Vietnamese cuisine varies by region. Each city, even each village has its own list of unique local specialties.
Hanoi is no exception. Our quest through Vietnam started in the capital city of Hanoi, known for must eat Hanoi food. Many of the popular Vietnamese dishes originated here. The famous Vietnamese noodle soup Pho, is one of the most iconic northern Vietnamese food.
Situated near the Chinese border, northern Vietnamese cuisine reflects Chinese influences. With the cooler climate in the north and wide availability of freshwater fish and seafood like prawns, shrimp, crab, clams and more, food from the region has its own distinctive flavor.
Hanoi, we discovered, is also famous for its street food culture. Street food stalls are popular and make up for the vast majority of Hanoi food. Some of the best and surprising local food experiences in Hanoi are made on the sidewalks with locals and not in restaurants.
In this article, we highlight the top 10 Vietnamese food you must eat in Hanoi including the best places to have them.
Table of contents
- #1 – Bún Chả – Barbecued Pork with Rice Vermicelli
- #2 – Nem Cua Be – Crab Spring Rolls
- #3 – Chả Cá – Grilled Fish with Dill and Tumeric
- Must Eat in Hanoi: Chả Cá at Chả Cá Thảng Long Restaurant
- #4 – Bún Cả – Fish Noodle Soup
- #5 – Bánh Cuốn – Steamed Rice Rolls
- Bánh Cuốn at Gia Truyen
- Must Eat in Hanoi: Bánh Cuốn at Gia Truyen
- #6 – Lau – Hot Pot
- #7 – Pho – Vietnamese Noodle Soup
- # 8 – Bánh Mì – Vietnamese Sandwich
- #9 Chè – Vietnamese Sweet Soup
- #10 Cà Phê Trung- Vietnamese Egg Coffee
- In Summary
- Get Your Hanoi Itinerary – Hanoi Food Trails
- Where to Stay in Hanoi
- Book a Tour
- Love it? Pin it!
- 10 AUTHENTIC FOOD EXPERIENCESYOU WANT TO DELIGHT IN VIETNAM
#1 – Bún Chả – Barbecued Pork with Rice Vermicelli
Bún chả, is one northern Vietnamese food that quickly became our favorite. It is one of the best Hanoi food specialty not to be missed.
The dish consists of grilled pork strips and balls or chả served over a bed of rice vermicelli noodles or bún. It typically comes with a plate of fresh Vietnamese herbs and a bowl of dipping sauce. Pickled vegetables, like cabbage, carrots, onion or green papaya served with additional meatballs on the side.
Grilled pork strips and pork ballsThe sauce is made of the famous Vietnamese fish sauce or Nuoc Mam combined with vinegar, lime, sugar, garlic and chili.
Bún chả meal with noodles, herbs and nemWhere to Eat It
Most restaurants in Vietnam specialize in making just one dish. In Hanoi, there are several bún chả restaurants and vendors. While it is a popular meal for lunch, some restaurants serve it all-day long. For great bún chả local experiences, here are two exceptional places to check out in Hanoi.
Bún Chả Hương Liên
Already popular, this restaurant gained worldwide acclaim when President Obama and Anthony Bourdain ate Bún chả together. To capitalize on this fame, Bún Chả Hương Liên restaurant added the name “Obama” to the link of their Facebook page.
Inside the restaurant with prominent pictures of President ObamaAlthough the walls are now covered with Obama’s pictures, the cuisine remains the same – local, authentic and delicious. This is one of the best bún chả restaurants in Hanoi.
The pork balls are slightly fatty, incredibly juicy and tasty. Fresh herbs, noodles dipped into the special sauce, makes for an incredible harmony of flavors. A definite must eat in Hanoi dish!
The entrance of Bún Chả Hương Liên restaurant Hùng Lẩu
The second restaurant was actually where we ate our very first lunch in Hanoi. It is a very local joint where no-one speaks English. This place was recommended by our Airbnb host, and undeniably, the restaurant was packed with locals.
