Top 10 Must-Try Dishes When in Huế

Bánh canh Nam Phổ is a traditional street food originating from Nam Phổ village (Phú Vang District, Thừa Thiên-Huế), located about 10 kilometers from the city center. It has since become one of the most popular dishes in the region. This dish is made from a mixture of rice flour and tapioca flour in a 3:1 ratio. The broth is a savory mix of bone broth and shrimp stock, giving it a rich, thick consistency. The dish is typically served with a topping of pork belly and shrimp. To enjoy it the authentic way, mix all the ingredients together and add a splash of pure fish sauce with a hint of chili. You'll find yourself eating bowl after bowl! Some popular spots to try include: Bánh canh Nam Phổ at Tây Lộc Market, Đông Ba Market, and Bánh canh Nam Phổ Thúy (16 Phạm Hồng Thái).

Chè is a popular snack throughout the ancient capital of Huế, and it has become a must-try dessert when discussing the region's culinary offerings. Huế boasts a variety of chè with different flavors, including banana chè, chè trôi nước, chè bột lọc, chè hạt lựu, and chè khoai môn, among others. However, the most unique and delightful must-try is the chè bột lọc, which features chewy tapioca pearls wrapped around crispy roast pork—a delicious contrast of textures and flavors.

During the summer, a refreshing glass of iced chè is the perfect way to beat the heat. But don't worry if you visit Huế in winter—there are also warm, aromatic bowls of chè to satisfy your cravings. Chè Huế is sold widely, but some popular spots include: Chè Hẻm (17 Hùng Vương), and the Chè shop at 67 Trần Hưng Đạo.

This dish is irresistibly appealing to food lovers from all over. Nem lụi is made with a simple yet flavorful blend of finely minced pork, thinly sliced pig skin, and pork fat, seasoned with salt, pepper, and sugar. The mixture is then shaped onto small bamboo skewers and grilled over charcoal.

The aroma of these golden, perfectly grilled nem lụi skewers fills the air, tantalizing the taste buds with its rich, savory fragrance. Nem lụi is typically enjoyed with a side of fresh herbs and vegetables, dipped into a special dipping sauce that enhances the experience. To taste the best nem lụi, head to Đông Ba Market or restaurants on Nguyễn Thái Học, Nguyễn Huệ, Trương Định, Phan Bội Châu, Mai Thúc Loan streets, or try one of the delicious street-side vendors.

In addition to the unique imperial cuisine that represents the pinnacle of Vietnamese culinary art, Huế is also known for its strong vegetarian tradition. When it comes to vegetarian food, Huế stands out. The city offers a wide array of dishes made from vegetables, fruits, tofu, mushrooms, and dried bamboo shoots, all bursting with flavors that rival any non-vegetarian dish. No other place offers such a wide variety of visually stunning and delicious vegetarian options like Huế. Vegetarian food has become an intriguing and unique cultural aspect of Huế's culinary scene.

Many visitors are even surprised to learn that what they're eating is a vegetarian dish. Some famous vegetarian spots in Huế include: Liên Hoa Vegetarian Restaurant (Lê Quý Đôn), Bồ Đề Vegetarian Restaurant (11 Lê Lợi), and Thanh Liễu Vegetarian Restaurant (Nguyễn Công Trứ).

Huế, the ancient capital, is famous not only for its royal cuisine but also for its vibrant street food scene that offers affordable and unforgettable delights. One such popular street snack is Bánh Ép, a beloved treat among the youth of Huế.

Bánh Ép is made from tapioca flour and filled with a mixture of eggs, pork, green onions, sweet and sour pickled vegetables, and other ingredients that vary by vendor. The dish is best enjoyed while it's still hot. It is typically served with thinly sliced cucumber, Vietnamese herbs, and wrapped up before being dipped into a sweet-sour sauce to bring out the perfect balance of flavors.

The chewy texture of the bánh, the savory pork and egg filling, the spicy kick of chili, and the tangy-sweet sauce all come together to create a delightful taste experience. You can find this delicious snack all around Huế, especially on Nguyễn Du (next to the church), Bà Triệu, Nguyễn Huệ, and Nguyễn Khuyến streets.

Nem Huế differs from the northern and southern versions in its seasoning. You will never find a Huế-style nem with a whole peppercorn in the center. The flavor profile is distinct, with fermented lean pork, finely chopped pig skin, rice powder, fish sauce, rock sugar, and salt, all coming together to create a unique taste.

