Foodie's Guide to Hanoi's Signature Dishes

Food is definitely an important factor that can either make a vacation a success or an absolute failure. Foodies need not worry about Hanoi, though, as the street food culture here is well established and you can almost always find a dependable café or roadside stall to satiate your appetite!

1. Pho Bo / Pho Ga

Pho bo at Hanoi Imperial Hotel - definitely the best pho I had in Hanoi!

The most iconic of foods that originate from Vietnam, pho is probably the signature dish that locals will be proud to introduce you to when you arrive here. It is a soup dish comprising rice noodles topped with a generous serving of herbs and meat – either beef (pho bo) or chicken (pho ga). After trying both dishes, I will definitely recommend the beef version as the meat is much juicier and tenderer than the tough chicken. 

Pho bo at a roadside stall - with tender beef and silky rice noodles

I originally planned to visit the restaurant below as it was highly recommended by many tourists and also offered various options to suit different preferences in tastes – rare steak and flank (tai nam), rare steak (tai) and well done steak (chin) at affordable prices. However, the restaurant was jam-packed with locals having a steamy bowl of pho before heading off to work. Since our hotel’s rendition of pho was remarkably impressive and I was rushing off for a day tour to Tam Coc, I decided to leave this foodie expedition to the next time I return to Hanoi!

Pho Gia Truyen
Address: 49 Bat Dan
Opening Hours: 0700h – 1100h
Expect to Pay: VND 35,000 – 45,000

2. Banh Mi (and Vietnamese Drip Coffee)

Since Vietnam was under French colonial rule for several decades, it is no surprise that French cuisine has influenced the culinary culture here. Banh mi is the Vietnamese rendition of the baguette and has an endless selection of fillings for you to choose from to add into yours. I had mine with roast beef, eggs, pate and the usual veggies. Cafes offering banh mi can be found all over the Old Quarter, so you can simply stop by one for breakfast or teatime before heading off to your next destination! 

Awesome banh mi can be found everywhere in Hanoi!

Oh yeah, it goes really well with a cup of the famous Vietnamese drip coffee. I recommend ordering a chilled milk coffee – besides being able to beat the heat with a cold drink, the ice also helps to dilute and reduce the sweetness of the coffee (it’s really sweet even for this guy who drinks Caramel Milk Tea with 100% sugar!). 

3. Bun Thang

No, it has got nothing to do with hamburgers. Bun is a typical Vietnamese vermicelli bowl which can be served in many different ways – of which bun thang is a simple rice vermicelli dish served with chicken, egg and pork infused in a delicious broth. It is really impressive how the Vietnamese are able to make such sumptuous soup which goes with any type of noodle dish. 

A generous serving of bun thang with aromatic broth

I had my serving of bun thang at a small restaurant located relatively near to the Hoan Kiem Lake. Even though there were numerous signs with the restaurant’s name, it was quite difficult to locate the store as you will realise that the store is nowhere in sight! After asking the lady sitting next to the sign, I realised that I still had to walk through a narrow stairway (which could only accommodate 1 person walking through at any one point in time) and climb a flight of stairs to reach the cosy Bun Thang Ba Duc. I only saw locals having a feast here and no foreigners though – perhaps, it’s still a hidden gem! Anyway, at the end of the meal, you will have to head down to the main street to find the lady at a cashier counter to pay. They must be really trusting to have their counter as far out from the restaurant as compared to the typical stores which want to keep their cash hidden as much as possible.

Bun Thang Ba Duc
Address: 48 Cao Go
Opening Hours: 1800h – 2200h
Expect to Pay: VND 35,000


4. Bun Bo Nam Bo

Having had bun served in soup, it is time to savour some dry bun bo nam bo! When translated into English, this adorable name means beef noodles of the south. It is rumoured that this dish was brought back to Hanoi by the soldiers who returned from Saigon after the Vietnam War. Today, locals adore bun bo nam bo as a summer dish as it tastes light and refreshing in the midyear heat. You start off with a mouthful of juicy beef wrapped in vermicelli, which is enhanced in taste and texture by the delicious sauce, ground peanuts, green papaya and herbs. 

Bun bo nam bo: Enjoy the crunch of the peanuts and juiciness of the beef!

As the menu called the dish beef noodle salad, I naturally thought it was going to be a small portion and ordered a serving of herbal chicken soup to finish off the meal. (The soup was boiled with plenty of ingredients that gave it a really strong herbal taste and the chicken must have been boiled for an extremely long time as its meat was infused with the fragrance of the soup as well. Splendid!) However, the Bun Bo Nam Bo was really very filling, so I would suggest ordering the soup later once you’re sure you still have stomach space for some herbal goodness.

One of the best servings of herbal chicken soup I have ever eaten!

Bun Bo Nam Bo
Address: 67 Hang Dieu
Opening Hours: 0730h – 2230h
Expect to Pay: VND 60,000 (for each Bun Bo Nam Bo or Herbal Chicken Soup)

5. Cha Ca

Unsure what to do? No worries, the helpful waiters will be glad to show you the ropes!

If you feel like you need a break from street food in Hanoi and would like to pamper yourself with a delicious meal, this may be a nice option for you. Cha ca is a turmeric fish dish served with dill, but wait, there’s a twist! You will be cooking the fish and herbs yourself on the grill plate in front of you. Once done, you can place a bunch of vermicelli and mix some sauce, peanuts, herbs and chilli in a bowl and grab some fish and dill to complete your meal. 

After cooking the turmeric fish and dill, mix it up with the condiments and enjoy!

The taste is absolutely splendid and gives you an explosion of flavours in your mouth – the sweetness of the fish, the spice of the chilli, the savouriness of the sauce and the crunch of the herbs. If you had ordered the set meal, it doesn’t just end there – you can enjoy the ambience of the restaurant (and relax with the complimentary Wifi) whilst savouring a glass of Hanoi Beer and some Vietnamese tea. 

When in Hanoi, drink as the Hanoians drink.

A local dessert will be served as well – when I was there, I had pomelo served with some condiments. Overall, it was a fantastic dinner.

Your meal ends with Vietnamese tea and pomelo served with salt

Cha Ca Thang Long

Address: 19 – 21 – 31 Duong Thanh
Opening Hours: 1000h – 1500h, 1700h – 2000h
Expect to Pay: VND 160,000

Now that you have satiated your appetites, why not head on to our next day trip around Hanoi Old Quarter where you will be able to chill out at the Hoan Kiem Lake and shop till you drop at the numerous markets scatted around the Quarter? Let's explore this charming little district here.

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