Top Hanoi must-try dishes and best places to eat in Hanoi Old Quarter

Explore the vibrant and enchanting old quarter of Hanoi with its legendary cuisine, bursting with flavor and delightful surprises. Get lost in the captivating maze of streets and alleys, uncovering hidden gems and our top recommendations for savoring authentic local dishes from sunrise to sunset.

This article lists the best dishes that are not to be missed in Hanoi and places to find them.

Start the day with a bowl of Xoi

Set your mood for the day with a typicalHanoian breakfast: Xoi. Xoi or Vietnamese sticky rice can easily be found anywhere, from street vendors to classy restaurants. 

To make Xoi, the glutinous rice is steamed, sometimes together with other cereals such as peanuts, mung beans, black beans, and sesame seeds. There are many variations of this Vietnamese staple. The dish can be served just with plain sticky rice, or together with other side dishes, such as pork, eggs, sausage,... 

Xoi Gac (Steamed momordica sweet rice), Xoi Xeo (Sticky rice with mung beans and crispy fried shallots), Xoi Lac (Sticky rice with peanuts), and Xoi Man (Sticky rice with assorted meat) are among the most chosen types of Vietnamese sticky rice for breakfast. 

Here are our suggestions for Xoi in the Hanoi Old Quarter:

Xoi Yen Hanoi

Address: 35B Nguyen Huu Huan Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

Opening hours: 06:00–24:00

Xoi Cat Lam

Address: 24B Duong Thanh Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

Opening hours: 06:30–23:30

Xoi Co Son Cau Go

Address: 38-42 Cau Go Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

Opening hours: 20:00–23:00

Xoi Gia Truyen Ba Thu

Address: 57 Tho Nhuom Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

Opening hours: 06:30–14:00

Pho: the globally renowned Vietnamese noodle soup

Pho is an unskippable dish while traveling in Hanoi. This fragrant, charismatic noodle soup can be enjoyed at any time of the day, be it breakfast, lunch, or dinner. With a balance of flavors from aromatic broth simmered for hours, fresh herbs, beef (sometimes chicken), and rice noodles, this Hanoi delicacy is sure to successfully conquer any gourmet.

You can find Pho in every corner of Hanoi. However, here are some of our suggestions for a good bowl of this scrumptious noodle soup in the Old Quarter:

Pho Bat Dan

Address: 49 Bat Dan, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

Opening hours: 06:00–10:00 and 18:00 – 20:30

Pho Ly Quoc Su

Address: 10 Ly Quoc Su, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

Opening hours: 06:00–21:50

Pho Thin Bo Ho

Address: 61 Dinh Tien Hoang, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

Opening hours: 06:00–13:00 and 17:30–22:00

If you're looking for a more special experience, here are some addresses:

Pho Ganh Hang Chieu 

Address: Hang Chieu-Hang Luoc intersection, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

Opening hours: 3:00 – 7:00

This eatery opens at 3:00 am, a rather special time frame, but it is constantly packed. Customers of this eatery include early-morning workers, late-shift workers, young all-nighters, and, of course, curious tourists. 

Pho Bung

Address: 8 Hang Trong, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

Opening hours: 15:00 – 21:00

To find this famous Pho eatery, diners have to go into a narrow alley, approximately 6-7 meters in depth, which is only wide enough for two individuals to pass each other. Then, they should proceed to the second floor through an old spiral staircase. As its name suggests (Bung means hold/carry), the eatery has no tables, and the diners have to carry their own bowl of Pho. 

>> You might want to check this out: Best Pho in Hanoi?

Flavorful Bun Cha

Bun Cha is another fantastic Hanoi specialty that should not be missed under any circumstances! 

A serving of Bun Cha consists of rice vermicelli, well-seasoned grilled pork, fresh herbs, and last but never least, a tangy dipping sauce called nuoc cham. To savor your delicious Bun Cha, add a portion of rice vermicelli (don’t add too much in one go, it will blanden the dipping sauce) and some aromatic herbs to the dipping sauce. You would like to add minced garlic and chili slices (if you can handle spices) to enhance the flavor.

