Top 14 Must-Try Dishes in Hue

If you've ever tasted Triều Tây Duck, you’ll understand why many people from Hue insist that the best duck in the ancient capital is found here. The name 'Triều Tây Duck' comes from the eateries located near the Triều Tây Bridge in An Hòa Ward (Hue City). These humble roadside vendors, often small and simple, fill the air with an irresistible aroma that makes anyone passing by stop in their tracks. The secret to the dish's popularity lies not just in the way the duck is cooked, but also in the special dipping sauce that makes this dish a true local specialty.

Recommended spot:

• 229 Lý Thái Tổ, An Hòa Ward, Hue City, Hue

There’s no place quite like Hue when it comes to its variety of fermented fish products, from shrimp paste to fermented anchovies, all transformed into delicious dishes. One standout is Bún Mắm Nêm, a dish that combines fresh noodles, crisp vegetables, pickled bean sprouts, and either meat or nem (Vietnamese spring rolls), all topped with a rich fermented fish sauce that creates a flavor that’s both savory and tangy. It's a popular choice for locals, who often enjoy it as an afternoon snack. As the saying goes in Hue: 'If you come to Hue, you must try Bún Mắm before heading anywhere else.' You’ll find this dish served at nearly every street food stall or market in the city.

Recommended spots:

• 64 Bà Triệu, P. Phú Hội, Hue City
• 14 Nguyễn Huệ, P. Vĩnh Ninh, Hue City
• 3 Lương Thế Vinh, P. Phú Hội, Hue City

When people talk about Hue, they often overlook the famous Hue-style Crispy Pancakes (Bánh Ép), focusing instead on the more common dishes. Bánh Ép is most famous along Nguyễn Du Street and in Thuận An. This simple yet delicious dish is made from tapioca flour and a variety of fillings. The fillings can include egg, meat, pâté, or dried beef. True to its name, Bánh Ép is cooked by pressing two aluminum plates together over hot coals. The key is to avoid pressing it for too long, or the pancake will become dry and tough. As the pancakes sizzle and the enticing aroma fills the air, it's hard to resist stopping by for a bite.

Recommended spots:

• 56 Nguyễn Huệ, P. Vĩnh Ninh, Hue City
• 27 Lê Hồng Phong, P. Phú Nhuận, Hue City
• 5 Nguyễn Hữu Thọ, P. Xuân Phú, Hue City

Hue is home to dozens of types of Chè (sweet soups) with a rainbow of colors and flavors. It’s easy to find a street-side vendor offering a variety of chè with interesting names like chè hẻm, chè sao, chè phường, chè cung đình, and chè chùa. The more traditional types include chè chuối (banana dessert), chè trôi nước (sticky rice ball soup), chè kê (millet dessert), chè khoai sọ (taro soup), chè đậu ván (mung bean dessert), chè bột lọc (clear flour dumplings), chè đậu xanh (green bean dessert), and chè thập cẩm (assorted sweet soup). These simple yet delightful desserts are hard to resist. For those looking for something more refined, there are luxurious varieties like chè hạt sen (lotus seed soup), chè nhãn bọc hạt sen (longan stuffed with lotus seeds), chè hạt lựu (pomegranate seed dessert), and chè môn sáp vàng (golden taro soup). Some, like chè bột lọc with roasted pork, offer an unusual yet sweetly satisfying experience. Whether it’s chè khoai môn (purple yam dessert) mixed with young rice or the delicate chè sen (lotus seed soup) made from local Hue lotus flowers, you’re sure to find something to suit your taste.

Recommended spots:

• 67 Trần Hưng Đạo, Hue City
• In front of Viên Thương Bạc Gate, Hue City

Bún Nghệ is a unique dish made by combining fresh noodles, turmeric, and pork intestines, offering a mild and flavorful taste. The bright yellow noodles are visually striking and immediately stimulate the appetite. The stir-fried pork intestines are cooked to perfection, infusing them with a savory aroma, and are then placed on top of the noodles, along with fresh herbs and raw turmeric. Everything is mixed together and served hot for the best experience. The natural fragrance of fresh turmeric blends beautifully with the rich, fatty taste of the pork intestines, making this dish a surprising yet delightful discovery for first-timers.

Recommended spots:

• 174 Bà Triệu, P. Phú Nhuận, Hue City
• 19 Trần Quang Khải, P. Phú Hội, Hue City
• 22/263 Bà Triệu, Hue City

This humble dish is simple yet satisfying, made primarily from rice flour and snakehead fish. The dough is kneaded until it’s smooth and elastic, then rolled thin and cut into the perfect noodle shape. For those trying it for the first time, the skill of the cook, who swiftly slices the dough into the pot of boiling water, is a sight to behold. The noodles cook quickly in the hot broth, absorbing all the flavors. In Hue, you’ll find bánh canh being sold everywhere, from alleys to busy streets. While the dish is most commonly made with snakehead fish, some places offer variations such as catfish or fish cakes. There are three types of bánh canh: sliced noodles (made by hand-cutting the dough into strips), thread noodles (cut with a machine), and mixed noodles (a combination of different doughs). The noodles are made from a special kind of rice to ensure they remain soft and chewy without falling apart. The broth, a rich mix of crab, minced pork, shrimp, and pork ribs, along with a secret blend of spices, makes this dish a unique and flavorful experience.

