Despite spending only a few days in Hue, seeking out great food and restaurants is always a priority for me. Admittedly, I don’t think I was very lucky with it this time. Several of the restaurants I picked out didn’t turn out to be as good as I expected personally.
But here are 5 Hue restaurants to try including those I enjoyed as well as recommendations by other locals and travelers.
Madam Thu
This is a popular restaurant in the Night Walking Street that is known for serving up great Vietnamese, and specifically Hue dishes. It is very very busy at night and there’s always a waiting queue during peak dinner hours. So I recommend going early for lunch or dinner.
In my opinion, the best thing here is they have a Hue Specialty plate that consists of a single piece of 7 Hue specialties. So you get to try all of them! Perfect for solo travelers who don’t have the time or stomach to sample all the Hue dishes.
While this might seem like a sampler plate, let me tell you I was very full by then – credit to all the rice paper lol. It’s quite a carb heavy meal.
The staff will explain to you which dipping sauces are for what items and also tell you how best to enjoy each item. They even serve up a cold towel when you arrive, and some fruits for dessert.
There are two branches near each other in the night walking area. And yes, both gets crowded during dinner hours.
They take card payment with 3% fee.
Zucca Restaurant
Zucca is one of the most popular restaurants in Hue for some delicious Italian food. I preface this by saying, if you are super particular about how Italian food should taste and the details of it, this is not it. And full authentic Italian food would be a rare gem in Vietnam.
But if you enjoy higher quality Italian style food, this is definitely a must-try. I only managed to try the pasta but the table across me was raving about their pizzas. Pretty sure you can’t go wrong with either.
I had the bacon, shrimp with cream sauce, which was superb! The sauce was very creamy and the shrimp were plump. There was also a good amount of bacon pieces. The whole dish was served warm and looks visually delicious.
An odd twist but not uncommon in Hue, the restaurant also serve Vietnamese dishes, probably to attract a wider market. But I wouldn’t purposely come here for that. The place is also very busy during dinner hours, so come early or be prepared to wait for a bit.
They also offer a lot of freebies. Bruschettas are served as appetisers, you can choose a free bottle of water or glass of local beer, and they also give fruits for dessert.
Marou Chocolate Cafe
For a sweet treat after meal, or while escaping the heat during the day, Marou Chocolate cafe is great option. It is located very near the Night Walking Street area, and has a beautiful, vibrant interior, like a toy house.
This is a brand that sources cocoa beans from all around Vietnam. They do sell their own artisanal chocolates but the place is a cafe which offers up very nice chocolate drinks, milkshakes and pastries.
Prices are on the higher side, but the milkshakes are thick and flavorful. I tried the Chocolate Caramel shake as recommended by the staff and it was a perfect ending to an evening in Hue.
The staff here are better versed in English and are very proactive to greet and introduce things to you.
The cafe is also great for working; their super fast wifi is a bonus. Although there’s not as many power sockets around, partly because they don’t need portable fans. Air conditioning here is strong enough unlike many places in Hue.
They do take card payment here. For other interesting cafes in Hue, check out those I visited in that cafe guide.
Nina’s Cafe-Vietnamese Restaurant
If you are looking for no-frills traditional Vietnamese food Nina’s is a good place to check out when around the area.
They are hidden deep within an alley but the place is quite cool with souvenir paintings hanging on the walls. This is a good option if you are concerned about street food hygiene but also want to try some of those common Vietnamese dishes like Bun Bo Hue or stir fried meat with rice etc.
This place looks clean, serving up home cooked Vietnamese cuisine. The staff is friendly and prices are very reasonable.
They also do have some western style menu item since that alley way has several hotels/home stays. So I imagine tourists are a big part of their cliente.
Donald Trung
If you wander slightly out of the Phu Hoi district, you will find Donald Trung. I had such a great dining experience with this restaurant brand in Da Nang that I would visit again in other cities if I had more time.
You can read more about it in the Da Nang foodie guide linked above, but this is a popular local haunt despite the name resembling like a certain American person. It’s a great spot for wraps, and their signature is the pork or beef set.
You get served a yummy looking plate of meat and the vegetables are free flow, self service. You make the wraps yourself to your taste, and the staff in the Da Nang branch was super helpful in teaching me the basics of enjoying the dish.
Although the main client base is locals, they still have a translated English menu.
Cafe on Thu Wheels
This is another restaurant near Nina’s that is much closer to the main road. I did actually try this place, but it isn’t an obvious recommendation for me. That said, I think it boils down to my dish selection more than the restaurant itself.
This is the first place I tried as it was near my hotel and I was just looking to spend an hour waiting to check in. It was also recommended by the hotel staff. I ordered a traditional Hue classic – the Nem Lui (Pork with peanut sauce and rice paper).
As a local specialty, the dish is worth trying but I didn’t particularly love it, having also tried Nem Lui again on Madam Thu’s sampler platter.
Similar to Thailand and Laos, the meat they use for any of these sausage like stuff, just feels a bit artificial to me. So I always like to get fresh meat in these countries rather than those molded into sausages or balls.
Nevertheless, the staff here is very proactive, greeting me every time I passed by the place. They also patiently demonstrated how to enjoy the Nem Lui.
The restaurant has quite a big menu, and is popular for both their western selections and asian dishes. So it’s good for groups and also breakfast if you’re staying nearby. Similarly, I believe tourists are their main client base.
Where To Eat In Hue
Hue is typically a 1-3 days destination for most travelers. A nice thing is that you will find many nice restaurants within the touristic zones, particularly in Phú Hội district. So if you are tired from a day of exploration, there is no real need to wander off too far for some great eats!
That is also why I personally recommend staying in Phu Hoi, especially if it’s your first trip to Hue. It’s the most convenient district in my opinion.
