Hue eating guide

An independent selection of the best eateries from fine dining to street food in Hue, from Rusty Compass. No paid endorsements.

Hue eating guide

Introduction

| 27 Oct 2017
Last updated 27 Oct 2017

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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.

food,Nem Lui,Hue,Quan Hanh,restaurant,Vietnam
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.

Read more introduction

Coffee Culture Hue - Hue's best cafes

This Hue coffee foray will take you into wonderful spaces in different parts of the city. Coffee ain't bad - but these are... Read more

Hanh Restaurant

This little haven of Hue specialties is not so little anymore. It’s at least doubled in size in recent years and the crowds have... Read more
Hanh Restaurant
11 Pho Duc Chinh St, Hue

Huong Cau Restaurant

Another specialist in Hue's local dishes - banh beo, banh khoai, banh nam, nem lui - all the favourites. There’s a small garden... Read more
Huong Cau Restaurant
4 Nguyen Binh Khiem also off Chi Lang St

Ba Do Restaurant, Hue

A favourite with locals needing a hit of Hue's unique cuisine. Very simple spot with tasty banh beo, cha tom, banh nam and other... Read more
Ba Do Restaurant, Hue
7 Nguyen Binh Khiem St Hue - off Chi Lang St

Y Thao Garden

Hue's traditional cuisine from set menus in a stunning garden setting. This is a beautiful place but the service and food are... Read more
Y Thao Garden
3 Rue Thach Han, Hue City

Lac Thien Restaurant

Mr Lac has been feeding travellers to Hue since the early 1990s and he continues to please. His deafness is no obstacle to... Read more
Lac Thien Restaurant
6 Dinh Tien Hoang St, Hue, Vietnam

La Carambole

La Carambole plays to the colonial nostalgia theme with its French oriented menu and it seems to paper over some mediocre... Read more
La Carambole
19 Pham Ngu Lao St, Hue

Tropical Garden

Set in a villa not far from the traveller quarter, Tropical Garden is another solid specialist in local dishes. A popular spot... Read more
Tropical Garden
27 Chu Van An St, Hue

Les Jardins De La Carambole, Hue

Les Jardins De La Carambole may be Hue's most visually impressive restaurant - set in a recreation French colonial villa not far... Read more
Les Jardins De La Carambole, Hue
32 Dang Tran Con St, Hue

Bun bo Hue noodle soup

Bun Bo Hue is another legendary Hue dish that has been embraced all over Vietnam. It's a deliciously distinctive, spicy, noodle... Read more

Bun thit nuong, Hue

Bun Thit Nuong isn’t strictly a Hue specialty - no matter - it hails from central Vietnam and there are some fine places to... Read more
Bun thit nuong, Hue
66 Bach Dang St, Hue

Banh mi in Hue

Banh mi is as big in Hue as anywhere else in Vietnam. And as you’d expect from the city that’s home to some of Vietnam’s most... Read more

Nook Cafe, Hue

Airy cafe hidden down a lane in Hue’s original backpacker district. Good spot for cafe classics - breakfast, burgers, juices and... Read more
Nook Cafe, Hue
Kiet 34 Nguyen Tri Phuong St, Hue

Lien Hoa Vegetarian Restaurant, Hue

Popular with the locals and visitors, Com Chay Lien Hoa is a dependable stop for vegetarians. It’s delicious whether you’re... Read more
Lien Hoa Vegetarian Restaurant, Hue
3 Le Quy Don St, Hue

Tai Phu Hue Cuisine

Great little local eatery serving Hue specialties. Service is abrupt, food is delicious and inexpensive. Nothing fancy here -... Read more
Tai Phu Hue Cuisine
2 Dien Bien Phu St, Hue

Vuon Pho Restaurant, Hue

Vuong Pho feels like the kind of restaurant we used to visit in Hanoi in the early 90s - but it’s in Hue. It’s a tad grubby and... Read more
Vuon Pho Restaurant, Hue
6A Ly Thuong Kiet, Hue

Banh Beo Ba Cu, Hue

We saw this place while revisiting Hue’s main cathedral. It stands out with pink walls, blue shutters and a deep green interior.... Read more
Banh Beo Ba Cu, Hue
107 Nguyen Hue St, Hue

Dong Ba Market food stalls, Hue

You’re gonna stop by Dong Ba Market while in Hue. You can get an inexpensive dose of local cuisine while you’re at it. There are... Read more
Dong Ba Market food stalls, Hue
Tran Hung Dao St, Hue - heading to the north bank across the Trang Tien bridge, turn right.

Hong Nga Vegetarian Restaurant, Hue

This simple little vegetarian restaurant is located on a beautiful street in the outer grounds of Hue Citadel. It’s a nice place... Read more
Hong Nga Vegetarian Restaurant, Hue
3 Han Thuyen St Hue - inside the south eastern outer walls of the citadel.