Food in Hue: 14 BEST Local Dishes from Hue

Hue is not only well-known for its breathtaking natural landscapes and magnificent historical buildings, but it is also famous for its elegant array of dishes. People are impressed by its exquisite taste when it comes to food in Hue. Hue cuisine is diverse with dainty dishes such as Bun Bo Hue, Banh Beo, Banh Khoai, Banh Bot Loc, and so on. Let’s check out VTJ and discover some of the best food in Hue in the following list. 

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1. Bun Bo Hue (Hue Beef Noodle Soup)

Bun Bo Hue (Hue Beef Noodle Soup) is one of the most famous traditional foods in Hue

Bun Bo Hue (Hue Beef Noodle Soup) is one of the most famous traditional foods in Hue. These dishes consist of thick vermicelli, thin slices of beef, and broth. The broth is made with fish sauce, cow bones, and indigenous spices which is the soul of the Bun Bo Hue. 

Additionally, one particular ingredient giving Bun Bo Hue its distinct flavor is Vietnamese fermented shrimp paste, which gives the soup more sweetness. Bun Bo Hue is also topped with diced green onions, mint, basil, banana blossoms, cilantro, beansprouts, lime wedges, congealed pig blood beef or pork knuckles. This dish is served for breakfast, lunch, and even dinner.

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2. Banh Canh Nam Pho (Nam Pho Thick Noodle Soup)

Banh Canh Nam Pho is a wonderful breakfast choice

Banh Canh Nam Pho, also known as Nam Pho Thick Noodle Soup, is a wonderful breakfast choice. The dish typically consists of thick, udon-like rice noodles that are chewy and satisfying. These noodles are made from rice flour and tapioca starch, giving them their unique texture. 

The broth is rich and savory, often made from a combination of pork bones, seafood, or chicken, simmered with various herbs and spices. 

Common toppings of this food include slices of pork, shrimp, fish cake, boiled quail eggs, and fresh herbs like cilantro and green onions. Additionally, it is common to add a squeeze of lime juice and some chili sauce to enhance the flavors.

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3. Banh Uot Thit Nuong (Rice Noodle Rolls With Grilled Pork)

Banh Uot Thit Nuong is one of the best foods in Hue

Banh Uot Thit Nuong is one of the best foods in Hue consisting of rice noodle rolls served with grilled pork, dipping sauce, local herbs, and vegetables such as lettuce, carrots, banana blossoms, cilantro, beansprouts. 

Banh Uot Thit Nuong is often served with a dipping sauce called nuoc cham, which is a sweet and savory sauce made from soybean paste. Banh Uot Thit Nuong is a popular Hue street food and you can easily find it in any Hue restaurant.

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4. Nem Lui (Lemongrass Skewer)

Nem Lui is a Hue street food

Nem Lui is a Hue street food and is recognized as one of the best foods in Hue. Nem Lui is a dish that tastes like a kebab and is prepared by marinating meat – typically pig or beef – wrapping it around stalks of lemongrass and grilling it over coals. 

The most common way to enjoy it is by wrapping the grilled skewers in rice paper along with fresh herbs such as lettuce, mint, cilantro, pickled carrots, daikon radish, and cucumber. It is usually eaten with a dipping sauce made from ground peanuts, shrimp paste, chopped garlic, fermented beans, chilies and shallots.

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5. Com Hen (Clam Rice)

Coming to Hue, you should taste Com Hen at least once

Com Hen or Clam Rice is a flavorful and aromatic dish that showcases the region’s culinary heritage. Com hen is made of rice with crispy pork skins, toasted peanuts, shrimp paste, and fresh greens on top. To enjoy Com Hen, the dish is typically mixed before eating. 

The flavors and textures come together harmoniously, with the tender clams, fragrant rice, and various toppings creating a delightful combination. The dish is often served with a side of shrimp paste sauce, which adds a tangy and spicy element to the overall taste.

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6. Banh Khoai (Vietnamese Crepe)

Banh Khoai (Vietnamese Crepe) is a special Hue pancake

Banh Khoai or Vietnamese Crepe is typically enjoyed as a street food snack or as a main course. The crepe batter is made from rice flour, coconut milk, turmeric powder, and water, creating a thin and crisp outer layer with a vibrant yellow color. 

This cake is topped with shrimp, pork, scallions and beansprouts. To enjoy Banh Khoai, you can tear off a piece of the crepe, wrap it in a lettuce leaf along with herbs, and dip it into a fermented soybean dipping sauce.

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7. Banh Beo (Steamed Water Fern Rice Cake)

Banh Beo is a popular street food in Hue

Steamed Water Fern Rice Cake or Banh Beo consists of small, round, and delicate rice cakes that are steamed and topped with various savory ingredients. The base of Banh Beo is made from a batter of rice flour, tapioca starch, and water. The batter is poured into small, shallow dishes or molds and steamed until it becomes firm and slightly translucent. 