Eating with locals at
Hùng LẩuFor our first meal out in Vietnam, we were not sure about the ordering process. With no one speaking English and the menu in Vietnamese, we felt a little lost. We shared a table with local office workers on their lunch break. And with broken English, gestures and facial expressions, we made ourselves understood and they helped us order lunch.
This was a wonderful introduction to Bún chả. We found the pork meatballs to be grilled to perfection! The sauce was flavorful, and the combination of tastes and textures divine. Definitely a place to get your bún chả fix.
Grilling the pork at the entrance of the restaurantMust Eat in Hanoi – Bun Cha
Address: 24 Le Van Huu Street in Hai Ba Trung District
Hours: Everyday from 8:00 am to 9:00 pm
Prices: About 40,000 VND to 50,000 VND ($1.77 USD to $2.21 USD)
Hùng Lẩu
Address: 6, Ngõ Trạm, Hà Nội.
Hours: Everyday from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Prices: About 35,000 VND ($1.54 USD)
Another popular option, especially with tourists is Đắc Kim Restaurant. We found the pork to be more fatty and not as tasty or delicate as at the other two restaurants above. Nonetheless, it remains a solid option for this “must eat in Hanoi”.
Address: 1 Hang Manh Street
Hours: Everyday from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm
Prices: About 60,000 VND ($2.65 USD)
Pro Tip: Order your Bún Chả with Nuem Ca Be (Must eat Hanoi food #2)
#2 – Nem Cua Be – Crab Spring Rolls
Nem Cua Be, or crab spring rolls are the perfect complement to bún chả. These are fried rolls filled with sea crab and vermicelli noodles. Fresh and lightly fried, these rolls melt in the mouth and are to be savored.
These crab spring rolls are sold by the roll, where one roll is cut into three smaller pieces. They are eaten as an appetizer while waiting for the bún chả meal or dipped into the savory bún chả soup.
The same restaurants mentioned above serve equally tasty and crispy fresh crab spring rolls.
Delicious lightly fried Nem Cua BeMust Eat in Hanoi – Nuem Cua Be
Address: 24 Le Van Huu Street in Hai Ba Trung District
Hours: Everyday from 8:00 am to 9:00 pm
Prices: 7,000 VND per piece (about $0.30 USD)
Hùng Lẩu
Address: 6, Ngõ Trạm, Hà Nội.
Hours: Everyday from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Prices: About 10,000 VND per roll ($0.44 USD)
Address: 1 Hang Manh Street
Hours: Everyday from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm
Prices: About 15,000 VND per roll ($0.66 USD)
Pro Tip: Check for the menus to combine the order of Bún Chả and Nuem Cua Be at a lower price
Đắc Kim restaurant -reputable and popular with tourists#3 – Chả Cá – Grilled Fish with Dill and Tumeric
Chả Cá is one of the unique specialties of the Hanoi people and definitely a must eat in Hanoi. So important is this local specialty, that it even has a street named after it – Cha Ca street.
We loved this dish so much and can absolutely say it is a Hanoi food worth flying for. World-renowned, The New York Times followed its history from Vietnam to the United State. “Hanoians even have a saying that … “someone should try this once in their life before leaving this world.”
Our local Airbnb host highly recommended Chả Cá Thảng Long Restaurant in the Old Quater, as the best place to eat this local delight. You will not be disappointed.
The special ingredient in Chả Cá is grilled fish, typically mudfish or snake-head fish. According to the restaurant, the best fish to use Hemibragus, because it has fewer bones and tasty flesh.
This dish is made table side and the experience of preparing the dish is almost as much fun as eating it.
A delicious bowl of chả cáA server will set up a hot pot on your table and will bring everything you need to accompany your meal. Fresh herbs, vermicelli rice noodles, a bowl of roasted peanuts and a dipping fish sauce with sliced chilies. In the pot is the fish grilling with mounds of dill and turmeric.
