I totally agree that Hanoi is a food paradise. As Vietnam’s capital, much of best Vietnamese cuisine come from and come to Hanoi.
For starters, Hanoi foods are Pho (noodle), Banh My (bread- sandwich) and maybe Bun Cha (noodle+ BBQ pork which Obama President enjoyed back in 2016). That’s true, those are most well known food in Vietnam charming’s capital and of course they are on top of our list. However it is only starting point,there are much more food must eat in Hanoi either on the streets or in restaurants, from big roads to narrow lanes. I tried to choose top best food and restaurants for those food voted by local people! Check it out below!
Noodle Dishes
#1. Phở Gia Truyền Bát Đàn
Noodle with soup is one of the most popular and classic in Vietnam. Vietnamese people can have Noodle (Phở) for any meal during the day. However it is best choice for breakfast as their believe of Yin and Yang concept: after one night, people’s body is cool up, in the morning they will eat Noodle with hot soup bring some warm to balance their body! Phở Bát Đàn is best choice with tasty soup and plenty of beef. Although they are quite busy and you may have to stay in a queue, it’s worth to wait and try!
Must Eat In Hanoi- Pho (Noodle with soup)
Cost: 40.000-50.000vnd/person
Opening hours: 6AM-10AM & 6PM-8:30-PM
Address: 49 Bát Đàn, Hà nội. Map Here
#2. Phở Cuốn Ngũ Xá
Beside traditional noodle, Fresh spring roll (Phở cuốn) and Fried noodle (phở chiên phồng) is also famous widely in Hanoi especially with youth. the dish consists of deep fried thick noodle+ stir-fired veggies + beef slices. Yummy!
Ngũ Xá is the name of a street which specialize for this dishes, almost all the restaurants in this street offer Phở cuốn and Phở chiên phồng. Hương Mai, Hưng Bền or Duy Tân are well known options here!
Must Eat In Hanoi- Fresh Spring Rolls+ Deep Fried Thick Noodle
Cost: 50.000VND Phở chiên phồng
70.000VND Phở cuốn
Opening hours: 8Am- 10PM
Address: 25-40 Ngũ xá, Trúc Bạch, Ba đình, hà nội
Map Here
#3. Mỳ Vịt Tiềm
Beside Mỳ Vịt Tiềm (Roasted Duck+ egg noodle)- which is good at No 7 Dien Bien Phu street , there is a similar dish, it is Mỳ Gà tần (Roasted Chicken+ egg noodle) – which can be found at Address No 24 Hang Bo street.
Both of those dishes are believe to be nutritious and specially good for sicked people.
Take a combo with a cold Kumquat juice (about 10.000VND) will make you meal perfect!
Must Eat In Hanoi- Roasted Duck With Egg Noodle
Cost: 35.000- 70.000/person
Opening hours: 6AM- 2PM & 5PM – 8:30PM
Address: 7 Điện Biên Phủ, Ba Đình, Hà Nội
Map Here
#4. Bún Riêu Cua
This version has freshwater crab, pork, tofu, and vermicelli noodle swimming in a tangy tomato broth. Bun rieu is another popular noodle dish in Hanoi/Vietnam therefore it is possible to find in plenty of small lanes and corners in Hanoi.
All those street stalls are excellent and always fulled of people for breakfast. You can ask your hotel/hostel host for nearest Bun rieu. I tried one near my home-stay and it was incredible!
Notied that thí dished mainly for breakfask only!
Must Eat In Hanoi- Crab Noodle Soup
Cost: 30.000-50.000VND/person
Opening hour: 6:30AM-10:30AM (should go before 9AM)
Address: one I tried: 41 Quang Trung, Hoàn kiếm, HÀ nội
Map Here
#5. Bún Chả
I tried several Bun Cha restaurants around Hanoi, I must say honestly that Bun Cha is a national dish, and any restaurant offer amazing taste. You don’t need to take much time choosing which restaurant is better than others. However I still strongly recommend Huong Lien restaurant (also named Bun Cha Obama) as I found the pork here a little more juicy and tasty!
Pro tips: Let order Crab spring rolls, it is perfect combination with Bun Cha
And a glass of lemon tea will help you enjoy the dish totally!
Must Eat In Hanoi-Noodle With BBQ Pork
Cost: 40.000- 50.000VND/person
Opening hours: 8AM-9PM
Address: 24 Le Van Huu, Hai Ba Trung
map Here
#6. Bún Bò Nam Bộ
Main ingredients are vermicelli noodle, beef slices, pea nuts, veggies with lemon and special fish sauce separately. The combination can’t be better in the point of nutrition and taste. You can order Nem Chua (sour meatball) or Gio (pork roll), each cost 6.000VND/unit, as a full combo when you are extra hungry 🙂
Must Eat In Hanoi-Beef Noodle Salad
Cost:~60.000VND/person
Opening hours: 7:30Am-10:30PM
Address: 67 Hang Dieu, Cua Dong Hoan Kiem, Hanoi or 7 Ta Hien (4PM-10PM only)
#7. Chả Cá Thăng Long
Finally we found something without meats 🙂
If you are a seafood lover or just simply wanna avoid meat for a while, this dish is for you. Staff here will serve you on table and show you how to eat. Even you a not a fan of herbs, let’s try when it is combine with fish, peanuts and sauce! A definitely must eat in Hanoi dish!