Our suggested addresses to have a bowl of Bun Cha in the Hanoi Old Quarter area are: 

Bun Cha 34

Address: 34 Hang Than, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi

Opening hours: 08:30–17:30

Bun Cha Cua Dong

Address: 41 Cua Dong, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

Opening hours: 10:30–20:30

Bun Cha Dac Kim

Address: 1 Hang Manh, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

Opening hours: 08:30–21:00

Bun Cha 74 Hang Quat

Address: 74 Hang Quat, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

Opening hours: 10:00–14:00

Bun Rieu Cua

Another not-to-be-missed dish in Hanoi is Bun Rieu Cua or Fresh-water Crab Noodle Soup. Just like Pho and Bun Cha, Bun Rieu Cua is a very easy-to-find dish and can be eaten at any meal of the day, be it breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

A bowl of Bun Rieu Cua is a feast of colors and flavors: the red of the tomato-broth and tomato slices, the green of the scallion, the yellow of the fried tofu, the light brown of the crab cakes, and the white of the rice vermicelli. The sweetness of the stocking comes from the freshwater crabs, which are pounded into paste, and the sourness comes from tomatoes and vertical fruits. Depending on your preference and/or the place of sale, a bowl of Bun Rieu Cua can be added with beef, pork cartilage, snails, or even balut—a terror to many international tourists coming to Vietnam. Bun Rieu Cua is accompanied by raw leafy vegetables, such as lettuce, perilla, and banana flowers.

To taste the most delicious Bun Rieu Cua in the Hanoi Old Quarter, see our recommendations:

Bun Rieu Hong Phuc

Address: 22 Hong Phuc, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi

Opening hours: 06:00–15:00

Bun Rieu Cua 11 Hang Bac

Address: 11 Hang Bac, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

Opening hours: 07:00–22:30

Bun Rieu Hang Luoc

Address: 16 Hang Luoc, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

Opening hours: 06:00–09:00

Bun Rieu Hang Khoai

Address: 18 Hang Khoai, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

Opening hours: 18:00–24:00

Pho Cuon: Refreshing in every bite

You can taste this delicious Hanoi staple at one of our favorite areas of the capital: Truc Bach Lake. 

As its name suggests, Pho Cuon or Pho Rolls are made of sheets of pho (uncut noodles) wrapped around stir-fried beef, fresh herbs, and vegetables, served with a very light dipping sauce made from fish sauce, vinegar, sugar, garlic and chili. Though not much complicated in the cooking process, the combination of flavors of this Vietnamese specialty promises to bring you a whole new culinary experience.

Our recommended addresses in Hanoi for Pho Cuon are:

Pho Cuon Chinh Thang

Address: 7 Mac Dinh Chi, Truc Bach Ward, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi

Opening hours: 09:00–22:00

Pho Cuon Thanh Hang

Address: 29B Ngu Xa, Truc Bach Ward, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi

Opening hours: 10:00–22:00

Banh Cuon: the delicate Vietnamese Steamed rice rolls

Known by many names, such as Vietnamese Ravioli or Vietnamese Steamed rice rolls, Banh Cuon is another Vietnamese delicacy that you should not miss! 

Banh Cuon is made from a paper-thin sheet of rice batter, typically filled with minced wood ear mushrooms, ground pork, and shallots, served with certain sides and nuoc cham. To make a delicate, melt-in-the-mouth rice sheet, the chef pours a ladle of rice batter onto a cloth stretched over a pot of boiling water and then quickly spreads it. You can find this dish anywhere, in Hanoi and many other northern provinces of Vietnam, such as Lang Son and Cao Bang.

There are many variations of this dish, depending on the region. For example, in Hanoi, Banh Cuon is served with Cha Que (Vietnamese cinnamon pork pate) as the side dish and light, tangy fish sauce as the dipping sauce. In Cao Bang, Banh Cuon is accompanied by a different dipping sauce made from pork bone broth. In some regions, Banh Cuon consists of plain rice batter sheets rolled with deep-fried shallot slices and is enjoyed with grilled pork and light, tangy fish sauce. There is also a derived version called Banh Cuon Trung (steamed rice roll with egg), which comes in two variants: one with eggs mixed with the rice batter and another with eggs wrapped inside the rice batter sheet.

Here are some addresses for the best Banh Cuon around the Hanoi Old Quarter area:

Banh Cuon Phuong

Address: 68 Hang Cot, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

Opening hours: 06:00–21:00

Banh Cuon Ba Xuan

Address: 16 Hoe Nhai, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi

Opening hours: 07:00–12:00 and 16:00–00:30

Banh Mi: the world-wide famous Vietnamese sandwich

Perhaps there is no need to talk too much about this widely recognized Vietnamese street food. Banh Mi is a perfect choice for various meals of the day, from breakfast, lunch, mid-afternoon snack, or even late-night dinner.

