Bánh bèo — tiny steamed rice cakes served in small porcelain bowls — is the most delicate dish in the Vietnamese repertoire, and Seattle has a few spots that do this Hue specialty justice. Each little bowl holds a perfect rice flour disk topped with dried shrimp, scallion oil, and crispy pork skin. Here is where to find the best bánh bèo in Seattle.
Huong Binh top-pick
Daily 7AM-9PM
Huong Binh keeps the Hue culinary tradition alive with banh beo steamed to a silky, jiggly consistency. The little bowls arrive in stacks, each generously topped with ground dried shrimp and scallion oil that pools in the center. Watching the elderly Vietnamese ladies eat these with practiced grace is half the experience.
Tamarind Tree best-value
Mon-Thu 10AM-9PM, Fri-Sat 10AM-10PM, Sun 10AM-9PM
Tamarind Tree offers a solid rendition of banh beo on their massive menu. Their version is slightly thicker than Huong Binh — more substantial, less ethereal — but the flavor is there with generous shrimp topping and fragrant scallion oil. A reliable option to add on for the table.
Green Tree Vietnamese & Chinese Restaurant hidden-gem
Daily 10AM-9PM
Green Tree goes beyond the usual pho-and-spring-rolls formula with their banh beo. The texture is delicate but not fragile, and the dried shrimp topping is crunchy and savory. It is one of the few places north of the ship canal where you can find this dish.