Traditionally, Banh Beo is served in a set of multiple small dishes, each containing a single rice cake. The rice cakes are typically topped with ingredients such as ground shrimp, crispy fried shallots, scallions, and sometimes, mung bean paste. A drizzle of nuoc mam (fish sauce) or a mix of fish sauce, sugar, lime juice, garlic, and chili is added for a sweet and savory flavor.

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8. Banh Bot Loc (Hue Clear Shrimp And Pork Dumpling)

Banh Bot Loc is a type of Vietnamese food originally from Hue

If you want to find impressive Hue street food, you should not ignore Banh Bot Loc – also known as Hue Clear Shrimp And Port Dumpling. Banh Bot Loc is a type of dumpling made from a translucent tapioca starch dough and filled with a mixture of marinated shrimp and minced pork. 

The dumplings are steamed until the tapioca starch dough becomes transparent and the filling is cooked through. The steamed Banh Bot Loc are typically served on a banana leaf or plate, and they are garnished with crispy fried shallots and served with a dipping sauce made from fish sauce, sugar, lime juice, garlic, and chili. It is often enjoyed as a snack or appetizer.

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9. Banh Nam (Flat Steamed Rice Dumpling)

Banh Nam (Flat Steamed Rice Dumpling) is a famous local dish in Hue

Banh Nam, a delectable steamed dumpling from Huế, will captivate you with its delicate texture and mouth-watering flavor. The process of making Banh Nam involves creating a mixture of ground rice, tapioca starch, and water. The mixture is spread evenly onto a banana leaf, forming a thin layer. 

The filling, typically made with minced shrimp, pork, and wood ear mushrooms, is placed in the center of the rice mixture. The dumplings are then steamed until the rice mixture becomes firm and translucent. After being cooked, the outer layer of the dumpling is soft and slightly chewy, while the filling provides a savory and umami taste. 

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10. Banh Ep (Thin Scallion Pancakes)

Banh Ep is an ideal choice for a snack in Hue

Banh Ep, also known as Thin Scallion Pancakes or Vietnamese Rice Paper Pancakes, is a popular street food in Vietnam. It is a simple yet delicious dish made with rice paper wrappers and a filling of scallions (green onions) and sometimes other ingredients – can be minced pork or eggs. 

Banh Ep is often accompanied by a dipping sauce made from fish sauce, sugar, lime juice, garlic, and chili. The sauce adds a tangy, savory, slightly spicy flavor that compliments the crispy pancake.

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11. Banh It Ram (Fried Sticky Rice Dumpling)

Banh It Ram should not be missed when it comes to food in Hue

Regarding food in Hue, it would be a mistake if Banh It Ram is not mentioned. A crispy burger and steamed sticky rice dumplings are the ingredients of the Central Vietnamese specialty known as banh it ram. The dumpling, which resembles a Japanese mochi but is eaten as an appetizer rather than dessert, is topped with a flavorful mixture of pork, shrimp, and green onions. 

The combination of the crispy fried shell, sticky rice, and flavorful filling makes Banh It Ram a delightful treat. The contrast of textures and the savory taste of the filling creates a satisfying culinary experience.

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12. Che Hat Sen (Lotus Seeds Sweet Soup)

Che Hat Sen is a classic Vietnamese dish, especially in Hue

Lotus Seeds Sweet Soup, or Che Hat Sen, is a classic Vietnamese dish that is typically consumed as a refreshing treat. It is made from lotus seeds, which are simmered in a sweet and fragrant syrup, resulting in a delightful dessert soup. The dish offers a delicate and subtle sweetness, with the lotus seeds providing a slightly chewy texture.

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13. Che Bot Loc Heo Quay (Roasted Pork Sweet Soup)

Che Boc Loc Heo Quay is a unique snack in Hue

Che Boc Loc Heo Quay is a unique snack in Hue. This dish, a distinctive sweet soup from Hue City, our former capital, combines the rich, salty flavor of roasted pork with the sweetness of sugar in each rice ball. The crispy roasted pork belly and a sweet soup of Che create a unique culinary.

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14. Va Tron (Hue Mixed Figs)

Va Tron is a traditional Vietnamese salad

Va Tron salad was a Hue specialty served only to the nobility. It has shredded pork or shrimp mixed with boiled figs, diced carrots, mushrooms, and onions. To enjoy this dish, foodies should add a little fried shallots, roasted sesame seeds, and fermented shrimp paste. This food will bring an unforgettable taste for eaters.

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Ending

Hue cuisine is characterized by its delicate flavors, meticulous presentation, and the use of vibrant colors. The array of scrumptious food in Hue will never end. VTJ hopes that this list of Hue food can help your culinary experience in this wonderful place.