Must Eat in Hanoi: Chả Cá at Chả Cá Thảng Long Restaurant
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Listening to the sizzling sounds of the Chả Cá cooking at Chả Cá Thảng Long Restaurant , surrounded by the aroma of fresh herbs, we were in foodie heaven.
Each bite of the buttery grilled fish, perfectly seasoned with turmeric and noodles soaked in fish sauce, combined with the fresh herbs, is a delicious explosion of flavors. This must eat in Hanoi was definitely one of our best meals in the city, and one you have to experience.
Yours truly delighting in chả cá at Chả Cá Thảng Long RestaurantMust Eat in Hanoi – Cha Ca
You will find several Chả Cá restaurants in Hanoi. The one we went to was Chả Cá Thảng Long, which was recommended highly by our local airbnb host.
Address: 19 – 21 – 31, Duong Thanh, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Hours: Everyday from 11:00 am to 9:30 pm
Prices for Cha Ca: 120,000 VND per person, (approximately $5.29 USD)
The original restaurant for Chả Cá, is Chả Cá Lã Vọng also in the Old Quarter of Hanoi. We did not eat at this restaurant as our host highly recommended Chả Cá Thảng Long for an authentic experience. Additionally, the reviews of Chả Cá Lã Vọng receives mixed reviews on Trip Advisor. Nevertheless, noted below is the address of this legendary restaurant.
Address: 14 Chả Cá, Hà Nội.
Hours: Everyday from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm and 5pm to 9pm.
Pro Tip: There are two Chả Cá Thảng Long restaurants, one is smoking, one non-smoking Make sure you eat this best food in Hanoi at the non-smoking restaurant!
Entrance to Chả Cá Thảng Long restaurant#4 – Bún Cả – Fish Noodle Soup
In northern Vietnam, fresh water fish is widely used in dishes. This Hanoi food Bún Cá, is no exception.
It is a light broth made from fish bones with golden fresh white fish lightly fried. At the bottom of the soup, is a bed of rice vermicelli noodles. On the top covering the broth, is a delicate combination of spring onions and bean sprouts mixed with dill herbs.
Bún Cá soup, perfect for cool evenings.Bún Cá Sâm Cây Si
To taste this unique dish, there is no better place than Bún cá Sâm Cây Si, a typical street side restaurant. Tucked in a dark alley in the old quarter, this unpretentious small joint is packed with locals and tourist alike.
Bun Ca Sam Cay Si tucked in an alley of Hanoi Old QuarterWe actually stumbled on this place while looking for another restaurant nearby. As we took our seats, we asked if we were in the right place. The owner using gesture pointed us to a closed restaurant, which we learned, later on, had closed down.
Tempted by the delicious smells and local crowd, we decided to stay – – – and we didn’t regret that decision!
The hot steaming soup outside on a cool evening was delightful. Tender fresh fish in a flavorful broth, combined with onions that were slightly crunchy was perfect. This heart-warming soup at a very local joint was one of our best surprises in Hanoi.
Must Eat in Hanoi – Bun Ca
Adress: 5 Ngõ Trung Yên, Hà Nội.
Hours: Everyday from 8:00 am to 8:30 pm
Prices: About 35,000 VND per person, (approximately $1.54 USD).
Pro Tip: Order a side of Cá Cuốn Thịt with your soup. These are deep fried spring rolls, with a mixture of pork and herbs wrapped in fresh fish. Add another 10,000 VND ($0.44 USD) to your meal and your taste buds will thank you!
Menu on the wall at Bún Cá Sâm Cây Si#5 – Bánh Cuốn – Steamed Rice Rolls
Bánh cuốn is another local specialty from Northern Vietnam that you don’t want to miss.
It is a delicate and light dish usually eaten for breakfast in Vietnam. However, you can find it all day long.
Bánh cuốn is made of a thin rice sheet rolled and filled with ground pork meat and minced mushrooms. It is served with fried shallots and cilantro herbs on top.