Tré is a dish that perfectly represents the uniqueness of Huế cuisine. There are two types of tré: the beef tré, which is brown in color and has a fragrant aroma of rice powder, with a rich, sweet flavor, and the pork tré, which has a reddish-brown color and a more tangy and sweet taste. While it's called beef tré, it still contains crispy fried pork belly, sliced thin and mixed with galangal, garlic, and rice powder, all wrapped in guava leaves and banana leaves, much like fermented pork rolls. Pork tré, on the other hand, is made with fried pork belly, garlic, galangal, rice powder, wrapped in sesame leaves, and also packaged in banana leaves. You can find these tasty treats at 25 Đào Duy Từ and 222 Nguyễn Sinh Cung.

A unique and intriguing dish from Huế that has caught the attention of many tourists, Cơm Âm Phủ earned its name from a local legend: 'If you want to taste poetic rice, there’s a haunted restaurant in the back.' But the appeal of this dish goes beyond its mysterious name. It’s a feast for both the eyes and the taste buds. The dish originated from a restaurant named Âm Phủ on Nguyễn Thái Học street, near Huế's stadium. This restaurant, which has been serving customers for nearly a century, only operated at night with dim oil lamps, hence the eerie name.

When a plate of Cơm Âm Phủ is served, you are first dazzled by its vibrant seven colors, presented artfully in a radiant display. The center features An Cựu rice, surrounded by pork belly, Huế-style cha lua (Vietnamese pork sausage), shrimp, grilled nem, scrambled eggs, fresh herbs, and cucumber. To enjoy, simply drizzle some fish sauce over the dish, mix it all together, and savor the flavors. Cơm Âm Phủ can now be found in both casual eateries and upscale restaurants. Popular spots in Huế include: 35 Nguyễn Thái Học and 51 Nguyễn Thái Học.

Bún bò Huế is the heart and soul of Huế's culinary scene, a dish so famous and delicious it needs no introduction. A bowl of bún bò Huế typically includes a piece of pork hock, a rolled-up Vietnamese sausage, a slice of pig's blood cake, and, of course, tender slices of beef. Fresh vegetables and herbs accompany the dish, making it a complete meal.

This dish is considered the signature food of the ancient capital, a true reflection of the region’s culinary heritage. The rich, flavorful broth is seasoned with a spicy kick of chili, a delicate fragrance of lemongrass, and the distinctive taste of fermented shrimp paste, all of which elevate the flavors to create a truly irresistible experience.

The most famous spot for bún bò Huế is located at 19 Lý Thường Kiệt. However, you can easily find excellent bowls of bún bò Huế all over Huế, with each bowl typically costing around 30,000 VND.

When you visit Huế, you'll encounter countless bánh shops on every street corner. Despite being made from simple ingredients like rice flour and glutinous rice, and with a straightforward preparation process, various bánh dishes are incredibly delicious and can even become addictive for those who’ve tasted them. Some popular bánh dishes include: bánh lọc, bánh nậm, bánh ram ít, bánh bèo, bánh cuốn, and many more.

There's nothing quite like enjoying these freshly made bánh dishes served with a spicy, flavorful dipping sauce that captures the essence of Huế, leaving you with unforgettable memories.

Notable bánh spots in Huế include: Bánh bèo nậm lọc bà Đỏ (71 Nguyễn Bỉnh Khiêm), Bánh bèo bà Cư (23/177 Phan Đình Phùng), and more.

When it comes to Huế’s iconic dishes, you can't miss clam rice and clam noodles. Clam rice is served with cold rice mixed with stir-fried clams seasoned with spices, accompanied by crispy pork fat, roasted peanuts, sour starfruit, and pickled chili. Clam noodles follow a similar preparation. A bowl of clam broth is always served alongside, adding to the flavor profile.

When eating, you mix all the ingredients together, pour the clam broth over, and enjoy the harmonious balance of salty, sweet, sour, and spicy. It’s a delicious, satisfying experience. The price is very affordable, with a typical bowl of clam rice costing only around 7,000 to 10,000 VND. Be sure to try this local specialty when you visit Huế!

Some popular places to try clam rice include: Cơm Hến Hoa Đông (64 Kiệt 7 Ưng Bình), and shops on Hàn Mạc Tử street, Trương Định street, and many more. Since clam rice and noodles are so common, you’ll easily find them anywhere in Huế.