Recommended spots:

• 36 Trần Quang Khải, Hue City
• 14 Nguyễn Huệ, P. Vĩnh Ninh, Hue City
• 24 Điện Biên Phủ, Hue City

Bún Bò Huế is the soul of Hue’s cuisine, and its deliciousness and fame need no further explanation. Unlike the beef noodles found elsewhere, Hue’s version includes a hearty serving of pork knuckles, homemade pork sausages, a bit of pork blood, and, of course, several slices of tender beef. The accompanying fresh herbs and vegetables add even more flavor. A bowl typically costs between 25,000 and 30,000 VND. This dish is inseparable from Hue itself, and whenever you mention the city, Bún Bò Huế comes to mind. The broth is made by simmering beef bones and seasoned with fragrant fish sauce and chili, giving it a rich and spicy kick. Garnished with fresh herbs and onions, it’s the perfect blend of savory and aromatic flavors.

Recommended spots:

• 56 Hai Bà Trưng, Hue City
• 20 Tố Hữu, P. Xuân Phú, Hue City
• 56 Hai Bà Trưng, Hue City

Alongside Bún Bò Huế and Pho, Hủ Tiếu has become a popular dish among young people, especially students, because of its affordability, satisfying taste, and warmth—making it perfect for colder months. One of the standout Hủ Tiếu dishes in Hue is Hủ Tiếu Nam Vang.

Originating from Cambodia, Hủ Tiếu Nam Vang has become a beloved dish in Hue and is a must-try for visitors. It’s a popular breakfast choice and is often enjoyed by locals. Depending on the location, this dish usually costs around 20,000-25,000 VND, which is incredibly affordable for a delicious and hearty bowl filled with meat, offal, quail eggs, and pork tongue. The chewy noodles, paired with fresh herbs, create a delightful and unique flavor combination.

Recommended spots:

• 2 Lâm Hoằng, Hue City
• 12 Chu Văn An, P. Phú Hội, Hue City
• 4 Trần Quang Khải, Hue City

Fig in Hue is a local fruit typically used in appetizers or as a snack. A dish made from this fig is something unique, and it's an absolute must-try when you're in Hue. The fig used in Hue is one of a kind, so this dish is guaranteed to be an exclusive, one-of-a-kind experience that you won’t find elsewhere.

In Hue, you can easily find Vả Trộn on the menu of both fine dining restaurants and casual eateries. This reflects the popularity of the dish among locals. The salad is often enjoyed with grilled rice paper, and these two are considered a perfect pair. To truly savor the dish, locals typically scoop up the fig salad with rice paper, making for the ideal way to enjoy the dish in Hue.

Recommended spots:

• 9 Phạm Ngũ Lão, Hue City
• Cầu Vượt Thủy Dương, Hương Thủy Town, Hue
• 8 Lê Quang Đạo, Hue City

Tré is a beloved dish of Hue cuisine, known for its meticulous preparation. While not a high-end dish, it offers a delightful combination of flavors with ingredients like galangal, garlic, rice powder, guava leaves, sesame, and the crispy texture of fermented pork. The pork is prepared with a delicate balance of spices, creating a flavor profile that is both complex and delicious. Once wrapped and marinated following traditional methods, this dish becomes a satisfying treat you won't forget.

If you're concerned about whether it might upset your stomach like other fermented foods, rest assured. The ingredients in Tré are fully cooked, making it perfectly safe to enjoy. A famous place to try Tré in Hue is along the Tré street on Đào Duy Từ, just outside Đông Ba market, where the recipe has been passed down for three generations.

Recommended locations:

• 22 Dương Thiệu Tước, P. Thủy Dương, Hương Thủy, Hue
• 51 Hai Bà Trưng, P. Vĩnh Ninh, Hue

This particular bánh canh shop is a hidden gem that only locals know about. The locals often refer to it as Bánh Canh Mụ Đợi. The broth is rich and aromatic, naturally infused with the sweetness of shrimp. When served, the soup is crystal clear, and the fresh shrimp and fish cakes offer a delightful crunch. Diners can then season their bowl with pepper, salt, lime, chili sauce, and finely chopped scallions, though the broth itself is already packed with flavor.

Recommended locations:

• 1 Dương Văn An, TP. Huế, Huế
• 69 Nguyễn Trãi, TP. Huế, Huế
• 36 Ngô Gia Tự, TP. Huế, Huế