Beautiful plate of Bánh Cuốn The secret flavor of this Hanoi food resides in its dipping sauce.
As with most Vietnamese dishes, Nuoc Mam of fish sauce is used in the dipping sauce. The magic comes with the additional drop of cà cuống, the essence of a giant water bug common in Southeast Asia.
This drop in the sauce adds an extra flavor which gives off a taste similar to scallops or shrimps. Today, this natural essence is becoming scarce and many restaurants are now using an imitation essence.
The rice sheet is made by steaming fermented rice batter on a cloth stretched over a pot of boiling water.
Ladies preparing bánh cuốn to order at street side restaurantBánh Cuốn at Gia Truyen
For this dish, we recommend to go to Bánh Cuốn Gia Truyen. It is a well-known restaurant in Hanoi for its Bánh Cuốn. On the menu below, you can see the restaurant still uses the original water bug essence in the dish.
Note, that you can actually order the essence and the bug as a side dish, which is quite popular in Vietnam.
Menu at Banh Cuon Gia TruyenThe bánh cuốn is light and flavorful. It is a very unique and delicate Hanoi food best eaten as an appetizer.
Although this dish was delicious, we missed having more attention from the staff and being able to talk about this Hanoi food specialty and the unique essence used.
Check out this video on the making of Bánh Cuốn at Gia Truyen. See how the ladies at Gia Truyen prepare this “must eat in Hanoi” on the spot. It is quite fascinating!
Must Eat in Hanoi: Bánh Cuốn at Gia Truyen
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Must Eat in Hanoi – Banh Cuon
Address: 12 Hàng Gà, Hà Nội.
Hours: Everyday from 7:00 am to 1:00 pm and 5pm to 11pm
Prices: About 35,000 VND per person, (approximately $1.54 USD)
Pro Tip: Order a couple portions of this best Hanoi food as it is very light.
#6 – Lau – Hot Pot
In the cooler months, Lau is one of the most popular food you will find in Hanoi. Sitting on the sidewalks, in the evenings, you will see groups of locals huddled together over a large pot of simmering soup, cooking beef, chicken, fish, noodles, veggies and so on.
Next to the tables, you will find vendors with a display filled with different vegetables and protein to be added to the hot pot.
Tempting raw vegetables for Lau cooking There are many different kinds of hot pots. Frog, is one of the most popular ones followed by chicken and seafood.
As this is a large dish meant for sharing with several people, we did not order it. If you are traveling with a group, don’t hesitate to try this dish. This is one of the authentic Vietnamese dishes you must eat in Hanoi.
Groups eating Lau in Hanoi#7 – Pho – Vietnamese Noodle Soup
Pho is THE classic Hanoi food, and possibly one of the best food Hanoi offers. Our previous article, the best pho in Vietnam, goes into detail about the soup and where to eat it, including in Hanoi.
Delicious and satisfying Pho Tai Nam. Yum!Let’s just say you don’t want to miss this aromatic soup, filled with slices of beef, rice noodles and a plateful of fresh herbs.
There are many places that sell this Hanoi food. One of the best place to eat Pho in Hanoi is Pho Gia Truyen. Be sure to go early, as there is usually a long line!
Must Eat in Hanoi – Pho
Address: 49 Bát Đàn, Hà Nội.
Hours: Everyday from 6:00 am to 10:30 am and 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm.
Prices: About 40,000 VND to 50,000 VND per person, approximately $1.75 USD to $2.20 USD.
Pro Tip: For 5,000 VND ($0.20USD) Add a side of trung ga to your order. It is a banh mi style bread lightly fried and used to dip into the soup.
Long lines on a Sunday night for the best pho in Vietnam - Pho Gia Truyen, Hanoi# 8 – Bánh Mì – Vietnamese Sandwich
The bánh mì sandwich is truly the best Vietnamese sandwich to fall in love with. While its origins are French, the Vietnamese have made it distinctively their own. Generally speaking it is an airy Vietnamese baguette made with a combination of wheat and rice flours with a thin crispy crust.
