In the past, it was said that emperors continuously sought out the best chefs in the empire and transferred them to Hue. The movement of chefs from different regions of Vietnam has made Hue an ideal destination for diverse culinary culture, not to mention its own traditional dishes.
For those who want to savor dishes that were once prepared and served exclusively to royal families, a trip to Hue, the former capital of Vietnam, is a must. Hue’s restaurants offer a variety of dishes ranging from modest to luxurious. Most restaurants in Hue offer good service, great views and varied menus of traditional dishes from Hue and other regions. The majority of restaurants are located on Pham Ngu Lao and Le Loi streets, with a few around the Citadel or along the Perfume River. Wherever you are, you will have the opportunity to enjoy a meal in a romantic and spacious atmosphere to the sound of soft traditional music.
Downtown Hue has many tourist restaurants offering western dishes such as pasta and pizza. However, many tourists prefer delicious local dishes at very affordable prices. Here we present some of the best restaurants in Hue that are highly recommended by tourists and locals !
List of the best restaurants in Hue
- Tropical Garden Restaurant
This restaurant offers a full menu allowing guests to try a variety of Hue-style dishes at really reasonable prices. Similar to many other restaurants in Hue, Paradise Garden Restaurant serves traditional Vietnamese, Chinese and Indian dishes as well as local dishes. Located on a pedestrian street by the river near the Trang Tien Bridge, which changes color at night, this restaurant has a courtyard and a covered dining area. For many tourists, this is one of the restaurants in Hue offering memorable experiences to foreigners. Having lunch here will allow you to experience the traditional sense of Vietnamese hospitality justified by the behavior of the well-trained restaurant staff. In addition to tasty dishes, you can enjoy a beautiful view to watch the sunset over the Perfume River.
- Address: 27 Chu Van An street, Hue
- Tel: +84 54 38 38 485
- Ancient Hue Restaurant
It is not only a destination known for its restaurant, Ancient Hue is also an art and culture complex that you must visit at least once when you visit Hue. It is a beautiful house of ancient mandarins with a beautiful park and a beautiful terrace by a refreshing waterhole. Seating up to 200 people, this restaurant is famous for vividly recreating the authentic specialties of Hue royalty. Each dish is well presented with vegetables carved in the shape of animals and plants. The menu includes local dishes such as Bánh Bèo (steamed rice flour with shrimp flakes), banana flower salad and Bánh Khoái (fried rice pancakes stuffed with pork, shrimp and bean sprouts). Here you can also participate in cooking classes, which include a boat trip to the markets along the river.
- Adresse: 4/4/8, Alley No. 35, Pham Thi Lien Street, Phu Mong, Kim Long, Hue City
- Tel: 234 359 0356
- Les Jardins De La Carambole
Les Jardins De La Carambole restaurant is located in a colonial era villa. Here, guests can enjoy authentic French, Italian and Vietnamese cuisine in an elegant setting. Open daily from 8:00 am to 10:00 pm, it is particularly popular with travelers because of its proximity to the Hue Monuments Complex. On the first floor, there is a dining room with piano music. There is also a large veranda overlooking the Perfume River and downtown Hue. Main courses are priced at 120,000 VND and more. On the menu are beef bourguignon, grilled chicken with chili and lemongrass, and grilled fish with Mediterranean sauce. Dessert options range from French crepes to crème brûlée, chocolate mousse, pineapple fritters and green bean ice cream.
Les Jardins de la Carambole also offers menus that include an appetizer, several main courses and dessert. We highly recommend the La Badiane Menu (VND300,000+), which includes Hue fried spring rolls, Vietnamese green mango salad with squid, caramel shrimp and steamed rice with fruit salad for dessert. Located on Dang Tran Con Street, this European restaurant is a 5-minute walk from Hue’s iconic sites, such as To Mieu Temple and Hue Imperial City. Note that the prices are high compared to other restaurants in the area, but its combination of location, service, and setting is worth it.
- Opening hours: Every day from 08:00 to 22:00
- Address: 32 Dang Tran Con street, Hue
- Tel: +84 54 354 8815
- Le Parfum Restaurant Hue
Le Parfum Restaurant is an elegant restaurant located within La Residence Hue Hotel & Spa, where affluent travelers can enjoy French-Vietnamese cuisine and premium European wines during their stay in Hue. Located in a colonial-style building, it is highly recommended to book a table on the upstairs terrace, which offers a relaxing view of the hotel’s vast aromatic garden and the Perfume River. Parfum Restaurant Hue offers many international and Asian dishes, such as roasted lamb squares (VND 695,000), frutti di mare pasta (VND 330,000) and pan-fried tuna with sesame crust (VND 310,000). If you want to enjoy authentic Vietnamese cuisine, we highly recommend the bun thit bo nuong (260,000 VND), which consists of rice noodles, grilled beef, fresh herbs, pickled vegetables and a drizzle of sweet and sour sauce.
You can also opt for its tasting menu with wine selection, which costs VND4,840,000 for two people. Start your choice with a homemade smoked duck breast carpaccio or pan-fried scallops with celery puree. As an appetizer, you will be served a lemon sorbet with rice wine before continuing with your choice of the main course: salmon confit in olive oil, fennel purée and watercress salad with saffron, or roast beef filet marinated in rosemary and cracked pepper. Le Parfum restaurant serves breakfast between 6:00 am and 10:00 am. This menu is available all day until 11:00 pm. Make reservations at least six hours in advance if you wish to try the tasting menu.
- Opening hours: Every day from 06h00 to 10h30 and from 11h30 to 23h00
- Address: The Residence Hue Hotel & Spa, Hué
- Tél: +84 54 383 7475
- Lac Thien Restaurant
It is a family friendly restaurant among many restaurants in Hue. Considered as one of the best restaurants in Hue, Lac Thien restaurant offers the most famous local dishes, banh khoai (the type of stuffed pancake combined with peanut sauce) and nem him. Most of the tourists visiting Hue city come here to enjoy a big plate of pancakes while sipping a Hue Huda beer.
- Address: 6 rue Dinh Tien Hoang street, Hue city
- Tel: +84 (54) 52 7348
- Tropical Garden Restaurant
Tropical Garden Restaurant is a popular stop for tourists in Hue, travelers can enjoy a wide range of Vietnamese dishes with live music every night. Occupying a two-story Vietnamese house along Chu Van An Street, the restaurant has many communal tables in its indoor dining room and several thatched huts in its tropical garden. Dishes include nem lui (grilled minced pork rolls wrapped in lemongrass, served with rice leaves, fresh greens and peanut sauce), banh beo (steamed rice cake) and fried crab. Tropical Garden Restaurant Hue is a 20-minute walk from Dong Ba Market via Truong Tien Bridge.
- Opening hours: Every day from 09h00 to 22h00
- Adresse: 27 Chu Van An, Hue
- Tél: +84 54 384 7143
