Hanoi Food Guide: Best Restaurants and Street Food

May 16, 2023

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Not sure where to eat in Hanoi? Look no further! We recently spent 2 weeks in Hanoi, our third visit to the city. We did ample research for this list seeing as we were averaging 4-5 meals per day. The food is simply so good, with so much more variety than I initially realized. Of course there are a few staples that you’ll find throughout this list – grilled meats, fresh herbs, rich broths and lots and lots of noodles. Either way, Hanoi food will definitely leave you full and happy!

The best restaurants and street food in Hanoi

Phở Gia Truyền Bát Đàn

We tried a few different places for pho in Hanoi, as one naturally does, but this spot had us coming back again and again. It is easily one of the best restaurants in Hanoi. Beef pho is the only item on the menu here, which is usually a sign that a place is good. 

The broth is super rich and flavorful, the meat is tender and falls apart. There is usually a line but it moves fast. Once you place your order (make sure to order some fried bread to dip), step off to the side until your bowl us up. 

You’ll find a number of toppings at the table, but be careful with the peppers. Even just one or two will have your mouth on fire once it has cooked into the broth. I learned this the hard way the first time we visited and I dumped a bunch of chili in. 

Address: 49 P. Bát Đàn, Cửa Đông, Hoàn Kiếm

Prices: 50K for beef pho, 20k beers

Hours: 6-10am, 6-8:30pm daily

Bún Bò Nam Bộ

This shop specializes in one dish – dry beef noodle salad – and it is one of the most delicious things you can eat in Hanoi. Sauteed beef and noodles mixed with green and sprouts and tossed in a delicious light, but sweet, dressing. It is the perfect meal for a hot day in Vietnam.

There are a few other items on the menu like the coconut dumplings and the steamed pork, but the dry beef noodle salad is definitely the star of the show here. I recommend pairing it with one of the delicious fresh pressed watermelon juices. 

Address: 73-75 Hàng Điếu, Cửa Đông, Hoàn Kiếm

Prices: 70k for a noodle salad, 40k for a fresh pressed juice

Hours: 7:30am-10:30pm daily

Chà Cá Thang Long

You won’t have to do any thinking when dining at Chà Cá Thang Long because as soon as you sit down you’ll find food being placed in front of you. There is one one item on the food menu which is a set menu of grilled fish and fresh herbs cooked right on the table, accompanied by noodles, peanut, fresh greens, and fish sauce. Eat set meal also comes with their famous crab spring rolls. 

Address: 6B Đường Thành, Cửa Đông, Hoàn Kiếm

Prices: 176k per set

Hours: 10:30am-9pm daily

Ky Dong Restaurant

Finally, a restaurant on the list that has more than one item on the menu. While I love a good specialty restaurant, Ky Dong is a great option when you’re looking for a bit of variety. Located right by the famous train street, Ky Dong is easily one of the best restaurants in Hanoi. Everything we had was good but the winners are definitely the fried pork dumplings and the sauteed bok choy. 

Address: 11 P. Tống Duy Tân, Hàng Bông, Hoàn Kiếm

Prices: 30-70k per dish

Hours: 6:30am-9pm daily

Phở Cuốn Chinh Thắng

Now I’m sure anyone visiting Vietnam has heard of pho, but what about a reimagined version of pho. Pho cuốn, which translates into xxxx, is a seasoned beef and fresh greens rolled in rice noodles and dipped in a sweet fish sauce. 

Phở Cuốn Chinh Thắng is located in Truh Bach and was packed with local every time we visited. The restaurant gets so busy that they set up tables in the makeup store across the street, despite having their own upstairs, downstairs, and outdoor dining area. If this isn’t a sign of it being one of the best restaurants in Hanoi, then I don’t know what it is! 

Address: 7 P. Mạc Đĩnh Chi, Trúc Bạch, Ba Đình

Prices: 70k for pho cuốn

Hours: 10am-9pm daily

Banh Mi Paté

I visited this banh mii stand for the first time in 2015, and have made a point to return on every visit. I am happy to report that in 2023 it is still just as good as I remember. Bahn Mi Pate, which is located just around the corner from the more famous Bahn Mi 25 (which isn’t nearly as good), is a must visit food stall in Hanoi. They offer an extensive list of options, including veggie options, but they are known best for having some of the best pate in town. 

