Hue cuisine has been famous for its distinctive gastronomy with many delicious, affordably-priced, and diverse dishes. Both locals and visitors to Da Nang usually like coming to their favorite hang-out spots around the city to enjoy an amazing range of ‘must-try’ delicious nosh food whose origin is from Hue. The Tran Gia - Cuisine of Hue at 186, 30 April Street, Hai Chau District is highly recommended for you to enjoy Hue best foods.

‘Banh khoai’ is one of the favourite delicacies to many nosh lovers.

One of the most favourite Hue dishes Tran Gia serves is ‘banh khoai’ (crunch plain rice flans).

The flans, at a first glance, are very similar to ‘banh xeo’ (Vietnamese sizzling pancakes) in Central Viet Nam in terms of shape, whilst they are made from the same ingredients as those served in Northern Viet Nam.

However, Hue natives bring the cake to the pinnacle of culinary art with a sophisticated process. When the cake is cooked enough, add shrimp, meat, mushroom and bean-sprouts into a half of the cake, then wrap the other half into a semicircle shape. Leave it on the fire until both sides of the cake are cooked.

This simple yet delicious cakes are at their best as they are served with
fresh raw vegetables, ‘dua chua’ (fermented mixed pickles), and last, but not least a tasteful dipping sauce.

The amazing mixture of the various flavours really gives a pleasant texture and a smooth aftertaste!
In addition to ‘banh khoai’, the Tran Gia eatery treats its customers with other Hue specialitues such as ‘banh beo’ (Vietnamese bloating fern-shaped cake), banh bot loc' (tapioca dumplings with prawns and pork in banana leaves) and ‘banh uot heo quay (steamed thin rice pancakes served with roasted pork).

Having artistic souls, cooks in Hue also shaped the cake like an artwork. They also brainstormed on how to serve it in a way that adds a more artistic feel.

These dishes, made with the intricate texture, are a quick fix for empty stomach!

This enchanting small eatery opens daily from 10.00am until 9.00pm.

By KHANH QUYEN – Translated by A.T