vuon Ngu Ha Vegetarian Restaurant you will feel its tranquility and calmness within you all around here in this place where they serve their meals n different areas around this place including an open space courtyard in-between trees and some other buildings offering cool Thai dishes brought down by caring servers who love humanity more than everything else in the world itself even though they know it’s not so easy finding a good place where people could get their meal without spending much money on it at least three times a day while living far away from home.Place: 181 Xuan 68 Street. Price: 20.000 – 80.000 VND