Address: 11 P. Hàng Cá, Hàng Bồ, Hoàn Kiếm

Prices: 25-35k for a bahn mi

Hours: 6am-10pm

Cháo Sườn Sụn Huyền Anh Đồng Xuân

This is quite literally the best pork sandwich that I’ve ever eaten. If you look up this place you may notice that it is famous for selling a congee with cartilage rib meat. This is true! We did try it once and it wasn’t our favorite, but it is what most people order here.

Instead, I encourage you to stop by the stand right in front where you’ll find a lady grilling skewer meats. Order the “Bread with skewer meat (double)” for one of the best pork sandwiches you’ll ever taste. The skewer meat is served on a warm toasted roll with a spicy chili sauce and a single slice of cucumber. Don’t miss this while in Hanoi! 

Address: 14 P. Đồng Xuân, Đồng Xuân, Hoàn Kiếm

Prices: 35k for a pork sandwich, 60k for a congee

Hours: 11-3am daily

Bun Cha Chan Trung To

A runner up for the best bun cha in Hanoi. Unlike the popular Bun Cha 34, this small stall is located on a quieter road with just 2 tables set up outside. The broth here is served cold – perfect for a hot day – and is a bit less sweet. 

We hadn’t planned to eat here but the food looked so good that we had to stop and share a bun cha (on our way to lunch). And of course, we had to come back for more!

Address: 115A P. Phùng Hưng, Hàng Bồ, Hoàn Kiếm

Prices: 40k for a bun cha

Hours: 7am-11pm

Tuyết Bún Chả 34

It wasn’t an easy decision, but after a lot of deliberation and taste testing, I have decided that this is the best bun cha in Hanoi. The broth is sweet and served warm, and the meat is tender and not overly fatty. 

There is only one dish served here, so just let them know how many you’d like to order. You’ll be given a tray that consists of grilled pork in a sweet broth, a pile of rice noodles, and a large heaping of fresh greens and herbs. I recommend adding a few chili peppers and ordering a refreshing iced green tea to go with your meal. 

Address: 34 Hàng Than, Nguyễn Trung Trực, Ba Đình

Prices: 50k for a bun cha

Hours: 8:30am-5:30pm daily

Bún riêu cua Hàng Bạc

Bun rieu is another typical soup in Hanoi and Bún riêu cua Hàng Bạc is a great place to try it. This noodle soup is made with a tomato broth and filled with chunks of crab and pork. It’s a nice switch up from the usual noodle soups. 

Address: 11 P. Hàng Bạc, Hàng Bạc, Hoàn Kiếm

Prices: 50k for a bun rieu

Hours: 7am-10:30pm

Hong Hoai’s Restaurant

If street food isn’t your thing, Hong Hoai’s Restaurant is a delicious, and affordable, option in the Old Town. It is a great place to sample a variety of dishes. I recommend ordering the following:

• Banh Xeo (Vietnamese pancake)
• Grilled beef in betel leaves
• Fried spring rolls
• Stir-fry beef with peppercorn 

They also offer cooking classes that start at $45/person for the 4 hour class. 

Address: 20 P. Bát Đàn, Hàng Bồ, Hoàn Kiếm,

Hours: 10am-10pm

Where to drink in Hanoi

Bia Hơi Hà Nội 54 Quán Thánh

No visit to Hanoi is complete without a glass (or a few glasses) of Hanoi’s famous draft beer. Bia Hoi is often referred to as the cheapest beer in the world. I’m not sure if that is factually correct, but it sure is cheap! You can get a large glass of beer here for 14K. You’ll find branded bia hoi bars across the city, but this particular one we visited the most as it was located right on the corner of our apartment.

Address: Hà, 54 P. Quán Thánh, Nguyễn Trung Trực, Ba Đình

Hours: 9:30am-10:30pm

Bún đậu Thanh Hằng

What is better than a 10k ($0.43) draft beer? Located on a corner in the middle of the Old Quarter, this is a great spot to hang out on a weekend night. The streets are lined with small colorful stools as locals and tourists alike drink cold frothy glasses of cheap beer. They serve food here as well but we never tried it. If you visit in the evening there is often live music!

