Did you know a bowl of pho is served differently in different parts of Vietnam? Vietnam is divided into three main zones - North, Central and South - which all have their own unique dishes and flavours that are sure to tantalise your tastebuds. Feast on these Northern Vietnam dishes on your next trip to Hanoi!
Phở (Vietnamese Beef Noodles)
From the road side to 5-star hotels, you can find this unofficial national Vietnamese dish almost everywhere you go in Vietnam. While this dish may not be new to you, pho in North Vietnam is pretty different from the Southern variety, which is served more widely around the world. In Hanoi, the broth is made from boiling exclusively beef bones, leading to a fresher taste and a clearer soup. The differences go down to the garnish used - Hanoians usually add only cilantro, thinly sliced white onion and green onions, while the South is more liberal with the vegetable garnish and Hoisin sauce. We recommend that you try your broth first before adding anything extra to it, as the real connoisseurs do!
Where to Try?
Phở gia truyền: 49 Bát Đàn, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội
Phở 10 Lý Quốc Sư: Số 10 Lý Quốc Sư, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội
Cà phê Trứng (Egg Coffee)
Take your Vietnamese coffee one level higher by trying out Hanoi’s famous egg coffee. Also known as cafe trung, this coffee was created in 1946, when five-star hotel chef Mr Nguyen Van Giang wanted to create a Vietnamese version of cappuccino that was cheaper. To do so, he replaced milk, which was very expensive at the time, with whisked egg yolks. It turned out to be a huge success, and he opened his very own cafe, Cafe Giảng, selling this special drink in Hanoi’s Old Quarter. It remains open till this day and is a must-visit for travellers who want a taste of Hanoi’s unique flavour! You can also check out Cafe Đinh, which was opened by chef Nguyen’s daughter more recently, for your egg coffee fix.
Where to Try?
Cafe Giảng: 39 Nguyễn Hữu Huân, Hàng Bạc, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội
Cafe Đinh: 13 Đinh Tiên Hoàng, Hàng Trống, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội
Bún Chả (Grilled Pork and Noodles)
Grilled fatty pork, noodles and a side of mouth-watering dipping sauce, this dish is one to look out for when you’re in Hanoi! This dish is popular all over Vietnam, but is widely thought to have its origins right here in Hanoi. The rice noodles are usually served separately, and how the Northerners enjoy this is by dipping everything into the sauce on the side and savouring each bite they take! This dish is so renowned that when Barack Obama visited Vietnam in 2016, the late celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain brought him out for dinner at Bún chả Hương Liên to enjoy it. After making headlines around the world, the restaurant had come up with a new Obama Combo, essentially a bowl of Bun Cha with some deep fried spring rolls and Hanoi beer. Make sure you give it a try!
Where to Try?
Bún chả Hương Liên: 24 Lê Văn Hưu, Phan Chu Trinh, Hai Bà Trưng, Hà Nội
Bún Đậu Mắm Tôm (Fermented Shrimp Noodles)
Don't be tricked by Bún Dậu Mắm Tôm’s overpowering smell - the dish itself is delicious and worth sinking your teeth into. Mainly composed of rice vermicelli, tofu and fermented shrimp paste, you can also choose from a variety of side-dishes such as boiled pork and fried intestines. Each vendor’s shrimp paste is different, and while this dish is definitely an acquired taste, it’s still worth a shot if you want to discover what it is the locals love about it! If the shrimp paste is still too strong for you after your first bite, you can always ask the vendor if you could switch it for some fish sauce or soy sauce.
Where to Try?
Bún đậu mắm tôm Ngõ Trạm: 1B – Ngõ Trạm, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội
Bún đậu Trung Hương: 49, ngõ Phất Lộc, Hàng Bạc, Hà Nội
Bánh cuốn (Vietnamese Steamed Rice Rolls)
Originating in Hanoi, this Vietnamese dish may bear some resemblance to Cantonese rice rolls, but tastes different due to its fillings. Wood ear mushroom, pork, and minced shallots give the rice rolls a fragrant flavour that is further enhanced by dipping it in the clear amber sauce it’s usually served with. Bánh cuốn is accompanied by small plates of Vietnamese sausage and fresh herbs on the side. Instead of pork, some stalls also make their bánh cuốn with chicken or shrimp, though these are less common than the pork version.
Where to Try?
