All over Vietnam, some Vietnamese dishes, ingredients or cooking methods are universal while others are uniquely local or regional. You can sample some of the unique dishes at the wide array of Hue restaurants, some of which are listed below. A couple of particular specialties to try are Bun Bo Hue (Noodle Soup - but not like Pho) and Banh Khoai (Potato Omelette). The curious may wish to seek out a delightful but little known dish called Com Hen (Dwarf snails in broth with rice fresh salad vegetables and crushed peanuts). We wonder who dreamed that one up!

Hue food is different because of the fusion of dishes designed by poverty-stricken peasants and the sumptous opulence of the Imperial Court.

So, once you've finished your Shopping in Hue, kick back and enjoy a feast at one our recommended restaurants below! There are some restaurants offering both national and local Vietnamese dishes as well as "Western" food. For general information about cuisine, check out our Vietnam Restaurants page.

Hue Food & Cuisine Guide

We have collected this list of restaurants and eateries in Hue to give you a place to start. However, please keep in mind that some of the heartiest, tastiest and most nutritious food in Hue and all of Vietnam is served from nameless roadside stalls that appear on the sidewalk around 17:00 and disappear about midnight. Try it, you just might like it!

The most famous Hue dish is banh khoai, a small, crispy yellow pancake, fried up with shrimp, pork and bean sprouts, and served with peanut and sesame sauce, starfruit, green banana, lettuce and mint; try it at Quan Hanh-Bistro at 2 Nguyen Tri Phuong. Hue's main nightspots are the DMZ Bar at 44 Le Loi, popular for its beer, pool and dancing, and Cafe on Thu Wheels, opposite the Thai Binh at 10/2 Nguyen Tri Phuong. This tiny bar-cafe has loud music, good food and friendly staff that run excellent motorbike tours around Hue. Both are popular with travelers and open late.

The Mid Range hotels will often have restaurants offering both national and local Vietnamese dishes as well as "Western" food. Smaller hotels and guesthouses will usually be able to offer at least some non-Vietnamese food, but it probably won't be "just like Grandma used to make". Since Hue plays host to many overseas visitors but doesn't have a large expat population, there are only not many restaurants offering a specific cuisine. You will usually find these in the Top End hotels