Bún Bò Huế

Fact: Bún bò Huế is easy to find at street vendors and restaurants across Vietnam, especially in Hue, Hanoi, and Ho Chi Minh City.

Bún Bò Huế: Basic Information

Pronunciation

Boon baw hway

Alternative Name(s)

Bún bò

Dish Type

Noodle Soups

Course

Main Course

Mealtime

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Bún Bò Huế: Origin and Region

Origin

Vietnam

Continent’s Region

Southeast Asia

Country’s Region

Central Vietnam

Associated Region

Thua Thien Hue Province

Popular Bún Bò Huế Variations

Bún Bò Huế Chay (Vegetarian/Vegan Bun Bo Hue)

Bún bò huế (globally known as Vietnamese spicy beef noodle soup) is a traditional dish hailing from Hue, Vietnam (a Southeast Asian country). The specialty features tender beef, pork, chewy rice noodles (bún in Vietnamese), and aromatic broth seasoned with lemongrass, fermented shrimp sauce (mắm tôm), and chili oil as key components.

Therefore, bún bò Huế is a complex dish full of flavors and textures. In a bowl of hot, spicy beef noodle soup, you can feel the richness of the beef and pork bones, the zest of lemongrass, the subtle heat of chili oil, and the saltiness of fermented shrimp sauce in the broth.

Overall, bún bò Huế is a main meal that captures Vietnamese cuisine and showcases a harmonious blend of tastes. To fully enjoy this spicy noodle soup, you should also know what foods it serves and how to eat it as a native. There are some tips to make this delicacy perfectly at home.

I also introduce the best places to get top-notch bún bò Huế, other famous types of noodle soup in Vietnam, or similar dishes. So follow me for a comprehensive view of Vietnamese spicy beef noodle soup, beginning with a table of its quick facts.

Bún Bò Huế Images

A bowl of bún bò Huế including beef slices, pork sausage, and pork meat, with side foods like lemon wedges, fresh vegetables, and chili sauce.

A bowl of Bún bò Huế normally goes with a plate of fresh herbs and veggies, chilies, and lemon wedges.

A hot bowl of bún bò Huế with beef and rice noodles, topped with fresh herbs and sliced onion.

A close-up view of bún bò Huế with pig blood curds, pork slices, and pork sausage on the top.

Bún bò Huế with beef, rice noodles, and soup sprinkled with onion slices and chopped green onions.

What Is The Origin Of Bún Bò Huế?

Bún bò Huế has its roots in the ancient city of Hue, which is located in the central part of Vietnam. Hue City is also famous for its royal cuisine. Over time, the spicy beef noodle has spread throughout Vietnam and has also gained international popularity.

In Hue, locals normally enjoy this spicy beef noodle soup as a main meal in the mornings, though you can eat it at any time of the day in other Vietnamese cities. The ingredients also vary depending on the region.

What Are The Major Ingredients of Bún Bò Huế?

Three key ingredients to create an authentic bún bò Huế recipe including:

• Rice noodles (medium-thick with a cylindrical shape)
• Meat (beef and pork)
• Broth

Other common components are:

• Thin slices of beef shank
• Vietnamese sausage (cha lua)
• Oxtail chunks
• Pork knuckles
• Pig blood curds (optional)

The broth’s ingredients include:

• Beef and pork bones
• Lemongrass
• Fermented shrimp sauce and chili oil (for flavoring)

For a vegan alternative, you can use:

• Vegan beef slices
• Vegan Vietnamese sausage
• Mushrooms
• Onions
• Essential components: noodles, chili oil, and lemongrass

In Vietnam, you can find Hue spicy noodle soup at restaurants or street vendors. Local vendors selling this noodle delight typically feature a large pot of broth, a big basket of noodles, and a glass display case for meat, other toppings, and vegetables.

When someone orders a bowl of bun bo, the seller parboils the noodles, places them in a big bowl, then arranges the meat and toppings, diced onions, and green onions on top, and finally, pours the broth into the bowl.

Other foods are served alongside bun bo, so make sure to combine them to relish your noodle dish at its finest.

How To Serve And Enjoy Bún Bò Huế?

Bún bò Huế is best served hot. Other accompaniments that locals normally add to their noodle soup are:

Fresh herbs and fresh vegetables

Examples: mint, basil, perilla, Vietnamese coriander, and sawtooth herbs for herbs and diced green onion, thinly sliced onion, banana blossom, mung bean sprouts for vegetables.

Chili

Can be in fresh form or sauce

Lime

A bowl of bún bò usually goes with some wedges of lime

On the other hand, shrimp paste and fish sauce are sometimes added if you want to enhance the taste of the broth. However, shrimp paste is a pungent condiment, so add a bit of it and adjust.

Eating bun bo Hue is a good way to get familiar with chopsticks. Next, let’s find out the greatest places in Vietnam to enjoy this delicacy.

Where Are The Best Places To Eat Bún Bò Huế in Vietnam?

If you prefer the authentic flavor of bún bò Huế, visit Hue City and enjoy this delight. However, as one of the most popular Vietnamese noodle soups across the country, you can easily order a bowl of spicy noodle soup in big cities like Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.

In general, many street stalls offer bún bò Huế at a very reasonable price (around 2 to 5 USD, normally depending on the topping variations), especially at the street vendors, making it an advantage of this noodle soup. However, there are other drawbacks of consuming it that you might be concerned about.

Pros and Cons Of Eating Bún Bò Huế

Check the table below for the good and bad sides of having a bowl of Vietnamese-style spicy noodle soup with beef.

Now, let’s dig into some FAQs about this Vietnamese spicy beef noodle soup.

Bún Bò Huế FAQs

Below are three commonly asked questions about bún bò Huế that many people want to know about the noodle soup.

Phở

Phở is a popular Vietnamese noodle soup with beef or chicken in an aromatic broth.

Bún Mọc

Bún mọc is a Vietnamese noodle dish from the Moc village, made using a pork base with pork baby back ribs, auricularia auricula, ground meat, morning glory, coriander, and lime juice.

Bún Riêu Cua

Bún riêu cua is a Vietnamese noodle soup consisting of rice vermicelli, a clear crab-based broth, crab cakes, and other toppings.

Bún Măng Vịt

Bún măng vịt is a Vietnamese dish that consists of rice vermicelli, duck meat, bamboo shoots, and a clear, balanced broth.