Banh Ram It (Fried Sticky Rice Dumplings) is one of the rustic dishes that is very familiar to the people of Hue. Whenever Hue cuisine is mentioned, few can resist the unique and special taste that Banh Ram It offers. This delicious soft cake, made from dough that is both crispy and chewy, becomes uniquely captivating when crafted by the skillful hands of the baker.
Introduction to Banh Ram It (Fried Sticky Rice Dumplings) from Hue
The name Banh Ram It (Fried Sticky Rice Dumplings) from Hue has long been recognized as one of the specialties of the imperial land of Hue. This delicious soft cake, made from both crispy and chewy dough, offers a rich and irresistible flavor. Whenever people mention the delicacies of Hue, it’s hard for anyone to resist the unique and special taste that Banh Ram It brings.
In Hue, Banh Ram It is a familiar rustic dish to the locals. The cake is divided into two parts: the soft and chewy Banh It on top and the fragrant and crispy Banh Ram at the bottom. These two seemingly incompatible textures, when crafted by the skillful hands of the baker, create a uniquely attractive flavor. Adding a bit of dried shrimp and dipping it into a sweet and sour sauce makes it even more appealing.
Though Banh Ram and Banh It seem like two unrelated cakes, the talented women of Hue have transformed Banh Ram It into a well-known rustic dish that attracts visitors from near and far.
When eating Banh Ram It, visitors will experience the crispy and chewy texture of the Banh Ram and Banh It. The flavors blend together perfectly and delicately. Although the cake may be rich, diners can enjoy it continuously without feeling overwhelmed. In Hue, there are many families with a long-standing tradition of making Banh Ram It. Visitors can easily find Banh Ram It at roadside eateries or in luxurious restaurants in the ancient capital.
When served on a plate, the people of Hue often place the pure white Banh It on top and sprinkle it with a layer of golden fried shrimp powder, making it look very appealing. The unique feature of Banh Ram It is dipping it into a specially prepared sweet and sour fish sauce, which is neither too salty nor too sweet, with the added spiciness of a few slices of chili.
Banh Ram It (Fried Sticky Rice Dumplings) Prepared by the People of Hue
Banh Ram It consists of two parts: Banh Ram and Banh It, so during preparation, each component is made separately. Though the methods for making these two cakes are different, they share a common ingredient: glutinous rice flour. The people of Hue typically choose glutinous rice flour milled from pure glutinous rice.
The rice used to make the cakes must be premium, white, and sticky, and it is milled fresh. Freshly milled glutinous rice flour is finer and more fragrant than the dry glutinous rice flour sold in markets. This is one of the secrets to preserving the traditional flavor of the cake. After milling, the glutinous rice flour is dried by placing it in a cloth bag and pressing it with a heavy object to drain all the water.
The filling for Banh It is not meat, as in other cakes, but ground shrimp, a distinctive specialty of Hue cuisine. The shrimp is stir-fried in scallion oil until cooked, then scooped out. Using ground shrimp as the filling creates a unique Hue flavor in Banh Ram It.
To make a good Banh It, the baker must skillfully shape the cake to look appealing and keep the filling from spilling out. Banh It is small, only the size of 2-3 fingers, hence its name “It,” meaning “little” or “small” in Vietnamese. The cake is steamed on a bamboo mat for about 15-20 minutes until cooked, becoming sticky and white, looking very attractive.
Banh Ram does not need filling. It is fried in a pan with plenty of oil until it is crispy and dark golden. The cake is then placed on paper towels to drain the oil. One Banh It is placed on top of one Banh Ram, and chopsticks are used to flatten the Banh It and press it tightly onto the Banh Ram.
Places to Enjoy Banh Ram It
Ba Do Banh Ram It Restaurant
When it comes to Hue’s cakes in general and Banh Ram It in particular, Bà Đỏ Banh Ram It Restaurant is an excellent destination for visitors. The cake recipe here is very special, giving the cake an indescribable chewiness, with each bite full of shrimp and meat filling, making it incredibly delicious. The restaurant has a spacious, airy environment and provides parking for cars.
Bà Đỏ Banh Ram It Restaurant is loved by many tourists and locals. Holding a piece of Banh Ram It, dipping it into the accompanying dipping sauce, and enjoying it, visitors will taste the hidden flavors of Hue cuisine in each small piece of Banh Ram It.
- Address: 8 Nguyen Binh Khiem, Hue City
- Opening hours: 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- Price range: 10,000 VND – 50,000 VND
Me Le Banh Ram It Restaurant
Mệ Lé Restaurant attracts visitors with high-quality Hue cakes. Guests can enjoy many delicious Hue cakes when they visit the restaurant, with Banh Ram It being one of the best sellers. The restaurant’s space is very airy with a garden-style design, creating a comfortable and open atmosphere for enjoying Banh Ram It.
The combination of the crispy Banh Ram, the fragrant and chewy Banh It, and the sweet and salty fish sauce has satisfied many diners. Banh Ram It is small enough that visitors can enjoy a whole piece in one bite, experiencing the full deliciousness of this famous Hue cake.
- Address: 104/17/9 Kim Long, Hue City
- Opening hours: 6:00 AM – 10:00 AM
- Price range: 15,000 VND – 25,000 VND
Tay Loc Market Food Court
The Tay Loc Market food court has many Banh Ram It stalls. Compared to the above locations, the prices here are very cheap. For only 5,000 VND – 7,000 VND, you can enjoy a super delicious portion of Banh Ram It. The cakes are made by the experienced hands of the stall owners. When served, the Banh It is placed on top to look more attractive, with green banana leaves elegantly cut underneath the plate.
Accompanying the Banh Ram It plate is a meticulously prepared sweet and sour dipping sauce. The sauce is not too salty or too sweet, with the spiciness of chili, the pungency of garlic, and the sourness of lemon. When you visit, be sure to spend at least a day to enjoy the special Banh Ram It dishes here. The unique blend of Hue’s culinary culture will surely captivate you.
- Price range: 5,000 VND – 7,000 VND
Since ancient times, Banh Ram It (Fried Sticky Rice Dumplings) has been adopted and prepared by royal families to become one of the imperial dishes. Today, Banh Ram It has become an indispensable part of Hue’s culinary heritage, often recommended by seasoned travelers in their guides for independent trips to Hue. If you have the chance to visit Hue, don’t forget to seek out and enjoy this wonderfully delicious cake.