Banh Xeo Bà Dưỡng is not the best Da Nang banh xeo. I don’t even think it’s that good. It’s in all the travel books and on every Da Nang blog. But the pancakes there are a bit crispy for my liking, almost like a hard taco shell. They’re so busy, they don’t have time to put any care into the food. It’s also nearly double the price of other places. And in the last year or two, the customer base has shifted from mostly locals to pretty much only Korean tourists. (The other day I was surprised to find it renamed in Korean on my Google Maps.) I recommend Banh Xeo Ba Ngoc Hue on Dong Da.

My Pick for Da Nang Banh Xeo

The banh xeo at Ba Ngoc Hue has a nice crunch but won’t break your teeth. It’s softer than most Da Nang banh xeo, though it stays far away from the super-soft Phu Yen style. The nem lụi or grilled pork sticks, are great, and like the banh xeo, differ slightly from your standard Da Nang nem lụi in that they are a bit smaller, more grey than brown and have more hand-pressed, irregular shape to them.

One possible bone of contention here is the dipping sauce. Da Nang banh xeo is known for the peanut sauce for the both the pancakes and pork sticks. Ba Ngoc Hue breaks from tradition by putting their own spin on it; their sauce is peanuty, but also has lots of caramelized onions, giving it a sweet, roasty flavor. It’s unique, and it works well.

Jump off the bandwagon and try a place that’s popular with people who actually eat banh xeo at more than one place. Trust me, there’s lots of good places out there.

Ba Ngoc Hue is at 228 Dong Da, on the city side.

Open from about 10 am till 9 pm.

Want to try some other great food spots in Da Nang? Book a Da Nang Food Tour!