Every year and a half, I will travel to Hue, Vietnam to visit orphanages as part of Orphans’ Futures Alliance due diligence trip. I am always excited to visit the kids and also to sample my family’s favorite restaurants in the city. Hue is known to have the best authentic traditional cuisine stemming from its imperial history. My family is originally from Hue so I grew up eating many of the local specialties. Locals take great pride in the food culture and I am excited to share with you some of my family’s must eats when we are in Hue.
Huyen Anh (52 Kim Long Street, Hue, Vietnam)
This place specializes in fresh rice rolls (bánh ướt thịt nướng) and bbq pork (thịt nướng). This is a local favorite and the people there do not speak English. Don’t be intimidated as there are only 3 items that you can order. You can always just show them a picture. I would advise bringing your own wet naps as the place can be a little grungy like all local gems.
Classic banh uot with a dipping sauce
Bun thit nuong
Ba Do (7 Nguyen Binh Khiem St Hue, Hue, Vietnam)
This is the place for traditional Hue’s rice flour based cuisines and other traditional dishes. I never miss a chance to eat here when I am in town.
Banh Ram It – super crunchy rice paste stuffed with steamed sticky rice paste dumpling filled with shrimp and pork.
Banh Nam – steamed rice cake topped with minced shrimp
Banh Bot Loc – steam tapioca dumpling filled with pork and shrimp
My favorite: Banh Beo – steamed rice cakes topped with shredded shrimp and pork rind
Banh Khoai – crunchy rice flour crepe filled with sausage, shrimp and bean sprouts
Nem Lui – Grilled ground pork and beef sausages grilled on lemongrass stalk and served with rice paper, vegetables and a pungent dipping sauce.
The feast continues
The ultimate roast pork stall (on the corner of 8/209 Huynh Thuc Khang)
The owner has been roasting pork for tens of years and have perfected the roasting technique where the meat is tender while the skin is super crunchy. I highly recommend bringing the bread to this stall like we did and have him toast it for you. There is nothing better than eating hot roasted meat with baguette sprinkled with soy sauce.
The meat is sold by weight (kilo)
Bun Bo Hue restaurant (19 Ly Thuong Kiet, Hue, Vietnam)
This is the place to go get Hue’s specialty noodle soup, bun bo hue. You do have to go in the morning otherwise the soup may be sold out. Noodles soup are usually eaten for breakfast in Vietnam. The broth here is sweet and hearty. People have a misconception that bun bo hue is super spicy like the version that they serve in the US. The spiciness comes from the chili that you can add after to your preference. As a bonus, the restaurant also makes it own soy milk.
Chua Duc Son’s Thanh Tinh (Tel 054.3865901)
This is a vegetarian restaurant run by Duc Son Temple as a way to train the orphans in the restaurant trade as well as to generate additional funding for the orphanage. The food here is cooked by the nun and the orphans. You need to call and make a reservation before you come.
Vegetarian bean soup
Mixed noodles with vegetables
Rice rolls with mushrooms and vegetarian “ham”
Mushrooms served with crackers
Vegetables fried rice
Vy Da Sua Cafe (131 Nguyen Sinh Cung, Hue, Vietnam)
This is an old Hue style cafe by the river. It is a great spot to grab a coffee and feel the breeze of river. They serve a limited breakfast menu depending on the day.
These are my favorite places to in Hue and I hope you get a chance to try it out for yourself. I guarantee that you will not be disappointed.
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Author: Chau Hoang
Featured Photo: Flickr /Blobber
La Vie Partagée 
Great post
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Thank you. Check out our other travel articles.
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No problem i will 🙂 check out my blog also when you get the chance
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