Bánh Cuốn Bà Hoành: 66 Tô Hiến Thành, Bùi Thị Xuân, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội
Bánh Cuốn Gia Truyền Thanh Vân (for chicken bánh cuốn): 12 Hàng Gà, Hàng Bồ, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội
Bún Thang (Vietnamese “Combo” Soup)
Sometimes referred to as the “combo” soup, this noodle dish is the perfect comfort food if you’re looking for something that is distinct from phở. The sheer number of ingredients is astounding - there are about 20-odd ingredients in this noodle dish such as thinly sliced egg, shredded chicken, dried shrimps, Vietnamese ham, laksa leaves and spring onions! The broth itself is fragrant even without the addition of all these ingredients, as it is made from chicken bones and shrimps. It is often served with shrimp paste to really scale up its savoury taste.
Where to Try?
Quán Bún Thang Bà Đức: 8 Cầu Gỗ, Hàng Bạc, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội
Bún Thang - Xôi 29 Hàng Hành: 29 Ngõ Hàng Hành, Hàng Trống, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội
Chả Cá (Grilled Fish with Dill and Turmeric)
Relish in the city’s famous grilled fish, which has a whole street in Hanoi’s Old Quarter dedicated to it - Chả Cá Street. There you can find Cha Ca La Vong, one of Hanoi’s oldest eateries that opened around a century ago. Chả cá can also be found in many other restaurants as well, and these restaurants may use different types of fish in their unique recipes, though the more common fish used is the freshwater snakehead fish. The turmeric lends a beautiful orange-golden hue to the fish, and the peanuts, herbs and vermicelli adds more variety to the dish’s texture. Make sure to make your trip down to any of these grilled fish restaurants!
Where to Try?
Chả cá Thăng Long: 21 Đường Thành, Quận Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội
Chả Cá Lão Ngư: 171 Thái Hà, Láng Hạ, Đống Đa, Hà Nội
Bún Riêu (Vietnamese Pork and Crab Noodle)
There’s no such thing as too many noodle dishes in Vietnam! Bún riêu is a flavourful noodle soup, with paddy crabs and tomato forming the base of the crimson-coloured broth. Depending on which restaurant and part of North Vietnam you visit, the noodles may be served with snails, pork, or fish alongside the crab. Give your broth a good stir - mixing in the tamarind paste well adds a slightly sour flavour that makes Bún riêu a stand-out amongst Vietnam’s many noodle dishes. Take a break from phở now!
Where to Try?
Bún riêu Huyền Thu: 2F Quang Trung, Trần Hưng Đạo, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội
Bún riêu Hàng Lược: 14 Hàng Lược, Hàng Mã, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội
Xôi Xéo (Vietnamese Sticky Rice)
If you’re walking past a food stall and something bright and yellow catches your eye, chances are it’s Xôi xéo. Glutinous rice, turmeric powder, and mung beans are mixed together thoroughly in what is probably one of the more complex sticky rice dishes in the area. Once they’re all melded together, the dish is topped off with some fried shallots and a healthy tablespoon of liquid fat - sinful, but sumptuous. If you don’t think that’s going to be filling enough, feel free to ask for an egg or chicken on the side to complete your meal - quite a few stalls do serve them on request! While no one is really certain about the origins of Xôi xéo, many can attest that it is a favourite among locals and tourists alike.
Where to Try?
Xôi Xéo: 27 Tạ Hiện, Hàng Buồm, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội
Quán Xôi Xéo Oanh Oanh: 573 Đường La Thành, Thành Công, Ba Đình, Hà Nội
Nem Cua Bể (Crab Spring Rolls)
If you love Vietnamese Spring Rolls, this version with crab in it is sure not to disappoint. Though it is fried similarly to the regular spring rolls, these come in a square shape instead, and are filled with sweet and fleshy crab meat. It’s a speciality of Hai Phong, a town you’ll pass by on your way to see Halong Bay, but this side dish is also readily available in Hanoi. It’s commonly served with rice vermicelli, lettuce, cucumbers and a tangy dipping sauce. Grab a bowl of noodles too, while you’re at it, to really have a full meal!
Where to Try?
Bún Chả, Nem Cua Bể 47C: 47C Mai Hắc Đế, Bùi Thị Xuân, Hai Bà Trưng, Hà Nội
Quán Bún Chả Nem Cua Bể: 1 Huế, Hàng Bài, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội
Feast your way through the many streets and alleys of Hanoi by heading on a food tour that’ll give you a more in-depth and authentic experience into how the locals eat. You can also join one that’ll take you on a gastronomic adventure through Hanoi’s night markets!
