WHERE TO EAT IN HANOI VIETNAM + BEST RESTAURANTS TO TRY

Without a doubt, Hanoi, Vietnam, is a go-to destination for first-time travelers seeking street food, as it’s very affordable. It’s one of the cheapest capital cities in Southeast Asia, making it easy to visit on a budget. Everything from food and drink to accommodation and activities is reasonably priced, especially if you choose home stays and eat local food. So if you’re wondering where to eat in Hanoi Vietnam, you have landed on the right blog!

Hanoi’s vibrant street food scene offers a wide array of dishes, including pho, banh mi, and bun cha, as well as drinks such as egg coffee. Also, the town is famous for its Michelin-starred restaurants and roadside tables, especially at night. As you stroll the city, you’ll literally have a lot of food choices at your fingertips. If you love trying new food, make sure to save this Hanoi Food Guide for your next Vietnam trip!

And if you’re planning to go to Sapa after visiting Hanoi, I have a detailed guide here: Sapa DIY Itinerary & Budget.

Table of Contents

PHO 10 LY QUOC SU

The first restaurant we tried during our visit to Hanoi was Pho 10 Ly Quoc Su. It’s a Michelin-recommended eatery on Ly Quoc Su Street where we tried their best beef noodle soup! One bowl here costs only PHP 150, and you even get a hefty serving!

Pho 10 Ly Quoc Su offers 10 pho options, including rare beef, brisket, and combinations. What makes it unique is its traditional pho preparation, which uses beef broth to provide the rich, flavorful base essential to an authentic pho experience. You can taste that the pho is hearty and refreshing, with tender beef that melts in your mouth!

Did you know? Pho, also known as “soup,” is Vietnam’s most famous dish worldwide for its broth, protein options, rice noodles, and herbs. It’s like an unofficial national dish of Vietnam, as when you hear the word Vietnam, pho is next to it. It’s like you can’t say you visited Vietnam without trying pho!

To best enjoy pho, you must start by sipping its broth, savoring its flavor, then use your chopsticks and a spoon to combine noodles, meat, and garnishes like bean sprouts, basil, and lime, slurping as you go. You can also add sriracha and hoisin to the side dish for dipping, not directly in the main bowl. Feel free to slurp the noodles and the broth, too!

BANH MI 25

The next one we visited is the Banhi Mi 25, which is famous for its long line, but its crispy baguette is definitely worth the wait! It’s also very affordable at PHP 85.

Banh Mi 25 is located at 25 Hang Ca Street and is named after the street number of the store founder’s home. Their stall is open from 7 AM to 9 PM every day. Travelers can also find seating at 30 Hang Ca Street, provided by the store, for those who prefer to sit down and enjoy the Hanoi Old Quarter ambiance for a little longer.

For their menu, you can choose from pork, chicken, beef, or vegetarian banh mi. In addition to baguettes, they offer a variety of Vietnamese drinks to pair with them.

What makes banh mi, or “wheat bread,” special is its combination of protein, pickled vegetables, fresh herbs, and savory condiments that perfectly balance the sandwich. The origin of banh mi traces back to French colonization. Still, it was the Vietnamese creativity that made it famous. On your first bite, you can really feel the bread’s crispiness and the mouthwatering ingredients, making it highly recommended!

BANH CUON BA XUAN

Another Michelin guide food store we tried is the Banh Cuon Ba Xuan, which serves the best banh cuon, or a steamed roll with minced pork and black fungus in Hanoi! We purchased this for PHP 75 per serving, and it’s very delicious!

Banh Cuon is a savory crepe made from a thin, fermented rice batter, filled with seasoned ground pork and wood ear mushrooms, then steamed and rolled. It is garnished with fried shallots, fresh herbs, cucumber, bean sprouts, and Vietnamese pork sausage, and served with sweet, tangy fish sauce for dipping or drizzling. As you try it, you can feel that the crepe is incredibly light, made by steaming thin sheets of batter over boiling water, creating a soft, slightly chewy texture.

When you order from them, you can choose from egg rolls, grilled pork rolls, Vietnamese sausage rolls, or mushroom rolls. Banh Cuon Ba Xuan is open from 6:30 AM to 1:30 PM, then from 3:30 PM to 11:30 PM. It closes mid-afternoon, following the Vietnamese daily midday break, to rest, prepare, or spend time with family before reopening.

