Beef noodle soup with cold rice and a series of unique specialties from Hue.

Beef noodle soup with cold rice, sour shrimp rice rolls, and sticky rice cakes are unique dishes that visitors should try at least once when visiting the ancient capital of Hue .

Beef noodle soup with leftover rice

Beef noodle soup is a famous specialty of Hue , however, beef noodle soup with cold rice is a unique dish that not everyone knows about when visiting the ancient capital.

Diners will be served a bowl of beef noodle soup with meatballs, blood pudding, pork trotters, beef, etc., as usual, along with a portion of cold rice. This unique way of eating stems from the fact that eating noodle soup often leaves you feeling hungry, so many diners want to eat extra rice to feel more full.

One of the first and most famous restaurants selling this unique beef noodle soup with cold rice is Canh Van noodle shop (Trinh Cong Son Street, Hue City).

*The practice of eating leftover rice with beef noodle soup originated from the needs of diners. Photo: Foody*

Banh ram it

Banh ram it is one of the very familiar folk dishes of the people of Hue. This type of cake is divided into two parts: the soft and chewy banh it part on top and the fragrant and crispy banh ram base underneath. Both parts are made from glutinous rice flour but are prepared in completely different ways.

Simply take glutinous rice flour, shape it into flat, round patties, and deep-fry them until golden brown to make banh ram. Banh it, however, is more elaborate, requiring skillful kneading to create a beautiful round shape without the shrimp filling spilling out, and then steaming it in a bamboo tray for 15-20 minutes. Banh ram it is both soft and crispy, and dipping it in a bowl of spicy and sour fish sauce enhances its flavor.

Some famous places selling this dish in Hue include Ba Do's Banh Ram It Shop (Nguyen Binh Khiem Street), Me Le's Banh Ram It Shop (Kim Long Street)...

Photo: Hue cuisine restaurant — *Banh ram it is a unique dish that you should try at least once when visiting the ancient capital of Hue. Photo: Hue Cuisine*

Rice noodles with stir-fried pork offal and turmeric

Stir-fried pork offal with turmeric is a popular specialty among diners visiting Hue. As the "soul" of the dish, the offal must be carefully prepared, cleaned thoroughly, and deodorized before being stir-fried with turmeric until just cooked through, resulting in a beautiful yellow color and a tender texture. Some places also add blood, pork sausage, and especially plenty of fried onions and scallions for extra flavor.

The rice noodles are tinged yellow with turmeric but remain moist, not as dry as vermicelli, and are very delicious when eaten with offal.

Rice noodles with stir-fried pork offal and turmeric cost 20,000 - 40,000 VND per plate. Some places in Hue where you can find this delicious dish include Bun Nghe Tran Quang Khai (Tran Quang Khai Street), Bun Nghe O Ket (Ba Trieu Street), Bun Nghe Cau Phu Cam (Phan Chu Trinh Street)...

The stir-fried pork offal with turmeric noodles is extremely visually appealing. Photo: Cà Mèn Foods — *Rice noodles with stir-fried pork offal and turmeric are extremely visually appealing. Photo: Cà Mèn.*

Shrimp and sour rice rolls

Shrimp and sour rice rolls are considered a delicacy of the Hue royal court, often appearing in the meals of kings and queens in the past.

The main ingredients for this dish include fermented shrimp, boiled pork, rice noodles, and green vegetables... Thin rice noodles are rolled with lettuce, herbs, vermicelli, sliced cooked sweet potatoes, a pinch of carrots, papaya mixed with fermented shrimp, and a few slices of pork belly on top, and then it's ready to be enjoyed.

Shrimp and sour fish sauce rolls are usually served with a bowl of rich, brownish fish sauce – a simple yet appealing dish. This dish is sold at many street vendors, the most famous being Mrs. Hanh's sidewalk stall at the foot of Kho Ren bridge or the stall at An Cuu market…