Banh beo chen Hue, a delicate culinary gift imbued with the essence of the ancient capital, has long captivated the hearts of countless gourmands. More than just a familiar dish in daily life, banh beo chen is a source of culinary pride, an indispensable part of Hue’s culture. So, what creates the special attraction of this rustic cake, and where are the best banh beo chen restaurants that you cannot miss when visiting Hue? Let’s explore the list of 7 famous banh beo chen spots with “Travel Around The World”, where you can fully enjoy the unique flavor of this specialty.
Origin and Uniqueness of Hue Banh Beo Chen
Hue banh beo chen is not merely a dish; it’s a part of deep culinary culture, reflecting the slow, elegant lifestyle of the people of the ancient capital. The name “banh beo” (water fern cake) originates from the shape of the cake, reminiscent of small, pretty water fern leaves. Since ancient times, banh beo has been associated with Hue’s culinary life, appearing on holidays, Tet, anniversaries, and even in cozy family meals.
The special feature of Hue banh beo chen lies in the sophistication of its preparation and enjoyment. The cake is made from pure rice flour, meticulously ground and filtered to create a smooth, translucent texture. The secret lies in the cake-pouring stage, where the artisan skillfully pours just enough batter into each small dish, creating a thin, soft, and chewy cake.
The filling of Hue banh beo chen also has a distinctive flavor, usually golden-brown crispy shrimp, combined with fragrant scallion oil. The soul of the dish is the dipping sauce, prepared according to a family recipe, harmonizing the delicate sweetness, bold saltiness, and spicy heat of chili. When enjoying it, diners will experience the subtle blend of the cake’s sweet savoriness, the rich flavor of the shrimp filling, and the spicy saltiness of the dipping sauce, creating an unforgettable culinary experience.
Compared to other types of banh beo across Vietnam, Hue banh beo chen has unique features that cannot be confused. If Hai Phong banh beo stands out with wood ear and lean meat filling, Nghe An banh beo is similar to Hue banh loc cake, or Quang Nam banh beo is often poured in large bowls to create a feeling of fullness, Hue banh beo chen aims for elegance and sophistication. The small, bite-sized dish helps diners fully appreciate the flavor and meticulousness in each stage of preparation. This difference has contributed to the reputation and irresistible attraction of Hue banh beo chen specialty.
Hue Banh Beo Chen, a famous specialty of Hue cuisine
Hue Banh Beo Chen is made from pure rice flour and served with crispy shrimp and rich dipping sauce
Top 7 Must-Try Delicious Hue Banh Beo Chen Restaurants
To help you easily discover and enjoy Hue banh beo chen specialty, “Travel Around The World” has compiled a list of 7 of the most famous and highly-rated restaurants by locals and tourists. Each restaurant has its own flavor and style, promising to bring you diverse and memorable culinary experiences.
1. Trang Neko Food – Traditional Flavor in a Modern Space
- Address: 30 Ly Tu Trong, Hue City
- Phone: 090 118 61 96
- Opening hours:
- 6:30 AM: Serving breakfast and coffee
- 10:30 AM – 9:00 PM: Serving Hue dishes
- Fanpage: Ăn sáng Cà phê Bánh Huế TRANG NEKO FOOD – 30 Lý Tự Trọng, tp Huế
Trang Neko Food is an ideal destination for those who want to enjoy Hue banh beo chen in a spacious, airy, and modern space. The restaurant attracts a large number of diners, from locals to tourists from all over. Banh beo chen at Trang Neko Food is beautifully presented on small, pretty dishes, arranged around a bowl of rich dipping sauce. The cake is pure white, and when eaten, you can feel its softness and chewiness, blending with the natural sweetness of rice flour, the richness of minced shrimp, and the pungent aroma of fried shallots.
