The quintessence of Hue cuisine brings flavors that tell the story of the ancient capital

1 The ancient soul is still intact in every Hue dish

Hue used to be the power center of Dang Trong, where aristocracy, scholars and artisans gathered. It is that interaction that has created the unique Hue cuisine: both rustic and royal. Hue people cook not only to be full but also to express their affection, care and dignity with each dish offered to the king. From simple ingredients to luxurious ones, everything is enhanced by skillful hands and a sophisticated soul.

According to Mr. Phan Thanh Hai, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Thua Thien Hue: “Each region’s cuisine is its identity. As for Hue, the food here is a harmonious combination of Champa cuisine, Vietnamese folk and royal cuisine.”

2 Hue royal cuisine – The essence of a golden age

Hue’s treasure trove of specialties is known for its top-notch royal cuisine. The ancient royal dishes offered to the king were all meticulously cooked down to every detail. Not only the chefs but also the Thai hospital also participate, so that each dish is not only delicious but also nutritious, balancing yin and yang.

A Hue royal banquet is a symphony of colors, scents and sounds: exquisite bowls and cups, the faint scent of lemongrass, the gentle sound of porcelain spoons. Hue people believe that eating requires using all five senses: seeing, smelling, tasting, hearing and feeling. Therefore, Hue cuisine not only satisfies the taste buds but also awakens all senses of the enjoyer.

3 Hue cuisine you must try at least once when coming to the Ancient Capital

3.1 Mussel rice – Essence from the river

Simple but unique, mussel rice is the soul of Vy Da small town. A bowl of cold rice, spicy stir-fried mussels, shrimp paste, pork rinds, herbs and bright red chili blend into an unforgettable flavor. Hue people “eat spicy and talk hard”, so this dish must be spicy to taste. Famous restaurants you can try are: Dap Da Mussel Rice (1 Han Mac Tu), Nho’s Restaurant (Pham Hong Thai – Truong Dinh).

3.2 Hue beef noodle soup – Symbol of Hue cuisine

If I could only choose one dish to represent Hue cuisine, it would have to be Hue beef noodle soup. The beef noodle soup is made from pork floss and bones, spicy but rich in flavor, with small chewy noodles, soft and fragrant stewed beef and pork trotters. Hue people only eat beef noodle soup in the morning, eating while sipping tea, slowly like the way they live. You can visit Mrs. Tuyet’s Hue beef noodle soup (37 Nguyen Cong Tru), Ba My’s vermicelli (71 Nguyen Cong Tru) to enjoy.

3.3 Sesame – Sweet treat as a gift

When mentioning Hue specialties as gifts, you cannot miss sesame seeds, fragrant, crunchy and sweet marshmallows. Ancient Hue people often sipped a piece of sesame paste with a cup of lotus tea, letting the sweetness melt slowly, and the aroma of sesame mixed with the scent of tea. There are many types of sesame nets as follows: flexible sesame, crispy sesame, black sesame, mirror sesame. When buying, you should choose the type that is clear yellow, flexible, and does not break. Reputable addresses to buy processed sesame in Hue are Thien Huong (20 Chi Lang), Nam Thuan (135 Huynh Thuc Khang) or stalls in Dong Ba market.

3.4 Hue Che – Sweetness in every small alley

It is no exaggeration to call Hue the “kingdom of tea”. From roasted meat sweet soup, lotus seed sweet soup, royal bean sweet soup, to banana sweet soup, taro sweet soup… all are present in small alleys around the city. In the middle of a summer day, a cool glass of Hue iced sweet soup calms people’s hearts. Remember to visit Che Hem (17 Hung Vuong) or Che Sao (60 Phan Chu Trinh) to enjoy.

3.5 Nem lui – Hue cuisine is rustic but charming

Nem lui is a rustic grilled dish but the flavor makes diners remember it forever. Minced pork, wrapped around lemongrass and grilled over charcoal, eaten with raw vegetables and a thick “broth” from liver, peanuts, and roasted sesame. The smoky smell, spicy taste, and a little bit of fat blend together to make this Hue specialty a symbol of richness. Suggested address for you: Ba Ty (81 Dao Duy Tu), Tai Phu (2 Dien Bien Phu).

3.6 Tré Hue – Unique dish of the people of the ancient capital

At first glance, Tre Hue is quite similar to spring rolls, but the flavor is somewhat different. Ingredients include pork or beef mixed with mushrooms, galangal, garlic and then fermented. When we open the package, we will smell a spreading passionate aroma, a light sour and greasy taste that makes everyone want to try more pieces. Dao Duy Tu Street is the most famous tea making place in Hue. You can buy it at Tré Dong Ba (25 Dao Duy Tu, Phu Binh) to bring home as a gift.