It is stuffed with pork, pâté, cured ham, a mélange of Vietnamese herbs and vegetables like coriander, cucumber, carrot, slices, radish and more depending on what part of the country you are in. A wealth of textures and flavors, you will savor spicy, salty, savory, sweet, and aromatic tastes in each bite.
Gorgeous and delicious bánh mì sandwiches from the Banh Mi Queen Our favorite Bánh Mì sandwiches are actually not found in Hanoi, but in Hoi An, in central Vietnam. If your travels take you to Hoi An, we recommend taking a Hoi An cooking class for a fun local experience.
In Hanoi, we stumbled onto Bánh Mì Ngon where we had two freshly made bánh mì sandwiches for the first time. What made this experience extra special, was the owner of the place made us taste a local dessert – pomelo slices topped with a mix of chili spices. A very nice and unexpected treat.
Must Eat in Hanoi – Banh Mi
Bánh Mì Ngon
Address: 49 Đường Thành, Hà Nội.
Hours: Everyday from 8 am until 10 pm.
Prices: About 15,000 VND to 25,000 VND ($0.66 USD to $1.10 USD)
Pro Tip: Order your Bánh Mì sandwich to eat in and enjoy the local experience of eating at the small tables
Banh Mi Ngon#9 Chè – Vietnamese Sweet Soup
Chè is the perfect end to your meal, especially if you had a light Hanoi food like Bánh Cuốn. Chè basically means dessert in Vietnamese.
In Hanoi, you will find chè vendors on the streets. Delight in warm chè in the cooler evenings and refresh with crushed ice added to the dessert in the hot months.
Chè is a sweet soup typically made of several ingredients mixed together and served in a large beer glass.
Refreshing chè on the streets of HanoiIn the vendor’s cart, you will find different ingredients in large bowls displayed in the cart. When you order your chè, simply point to the ingredients you want.
Some of the typical ingredients are: mung beans, black beans, corn, taro, tapioca, jelly, and more!
Street vendor making chè for usIn Hanoi, due to the Chinese influence, you will also find Chè trôi nước. This is a sweet soup made with mung bean balls wrapped in a glutinous rice flour dipped in a warm ginger sauce.
Tasty and gingery chè trôi nước dessertFinding a chè place, should not be an issue in Hanoi. Approach any street vendor with a chè sign, sit on the small stools, join the locals and place your order.
That’s what we did in Hanoi. We found this delicious Chè vendor and had chè mixed with every ingredient she had on the cart. We also ordered a delicious warm ginger soup with sesame balls.
Both were excellent and filling desserts!
While trying to understand the ingredients on the vendor’s cart, we took the opportunity to talk with locals and have them guide us to make sure we were ordering the right stuff. Definitively, a great way to connect with locals, while indulging in local delicacies!
Sitting on small stools while eating chè dessert with locals in HanoiMust Eat in Hanoi – Che
Address: 52 Hàng Điếu, Hà Nội.
Hours: Everyday from 8pm until 11pm.
Prices: About 10,000 VND to 25,000 VND ($0.44 USD to $1.10 USD)
Pro Tip: In the summer, order your Chè with ice, while in the winter have it warmed up.
Chè street vendor #10 Cà Phê Trung- Vietnamese Egg Coffee
Although it is not a food, it is like food. Egg coffee or Cà Phê Trung is the most famous coffee in the north of Vietnam. It is a thick dark coffee topped with egg yolk whipped with condensed milk into an airy froth. Rich in taste, it can be likened to tiramisu dessert.
Rich and silky egg coffeeMust Drink in Hanoi – Vietnamese Egg Coffee
There are several coffee shops and places to enjoy a silky Vietnamese egg coffee. One place that offers the best view in Hanoi is a hidden and difficult to find coffee shop called Café Phố Cổ.
Hidden entrance of Cafe Pho CoAddress: 11 Hàng Gai, Hàng Trống, Hà Nội
Hours: Everyday from 8am until 11pm.
