The Verdict
Ancient Hue Restaurant sits inside the Ancient Hue garden houses at 104/47 Kim Long, in the Kim Long district along the Perfume River, the old garden-house quarter west of the Hue citadel. It is led by Mme Ton Nu Ha, a descendant of the Nguyen royal line who has spent her career preserving and presenting the imperial cuisine of Hue, and the restaurant has run as a royal-cuisine dining house since around 2006.
The cooking is the courtly Hue style: delicate, many-dish, and built for the eye as much as the palate. Signature plates include banh beo, the small steamed rice cakes topped with dried shrimp, and a banana-blossom salad, alongside the multi-course royal sets that recreate dishes once served at the Nguyen court. A la carte plates start at roughly 100,000 Vietnamese dong, with full royal sets running higher per person.
The setting is a restored timber garden house with carved screens and a courtyard, which is much of the appeal: this is a heritage room as much as a kitchen. The Kim Long dining operation was named a Tripadvisor Travellers Choice Best of the Best in 2025, and for visitors who want the imperial-cuisine experience in its proper architecture, it is the Hue address that delivers it.
What to Order
Order the royal Hue specialities. Banh beo, the small steamed rice cakes topped with dried shrimp, is a signature, and the banana-blossom salad is the other plate to start with. For the full picture, the multi-course royal sets recreate dishes once served at the Nguyen court and are presented in the ornate Hue style. A la carte plates begin at around 100,000 Vietnamese dong, with set menus priced higher per person.
The Room
Ancient Hue Restaurant occupies a restored timber garden house at 104/47 Kim Long, in the garden-house quarter along the Perfume River west of the citadel. The dining rooms feature carved wooden screens, lacquer detailing and a courtyard, seating a relatively small number of guests in a heritage setting rather than a large modern dining hall. It is a quiet, low-lit room built for a leisurely, many-dish meal rather than a quick lunch.
Why It Works for a Special Occasion
The combination of royal Hue cuisine and a restored garden-house setting makes Ancient Hue a strong choice for a milestone dinner, an anniversary, or a meal meant to impress visiting guests. The many-dish royal sets give the table a sense of occasion, the heritage architecture is part of the experience, and the unhurried pace suits a celebration rather than a rushed sightseeing stop between citadel and tombs.
Not For
Not for travellers after a cheap street-food bowl, a quick lunch, or a casual backpacker budget meal: the royal sets and garden-house setting put this at the higher end of Hue dining. Diners who want a large international menu, a lively bar scene, or fast service will find the slow, courtly, many-small-dish format and the quiet room a poor fit for their evening.
Reservations
Ancient Hue Restaurant is a garden-house dining room in the Kim Long district, so booking ahead is recommended, especially for the multi-course royal sets and for dinner. It is at 104/47 Kim Long, a short taxi or cyclo ride west of the Hue citadel along the Perfume River. Confirm set-menu options and pricing when you reserve, since the royal courses are often arranged in advance for the table.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ancient Hue Restaurant known for?
Ancient Hue Restaurant is known for royal Hue cuisine served in a restored garden house in the Kim Long district. Signature plates include banh beo, the small steamed rice cakes, and a banana-blossom salad, alongside multi-course royal sets that recreate dishes once served at the Nguyen court in an ornate, courtly style.
Who runs Ancient Hue Restaurant?
The restaurant is led by Mme Ton Nu Ha, a descendant of the Nguyen royal line who has devoted her career to preserving and presenting Hue's imperial cuisine. Under her direction the Ancient Hue garden houses have operated as a royal-cuisine dining house since around 2006, with the kitchen focused on courtly Hue cooking.
How much does Ancient Hue Restaurant cost?
Ancient Hue sits at the higher end of Hue dining. A la carte plates begin at roughly 100,000 Vietnamese dong, while the multi-course royal sets are priced higher per person, often around several hundred thousand dong depending on the menu. Diners should expect to pay a premium for the royal sets and the heritage garden-house setting.
Where is Ancient Hue Restaurant?
Ancient Hue Restaurant is at 104/47 Kim Long, in the Kim Long garden-house district along the Perfume River, west of the Hue citadel. It occupies a restored timber garden house with carved screens and a courtyard, a short taxi or cyclo ride from the citadel and the city centre, set away from the main tourist strip.
Do you need a reservation at Ancient Hue Restaurant?
Booking ahead is recommended, particularly for dinner and for the multi-course royal sets, which are often arranged in advance for the table. The restaurant is a relatively small garden-house dining room in Kim Long, so reserving secures a seat and lets the kitchen prepare the courtly sets. Confirm menu options and pricing when you book.
Also in Hue
Explore the full Hue restaurant guide, or compare other royal-cuisine and heritage tables such as Tinh Gia Vien, Cung Dinh Restaurant and Les Jardins de la Carambole. For occasion picks, see our anniversary guide.