3.7 Nam Pho noodle soup – Delicious rustic taste

From Nam Pho village, 10 km from the center of Hue, Nam Pho noodle soup has become a symbol of the countryside. The broth is thick from rice flour and tapioca starch, added with shrimp and pork belly, making it both fatty and spicy. In the late afternoon, the smoke from the roadside banh canh vendors mixed with the sounds of advertising will create a very peaceful picture of Hue. Suggestions for readers: Quan Thuy (16 Pham Hong Thai), Banh Canh Nam Pho (374 Chi Lang).

3.8 Hue sour shrimp – Fermented flavor of the ancient capital

In the treasure trove of Hue specialties, sour shrimp is a simple yet seductive dish. Different from other sophisticated shrimp dishes, Hue sour shrimp chooses its own direction: delicate, gentle yet still rich in flavor. Hue people do not use sea shrimp but choose land shrimp and river shrimp that are small but full of flavor. When fermented with galangal, garlic, chili and mushrooms, the natural sweetness of shrimp mixed with a bit of spiciness creates a mild sour flavor that spreads on the tongue.

Hue sour shrimp is often eaten with boiled meat, raw vegetables and rice paper. If you don’t have time to roll the cake, just add sour shrimp to a bowl of hot rice and you will fully feel the salty, warm flavor like the people of Hue. The famous address you can visit is Sour Shrimp 21 Dang Tran Con, which retains the traditional original sour shrimp flavor.

3.9 Mixed figs – A delicious dish that makes people miss you

Hue has a very unique appetizer: mixed fig. People here often jokingly say “eating figs for fun” and that’s right, this dish was born to start meals rich in Hue cuisine.

Figs are only found in Hue, shaped like figs but with softer flesh and a more delicate taste. When mixed with shrimp, minced meat, herbs and spicy fish sauce, the mixed fig dish becomes a “Hue specialty” that makes everyone who tries it nostalgic. Local people often eat figs mixed with grilled rice paper: scoop each piece into their mouth, crispy, fatty and fragrant. That simple dish is displayed on most menus of popular restaurants, from small pubs to long-standing restaurants in the city center.

3.10 Banh beo – Sophistication in each small bowl

When talking about Hue dishes, we cannot forget Banh Beo, which symbolizes the ingenuity of women from the menstrual region. The small, beautiful, white bowls of cakes are highlighted with the red color of shrimp, the golden color of fried onions, the green color of onion fat, and the crispy yellow color of pork rinds. Visitors can visit Ba Cu Banh Beo (47 Nguyen Hue) or Tay Loc Market Food Area (209 Nguyen Trai) to enjoy authentic traditional flavors.

3.11 Banh loc cake – Transparent and delicate like the Perfume River

Banh loc cake is one of the typical Hue specialties, divided into two types: cake wrapped in leaves and cake wrapped in leaves. The transparent dough shell reveals a red shrimp filling, with a bit of soft fatty pork belly inside. Hue people eat tapioca cake without vegetables but just dipped in sweet and spicy fish sauce, simple but sophisticated. If you want to try the right taste, visit Restaurant 109 Le Huan, famous for its famous “Beo – Nam – Loc”.

3.12 Banh nam – Hue street food

On the street vendors weaving throughout the small streets, banh nam appears as a symbol of simple Hue cuisine. The cake is wrapped in dong leaves, thinly flattened, white dough dotted with bright pink shrimp filling.

Nam cake is best eaten with a little sweet and spicy fish sauce. The aroma of dong leaves and the fatty taste of shrimp mixed in the soft dough make it unforgettable. Two famous shops that locals love are Banh Nam Ba Do (71 Nguyen Binh Khiem) and Hang Me (14 Vo Thi Sau).

3.13 Underworld rice – Legendary dish to the king

Hades rice has a strange name but is a symbol of meticulousness in Hue cuisine. According to legend, when King Bao Dai visited him, people offered him a colorful plate of rice including meat, eggs, cucumbers, vegetables, dried shrimp… arranged around white rice in the middle. The king tasted it and praised it’s deliciousness, from then on the dish was brought to the royal court. Nowadays, underworld rice is a “Hue specialty” that everyone should try once. A plate of rice is like a colorful picture that is both delicious and beautiful, fully expressing the creative and elegant spirit of Hue people.

Hue cuisine is neither noisy nor ostentatious. Each dish is a story, a slice of culture preserved through generations. Whether it’s sour shrimp, banh beo or underworld rice, all of them make visitors remember forever because of their rustic and sophisticated flavors. And don’t forget to buy yourself a beautiful, durable suitcase at Vietnamtravelio, a companion to help make your trip to Hue complete and full of flavor.