Hanoi Street Food

Hanoi street food has a wide range of dishes with very reasonable price. For the first-time visitors to Hanoi, it can be daunting to figure out what to eat and where to eat, so Vietnam Travel would like to recommend you some of the best street dishes that you should try.

Here below are 7 best Hanoi street food:

1. Pho (Vietnamese rice noodle soup)

“Pho” or noodle soup is arguably the best-known Vietnamese dish, especially in Hanoi. There are two main varieties of “pho”: “pho bo” – beef noodle soup and “pho ga” – chicken noodle soup. “Pho” can be eaten at any time of day but it is a popular choice for breakfast of Hanoians. The quality of “pho” much depends on good broth that takes long time to prepare. The broth is normally cooked by marrow bones and beef chuck and a good “pho” broth needs to be clear, not muddy and dark, certainly fragrant of beef, anise and ginger.

Pho Thin is one of the oldest and most famous beef noodle soup in Hanoi

Where to eat:
– Pho Gia Truyen: No. 49 Bat Dan, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
– Pho Lam Nam Ngu: No. 07 Nam Ngu, Cua Nam, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
– Pho Thin: No. 61 Dinh Tien Hoang, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
– Pho 10 Ly Quoc Su: No. 10 Ly Quoc Su, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Price: ~ 40,000 – 70,000 VND.

2. Bun cha (grilled pork with rice vermicelli)

It is said that “bun cha” was originated in Hanoi and it is one of the most famous street food in this capital. As the name suggested, “bun cha” includes “bun” – rice vermicelli and “cha” – grilled marinated pork. It will be served with a bowl of hot dipping sauce and a basket of many kinds of fresh vegetables and herbs. “Bun cha” is a favorite fish for lunch but you can try it for breakfast or even dinner.

President Barack Obama tried bun cha Huong Lien in his visit to Vietnam in 2016

Where to eat:
– Bun cha Tuyet: No. 34 Hang Than, Ba Dinh, Hanoi
– Bun cha Dac Kim: No. 1 Hang Manh, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
– Bun cha Huong Lien: No. 24 Le Van Huu, Hai Ba Trung, Hanoi
Price: ~ 35,000 – 100,000 VND.

3. Banh cuon (steamed rice rolls)

“Banh cuon” is an iconic Hanoi street food that you should not miss. Soft smooth rice batter is stuffed with seasoned minced pork, wood ear mushroom and topped with crispy fried onions. It is served with a bowl of dipping sauce, some slices of Vietnamese cinnamon pork pate along with fresh aromatic herbs. “Banh cuon” isn’t tangy or spicy like many other Vietnamese dishes but you can always add chili or lime. This dish can be found all over the Old Quarter, usually at small family-run shops or carts.

“Banh cuon” is a light dish which is commonly served as breakfast

Where to eat:
– Banh cuon gia truyen Thanh Van: No. 12-14 Hang Ga, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
– Banh cuon Ba Hanh: No. 26B Tho Xuong, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
– Banh cuon Ba Hoanh: No. 66 To Hien Thanh, Bui Thi Xuan, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
– Banh cuon Phuong: No. 16 Dao Duy Tu, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Price: ~20,000 – 40,000 VND

4. Bun dau mam tom

“Bun dau mam tom” – vermicelli, tofu and shrimp paste is another classic street food dish in Hanoi. The dish is served on a large tray including fried tofu, rice vermicelli, pork, some kinds of herbs and a bowl of pungent shrimp paste – “mam tom” or fish sauce if you are not familiar with “mam tom”. The sauce is something of an acquired taste, but its unique flavor allows diners to enjoy a truly Hanoian dish.

A tray of “bun dau mam tom” includes rice vermicelli, tofu, shrimp paste, pork, blood sausage and vegetables

Where to eat:
– Bun dau mam tom co Tuyen: No. 31/29 Hang Khay, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
– Quan Bun Dau Viet: No. 72 Hai Ba Trung, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Price: ~35,000 – 60,000 VND.

5. Banh mi (bread)

Well, it would not be complete without “banh mi” – Vietnamese sandwich in Hanoi street food guide. Though its origin is from France, the Vietnamese have made it distinctively their own. A Vietnamese “banh mi” is stuffed with many different ingredients such as grilled pork, grilled chicken, fried egg, pate, Vietnamese herbs and vegetables like coriander, cucumber, carrot, radish and flavorsome sauces. A wealth of textures and flavors, you will savor spicy, salty, savory, sweet, and aromatic tastes in each bite. “Banh mi” can be eaten at any time of the day, for breakfast, light lunch, brunch, dinner or anytime you feel hungry, you can get one “banh mi” at street stall easily.

“Banh mi” is one of famous street food in Hanoi

Where to eat:
– Maison de Lien: No. 6 Nam Ngu, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi – head here for high-quality deli ingredients and tasty, elegant “banh mi”.
– Banh Mi 25: No. 25 Hang Ca, Hang Dao, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
– Banh Mi Pho Co: 38 Dinh Liet, Hang Dao, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Price: ~15,000 – 40,000 VND

6. Sticky rice

Sticky rice is a very popular rich-carb breakfast in Hanoi, made from glutinous rice with a variety of toppings such as roasted pork, chicken, sausage, fried egg, pate… wrapped in a banana leaf. It is easy for you to catch the sight of women wearing conical hat and hawking their wares on streets in the morning. This hearty and savory dish is great for a chilly Hanoi day. There are many types of sticky rice, below are some popular ones:

• “Xoi xeo”: yellow colored sticky rice, topped with fried onion and green mung beans
• “Xoi ruoc”: sticky rice served with stringy, salty dried pork
• “Xoi ngo”: mixed sticky rice and corn
• “Xoi lac”: sticky rice steamed with peanut
• “Xoi dua”: sticky rice with sliced fresh coconut
• “Xoi gac”: red sticky rice from gac fruit

Some kinds of sticky rice are served at Xoi Yen

Where to eat:
– Xoi Yen: No. 35B Nguyen Huu Huan, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
– Xoi May: No. 15 Vong Duc, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
– Xoi Nguyet: No. 30A Tho Nhuom, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
– Xoi co Son: No. 44 Cau Go, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Price: ~15,000 – 50,000 VND

7. Egg coffee

Like a dessert, egg coffee is a perfect dish to finish your Hanoi street food tour. It sounds odd and weird when you first heard its name but it is a must-try drink when visiting Hanoi. Egg coffee is a mixture of strong black coffee, whipping egg yolk, sugar and condensed milk in a small glass. The delicate combination creates a rich, creamy and sweet taste with no hint of egg. There are two versions of egg coffee: hot and cold for you to choose but the hot one seems to be more popular.

Hot egg coffee is put in a small bowl of hot water to keep it warm

Where to eat:
– Café Giang: No. 39 Nguyen Huu Huan, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
– Café Dinh: No. 13 Dinh Tien Hoang, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
– Nang Café: No. 45 Nguyen Huu Huan, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Price: ~25,000 – 35,000 VND.

Hanoi’s cuisine has been known to captivate thousands of foodies around world. But as it might be difficult to find some good local food stalls on your own in Hanoi Old Quarter’s hidden alleys, there is no better way to get to know the city’s best delicacies than booking our Hanoi Street Food Walking Tour! Discover what the locals know and where the foodies go with Vietnam Travel now!