Vietnam was Anthony Bourdain’s great culinary romance, a country he famously described as grabbing him and never letting go. In the fourth season of Parts Unknown (2014), he bypassed the chaotic energy of Hanoi and Saigon to focus entirely on the central city of Huế. Once the imperial capital of the Nguyen Dynasty, Huế possesses a food culture that is distinct, deeply historical, and remarkably refined, shaped by its royal past and its geography along the Perfume River. Bourdain’s exploration of Huế was a study in contrasts, highlighting how the legacy of imperial banquet dining trickled down to influence the vibrant, everyday street food. He sought out the intensely flavorful, lemongrass-scented broths of the iconic regional noodle soups and the delicate, meticulously crafted steamed rice cakes that are a hallmark of the city’s culinary heritage. He also explored the abundance of fresh seafood available just outside the city center. It was an episode that celebrated the elegant complexity and the fiery spice of central Vietnamese cooking. Here are the specific spots that delivered the authentic flavors of Huế.
The great Anthony Bourdain left his mark everywhere he went. When his death was announced to the world in June 2018, media throughout the globe chimed in and listed all the great things he had done for their respective country. Whereas before, tourists would shy away from exotic foods, thanks to him, travellers now go the extra mile to find and try local bites. With this in mind, here are all the restaurants Bourdain visited and the dishes he tasted when he shot Anthony Bourdain Vietnam for his show, Parts Unknown Season 4 Episode 5 (originally aired October 19, 2014):
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DISH – Bún bò Huế
WHAT IS IT?
Rice noodles topped with broth of mixed bones, scented with lemongrass, spice and fermented shrimp paste. Add slow-cooked beef shank, crabmeat dumplings, pig’s foot and blood cake. Garnish with lime wedge, cilantro, green onions, chili sauce, shredded banana blossoms and mung bean sprouts.
WHERE IS IT?
Dong Ba Market
2 Trần Hưng Đạo, Phú Hoà, Thành phố Huế
Thừa Thiên Huế, Vietnam
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ANTHONY BOURDAIN VIETNAM NOTES
In Parts Unknown Vietnam, Anthony Bourdain had Bún bò Huế from a stall inside Dong Ba Market.
DISH – Grilled Eel and Steamed Lobster
WHAT IS IT?
Grilled Eel – seasoned with lemongrass, green chili, and pepper, drizzled with house special sauce, and grilled over charcoal; Steamed Lobster – lobster from the South China Sea, steamed, before being sectioned tableside.
WHERE IS IT?
Duyên Anh
Tỉnh lộ 10, Phú Mỹ, Phú Vang
Thừa Thiên Huế, Vietnam
ANTHONY BOURDAIN VIETNAM NOTES
Duyên Anh is a restaurant where you can pick your own seafood out of the tank and you cook it on your own.
DISH – Bánh Bèo, Bánh Bột Lọc and Bánh It
WHAT IS IT?
Bánh Bèo – little pancakes made from rice flour, steamed in molds, and topped with crispy fried shallots, cassava paste, and crumbled fried shrimp; Bánh Bột Lọc – made of cassava or tapioca with pork and shrimp, wrapped in a banana leaf, then steamed; Bánh It – a version that combines fried and glutinous rice balls, stuffed with shrimp.
WHERE IS IT?
Quán Bánh O
Le
Kiệt 104, Kim Long, Thành phố Huế
Thừa Thiên Huế, Vietnam
ANTHONY BOURDAIN VIETNAM NOTES
Quán Bánh O Le is a neighborhood place specializing in Bánh Bèo. Its Bánh It is made of rice balls fried in cooking oil. A glutinous rice ball stuffed with shrimp is then added onto the fried ball. The combo is then sprinkled with chopped fried shrimp.
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This focused exploration of Huế stands as one of Bourdain’s most affectionate and nuanced portraits of Vietnam. By dedicating an entire episode to this specific regional cuisine, he underscored his belief that Vietnamese food is far too complex to be reduced to just pho and banh mi. His profound appreciation for the fiery, complex broth of Bún bò Huế and the delicate artistry of the city’s traditional rice cakes highlighted a culinary culture that is both sophisticated and deeply satisfying. It reinforced his long-held assertion that Vietnam offers some of the best, most vibrant eating experiences on the planet. When you travel to Vietnam, make sure to spend time in the central region to experience the unique and historical flavors of Huế.
