Vietnamese food has lots of dishes with the name bún, because bún means ’round skinny noodle’. So when I walked into Bun Thuy (Thủy is a person’s name), I really had no idea what I was getting. It could have been bún chả cá (noodles with fish cakes), bún thịt nướng (noodles with grilled meat) or even bún đậu mắm tôm (noodles with tofu and dark fish sauce). Turns out Bún Thủy sells bún bò, which is a beef noodle soup (but it’s not pho). I think I found the best bun bo in Da Nang.

Bun Thuy – Best bun bo in Da Nang

Let me first say that I normally hate bún bò. The broth is usually bland, with gristly meat and a bunch of other parts in the bowl you can’t identify. So when I saw the menu, I was skeptical. But I ordered the bún tái, a bowl of near-boiling broth topped with a layer thinly-sliced raw meat on top. Not for those with a weak stomach, but it’s my favorite way to eat phở, so I thought I’d try.

I always taste the broth first before adding any herbs or chili to my bowl so I know what I’m working with. One sip and I was blown away. I was eating something I thought I hated, but it was just so good. It had to be the best bun bo in Da Nang, maybe my whole life. The rest of the day, I kept thinking about it. I even told some Vietnamese friends about that night, but in typical Vietnamese fashion, came back with: “Oh you went there? I know a better place!” I doubt it.

Try the best bun bo in Da Nang at Bún Thủy, 214 Đống Đa, inside a wide alley. The menu features about 8 different cuts of beef at 40,000 VND / bowl. Opens after about 2 pm.

Want to try some other delicious Da Nang noodle dishes with a local expat guide? Book a Morning Food Tour.