Hue guide · Where to eat
Places to eat in Hue, with what to order and how comfortable each is for families and older travellers.
Updated
Hue's food grew out of the royal court, and its best-known dish, bun bo Hue, is a beef noodle soup flavoured with lemongrass and shrimp paste. Local dishes lean heavily on pork, shrimp, fish sauce and shrimp paste, which often hide in dishes that look meat-free. Strict vegetarians and Jains should not rely on saying 'no meat' alone.
The reliable route is Hue's Buddhist vegetarian tradition. Wikivoyage says vegetarian restaurants are more common here than in the rest of Vietnam, are among the cheapest places to eat after street vendors, and fill up on the 1st and 15th of each lunar month. Look for the word 'chay' (vegetarian) on signs. Three restaurants are listed in this guide, with the source we opened for each; Wikivoyage's entries date from 2023, so confirm opening hours before a special trip.
We did not find a verified Jain kitchen or an Indian restaurant in Hue that we could confirm, so do not plan around either. If you avoid onion and garlic, say so clearly in every kitchen and expect to eat simply; steamed rice, plain noodles, fruit and fresh herbs are easy fallbacks. If your hotel serves breakfast, ask the day before what it can make without egg, meat or fish.
Menus and kitchens change. If you follow a strict diet or have an allergy, confirm with the restaurant before you order.
104/47 Kim Long, north-west of the Imperial City
A royal-style restaurant and gallery in a garden of old Hue houses on Kim Long, with a lotus lake and a well. Dishes include tiger shrimp and French five-spice duck.
Noodle stalls and shops across Hue, including food stalls at Dong Ba Market
The city's signature noodle soup: rice vermicelli in a lemongrass and shrimp-paste broth with beef and, often, pork. A taste of Hue for meat-eaters, and a dish vegetarian guests should skip.
No. 1, Alley 29, Hung Vuong
A traditional sweet soup shop in a lane off Hung Vuong, serving che in small bowls or glasses, including lotus seed, sweet corn and taro. Open afternoons to evening.
31 Tran Quang Khai, Phu Hoi, south of the Perfume River
A Hue clam-rice stop at 31 Tran Quang Khai that two guides name, one saying it opens only for breakfast. Com hen and bun hen are the dishes to order.
11 Pho Duc Chinh, central Hue
A large, long-listed restaurant on Pho Duc Chinh serving Hue's small-plate specialities such as banh khoai, banh beo and nem lui, with set sampler meals. Not vegetarian.
19 Pham Ngu Lao, in the tourist area south of the Perfume River
A restaurant at 19 Pham Ngu Lao that Wikivoyage describes as French, Vietnamese and pizza, and Rusty Compass lists as French-oriented. Useful for a non-Hue meal.
06 Dinh Tien Hoang, beside the Imperial City
A family-run restaurant on Dinh Tien Hoang beside the Imperial City, serving banh khoai and a wide Hue menu, with some vegan options. Staff come from a deaf family.
3 Le Quy Don, central Hue
A long-running vegetarian restaurant in central Hue that Wikivoyage says is popular with monks and nuns at lunch. A straightforward place for a meat-free meal.
11A Truong Dinh, Vinh Ninh, south of the Perfume River
A casual Hue eatery at 11A Truong Dinh that two food guides name for clam dishes: com hen (clam rice), bun hen and a wider Hue menu. Bun bo is also listed.
45 Le Loi, Phu Hoi, south of the Perfume River
A bun bo Hue shop at 45 Le Loi that two guides name, with several versions of the noodle soup including a crab one. Hours are listed as daytime only.
03 Kiet 10 Nhat Le, near the north-west gate of the Imperial City
A small vegetarian restaurant about 150 metres from the Imperial City's north-west gate, serving com dia, a rice plate with four or five daily dishes.
50 Nguyen Cong Tru, central Hue
A small vegetarian restaurant on Nguyen Cong Tru, listed by Wikivoyage with hot pot and large portions. Popular with locals.
85 Nhat Le, near the Imperial City
A popular vegetarian restaurant near the Imperial City, listed by Wikivoyage for grilled vermicelli and soy and lotus-seed milk. A convenient lunch stop after the citadel.
8 Thanh Tinh, Vy Da, north of the city centre
A vegetarian restaurant in a traditional wooden house in the Vy Da area, with a garden and an altar to Quan Am. A 2020 visit reports mock-meat dishes and weekend opening.
3 Thach Han, Vy Da, north-east of the Imperial City
A garden restaurant at 3 Thach Han in Vy Da serving traditional Hue dishes from set menus, which one guide says suit vegetarian and non-vegetarian diners.
