Hue is not only the old capital of Vietnam but also, according to locals and tourists, the culinary capital of this Asian country. This is primarily due to the rich history of this city and the location of the residences of kings and feudal lords of the Nguyen dynasty here. Today, Hue offers anything from local restaurants with small plastic chairs, refined Vietnamese food restaurants, dozens of coffee shops, and Western food that we will cover here too.

1. Bun Bo Hue – Hue Beef Noodle Soup

One of the tastiest dishes to eat in Hue is the signature dish, Bun Bo Hue. You might see this dish and initially think of Pho, but it's slightly different and, to some tasty buds, more delicious. Pho can be made with various meats, but Bun Bo Hue is made only with rich, flavorsome beef. The sauce is flavored with lemongrass, and the noodles are thin, vermicelli style rather than the flat noodles used in Pho.

This tasty dish is best enjoyed perched on a plastic stool at a modest restaurant, slurping up the noodles to show your gratitude. Bun Bo Hue was invented in the city of Hue but has since spread to surrounding regions.

Where to try Bun Bo Hue:

You can't do better than the restaurant, Bún Bò O Cương Chú Điệp. This friendly local restaurant near the waterfront is known for its fragrant soup and the moreish, crispy spring rolls that come as a side.

Eaten by Rose from Where Goes Rose

2. Pho – Vietnamese Noodle Soup

When it comes to visiting Vietnam, it would be a total loss not to try Phở (pronounced "fuh"), a quintessential Vietnamese dish. The main ingredients of this national staple are flat rice noodles and thinly sliced beef cooked medium rare in the salty-sweet broth. In Vietnam, people usually eat their soup with fresh mint and Thai basil ripped into the bowl, letting the flavors of the broth and herbs guide the meal.

While Pho's recipe may vary depending on each chef's creativity, the cornerstone of any bowl of Pho is the broth made of cloves, cinnamon, and star anise simmered with beef bones. At the same time, some chefs use chicken's, some may use pig's, and, depending on this, the broth gains its own distinctive flavor.

It's virtually impossible to find a place in Vietnam's major cities where people wouldn't be slurping noodles at makeshift pho stands. You can find a bowl of Pho pretty much anywhere as it is one of the most popular meals for breakfast or lunch. If you really want to save money while traveling, going to a local street vendor will only cost you $1 to $3 a bowl.

Where to try Vietnamese Pho:

Pho Sai Gon is a famous Pho restaurant in Hue that all the locals know about. A small family-run business that specializes in Asian and Vietnamese cuisines, they offer yummy beef pho, beef curry with noodles, and shrimp.

Head on down to 10 Nguyen Van Cu Tp, Hue, to personally sample the soup that has passed the test of time.

Eaten by Ivan from Mind the Travel

3. Banh Beo – Steamed Rice Cake

With Hue considered the home of more than two-thirds of Vietnam's most delectable dishes, it's hard to pick just one meal to indulge in. Banh Beo, one of the original royal recipes to emerge out of this culinary mecca, has to be near the top of the list.

Loosely translated as "water fern cakes," these little more-ish saucers are almost like "tapas," slurped up before a large meal or enjoyed as part of a feast of other notable Hue delights. Essentially a mixture of rice and tapioca flour, this Vietnamese appetizer is then topped with bits of fried shrimp or crispy pork and then either sprinkled or served with a dipping sauce, usually fish.

That seems simple enough, but only the most decorated chefs can perfectly plate the dish – a small porcelain bowl with a small indentation in the middle, ready for those toppings.

What is the best place to try Banh Beo?

Definitely Madam Thu's. A veritable Hue institution, this restaurant skirts the divide between mid-range and fine dining, offering a captivating experience of high-end, delectable far at wallet-friendly prices.

Eaten by Lee from The Travel Scribes

4. Banh Canh Nam Pho – Crab Noodles

Banh Canh Nam Pho is a thick noodle soup with seafood like shrimp, ground crab meat, and vegetables. The noodles for the soup is made from a mixture of rice and tapioca flour. It might not be as popular as noodles with mussels or beef, but it is undoubtedly a staple Hue dish.

It isn't easy to find Nam Pho outside of Central Vietnam, so don't miss a chance to try it in Hue.

Where to try Thick Crab Noodle Soup:

Head to Pham Hong Thai Street and choose one of the local restaurants.

5. Banh Bot Loc – Tapioca Dumplings

These are thick tapioca flour dumplings filled with pork and shrimp. These pieces are wrapped in banana leaves and steamed before serving hot with fish sauce. Tapioca Dumplings look like a weird chewy jelly, but they are actually very delicious!

Where to try Vietnamese Tapioca Dumplings:

Head to restaurants on Vo Thi Sau, Le Thanh Ton, Pham Hong Thai, Truong Dinh and Nguyen Hue, or at street vendors near Trang Tien Bridge.

6. Ca Phe Muoi – the Salt Coffee

During our visit to Hue, a local recommended we try Salt Coffee. It sounded terrible but intriguing, so we just had to hunt it down. The salt coffee is served dripping through a filter down onto ice cubes and milk in a glass below.

While we were expecting a hot coffee, the iced coffee was perfect for the hot Vietnamese day.

And the flavor – it was just delicious! It could best be described as similar to a sweet, salted caramel flavored coffee. It was worth the hunt, and we will be back for more next time we are in Vietnam.

Where to try Ca Phe Muoi:

There are two places to find it in town, and both cafes are conveniently called “Salt Coffeein”.

Put that into Google Maps, and it will bring them up, but as you walk down the street, look for “Cà Phê Muối” on the signs. A cup of salt coffee costs approximately 15.000VND ($0.65USD/€0.57).

Tried by Josie from Josie Wanders

7. Bun Nem Lui

Nem Lui is one of the favorite local dishes – ground pork with herbs grilled on lemongrass stalks. They are usually served with rice paper, Bun noodles, salad leaves, and other condiments to make rolls yourself. You can then dip the rolls in peanut sauce or sometimes just fish sauce.

Usually, the lemongrass stalks become so soft after cooking, and you can just cut this grilled "sausage" and eat it together with lemongrass pieces – it tastes incredible!

Bun Nem Lui is usually served on a giant banana leaf in the restaurant, or in a more classic way as below:

Where to try Bun Nem Lui:

Tai Phu Restaurant, Lac Thien Restaurant, Madam Thu Restaurant

8. Grilled corn

Love street food? Ready to sit on small chairs along the sidewalk and enjoy a crispy smoky corn or just walk around with this delicious treat? Head to a corn stall in front of Hue's University of Education on 34 Le Loi Street that is a popular spot with locals and visitors alike.

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