Vietnamese cuisine varies by region. Each city, even each village, may have its own list of unique local specialties.
Our quest through Vietnam started in the north, in the capital city of Hanoi. 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 we had some of our best and surprising local food experiences on the sidewalks with locals and not in restaurants.
In this article, we highlight the top 10 Vietnamese food you must eat in Hanoi.
#1 – Bún Chả – Barbecued Pork with Rice Vermicelli
Bún chả, is one northern Vietnamese food that quickly became our favorite. It is also a specialty from Hanoi, that cannot 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 Have 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 town.
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 had 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 restaurantWhere to Have It
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)
#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 BeWhere to Have It
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)
Đắc Kim restaurant -reputable and popular with tourists#3 – Cha Ca – Grilled Fish with Dill and Tumeric
Cha Ca 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 dish 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 sample this local delight. We were not disappointed at all.
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.
Watch the video below:
Listening to the sizzling sounds of the fish cooking and 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 RestaurantWhere to Have It
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.
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 dish 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.
We learned later on that the Cá Cuốn Thịt at the restaurant are equally delicious. These are a kind of 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!
Where to Have it
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) Add 10,000 VND ($0.44 USD) for Ca Cuon Thit.
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 the dish 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 TruyenOur bánh cuốn dish was very light and flavorful. We would recommend ordering a couple of portions of this unique and delicate dish.
Perhaps due to a language barrier, the restaurant staff did not share much about their dishes and the special essence used.
Check out the video below and see how the ladies at the restaurant make this “must eat in Hanoi” on the spot. It is quite fascinating!
Watch the video below:
Where to Have It
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).
#6 – Lau – Hot Pot
In the cooler months, Lau is one of the most popular dishes 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 stock or 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 that we saw followed by chicken and seafood. As this is a large dish that is meant for sharing, we did not order it. Though it is one of the authentic Vietnamese dishes you must eat in Hanoi. This article from WheretoVn.com goes into more detail about the different types of hot pots you can find in Hanoi.
Groups eating Lau in Hanoi#7 – Pho – Vietnamese Noodle Soup
Pho is the classic dish of Hanoi, and one that you cannot miss. Our previous article, the best pho in Vietnam, goes into detail about the soup and where to find 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 pho, our must eat in Hanoi pho restaurant is the one listed below. Be sure to go early, as there is usually a long line!
Where to Have it
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.
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
Our favorite Bánh Mì sandwiches are actually not found in Hanoi, but in Hoi An, in central Vietnam.
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.
Where to Have It
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)
Banh Mi Ngon#9 Chè – Vietnamese Sweet Soup
Chè is the perfect end to your meal, especially if you had a light meal 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 cChè 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, is not be an issue in Hanoi. Approach any street vendor with a chè sign, sit on the small stools, and 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 HanoiWhere to Have It
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)
Chè street vendor #10 Cà Phê Trung- Vietnamese Egg Coffee
Although it is not a food, it is like food. Egg coffee or Ca Phe 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 coffeeWhere to Have It
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)
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 dishes 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 these dishes have you had or would like to try? Leave your comments below.
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Hi! Welcome to Authentic Food Quest. We are Claire and Rosemary. Our goal is to invite you to explore the local flavors on your travels. Follow our quest for authentic foods from around the world.
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…