Banh Da Cua Ba Cu is a long-established restaurant at 179 Cau Dat Street in central Hai Phong. It is known for banh da cua be, a seafood-focused version of the city’s signature red-brown rice noodles with crab broth. The fixed street-front address makes it a convenient first stop for travelers who want to try the dish without searching through a market or alley.
Plan to visit for breakfast, lunch or an early dinner. Hours are generally listed from 07:00 until 21:00 or 22:00 daily, so confirm on the day if you intend to arrive after 20:30. Available seafood and prices can change; check the menu and what each bowl includes before ordering.
Banh Da Cua Ba Cu: quick facts
- Address: 179 Cau Dat Street, Hai Phong
- Published phone: +84 904 666 053
- Reference hours: from 07:00 daily; closing time is commonly shown as 21:00 or 22:00
- Specialty: Hai Phong red rice noodles with crab and seafood
- Common formats: noodle soup and mixed noodles, subject to the current menu
- Best for: first-time visitors who want an easy-to-find restaurant serving a seafood-led version of the local dish
The restaurant appears in Hai Phong’s official Food Tour venue list. It was also among the local businesses recognized in the Hương vị Đất Cảng category in 2025, a program promoting characteristic food from the port city.
What is Hai Phong banh da cua?
Banh da are flat rice noodles with a distinctive red-brown color. In a typical Hai Phong bowl, they are paired with crab-based broth, crab roe mixture, greens and toppings such as grilled pork wrapped in wild betel leaf, fish cake or meatballs. The exact combination depends on the restaurant and the bowl ordered.
Banh Da Cua Ba Cu is often identified as a banh da cua be restaurant. Cua be means sea crab, distinguishing this seafood-oriented style from versions centered on field crab. Shrimp, mantis shrimp, crab meat and other toppings may be offered, but they should not be assumed to appear in every serving.
What to order at Banh Da Cua Ba Cu
Noodle soup
The soup version is the clearest introduction to the dish. The noodles and toppings arrive in the crab broth, usually with greens, spring onion and fried shallot. Taste the broth before adding lime or the local chili sauce, commonly called chí chương, because the seasoning can be stronger than expected.
Mixed noodles
If available, the mixed or dry version serves the noodles and toppings with sauce rather than submerged in broth. A small bowl of broth may be served alongside. Choose this format if you prefer a more concentrated sauce and firmer noodles; choose the soup when the broth is the main reason for your visit.
Toppings and nem cua be
Ask which toppings are included in the standard bowl and which cost extra. This matters at a seafood restaurant because a bowl described as “special” or “mixed” may contain a different combination of crab, shrimp, mantis shrimp, pork rolls or meatballs.
Nem cua be, the square Hai Phong crab spring roll, can be a useful side dish for two or more people to share when it is available. It is separate from the noodle dish and may contain crab, shrimp, pork, glass noodles and mushrooms. Confirm the filling if anyone has a shellfish allergy or avoids pork.
How to order without confusion
The restaurant name is written Bà Cụ in Vietnamese, referring to an elderly woman or grandmother. Showing the written name Bánh Đa Cua Bà Cụ and the address 179 Cau Dat is more reliable than trying to pronounce the restaurant name from the English spelling alone.
These short phrases can help when ordering:
- Bánh đa cua bể nước: seafood crab noodles served as soup
- Bánh đa cua bể trộn: mixed seafood crab noodles, if available
- Không ăn cay: not spicy
- Bát này gồm những gì? What is included in this bowl?
- Giá bao nhiêu? How much is it?
Vietnamese tones matter, so showing the phrase on your phone may work better than reading the unaccented spelling aloud. The staff can also point out the current toppings and sizes on the menu.
Practical checks before you eat
- Confirm the closing time: call ahead if arriving late in the evening, because current published hours do not use one consistent closing time.
- Ask for the total price: do not rely on a fixed price range; seafood choice and extra toppings can change the bill.
- Check the topping list: soup, mixed and special bowls may not contain the same ingredients.
- Mention allergies clearly: crab, shrimp and other shellfish may be used in both toppings and broth. Ask about pork, fish cake and shared preparation areas if these matter to you.
- Add chili gradually: chí chương is served for flavor as well as heat, but you do not need it to understand the basic taste of the broth.
Is Banh Da Cua Ba Cu worth visiting?
Banh Da Cua Ba Cu suits travelers who want a recognizable, central address and a seafood-heavy introduction to Hai Phong’s red noodle tradition. It is less useful if you are specifically seeking the simplest field-crab version or a low-cost bowl with no extra seafood.
Go with the expectation that topping combinations, prices and late-evening hours can change. Confirm those three details, then choose soup for the broth or mixed noodles for a more concentrated, textured bowl.