Buzz
When visiting the ancient capital of Hue, immerse yourself not only in its famous landmarks but also treat yourself to the delightful and affordable local cuisine that will leave a lasting memory for travelers.
Indulge in the charm of Hue with these 17 dishes that captivate the hearts of all visitors.
1. Savory shrimp spring rolls
Savor the addictiveness of shrimp spring rolls, a dish made with simple ingredients such as lettuce, water spinach, herbs, sour shrimp, pork belly, pickled papaya, and steamed rice cakes. The key to its deliciousness lies in the sauce, prepared with sesame, Hue-style shrimp paste, and mashed sweet potatoes. The rich taste of meat, succulent shrimp, the soft aroma of rice cakes, and the flavorful dipping sauce create a uniquely delicious experience for this dish.
2. Various dishes made from clams
When it comes to Hue cuisine, one cannot overlook the dishes crafted from clams, such as clam rice, clam vermicelli, mixed clam with rice paper, and more. Each dish has its unique preparation method and distinct flavor. However, these dishes harmoniously blend with aromatic herbs, banana blossoms, fried shallots, greaseproof paper hats, peanuts, and more.
3. Mixed Fig Salad
Mixed fig salad is a popular Hue dish that resonates with many people. Figs, a commonly grown plant in Hue, are utilized to create a fascinating mixed salad. The combination of figs with shrimp, meat, herbs, and sweet and sour sauce creates a tempting and stimulating taste. Typically, people enjoy this dish with rice paper, making it a delightful appetizer or snack on hot summer days.
4. Hue Sweet Soup
Not only is Hue sweet soup better than in other regions, but when you savor Hue sweet soup, you'll experience the unique charm of this dish. Various sweet soups are available at street vendors in Hue, including lotus seed sweet soup, assorted sweet soup, bean sweet soup, pomelo sweet soup, and more.
The distinctive features of these sweet soups in the Ancient Capital are created through the flavors, colors, and skillful preparation of the people of Hue. Enjoying cold sweet soup in summer and hot sweet soup in winter both leave an unforgettable impression.
5. Grilled Meat Vermicelli
Huế's grilled meat vermicelli captures the colors and flavors of the ancient imperial city. A portion of vermicelli is paired with marinated and grilled meat, a sprinkle of fresh herbs, cucumber, and served with the indispensable fish sauce – the essence of this grilled meat vermicelli dish.
6. Nậm Cake
Eating nậm cake in Huế is not unfamiliar. This type of cake combines rice flour, tapioca flour, and the filling is pork. It is enjoyed with a tangy and spicy dipping sauce, offering a special taste to the diners.
7. Clear Dumplings
Clear dumplings are one of the famous cakes in Huế, consisting of two types: transparent dumplings and banana leaf-wrapped dumplings. This cake is eaten with a characteristic sweet and spicy fish sauce, allowing you to experience the sweetness of shrimp blending with the rich aroma of pork belly in the chewy dough layer, irresistibly delicious.
8. Hue Beef Noodles
When you step into Hue, you must indulge in the renowned dish of Hue beef noodles. The white noodles, larger than regular ones, come with beef, beef sausage, coagulated blood, rare beef, brisket, and tendons. The highlight of this dish lies in the broth, cooked with various spices to enhance its sweetness and distinctive flavor. Enjoying Hue beef noodles with crisp fresh vegetables, a touch of satay, and a squeeze of lime creates a mouthwatering and enticing bowl of delight.
9. Snakehead Fish Udon Soup
Snakehead fish udon soup is a rustic and popular dish that captivates many food enthusiasts. The harmonious blend of noodles with sweet and tender snakehead fish brings a unique flavor to the dish.
10. Pressed Cake
Pressed cake is a specialty in Hue that you definitely should try when you visit. A dish crafted from simple and rustic ingredients such as clear rice flour, pork, eggs, scallions, and more, yet it manages to addict every diner with its delightful taste.
11. Ram It Cake
12. Beo Cake
This is an incredibly popular dish in Hue, featuring thin, delicate white cakes poured into charming little bowls. On top, there's dried shrimp powder, a sprinkle of fried shallots, and crispy fried pork skin. When enjoying, you can choose sweet and sour fish sauce for dipping; a bite into the sweet and sour fish sauce-soaked cake is enough to make you swoon.
13. Grilled Sausage Rolls
It would be a real miss if you skip grilled sausage rolls when in Hue. This is a quite common dish found in many eateries. The rolls are made from finely ground pork mixed with skin, pork fat, well-seasoned, and then skewered with sugarcane or lemongrass before grilling. Using sugarcane or lemongrass enhances the aroma and sweetness of the meat. Grilled sausage rolls are best enjoyed right after cooking.
A cup of sweet and sour fish sauce accompanied by a plate of fresh vegetables and the skewers of grilled sausage rolls are enough to captivate diners on this dreamy land of Hue.
14. Black Rice Delight
Black Rice Delight is no stranger to the people of Hue. A plate of this dish must showcase the 7 colors in an artistic manner, including: a portion of black rice, pork belly, Vietnamese pork sausage, shrimp, grilled pork sausage, fried egg, fresh herbs, and served with a perfectly balanced fish sauce dressing. The vibrant colors and delightful aroma make this dish truly special.
15. Pho-Inspired Rice Noodles
Rice noodles with a rich and savory broth, combined with the chewy texture of the noodles, have made this dish impressive and captivating. It is also a popular dish among the people of Hue.
16. Blissful Pancakes
These pancakes are undoubtedly a favorite among many, earning them the name 'Blissful Pancakes.' Some may mistake them for Vietnamese sizzling pancakes (bánh xèo) due to their similar appearance and ingredients. However, upon tasting, you'll notice that the pancake shell is much thicker than bánh xèo. Blissful Pancakes are enjoyed with a special broth made from lean meat, pork liver, roasted sesame, finely ground peanuts, rather than the sweet and savory fish sauce typically paired with bánh xèo.
Savory Vinegar Noodles
Savor the refreshing and delightful taste of savory vinegar noodles, which has gained popularity among food enthusiasts. The dish is prepared with simple ingredients such as rice vermicelli, assorted fresh vegetables, shrimp patties, peanuts, rice paper, and fish sauce. A touch of fermented shrimp paste and chili is added for a rich and flavorful experience.
By Mytour
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Reference: Mytour Travel Guide
MytourApril 20, 2023