BANCONG CAFE

Meanwhile, if you’re looking for an aesthetic cafe where you can find the best egg coffee in town, Bancong Cafe is a must-try. The name “Bancong” means “balcony” in Vietnamese, paying homage to the large outdoor spaces of their restored French colonial townhouse. When we stayed here, the cafe’s vibe felt like a trip back to old Hanoi.

I am not a fan of egg coffee, but the matcha drink with soy jelly I tried here is definitely the best matcha I’ve had! Additionally, their Caesar salad is delicious.

If you’re a coffee enthusiast who loves the robust and rich flavor of black coffee, most especially when paired with sweetened condensed milk, you shouldn’t skip trying Bancong Cafe. The cafe also offers vegetarian options, including veggie pizza, burgers, and salads.

BUN CHA HUONG LIEN

Another famous and crowded Michelin-starred family-run restaurant in Hanoi is Bun Chan Huong Lien. It’s popular because Obama once ate here.

Bun cha is a smoky grilled pork patty and slices served with a cold noodle soup of fresh rice vermicelli, a plate of fresh herbs, and pickled vegetables, all dipped in a savory, tangy fish sauce broth.

To eat bun cha, combine the fresh vermicelli noodles, grilled pork (patties and belly), and fresh herbs (lettuce, mint, cilantro) into the sweet and sour dipping sauce and eat it interactively, either by dipping each bite or creating lettuce wraps, customizing with garlic, chili, and lime to your taste for a balance of smoky, fresh, and tangy flavors.

Bun Cha Huong Lien also offers a Combo Obama, which includes a fried seafood roll, a bowl of the special bún chả, and either bia hà nội or a canned beer. The restaurant is open from 8 AM to 8 PM every day.

TAM VI

Moreover, if you want a five-star dining experience at an affordable price, Tam Vi is the perfect place! It’s another Michelin restaurant, available only by reservation via messaging their Instagram account. The restaurant is open daily from 11 AM to 2 PM and from 5 PM to 9 PM.

Here, I tried their Vietnamese caramelized pork and egg, which tastes like our Filipino adobo, and I totally recommend it! For a beverage, their grass jelly with lotus seed is a must-try. I even ordered two glasses of it as it really captured my taste buds!

What makes Tam Vi unique is that it retains its North Vietnamese charm and antique decor, artwork, and rustic elegance.

MAISON 1929

If you prefer dining at an established Michelin-starred restaurant, Maison 1929 is the best choice. Founded in 1929, it’s a sister restaurant of Chao Ban, featuring a two-story dining room with a vibrant color palette and a balcony.

Maison 1929’s menu is almost identical to Chao Ban’s, highlighting a modern approach to Vietnamese cooking. If you will eat here, their spring rolls, served hot or cold, are recommended, and you can choose from a wide variety. Also, their minced beef in lolot leaves is popular for its unique aroma and juicy, tender meat.

HANOI STREETFOOD CULTURE

Of course, your Hanoi food adventure is not complete without trying its street food scene, where roadside tables set up at night offer a variety of local dishes. In Hanoi, restaurants and stalls usually start setting up tables for dinner at 5 PM. If you’re after the flaming-hot pots, grilled seafood, and barbecue sessions, make sure to dine in from 6 PM to 8 PM.

Tip: Choose your dining stall wisely. Note that busy stalls mean it’s definitely worth the wait.

When it comes to dining etiquette, always remember the Vietnamese rule: “eat first, pay later.” Place your order first and then find your own table. Also, as in the Philippines, you must clean as you go and dispose of waste in the bins.

For payment, especially at small food stalls, you can usually ask for the total and pay the chef directly as you leave. While in some stores, a server can come to your table and give you a mental tally of your total bill. In Hanoi, receipts aren’t common for local food, but you can ask for one.

Likewise, during peak times, other diners might ask to join you in eating at your table, and in this case, a smile is all you need to give them, which means saying yes.

HANOI MICHELIN GUIDE STREET FOOD WALKING TOUR

The best way to truly get the most out of your Hanoi food hunt is booking a guided walking tour! Whether you are looking to savor Michelin-recommended meals, enjoy egg coffee, or learn about Vietnamese cuisine and culture, this tour on Klook will provide you a hassle-free experience!

Satisfy your hunger while discovering Hanoi Old Quarter’s bustling street!

BOOK A HASSLE-FREE GUIDED WALKING TOUR HERE

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