Must Eat In Hanoi-Grilled Fish With Turmeric & Dill
Cost: 120.000VND/person
Opening hours: 10AM-9:30PM
Address: 19-21-31 Duong Thanh
map Here
Rice Dishes
#8. Xôi Yến
Compare with steamed-rice, this dish is my preferable. Xoi is actually made from sticky rice added turmeric with optional toppings like pate, eggs, pork, etc. My favourite toppings are chicken with mushroom. Pro tips for you is to ask for a glass of lemon tea or soy milk, you meal cannot be more delicious than that!
Must Eat In Hanoi-Sticky Rice With Toppings
Cost: 15.000- 40.000VND/person
Opening hours: 6:30AM-10PM
Address: 29A Tran Hung Dao, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
map Here
#9. Cháo Sườn Sụn
Chao Suon is suitable for light meal at night after you wandering the night market. Rice flour is added to the mixture to create a consistency that parallels congee. Either way, it still tastes great! Chao Suon Sun Huyen Anh is recommended destination.
Must Eat In Hanoi- Porridge With Spare Ribs
Cost: 20.000- 50.000VND/person
Opening hours: 6:00PM-3:00AM
Address: 14 Dong Xuan, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Map Here
Street Snacks
#10. Bánh Mì
Someone said when you visit Vietnam, Banh Mi is a must-have. This version is kind of sandwich in Vietnamese style. You can choose to add different type of fillings such as beef, chicken, cheese, egg, pate with salad and veggies,etc. The baguettes are warm and delightfully soft with a crispy crust. This is another national option for Vietnamese breakfast (especially for students and workers) Hence it is super easy to find Banh Mi any where! Recommended location for you is Banh My Minh Nhat
Must Eat In Hanoi- Banh Mi- Sandwich
Cost: 32.000- 60.000VND/person
Opening hours: 7:00AM-10:00PM
Address: 13 Hang Khay, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Map Here
#11. Bánh Cuốn
Chopped Steamed rice rolls with mint leaves are served with broth and roasted pork at Banh Cuon Gia Truyen Thanh Van. It is truly a delicious authentic Vietnamese not-to-be-misses dish. Staff don’t speak much English but they have English menu – a really impressive menu with so many choices :)) It is classic street stall, so don’t expect much about facility but the food is tasty!
Take a note that they are quite busy therefore sometime you need to wait!
Must Eat In Hanoi- Steamed Rice Roll Pancake
Cost: 35.000- 50.000VND/person
Opening hours: 7:00AM-10:00PM
Address: 12-14 Hang Ga, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Map Here
#12. Bánh Xèo
I was convinced that this is the best snack in Hanoi especially at Bánh Xèo Sáu Phước. Banh xeo is like a turmeric-dusted pancake with savory fillings with shrimps, veggies, beef/ chicken and you will eat it with some green mango, herbs with rice paper cover outside. It will be more tasty if you order some Nem lui (kind or BBQ pork) along with it.
Must Eat In Hanoi- Turmeric-dusted Pancake
Cost: 15.000- 50.000VND/person
Opening hours: 11:00AM-10:00PM
Address: 74 Cau Dat, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
MAp Here
#13. Gà Nướng Lý Văn Phức
In Vietnam, each restaurant normally offer one main dish. It is even more special when there is a whole street offer one main dish- BBQ chicken. They also offer others stuffs that can eat with this main dish like bread, fruits, drinks. Vietnamese young people often gather together here in evening chatting and make fun or evening dating 🙂 The feeling is extraordinary in a winder evening!!!
Must Eat In Hanoi- BBQ chicken
Cost: 20.000VND/chicken wing
60.000/chicken thigh
Opening hours: 6:30pM-10:30PM
Address: Ly Van Phuc street, Cat Linh, Dong Da, Hanoi
Map Here
Desserts
#14. Kem Tươi Lý Thường Kiệt
Hanoi old quarter is undoubtedly an expensive area for renting land. Therefore vendor shops are very popular. This stall is again one of them. Thus you don’t really have a seat at the stall. They served long delicious fresh ice cream which is with vani, chocolate, matcha, strawberry flavor. Even if you don’t have sweet tooth, you will still love it because it is not too sweet. However, notice that it is long and quickly melt, enjoy it fast!
Must Eat In Hanoi- Fresh Ice Cream
Cost: 15.000-25.000/person
Opening hours: 8:00AM-10:00PM
Address: 42C Ly Thuong Kiet, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Map Here
#15. Kem Quả Dừa
Coconut ice cream is one of my favorite desert in Hanoi. Ice cream is filled in a Coconut, after you finish the ice cream, can continue with copra (which makes me exciting :D) Beside coconut ice cream, the are many other choices in menu are able to help you escape Hanois’ humid. And happily English menu are available here, at Minci Che Xoai restaurant. If you are not near by this restaurant, you can just simply check for coconut ice cream near you, it is very popular now in old quarter and West lake area!
Must Eat In Hanoi- Coconut Ice Cream
Cost: 15.000-70.000VND
Opening hours: 12:30PM-10:00PM
Address: 2 Nguyen Truong To, Ba Dinh, Hanoi
Map Here
#16. Sữa Chua Hoa Quả Dầm
Vietnam is in tropical area, that is why you are like visit a paradise of fruits seasoning. Hence, Mixded fruits with yogurt/caramen/honey,etc must not be a missed! Fruits here are fresh thus their taste is much better than imported products in foreigner countries. Take your chance to enjoy fruits here!
Must Eat In Hanoi- Yogurt With Fruits
Cost: 20.000-60.000VND
Opening hours: 24 hours
Address: 24 To Tich,Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Please leave us a comment if you wanna add any wonderful dishes that we missed 🙂
Thanks for reading till here 😀
