Hue Imperial Table
A rich Vietnamese noodle soup lifted with chopsticks under warm light

Dine as the emperors did

Tiny, intricate court dishes served with full ceremony, in a restored royal residence inside the Hue Citadel.

Reserve

The Nguyen court

A court restored

Hue Imperial Table revives the intricate court cuisine of the Nguyen dynasty: tiny elaborate dishes served with ceremony in a restored royal residence at the foot of the Citadel wall.

Every meal follows the old order of the royal kitchens, many small plates, each one composed, each one presented, none of them hurried.

  1. 1802Gia Long unites the country and makes Hue the imperial capital.
  2. 1820Under Minh Mang the royal kitchens codify nem cong cha phuong, the peacock and the phoenix.
  3. 1917The residence at 9 Le Truc is raised for a minister of rites, lattice screens on every door.
  4. TodayThe same rooms, restored, and the same dishes, plated with ceremony.
A misty river valley at dawn
A warm wood-panelled dining room

The craft

Lattice, cut by hand

Every door and screen in the residence carries the fretted lattice of the Nguyen workshops: a single line of wood, turned back on itself until it becomes a wall of light and shadow.

Our carpenters restored each panel with the old tools. The pattern you see drawing across this page is the one above the kitchen door.

Evenings

The residence at night

A carefully composed bowl with vegetables on a set table
The first course
Red silk lanterns glowing overhead
Lanterns at dusk
A beef noodle bowl with lime and fresh herbs
The lunch hour

Each dish is a miniature palace.

The Indochine Review

Ceremony you can taste.

Saigon Gourmet Journal

By appointment

Request a table

The Imperial Set is served to the whole table. Parties above eight, please call.

In the Citadel

  • Address9 Le Truc, Hue Citadel, Hue
  • HoursTue-Sun 11:00-14:00, 17:00-22:00
  • Call+84 234 390 0009
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