Hue, the ancient capital of Vietnam, is not only famous for its rich history and culture but also for its diverse cuisine. Hue’s cuisine reflects the influence of the royal court and the local people, who have created many unique dishes of Hue. From desserts to main dishes, or savory to sweet dishes, Hue has everything to satisfy your tastes and preferences
Hue Food with 10 delicious dishes that you must try when you visit Hue City.
1. Bún Bò Huế: Iconic Spicy Beef Noodle Soup
Bún Bò Huế is considered the most iconic dish of Hue and one of the most popular noodles dishes in Vietnam. The name means “Hue Beef Noodles Soup”, originating from the royal cuisine of the Nguyen Dynasty. The soup is made from beef bones, lemongrass, chili oil and various spices that give it a unique flavor aroma. The broth is rich, spicy and aromatic, served with vermicelli, some slices of beef, pork trotters, blood clots, and herbs
2. Cơm Hến: Clam Rice
Cơm Hến is a local Hue food made from cold rice and stir-fry mussels, served with the hot mussels broth is added to the dish. There are up to 10 ingredients can be named in mussels rice such as chili, roasted peanut, roasted sesame, fried pork skin, ect. Raw vegetable served with mussels rice include many rustic vegetable such as banana flower, laksa leaves, star fruit,… What remain in dinners after eating a bowl of mussels rice is the fragrance of shrimp paste and spiciness. Mussel rice lovers may ask for fresh chili to enjoy the flavor to the fullest.
3. Bánh Khoái: Hue’s Crispy Pancake
Bánh Khoái is very famous Hue Specialty food that everyone come to Hue should try. Bánh Khoái is smaller and thicker compare to Bánh Xèo. The batter of bánh Khoái includes rice flour, water and turmeric powder, eggs. Bánh Khoái is crispy and a bit of greasy, therefore always serve Bánh Khoái with salad and rice paper rolling together.
The most important to get best serving of the pancake is the dipping peanut sauce. This peanut sauce includes peanut, sesame, pork liver cook in a while for full flavor. So if you have Bánh Khoái without the peanut dipping sauce, that would not be the right way.
- Nem Lụi: Grill Chopped Pork with Lemongrass
4. Nem Lụi: Lemongrass Skewers
Nem lụi is Hue lemongrass skewers with grilled pork. And a popular Vietnamese food in Central of Vietnam. Can be served as snack or as a main course. Nem lụi is a specialty of Hue so you can find and try it easy in Hue.
Nem lụi is grilled chopped pork on lemongrass, sometimes bamboo stick. This Hue specialty food is made of ground pork with between a third and a half pork fat. The meat is typically marinating with chopped shallot, fish sauce and black pepper, salt. Then grill it on charcoal and and served with rice paper, lettuce, herbs, cucumber, carrots, and green bananas.
And Nem lụi is serving with peanut dipping sauce.The sauce is make with pork liver or can use pork meat, peanut butter and Hue fermented soya bean, pound roasted peanut and sesame. Nem Lụi is an interesting dish that can be combined with rice paper and enjoy the contrast between textures
5. Bánh Bèo: Steamed Rice Flour
Bánh Bèo is a dish consisting of steamed rice flour with minced shrimp, pork rinds, green onions, and stir-fried chives. The reason it is called Bánh Bèo is because the shape of this cake is quite similar to the leaves of the water fern plant. Bánh Bèo is made with rice flour and water and steamed in a small ceramic bowl until soft and transparent. After that, the plate is covered with a layer of mixture including shrimp, pork rinds, green onions, and fried chives, creating a crispy, fragrant taste for the dish.
Bánh Bèo is eaten with a dipping sauce made from fish sauce, sugar, vinegar, chili to add an aromatic and spicy flavor to the dish. Bánh bèo also use as a snack or main dish
6. Bún Thịt Nướng: Grilled Pork Vermicelli
Bún Thịt Nướng is made with simple components like vermicelli, pork, peanut, vegetable (lecture, carrots, cucumber, bean sprouts,..)The pork is thinly sliced and seasoned with fish sauce, black pepper, lemon grass and garlic. After marinating the meat for a few hours, it is grilled by little throughout the day to ensure that every customer can enjoy freshly grilled meat. The grilled meat has a nice even brown color, is not overly dry, and has the characteristic lemongrass flavor.
Bún Thịt Nướng is eaten with a sauce made from fish sauce, sugar, vinegar, garlic, and chili, adding a sweet and sour flavor to the dish. Bún Thịt Nướng is a delicious and balanced dish that can be enjoyed for lunch or dinner.
7. Bánh Nậm: Steamed Flat Rice Dumplings
Bánh Nậm (steamed shrimp rice cake) is a traditional Hue dish consisting of steamed dumplings filled with shrimp and pork. Made of rice flour, tapioca starch, shrimp, wrapped in banana leaves. The pie filling are made from a mixture of shrimp, pork, onions, garlic, fish sauce, and pepper, adding a delicious, succulent flavor to the dish.
Bánh Nậm is served with a dipping sauce made from fish sauce, sugar, vinegar, garlic, and chili to add an aromatic and spicy flavor to the dish
8. Bánh Lọc: Tapioca Dumplings
Bánh Lọc is a small, clear-looking, chewy tapioca dumplings in Vietnamese cuisine that can be eaten as appetizers or small snacks, is usually filled with shrimp and pork.
Bánh Lọc is a type of steamed tapioca cake made from tapioca starch, water, and salt. The filter cake is translucent and has a slightly sticky texture. It is made from shrimp and pork, or green beans, adding a savory or sweet flavor to the dish. Bánh Lọc is eaten with a dipping sauce made from fish sauce, sugar, vinegar, garlic, and chili, adding to the fragrant and spicy flavor of the dish.
9. Bánh Ướt Thịt Nướng: Grilled Pork Rice Paper Rolls
Bánh Ướt Thịt Nướng is a delicious snack consisting of wet rice paper rolls with grilled pork. The pork is marinated with garlic, sugar, fish sauce, lemongrass and grilled over charcoal until tender and golden brown. The pork is served with wet rice paper, lettuce, herbs, cucumber, carrots and green bananas, which are used to wrap the pork into rolls.
The rolls are dipped in a sauce made from fermented soy sauce, peanut butter, sugar, vinegar and chili, giving the dish a delicious and spicy flavor. Bánh Ướt Thịt Nướng is a fun and interactive dish, allowing you to roll the rice paper and enjoy the contrast of textures and flavors
10. Chè Huế: Assorted Sweet Soup
Assorted Sweet Soup, also called “Chè Huế”, is a popular Vietnamese street food. It can be either a dessert or a mid-day snack. Chè Huế is probably the most famous in the country. There are 36 kinds of Chè Huế. However, in reality, there is much more than that. Chè Huế comes in many different forms, colors, thicknesses, and tastes. They often include very simple ingredients such as cereals, fruits, cassava flour, sticky rice flour, sugar, etc
Chè Trôi Nước: Sweet soup with glutinous rice balls filled with mung bean paste and coated with sesame seeds
Chè Đậu Xanh: Sweet soup with mung bean paste and coconut milk
Chè Bắp: Sweet soup with corn and coconut milk
Chè Bột Lọc Bọc Dừa: Filtered sweet soup with young coconut inside and coconut milk
Chè Bột Lọc Bọc Heo Quay: The blend of the sweet taste of sweet soup and the salty taste of roasted meat inside the tapioca dough ball creates an impressive dish.
Chè Huế is a sweet and refreshing dessert that can be enjoyed as a snack or a main course.
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