Not only famous for banh beo chen, Trang Neko Food is also a diverse culinary address, serving many other specialties such as Hanoi crab noodle soup, Nghe An eel soup, shrimp paste vermicelli, banh loc nam goi, fermented fish noodle soup… and refreshing drinks such as coffee and sweet soup. The dishes at the restaurant are meticulously prepared, palatable, and guaranteed to satisfy even the most demanding diners.
Spacious, airy, and modern space of Trang Neko Food restaurant
The prominent and easy-to-find facade of Trang Neko Food restaurant
The interior space of Trang Neko Food restaurant is delicately and warmly designed
2. Ba Do Restaurant – Long-Standing Family Tradition of Banh Beo Chen
- Address: 08 Nguyen Binh Khiem, Hue City
- Opening hours: 8:00 AM – 9:30 PM
- Price range: VND 10,000 – VND 50,000
- Fanpage: Nhà hàng bánh bèo nậm lọc Bà Đỏ
Ba Do Restaurant is one of the oldest Hue banh beo chen restaurants, known as a culinary symbol of the ancient capital. With a long history of experience and a family recipe, Ba Do Restaurant has conquered generations of diners. The banh beo here is always served hot, with generous shrimp filling, and the dipping sauce is prepared according to a unique recipe, creating a rich, unmistakable flavor. The cake layer is soft and chewy, neither too dry nor too wet, just enough to fully appreciate the delicious taste.
Ba Do Restaurant is always bustling with customers, from locals to tourists. In addition to banh beo chen, the restaurant is also famous for other traditional Hue cakes such as banh nam, banh loc, ram it, shrimp patties, banh khoai… If you want to find the authentic, traditional flavor of Hue banh beo chen, Ba Do Restaurant is definitely an unmissable choice.
Ba Do Restaurant, famous for its long-standing family tradition of Hue Banh Beo Chen
3. Hue Xua – Banh Beo – Nam & Loc – Cozy Space, Rich Flavor
- Address: 1 Nguyen Binh Khiem, Phu Cat, Hue City
- Hotline: 091 396 80 29
- Opening hours: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- Price range: VND 15,000 – VND 25,000
Hue Xua – Banh Beo – Nam & Loc is a restaurant loved by many tourists for its delicious banh beo chen and cozy atmosphere. The banh beo chen here is highly appreciated for its hotness, soft and smooth cake layer, rich crispy shrimp filling, and well-balanced dipping sauce, spicy and sweet to stimulate the taste buds.
A plus point of Hue Xua restaurant is its spaciousness, with an air-conditioned room, suitable for groups of friends or families. The owner is friendly and enthusiastic, always creating a comfortable feeling for customers. Besides banh beo chen, the restaurant also serves banh it, banh khoai, shrimp patties, banh loc, offering many attractive choices for diners.
4. Banh Beo Hue Suong – Popular Sidewalk Stall, Unforgettable Flavor
- Address: 4 Doan Huu Trung, Hue City
- Opening hours: 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- Price range: VND 10,000 – VND 12,000
Banh beo Hue Suong is a famous sidewalk banh beo chen stall known for its affordable prices and irresistible delicious flavor. The stall is always crowded with customers, especially in the afternoon. Each serving of banh beo chen consists of 10 small, pretty dishes, hot, soft, and chewy cakes, topped with golden-brown crispy shrimp, served with a salty-sweet dipping sauce, with a little pungent chili. Many diners are so “addicted” to Suong’s banh beo that they can eat two trays in a row and still crave more.
Despite being a sidewalk stall, Banh beo Hue Suong is still highly appreciated for its airy and clean space. However, the stall often runs out of stock early, especially on crowded days, so you should visit the stall early to ensure you can enjoy this delicious banh beo chen. In addition to banh beo, the stall also has banh nam, banh loc goi, and free dipping sauce, so you can enjoy it comfortably.