This popular sandwich is considered an interesting blend of Franco-Vietnamese culture since it is a short baguette stuffed with other ingredients. There are no rules for a loaf of Banh Mi. You can add anything according to your preference. Pickled vegetables, pâté, eggs, and meats, usually pork or chicken are commonly seen ingredients inside Banh Mi. Coriander and chili sauce are optional finishing touches to enhance the flavor. 

While you are in Hanoi, try out these addresses for the best Banh Mi in Hanoi Old Quarter :

Banh Mi Pho Co

Address: 38 Dinh Liet, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

Opening hours: 07:30 – 12:00

Bami Bread

Address: 98 Hang Bac, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

Opening hours: 06:00–22:00

Banh Mi 25

Address: 25 Hang Ca, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

Opening hours: 07:00–21:00

>> You might want to check this out: Top 5 best places to enjoy a banh mi, the Vietnamese sandwich

The unmissable Nem Ran 

Nem Ran or Fried Spring Rolls, are probably no longer strangers to international foodies. This traditional Vietnamese dish shows up everywhere, from family dinner tables on special occasions to on the street. 

Each region has its own style of Nem Ran. As for the Hanoians, the skin of spring rolls used is rice paper, and the filling consists of meat and/or shrimp, vegetables, wood ear mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, bean sprouts, vermicelli, scallion, cilantro, and egg. The preparation of the ingredients takes time, and so does the making process. Making Nem Ran requires ingenuity and perseverance, reflected in the ideal ratio between ingredients, the proper pressure while rolling, and the right heat for frying, rendering it one of the most complicated dishes in Vietnamese cuisine. 

Fried spring rolls are served with tangy nuoc cham, sometimes together with fresh lettuce. Being a companion of Bun Cha, you can find Nem Ran in every Bun Cha stall. Here are some places to enjoy this delicious Hanoi delicacy in the Hanoi Old Quarter: 

Nem ran Hang Quat

Address: 74 Hang Quat, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

Opening hours: 10:00–14:00

Nem ran Hang Be

Address: 21 Hang Be, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

Opening hours: 07:00–22:00

Cha Ca: Hanoi staple that deserves more reputation

Definitely a must-try dish in Hanoi! Other than just Pho, Banh Mi, and Bun Cha, Cha Ca, or Vietnamese Turmeric Fish with Dill, is an emblematic dish of Hanoi, reflecting the sophistication of the Hanoians in the culinary field.

To make this dish, diced hemibagrus (a genus of catfish) are marinated with turmeric, ginger, chili pepper, and shrimp paste. The fish chunks are then lightly grilled over charcoal before being served at the table in a hot pan together with dill. The sides of this dish are scallion, peanuts, herbs, and vermicelli rice noodles. Shrimp paste and fish sauce are two options for dipping.

Here are some addresses to enjoy the best Cha Ca around Hanoi Old Quarter: 

Cha Ca Thang Long

Address: 6B Duong Thanh, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

Opening hours: 10:30–21:00

Vua Cha Ca

Address: 1 Dinh Tien Hoang, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

Opening hours: 

Cha Ca La Vong

Address: 107 Nguyen Truong To, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi

                 14 Cha Ca, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

Opening hours: 08:00–23:00

Typical dishes in Quán Ăn Ngon, street food with style

Located in a beautiful, magnificently renovated colonial-style villa, the Quan An Ngon restaurant invites you to experience the quintessence of Vietnamese cuisine in a charming setting. You will be able to taste traditional Vietnamese dishes in a lively atmosphere at a very reasonable price.

Drop by Quan An Ngon to taste one of the best eats in Hanoi!

Address: 18 Phan Boi Chau, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

Opening hours: 07:00–22:00

Cuisine of finesse in Tam Vi

Let’s end this culinary odyssey in style with Tam Vi, a Michelin-starred restaurant. Possessing the appearance of a peaceful ancient tea house, inspired by the remembrances of Tonkin, Tam Vi promises a unique gastronomic experience. This Michelin-starred restaurant serves typical Northern Vietnam homestyle dishes, featuring most of the dishes in a meal of Hanoians, such as salted tiny eggplant, stir-fried vegetable pickles with beef, caramelized pork belly,...

Nestled in a small street not far from the Temple of Literature, this one of the best restaurants in Hanoi is sure to give any gourmet looking for an authentic Hanoi taste a great moment.

Address: 4B Yen The, Dong Da District, Hanoi

Opening hours: 11:00 – 14:30 and 17:00–21:00

We hope this article has helped you answer the questions of "What to eat in Hanoi" and "Where to Eat in Hanoi Old Quarter". Don't hesitate to share your thoughts and let us know if there are other good eats in Hanoi that you love! Bon appetite, and see you soon in Hanoi!

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