Bánh bột lọc — translucent tapioca dumplings filled with shrimp and pork, wrapped in banana leaves and steamed — is a chewy, savory Hue specialty that Seattle does remarkably well. The magic is in the bouncy tapioca exterior giving way to a generous filling of whole shrimp and fatty pork belly. Here are the best places to find them.
Huong Binh top-pick
Daily 7AM-9PM
Huong Binh tapioca cake is famous. Each dumpling is wrapped in a neat banana leaf package steamed until the tapioca exterior turns perfectly translucent, revealing a glistening dumpling with a whole shrimp inside. The tapioca chew is almost bouncy like the best mochi, and the pork belly filling is fatty and savory.
Hoang Lan (Bún Bò Huế Hoàng Lan) best-value
Daily 8AM-8PM
Hoang Lan is famous for Hue beef noodle soup, but their banh tapioca is a compelling reason to visit. The tapioca is cooked to that ideal gelatinous-but-not-gummy consistency, with large flavorful shrimp and rich, savory pork belly. Served with scallion oil and dipping sauce.
Saigon Deli hidden-gem
Daily 7AM-7PM
The grab-and-go tapioca cake at Saigon Deli is remarkably good for a deli item. Sold in packs of several pieces still in banana leaf wrappers, they reheat beautifully with a quick microwave or steam. The filling-to-tapioca ratio is generous and the price is right.