Guide to Food in Hanoi

Hanoi, The City of Traditional Food

Hanoi is the capital of present Vietnam and it’s also been the capital of the ancient kingdoms in northern Vietnam since the second millennium. The city has a deep history and there is no better way to understand this than to try the food. Our food shows the true color of Vietnamese tradition, as well as the many hues that make up each region.

Different from food in central Vietnam, where the hot and spicy taste dominates; and different from food in southern Vietnam, where people love sweet and sour; food in Hanoi, as well as food in the North, is rich in flavor but not as sour, sweet, and spicy as other regions.

Read more: Regional Differences in Vietnamese Cuisine 

Travel through the country with food and you won’t regret it, especially in Vietnam. Try new kinds of flavors, new kinds of tastes, new kinds of textures, and your trip will become colorful. When you reach Hanoi, why don’t you try out these ten dishes I recommend below and maybe comment to let me know what you think?

Hanoian Pho

I expect that you’ve heard about this very famous rice noodle soup of Vietnam because its deliciousness has spread internationally. But in order to truly appreciate the broth and herbs, you need to try this bowl of soup and noodles in Vietnam, but start with Hanoi. No one knows exactly when pho was invented, they just know that this dish appeared a long time ago and is an indispensable dish of the capital citizen.

Nowadays, pho has spread widely throughout the country and even abroad. Nevertheless, pho in Hanoi still retains those special characteristics that only the so-called “origin of the dish” possesses. Maybe you have tried pho a few times before visiting Vietnam, but you will discover why pho in the capital beats pho anywhere else.

Pho has three components: broth, rice noodles, and meat (usually beef or chicken). It is also accompanied by a plate of herbs.

MORE INFORMATION 

Pho Suong

• Address: 24 Trung Yen street, Ward Dinh Liet, District Hoan Kiem.
• Price: 40,000 – 50,000 VND

Pho Vui

• Address: 25 Hang Giay street, District Hoan Kiem.
• Price: 30,000 – 60,000 VND

Pho Ly Quoc Su

• Address: 10 Ly Quoc Su street, Ward Hang Trong, District Hoan Kiem.
• Price: 50,000 – 80,000 VND

Pho Bat Dan

• Address: 49 Bat Dan street, District Hoan Kiem.
• Price: 30,000 – 60,000 VND

Pho Cuon of Ngu Xa – Pho Rolls

Pho cuon – pho rolls – is also a long-standing dish in Hanoi. I am sure you have noticed that the word “pho” appears in both dishes. And yes, they do have similar meanings! Pho cuon and pho have a common ingredient: banh pho, the rice cake that is cut into thin strips to make noodles. However, banh pho in pho rolls does not look like a noodle. Actually, banh pho is first cut into a circular or rectangular shape.

When people make regular pho, they slice banh pho into small strings, or noodles. To make pho rolls, they use the original shape of banh pho, then add in ingredients such as beef, cilantro, lettuce, mung bean sprouts, and endives. After the ingredients are added, the banh pho is rolled up and wrapped into stuffed cylindrical pieces. You will eat pho cuon with a dipping sauce made of fish sauce, garlic, chilies, and lime.

MORE INFORMATION 

• Address: there are many restaurants serving pho rolls in Ngu Xa Street, District Ba Dinh.
• Price: 30,000 – 60,000 VND

Banh Duc – Steamed Rice Cake with Dipping Sauce

Banh duc is a series of steamed cake made of rice flour and molded into different shapes, usually a circle, rectangle, or triangle. You will eat this delicious type of rice cake with dipping sauces and it often has peanuts inside. Banh duc has two common varieties in Hanoi: savory banh duc and plain banh duc with peanut.

The savory banh duc is placed in a bowl and meat sauce is poured directly on top. The plain cake with peanut is cut into small pieces and it will be dipped into an accompanying sauce. Each dish brings different tastes; while the plain banh duc with peanut has a simple taste of rich rice flour, a bit brittle and slightly sweet of peanut, the savory one brings much more sophisticated flavors and appearance.

MORE INFORMATION 

Banh Duc Ngoc Han

• Address: at the beginning of Le Ngoc Han street
• Price: 15,000 VND

Banh Duc Thuy Khue

• Address: 1 Alley 29, Thuy Khue Street, District Tay Ho
• Price: 10,000 VND

Banh Duc Minh Khai

• Address: 296 Minh Khai Street, Ward Mai Dong, District Hai Ba Trung
• Price: 15,000 – 30,000 VND

Bun Cha – Rice Vermicelli with Grilled Fatty Pork

Bun cha is a very typical dish of the capital. This kind of noodle dish is very easy to eat, it can be eaten in any season, and most importantly, it’s cheap but excellent. You will never believe that such a simple dish made of rice vermicelli, a bowl of grilled pork, and a bowl of sour-sweet sauce with papaya has fascinated many people, including Barack Obama when he visited Vietnam in 2016.

Bun cha has also spread all over the country. You can find a restaurant serving bun cha in many big cities of Vietnam, but bun cha in Hanoi has a special taste distinct from other places.