Prices: About 30,000 VND for a cup of egg coffee ($1.34 USD)
Pro Tip: In addition to egg coffee, Hanoi is also one of the best place to experience the Vietnamese beer Bia Hanoi and the local Bia Hoi.
View of Hanoi at night from Cafe Pho CoIn Summary
Northern Vietnamese food has its own unique tastes and flavors. The balance of flavors, the influence of the weather and the unique ingredients make for a wonderful culinary adventure.
Many of the best Hanoi foods are found on the streets, on small plastic tables and chairs.
For a local and authentic food experience on your travels, put any hesitation aside about eating on the streets. Instead, sit with the locals and try some of the local specialties you must eat in Hanoi highlighted here.
Do you like Vietnamese food? Which of the Must Eat in Hanoi food have you had or would like to try? Leave your comments below.
Savor the Adventure!
Get Your Hanoi Itinerary – Hanoi Food Trails
Where to Stay in Hanoi
To taste a slice of local life in Hanoi, consider booking your stay at the new La Santé Hotel & Spa in Ba Dinh.
The hotel is close to city’s main attractions such as Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Vietnam Military History Museum, the Old Quarter, and Truc Bach Lake, which is perfect for running. Find authentic Vietnamese cuisine at the hotel restaurant.
Click this link to search for more accommodation options in Hanoi
Book a Tour
Looking for a local guide to experience the best food in Hanoi? Click and book any the tours below.
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10 AUTHENTIC FOOD EXPERIENCESYOU WANT TO DELIGHT
IN VIETNAM
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Rosemary is a writer, culinary explorer, and digital nomad. Together with her partner, Claire, they created Authentic Food Quest to help people find the best local food on their travels. For over 5 years they have eaten their way through South America, Southeast Asia, Europe, and North America while sharing the best local food experiences on their website. Authentic Food Quest has been featured on top publications such as Huffington Post, Business Insider, and Honest Cooking. Rosemary and Claire are also authors of Authentic Food Quest Argentina and Authentic Food Quest Peru, available on Amazon. Prior to creating Authentic Food Quest, Rosemary worked as a strategy director in advertising for over 15 years.
I am drooling. Great recommendations. I would love to try the crab spring rolls. They look delicious. Thanks for providing the address as well it is super useful.
You are most welcome and glad you are drooling 🙂 Vietnamese food is incredible and these 10 authentic dishes should not be missed in Hanoi. Thanks for stopping by.
I’ve had try only Banh-Mi sandwich before. I really like it, but I’m sure it’s nothing like the real one. The egg coffee seems very interesting and made me a big impression. I would definitely love to try it. What do you think about it? Did you like it?
The egg coffee is quite unique. It is thick and creamy and more like a dessert. Eaten in moderation is it quite delicious. Glad you already like the Bahn Mi sandwich. Explore deeper with these recommendations!! Cheers.
All these street food dishes look amazing, I love Vietnamese food and surprised I haven’t visited this amazing country yet. You really have captures some delicious food in this country.
Thank you so much Noel. Vietnamese food is incredible and it would be a shame to miss these 10 must eat dishes from Hanoi.
As always, I love your writing. You do such a great job of putting the food and culture first and then sliding in the eating suggestions. I think I could really go for some egg coffee right now just because I am feeling nappy but everything you pictured looks absolutely fabulous.
Thank you so much for your feedback and glad to know you enjoy our articles. All of it is delicious and the egg coffee is quite a special treat. Hope you can get to Vietnam and enjoy this delights in Hanoi. Cheers!
Excellent article. We just got back from Vietnam, but stayed mainly in the south and didn’t make it to Hanoi. We found Hoi An to be an amazing destination for food. Next time I head to Vietnam, I’ll bring your article … and an appetite for crab spring rolls. Yum.
Awesome to hear you found Hoi An amazing for food. We agree and will be writing about our discoveries shortly. Hanoi is also quite interesting for the food and worth a visit the next time you are in Vietnam. So glad you enjoyed the article. Thank you!!
