Undiscovered Delights: Hue in the Top 8 Underrated Food Cities in Asia

Hue, the charming city in Vietnam's Thua Thien-Hue province, has been recognized for its culinary delights by Tatler Asia, a renowned luxury platform. The city, with its rich cultural heritage, has secured third place on Tatler Asia's list of the Top 8 most underrated foodie destinations in Asia. This recognition shines a spotlight on Hue's vibrant and unique food scene, which has long been a well-kept secret among locals and discerning travelers alike.

Administrator

18 March, 2025

Com Hen is a favorite dish among locals and tourists in Hue (Photo: Internet)

According to Tatler, when it comes to delicious Vietnamese cuisine, most foreign visitors immediately think of pho (rice noodles) and banh mi (baguette sandwiches) due to their popularity in major cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

However, Tatler also highlights that Hue’s imperial cuisine, known for its unique flavors, deserves special mention. Among the must-try dishes from this central region of Vietnam are bun bo Hue (spicy beef noodle soup), banh beo (steamed rice cakes with shrimp or pork), and com hen (steamed rice with baby clams).

Bun bo Hue is a traditional Vietnamese soup, commonly enjoyed as a breakfast dish. It consists of a flavorful broth made from pork and beef bones, combined with lemongrass, shrimp paste, lime juice, and a variety of herbs. The result is a delicious and hearty soup served with bun noodles.

On the other hand, banh beo is a popular steamed rice cake indigenous to Hue. Its key ingredients include rice flour and a savory topping made from fish sauce, green chili peppers, and either shrimps or pork. To enhance its flavors, additional ingredients such as noodles, roasted peanuts, or fried onions can be added.

Com Hen, a beloved dish in Hue, captivates locals and tourists alike with its delightful flavors and simplicity. Its recipe is quite intricate, featuring a combination of crunchy cold rice, clams, fried pork fat, roasted peanuts, chili pepper, banana flower, star fruit, green apple, mint herb, taro stem, and fermented shrimp sauce. The star of this dish, however, is the indispensable clam broth, which brings together a symphony of sweet, buttery, salty, sour, bitter, and peppery-hot tastes in every bite.

One of the most intriguing aspects of this dish is the unique pairing of cold rice and hot clam broth, creating a contrasting temperature and texture experience.

Completing the list of Asia’s most underrated foodie cities are Fukuoka in Japan, Ipoh in Malaysia, Iloilo in the Philippines, Gwangju in South Korea, Hualien in Taiwan, Surabaya in Indonesia, and Luang Prabang in Laos.