Food And Drink In Hue – Budget Travel In Vietnam

If you are a foodie, then you will love Hue. Try some local dishes that cannot be found anywhere else in Vietnam. Hue also has some great bars and coffee shops.

We had given ourselves five nights in Hue. This was longer than necessary but we fancied a breather from hectic travel and we had heard about the great food and coffee scene in Vietnam’s former capital.

Best Restaurants In Hue

If you are a foodie, then you will love Hue. There are many dishes that are unique and can only be found in this city. You will find great variation in the food and you don’t have to visit high-class restaurants to experience it. In fact, you are more likely to get a real taste of Hue cuisine in the smaller cafes. Always look for the ones that are filled with locals, rather than tourists.

Bistro 34

Located near the exit of the ‘Imperial City’ is this nice, relaxed cafe. It has a European vibe and it is a great place to relax with a drink. We had some food which was average. It was all freshly made and using fresh ingredients but the food was lacking in flavour. This is one for the tourists. (Map).

Burger Shack

Yes, it’s cheap, late-night food but don’t let that put you off. Everything is cooked to order and this guy makes good burgers! I enjoyed a burger and bacon and pickles with fries here. Claims on social media that he makes the best veggie burger in the world might be an exaggeration, but this will certainly satisfy after a few beers. (Map).

Ca Phe Nha

Popular with locals and easy to see why. Two people can eat here for 40,000 dong each. The set meal consists of meat, fish and vegetarian dishes; all of them delicious. It’s not on the tourist trail but is worth the effort. (Map).

Cafe On Thu Wheels

Biker friendly cafe with good, cheap food and friendly staff. This was our first breakfast in Hue and the manager immediately made us feel welcome. (Map).

Cozy Restaurant & Cafe

You will not notice this by chance as it is tucked away down a side-alley. It is a small restaurant so it may be advisable to book ahead as it has a good reputation on social media, which is where we discovered it. The food was excellent. Typical of Vietnam, our food came separately so we didn’t eat together, but there were no complaints from us. The staff are very friendly and we even got a free dessert. One of the best restaurants in Hue. Map.

Family Home Restaurant

Located on a busy side street, this is a no-frills restaurant that serves a variety of Vietnamese and Western food at reasonable prices. The tofu was delicious! (Map).

Ganesh Indian Restaurant

One of a chain of restaurants in Vietnam, this place comes with a good reputation. However, it was empty when we visited on a Friday night. Before our meal arrived, we were given a pickle tray but no poppadoms which was a little strange. The food was decent without being amazing. I enjoyed my chicken house special as I had not eaten Indian food for a long time. (Map). EDIT: Ganesh is now permanently closed.

Hanh Restaurant Local Food

Recommended by our hotel manager, this is a great place to go to try authentic local dishes. Go for the set menu; it is a great way to try local dishes and costs only 120,000 dong for 5 dishes. The food is great and they even advise you how to eat it! (Map).

Lac Thien Restaurant

We came here for the Banh Koai which is a traditional Vietnamese pancake and one of Hue’s must-try foods. The pancake was delicious: crispy and filled with salad, noodles, prawn and pork, with a delicious peanut dipping sauce. It was cheap and the staff were chatty. It’s a typically casual cafe so don’t expect anything fancy (and try not to let the cockroach put you off). (Map).

Lien Hoa

If you are looking for vegan food in Hue, Lien Hoa is the place to go. The restaurant is attached to a temple and monks serve and eat here. If you want to eat cheating vegan products (no vegan burgers here), this is not the place for you. Instead, you will get excellent, fresh and tasty plant-based food. It is reasonably priced and a great place to have lunch, whether you’re vegan or not. (Map).

Best Bars In Hue, Vietnam

The Hue nightlife is surprisingly good. I didn’t see many all night parties but there are many bars. Most are located in the area where the Song Nhu Y flows into the Perfume River.

For the first time in quite a long time, in a town of many interesting coffee shops, we had access to a kettle. This meant that we could make our own coffee (Joanna brought an aeropress with her). We did manage to visit a couple of coffee shops but there are so many more we would have liked to try. Hue is a coffee-lover’s paradise!

054 Cafe

This was the first bar we visited in Hue and I returned on a night out a couple of times. It is a chilled out place with cool decor. They play excellent music and the local beer is only 17,000 dong. Probably my favourite Hue bar. (Map).

EDIT: 054 Cafe is now permanently closed.

Backpacker Bar and Restaurant

The reviews on Google Maps for this place are pretty dire, but most comment on the food. I came here just for a beer and it was fine. Free pool table and the beer was the cheapest I’d had in Hue (happy hour means you get a free beer for each one you buy). If you want somewhere to have a few cheap beers, this is the place! Just don’t eat here or book trips. Map.

Bar Coffer

This bar stayed open later than most others and is a nice, relaxed place with cheap beers. They play decent music too. Be warned, you might stay here longer than you originally planned. (Map).

Lens Cafe

An excellent cafe with a second floor that allows you to sit and watch the busy street below. The coffee is excellent here and the smoothies are delicious (the passion fruit is recommended) and only cost 20,000 dong. Though we tend not to make return visits, we could not resist with this place. Highly recommended. (Map).

One For The Road

We were looking for a bar to watch the Vietnam vs. Japan football match, and the owner of this place made an extra effort to squeeze us in his small bar. It turned out he was from Sheffield (like me) so we had a good chat and watched Vietnam get knocked out of the Asia cup by a superior Japanese side. With a great atmosphere and well-priced beer, they also have live music on most nights. (Map).

EDIT: One For The Road is now permanently closed.

Secret Lounge

This wins the award for the most quirky bar in Hue. You will be stunned by the decor in this bar. I could have stayed here all night as the music was good and there was so much to discover. However, the beer was very expensive (though we did get a free tea and a free shot) meaning we just stayed for the one drink. It focuses on cocktails so if that is your thing, you must check it out. If you’re more into beer, go and treat yourself to a pricey beer in this incredible bar. (Map).

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