Funny enough, I actually had made an egg coffee myself before ever traveling to Vietnam (and got viciously made fun of/ gross out from co-workers). When we found one in Vietnam, I was taking photos and sending it to everyone saying (SEE!? I’M NOT CRAZY!!!)
Wow, that’s impressive that you’ve made egg coffee. Is it difficult to make? Does it look and taste like this one from Hanoi. Yes, keep spreading the love for Vietnamese food. It is worth exploring, especially the authentic and must have dishes of Hanoi. Cheers.
Mmm.. Vietnamese food- those pictures are making me hungry. Everything looks amazing and it was great to include the places you can find the dishes. I have been on a huge pork kick lately so can’t wait to try Bún Chả!
So glad you enjoyed the article and the tempting pictures. If you can find it, the Bun Cha is delightful. Thanks for stopping by.
We have a really great Vietnamese restaurant just outside of Vancouver that i frequent often for Pho. But that egg coffee, it looks delish! I am excited for the food when we visit Vietnam! I love these types of posts so I know exactly where to go when we get there!
Thanks, Lindsay and glad you enjoyed the post with the handy addresses. The egg coffee is quite a delicious experience and worth trying 🙂 Lucky you for having a great Vietnamese restaurant you frequent. See if they have other local specialities beyond Pho. You will be amazed and delighted!
I’ve really enjoyed the Vietnamese food I’ve tried in the states and would love to explore the authentic thing. Pho is one of my favorite things on a cold and wet day. Thanks for the inspiration to plan a trip!
You are most welcome Megan. Happy to provide the inspiration 🙂 Glad you already love Pho in the U.S. Having it Vietnam is a different experience. Hope you get there soon!! Cheers.
I love Vietnamese food and visiting Vietnam. Hanoi is a favourite city. I have eaten many of the dishes you recommend, except for the Vietnamese sandwich. I have a friend in the city and she took the family out for local specialities. How long did you spend in Hanoi?
Thanks Nancy for your comments. Sounds like you had the perfect local tour guide for your visit to Hanoi. We spent a total of one month in Vietnam and about 10 days in Hanoi. A great city and amazing experience. Did you have a particular local food specialty you loved? Let us know!!
Honestly, I’ve never had Vietnamese food but this post is making me want to try it! All the dishes looked so good. I’m definitely going to have to find a local Vietnamese restaurant to try since I’m not sure if a trip to Vietnam is in my future.
Thrilled to read that this article is whetting your appetite for Vietnamese food. It is simply amazing – fresh and flavorful, it is one of our favorite cuisines. Yes, please try a local Vietnamese restaurant and please check back and let us know what you think. Cheers!
Egg coffee?! That looks incredible. And here I thought my area had some decent Vietnamese food…I’m going to have to ask around and see if I can get some here in NY otherwise I guess I’ll just add it to my to-try list when I visit Vietnam.
Thanks Sarah, please do let us know if you end up finding egg coffee in New York. Do you have any particular Vietnamese food favorites? Appreciate you stopping by.
OMG. Cha ca is my favorite!! I would seek it out specifically on a Hanoi trip. And thanks for sharing a few things that I’ve never heard of (and we eat a lot of Vietnamese food).
That’s great Rob that you picked up a few new tidbits. And yes, Cha ca is one of our favorites as well!!
Seeing all of this food is really making me reminisce about my time in Vietnam and eating some of this delicious food. I didn’t get to eat all of it but that means I’ll just have to go back there soon!!
You are right Samantha, there is so much good food to choose from in Vietnam. A trip back and possibly several trips would be needed to eat it all 🙂 Thanks for stopping by.
I AM SO HUNGRY NOW! I can’t wait for my trip to Vietnam. There is so much food to be eaten!
Leah
Are you going to Vietnam soon? Don’t hesitate to reach out for tips or suggestions. You will love it…and so will your stomach 🙂
is there a such thing as a vegetarian or vegan meal in vietnam?