Address: 5 P. Mã Mây, Hàng Buồm, Hoàn Kiếm

Hours: 10:30am-4:30pm (hours listed on Google but we drank here until midnight)

Pasteur Street Brewing Co

If cheap beer isn’t your thing, then you’ll be happy to know that Hanoi has a small craft beer scene. Pasteur Street Brewing has it’s flagship location in HCMC, but you can find a small brewery in Hanoi’s Old Quarter as well. 

I recommend trying the Passion Fruit Wheat Ale or Jasmine IPA. 

Address: 1 P. Ấu Triệu, Hàng Trống, Hoàn Kiếm

Hours: 11am-11pm daily

Standing Bar

If you find yourself in the Truc Bach neighborhood (maybe after a delicious dinner at Phở Cuốn Chinh Thắng), stop by the Standing Bar for a craft beer. The prices are steep according to Vietnamese beer prices at 100k a glass, but the beer is great!

Address: 170 P. Trấn Vũ, Trúc Bạch, Ba Đình

Hours: 3pm-12am weekdays, 12pm-12am weekends

Best Cafes in Hanoi

Annamoi

Annamoi is easily my favorite cafe in Hanoi. In fact, we loved it so much that we visited here three sundays in a row for our morning cup. The cafe is nestled between a ton of plants and a beautiful spiral staircase. It is the perfect place to read a book or spend some time journaling. 

The milk teas are super sweet, but also rich in flavor. If you drink coffee then I recommend the banana cream coffee for a dessert-like coffee treat. 

Address: 21-23 P. Hàng Bún, Nguyễn Trung Trực, Ba Đình

Prices: 50k for a coffee/tea

Hours: 8am-10:30pm daily

Coffee A

Coffee A is one of the best cafes to get work done in Hanoi. There are ample outlets, it is usually rather quiet upstairs, and there is a beautiful balcony overlooking the traffic below.

The menu is just okay in my opinion, but prices are super affordable and the 

Address: 02 P. Lãn Ông, Hàng Đào, Hoàn Kiếm

Prices: 25-30k for a coffee/tea

Hours: 8am-10:30pm

CoffeeGasm

CoffeeGasm is another one of my favorite cafes in Hanoi to get laptop work done. Located just outside the Old Quarter, you’ll find the cafe down an alley and up a narrow flight of stairs. Once inside you’ll find two floors with large windows and lots and lots of plants.

There are lots of outlets, so it is a great place to work on your laptop for a few hours.

Address: 6 P. Quán Thánh, Quán Thánh, Ba Đình

Prices: 30-50k for a coffee/tea

Hours: 8am-11pm daily

Best Desserts in Hanoi

Kem Caramen Dương Hoa

I recommend ordering one of the coconuts filled with ice cream and topped with fresh coconut shavings, as well as one of their classic caramels (similar to a flan custard). If you’re not sure what to order, simply look at what everyone else around you is enjoying. 

On Sunday nights, and most nights of the week for that matter, you’ll find the whole street in front filled with small stools and families sharing large coconut ice creams. 

Prices: 70k for a coconut ice cream, 7k for caramel custard 

Kem Tràng Tiền

There is nothing like an ice cream on a hot day. Not far from Hoan Kiem you’ll find a long line of locals waiting for these famous ice cream bars and cones. They have a variety of flavors like sticky rice and taro, but I went with a classic coconut ice cream bar. The vanilla cones are also a best seller. 

Address: 35 Tràng Tiền, Hoàn Kiếm

Prices: 12k for an ice cream bar, 15k for a cone

Hours: 8am-10:30pm

Mixue

Mixue is the McDonalds of ice cream in Hanoi. but its really good. With locations all over the city, this was our go-to evening dessert spot. Jon loves the special sundae, which is a boba sundae with a brown butter sauce, but I always go for a simple vanilla cone.

Prices: 10k for a cone, 25k for a sundae

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