MORE INFORMATION 

Bun Cha Huong Lien (where Obama had bun cha)

• Address: 24 Le Van Huu Street, District Hai Ba Trung
• Price: 30,000 – 50,000 VND

Bun Cha Tuyet

• Address: 34 Hang Than Street, District Ba Dinh
• Price: 35,000 VND

Bun Cha Cua Dong

• Address: 41 Cua Dong Street, District Hoan Kiem
• Price: 50,000 VND

Com (Green Rice) in Vong Village

According to the legend, in autumn thousands of years ago, when the harvest arrived, it started to rain heavily and eventually the downpour drowned all the paddy fields. People in Vong Village decided to harvest the immature heads of the grain to bring home and roast in order to fight against hunger. Incredibly, they discovered this roasted grain had a very special and wonderful taste. Since then, Vong villagers usually make this dish to eat in autumn.

Many famous writers of Vietnam have written about com in Vong Village. Thach Lam – a famous revolutionary Vietnamese writer – said: “Com is a distinct presence of the country, a gift of the immensely green paddy fields; it carries all of the tastes of the simplicity and purity of Vietnamese countryside.” Do you wonder why this rice is green? The green color is from its lotus leaf packaging.

MORE INFORMATION 

• Address: Vong village, Ward Dich Vong Hau, District Cau Giay
• Price: 200,000 – 300,000 VND per kilogram

Bun Thang (Noodle with Chicken Soup)

Bun thang is a special dish both in its name and in how it’s made. In the past, the Hanoian women cleverly used the remaining food from Tet (Vietnamese New Year) and combined the leftovers to make a new dish which was tasty and economical. The dish’s name is derived from this phrase: “Thang thuoc bo,” which means a package of rejuvenation. Bun thang consists of many nutritious ingredients mixed together, just like the method used in Eastern medicine to mix herbs.

This dish is made primarily of noodles and chicken soup; in addition, people can eat it with duck eggs, shrimp, squid, onions, garlic, or shiitake mushrooms. This combination makes bun thang not only a delicious food but also a very nutritious one.

MORE INFORMATION 

Bun Thang Ba Duc

• Address: 48 Cau Go street, District Dong Da
• Price: 35,000 – 45,000 VND

Bun Thang Ngoc Tuyen

• Address: 56-58 Dao Tan Street, District Ba Dinh
• Price: 30,000 – 40,000 VND

Bun Thang Thuan Ly

• Address: 33 Hang Hom, District Hoan Kiem
• Price: 30,000 – 40,000 VND

Cha Ca La Vong (La Vong’s Grilled Fish)

Cha ca – fish cake has made an appearance all over Vietnam with different tastes, but cha ca La Vong has a very distinct flavor in comparison. The Doan family, who has pioneered the flavor of this dish, has a secret recipe and this secret has only been inherited by the oldest son of the Doan. In general, they slice fish into small pieces, then marinate and fry them before grilling.

This food is so famous that the street where the Doan live and sell cha ca is now known as “Cha Ca Street.” In their restaurant, the Doan family have placed a statue of La Vong (a chef in the 11th century BC) which is why people call the dish “cha ca La Vong.”

MORE INFORMATION 

• Address: 14 Cha Ca Street, District Hoan Kiem
• Price: 40,000 – 100,000 VND

Grilled Pig’s Tripe on Gam Cau Street

There are a few restaurants located on Gam Cau street which is hard to believe since the street name literally translates to “under the bridge.” And Gam Cau street, as its name suggests, is really under some bridges in Hanoi. Settling down at the restaurant, trying grilled pig’s tripe, and watching the train pass by on the bridge will be a memorable and peaceful moment of your trip. These restaurants have several grilled dishes: tripe, stomach, rectum, beef, and more.

I guarantee the food safety of these restaurants because of their reputation, so you don’t have to worry. If there are many Vietnamese there, eat there!

MORE INFORMATION 

• Address: Gam Cau street, District Hoan Kiem.
• Price: 70,000 – 100,000 VND

Xoi xeo (Sticky Rice with Mung Bean Topping)

Xoi xeo is a typical breakfast food of Hanoians. It’s made of steamed glutinous rice and other delicious ingredients. During the steaming process, the rice is mixed with chicken fat. This steamed rice is then paired with mung bean, which is steamed and ground, and topped with crispy fried shallot. This fresh yellow xoi xeo is packaged in lotus leaf.

The smells of chicken fat, crispy fried shallot, and lotus leaf combine to make a nondescript yet delectable scent of xoi xeo.

MORE INFORMATION 

Xoi May

• Address: 45 Ly Thuong Kiet, District Hoan Kiem
• Price: 15,000 – 20,000 VND

Xoi 622-Duy Tan

• Address: C12 alley 76, Duy Tan Street, District Cau Giay
• Price: 20,000 VND

Come to Hanoi, try its traditional food with the peaceful beauty of an old city, and your trip will be more poetic and colorful. If you are planning to visit our Hanoi, please take a look at our helpful and comprehensive guides on this amazing city:

Two Days in Hanoi – How to Make the Most of It

Hanoi After Dark: The Ultimate Guide to Nightlife in Hanoi

The 10 Best Accommodations in Hanoi (Mid-Range/Luxury)

We also have more articles about food to help you understand more about the delicious cuisine throughout this country. Here are some:

A Foodie’s Guide to Hue, Vietnam

Your Guide to the Mekong Delta: What to do, see & eat – Itinerary included!

Top 10 Weird Foods in Vietnam You Must Try: Bugs, Rats, Worms and Blood

Follow our Phuot3mien Blog for more fun and thorough information about Vietnam!