Oh wow…. I now wanna go to Vietnam for that food:) Yummy…. And I commend you for eating on the side of the streets… where you normally get the authentic flavors/foods:)
Eating on the streets is one of the best places to experience the local food and culture. It’s actually quite safe and we never got seek. Try eating on the streets when you make it to Vietnam, and please let us know how it goes. Thanks for your comments.
I am so glad I found your article. Everything looks delicious. I can’t wait to go to Vietnam and try the food. 🙂
Thanks, Salome, appreciate your kind words. Do let us know if you have any questions about the food as you prepare to visit Vietnam. You will love all the delicious foods. Don’t hesitate to reach out!! Cheers.
Great post! You are pretty adventurous with food!
So glad you enjoyed the article!! Indeed, we will go the length for authentic and local food specialities. It is worth it 🙂
I was in Vietnam a few months ago. I think I liked the Banh mi sandwiches the best. The egg coffee was pretty interesting too!
Where in Vietnam were you? Agree, the Bahn mi sandwich is quite tasty and easy to eat. Did you like the egg coffee? I found it more like a treat and less like a drink. Thanks for your comments and sharing the Vietnam love :)!!
I have a Vietnamese friend who cooks the most delicious things! Would love to try the bun cha, although I think I would mostly stuff myself on seafood ?
That’s awesome that you have access to home cooked Vietnamese foods. Yum!! The bun cha is indeed as delicious as it looks. Hope you can visit the country for yourself. It is quite amazing. Thanks for your comments.
Thanks for sharing.. yummy Food…
A little correction, “gia truyen” means it was past from this generation to another in a family. You can find this word in many small restaurants in Vietnam, it not exactly a name.
Thank you so much for explaining the meaning of the name in Vietnamese. Indeed, were surprised to see it on several restaurants in Hanoi. That’s what we love and want to inspire others to do – is visit the small family owned local restaurants. Cheers!!
Oh, really good guide for those who want to live as a local in these days in Hanoi, especially the food. Love your post! Keep up with your good work!
Thanks so much Tonkin. We really appreciate your feedback!! Our goal is to inspire travelers to explore the local and delicious Vietnamese cuisine in Hanoi. Cheers!
It’s hard to come by experienced people for this subject, but you seem like you know what you’re talking about!
Thanks
Your feedback as a Vietnamese local means a lot to us. Thank you!!
The first time I was in Hanoi I did a Food tour of the Old Quarter. You can do the walk at lunchtime or in the evening, and make sure that you are really, really hungry, otherwise, you miss out on a lot of good food. It was a lot of fun, the food was tasty, and a treasure trove of information.
Food tours are always a lot of fun. Indeed, you get to discover new places and eat a lot. Glad you had a great time. Any favorite dishes?
This is a great post. I can recommend you walk the old town of Hanoi and enjoy the pavement beer and some popular dishes such as dried squid or peanut.
Thank you so much for your feedback. Drinking beer on the streets was a wonderful local experience. Didn’t know about the dried squid. Will have to try those next time. Cheers.
We’ve been to most of the places during our stay in Hanoi and they were all absolutely amazing!!! Thank you so much for sharing this information!
Thank you Adria and so glad you enjoyed the article for your Hanoi trip. That’s great news and look for more articles from Central and Southern Vietnam in the coming weeks. Cheers.
Actually “quẩy” is what we call the lightly fried bread that we have with Phở. Trung ga is chicken egg. Awesome post though 😉
Appreciate the feedback Minh 🙂 Thank you. So glad you enjoyed the article. Cheers.
I am going to visit Vietnam very soon, this food list will help me alot.
Thanks!
You are most welcome Dave. And feel free to reach out if you have any additional questions as you prepare for your trip. Cheers.
Food for days ! Hanoi is an endless source of yummy treats, and I’ll add those to my next session. Thanks !
Wonderful to hear. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions about the food. Enjoy!!