5. Banh Chi Restaurant – Banh Beo Chen Specialty Loved by Locals
- Address: 52 Le Viet Luong, Hue
- Opening hours: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- Price range: VND 15,000 – VND 35,000
- Fanpage: Quán Bánh Chi – Đặc sản bèo, nậm, lọc, ram ít xứ Huế
Banh Chi Restaurant is a familiar address for Hue people when they want to enjoy traditional specialties, especially banh beo chen. The restaurant has many years of experience in the profession, and is now managed and developed by the younger generation. Banh Chi is famous for its stable quality, rich flavor, and is chosen by many Hue people when buying cakes as gifts for relatives and friends.
The space at Banh Chi Restaurant is spacious, airy, and the tables and chairs are clean, suitable for large groups or tour groups. The banh beo chen here is always hot, with a fine crispy shrimp filling, a chewy cake layer, and a sweet dipping sauce made according to a unique recipe, creating a distinctive flavor that diners will always remember. In addition to banh beo chen, the restaurant also serves banh nam, banh loc, banh ram it, meeting the diverse needs of diners.
Banh Chi Restaurant, famous for its delicious and generous Hue Banh Beo Chen specialties
Banh Nam and Banh Loc are also popular dishes at Banh Chi Restaurant
6. Banh Beo O Le – Rustic Flavor in a Quiet Garden Space
- Address: 104/17/9 Kim Long, Hue City
- Opening hours: 6:00 AM – 10:00 AM
- Price range: VND 15,000 – VND 25,000
Banh Beo O Le is a Hue banh beo chen restaurant praised by many for its delicious and rich flavor. However, the dipping sauce here is spicier than the general taste, if you can’t eat spicy food, ask the restaurant to reduce the chili. O Le Restaurant has a quiet, airy garden space, bringing a feeling of closeness to nature.
The restaurant is located in a small alley, a bit difficult to find, mainly serving local customers. The elderly owners are friendly and hospitable, creating a warm and intimate atmosphere. The special flavor of banh beo chen and the enthusiasm of the owners have helped Banh Beo O Le become increasingly known and loved.
7. Trung Bo – Banh Beo & Banh Nam – Lovely Space, Delicious Cakes, Clean Restaurant
- Address: 16 To Hien Thanh, Hue City, Hue
- Opening hours: 6:30 AM – 7:30 PM
- Reference price: VND 10,000 – VND 15,000
- Fanpage: Bèo Nậm Lọc Trung Bộ – 16 Tô Hiến Thành – Huế
Trung Bo – Banh Beo & Banh Nam is a Hue banh beo chen restaurant highly appreciated in many aspects: delicious cakes, clean space, and lovely decoration. The banh beo chen here is served in small, pretty dishes, topped with dried shrimp and crispy pork fat, served with a rich dipping sauce. In addition to banh beo chen, the restaurant is also famous for hot steamed banh bot loc, with rich Hue-flavored shrimp and meat filling.
Trung Bo Restaurant also serves many other attractive Hue cakes such as banh nam, banh ram it… The banh nam here is beautifully wrapped in banana leaves, with generous filling, blending the green of the leaves, the white of the flour, and the pinkish-red of the shrimp filling. The dipping sauce is made from sea fish sauce, with a few slices of chili, creating a characteristic mild spicy taste.
The space of Trung Bo restaurant is decorated cutely, creating a comfortable feeling for diners
Attractive banana leaf Banh Nam is also a popular dish at Trung Bo restaurant
Conclusion: Journey to Discover the Flavor of Hue Banh Beo Chen Specialty
Hue banh beo chen is not only a delicious dish but also a unique culinary culture of the ancient capital. Hopefully, with the list of 7 best banh beo chen restaurants that “Travel Around The World” has just shared, you will have more useful suggestions for your culinary journey in Hue. Don’t forget to enjoy this specialty to fully feel the delicate, rich flavor of Hue’s identity, and have memorable culinary experiences in this dreamy ancient land. Wishing you a truly enjoyable and delicious trip!
Thuy Anh
Source: Synthesized.
Keywords: Hue banh beo chen specialty