When it comes to Central cuisine, it is difficult to ignore the dishes Hue cake – small, sophisticated, rustic but with a deep flavor like the people of Hue. Each cake is not only a rustic dish but also a part of memory, a slice of culture preserved through many generations.
At Vietnamese restaurant Hoi An Sense, the ones Hue cake recreated with all the sophistication and respect for the original values. In a luxurious yet cozy space, diners can feel the unique flavors of the Central region, from the Banh it tran rustic to rose cake elegant. This is the ideal place to discover the quintessence of Hue cuisine in the heart of bustling Saigon.
Top 5 famous Hue cakes that you should not miss
1. Rose Cake
As the name suggests, the rose cake is a work of art made from rice flour, meticulously shaped like a blooming flower. The thin, soft crust envelops the rich shrimp and meat filling, and when steamed, it gives off a gentle, inviting aroma.
Each rose cake seems to convey the ingenuity, meticulousness, sophistication and depth of the people here. At Hoi An Sense restaurant, this cake is completely handmade, ensuring to retain the softness and sweet taste of pure rice flour.
2. Steamed rice cake
Banh it tran is a familiar cake to the people of Central Vietnam. The cake crust is made from smooth sticky rice flour, embracing the fragrant and attractive green bean or shrimp and meat filling. When eating, lightly dipping it in sweet and sour fish sauce is enough to awaken all the senses.
Hoi An Sense Restaurant respectfully invites you to discover Banh It La Cam – a rustic yet heart-warming gift from the countryside. The glutinous rice grains are carefully selected, ground and dyed dark purple from the water of the purple leaves, then kneaded by hand one by one. The soft, supple crust encases the light, fatty mung bean filling, combined with the rich braised pork belly, fragrant with the aroma of new sticky rice. Each cake is a harmony between familiar taste and delicate refinement – like a gentle whisper from memory.
3. Banh bot loc
If you ask which Hue cake is “easy to think but not easy”, it is banh bot loc. The transparent shell is made from tapioca flour, embracing the savory braised shrimp and pork filling. When steamed, the cake becomes chewy, soft but not crumbly, bringing an interesting experience.
Wherever they are, Hue people still keep the original of this dish - from the way of wrapping it in banana leaves to the technique of watching the fire when steaming. At Hoi An Sense, the banh bot loc is kneaded carefully, meticulously, one by one. Elevating the rustic dish, bringing it to the high-class banquet table
4. Banh beo
The fragrant, soft Banh Beo made from rice flour, combined with the rich flavor of the sauce made from stir-fried shrimp and pork, is the interesting feature of Hue cakes. Eaten with a little salty fish sauce, the aroma and flavor are skillfully combined, supporting each other when enjoying.
More specifically, at the Vietnamese restaurant Hoi An Sense, this traditional dish has a little more color variation with the cake made from brown rice flour and placed in a 2-compartment bowl, creating a delicious and beautiful version - called Banh Beo Song Hy. This creativity both honors traditional values and breathes new life into Hue cuisine.
5. Banh nam
Banh nam is a soft and thin Hue cake, wrapped in banana leaves, with a filling of stir-fried shrimp and meat spread evenly over the cake. Every time you open the banana leaves, the aroma of rice flour and the cake filling wafts up, making it hard to resist.
At Hoi An Sense restaurant, banh nam is also served with grilled beef sausage – a seemingly strange but very reasonable combination. The soft and fragrant taste of the cake, combined with the rich beef sausage, creates a new experience without straying from the core of the ancient capital's cuisine.
Top 3 places to enjoy authentic Hue cakes in Saigon
1. Hoi An Sense Restaurant
- Address: 12 Phan Ke Binh, District 1, HCMC
- Opening hours: 11:00 – 14:00 & 17:30 – 22:00
Hoi An Sense Vietnamese Restaurant is a familiar destination for those who love Hue cakes - not only because menu attractive with famous Central delicacies, but also by the meticulousness in every detail. The space here has bold traditional architecture, quiet and luxurious, creating an ideal setting to enjoy exquisite dishes such as banh beo, banh nam or banh it.
At Hoi An Sense restaurant, each cake is the result of meticulous care: from choosing fresh ingredients, hand-kneading the dough, to steaming, presenting and mixing the right dipping sauce. All are made by a team of chefs with deep knowledge of Hue cuisine, with the desire to preserve the soul of the rustic dish in a more upscale culinary experience.
In the heart of Saigon, it is not easy to find a place that brings such a familiar feeling – both recalling memories of home and refreshing the palate with sophistication and creativity. A place where small cakes can make people stay longer, slower, and remember forever.
2. Hue Corner Restaurant
- Address: 157 Nguyen Thai Hoc, District 1, HCMC
- Opening hours: 08:00 – 22:00
Hue Corner is a nostalgic culinary space, specializing in serving traditional Hue cakes such as banh beo, banh loc, banh nam... The restaurant focuses on preserving the original Hue flavor, from the way the fish sauce is mixed to the way it is presented in each small bowl.
3. Nam Giao Restaurant
- Address: 136/15 Le Thanh Ton, District 1
- Opening hours: 08:30 – 21:00
South Giao is a Hue-style cake shop in the heart of Saigon. The space is gentle, Trinh music is melodious and the menu is rich with traditional cakes such as banh it tran, banh ram it, banh loc… This is an ideal destination to “heal” the soul after a busy day.
Enjoy Hue cakes in a traditional and luxurious space at Hoi An Sense
Food: Keeping the traditional spirit, breathing in creativity
At Hoi An Sense restaurant, each Hue cake is elevated from the choice of ingredients to the way it is presented. The soul of Hue is still preserved, combined with endless creativity, so that each cake is both familiar and new. That is banh beo song hy, banh it la cam, or the combination of banh nam and cha bo - all of which show respect for culinary heritage, along with the desire to spread it in a more refined and new way.
Vietnamese cultural space
Space at Hoi An Sense restaurant Inspired by the ancient Hoi An wooden house architecture: wood, lanterns, traditional motifs. But overall it still exudes elegance and gentleness. This combination makes every moment of enjoying Hue cakes complete.
Service: Attention to detail
The staff at Hoi An Sense not only serve professionally but also understand each dish, and can share with diners the little stories behind each Hue cake. That dedication makes the culinary experience here warm, comfortable and full of emotions.
Enjoy Hue cakes enhanced at Vietnamese restaurant Hoi An Sense
If you are looking for a place to enjoy authentic Hue cakes in the heart of Saigon, let Hoi An Sense be your destination. Each small but meaningful cake here is not just a dish – but a door leading you back to the ancient capital, where culture and cuisine blend in every flavor.
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