Top 10 unmissable dishes in Hanoi

Here are our suggestions ofor10 typical Hanoi dishes, like so many facets of the capital, the food is one thing that cannot be missed during your stay in Vietnam. The pho, bun cha, cha ca or even xoi xeo which, among others, will make you discover a perfectly gourmet and unforgettable Hanoi.

1. Pho

Pho, this legendary name, undoubtedly is the most popular dish in Vietnam. Pho is always eaten hot and at any time of the day, especially during breakfast. Meat (beef or chicken) and noodles accompanied by aromatic herbs and scallion, all paired up in a beef bone broth. Simmered for hours, the broth, in some recipes, star anise and cinnamon are added for more flavour. At a very affordable price, you can enjoy a bowl of pho that is as comforting as it is tasty anywhere in Hanoi establishments. Also try to eat in a street shop like a Vietnamese person because this will explain why its faithful customers, of all ages and of all tastes, salaried and student, never tire of it during the week.

             >> Read more:  Where to go to eat Pho in Hanoi?

2. The Vietnamese sandwich (Banh mi)

Rare are those who know that the banh mi or Vietnamese sandwich is part of the French heritage in Vietnam. A baguette garnished with meat is the result of a marriage between French and Indochinese cuisine. The crispy baguette has been adapted to local taste to become king of street food in recent years. Thus was born the banh mi which is spread, as needed, with pâté, cucumbers, coriander, mayonnaise and chilli.

Where to eat? Banh mi 25 (5 Hang Ca, Hoan Kiem)

3. Vietnamese ravioli (Banh cuon)

Prepared from rice flour, these ravioli are stuffed with minced pork and black mushrooms. A plate of banh cuon garnished with dried onions is served with a sweet and sour sauce made from water, fish sauce (nuoc mam), sugar and lemon. In traditional cuisine, banh cuon is steamed and such a method of cooking undoubtedly reveals an impeccable delicacy. Diners, on the other hand, should have some patience while watching the preparation of one rice dough to another. Light and tasty, Vietnamese ravioli will provide you with a beautiful dining experience of traditional Hanoi cuisine.

Where to eat? Banh cuon Thanh Van (12 Hang Ga Street, Hoan Kiem)

4. Bun cha

So fragrant, a serving of bun cha is ready with rice vermicelli, grilled pork skewers and a sweet and sour sauce accompanied by different types of aromatic herbs. Popular and affordable, bun cha has established itself as one of Vietnam's best and most popular specialities among travellers, one of the most popular dishes in Hanoi.

Where to eat? Bun cha Dac Kim (1 Hang Manh, Hoan Kiem) and Bun cha Huong Lien (24 Le Van Huu, Hai Ba Trung)

5. Bun rieu

A colourful soup made from rice vermicelli, field crab accompanied by small pieces of fried tofu, aromatic herbs and tomatoes. The whole thing is eaten hot in a slightly acidic broth, giving it a sweet and fine flavour. We also add lemon and chilli depending on the taste. Bun rieu has made a worthy place among the most popular dishes of Vietnamese cuisine, especially in the northern regions where it originates.

Where to eat? Bun rieu cua (11 Hang Bac, Hoan Kiem)

6. Egg coffee (Ca phe trung)

This beverage, the name of which already makes you want to discover it, is a symbol of the flavour creativity of the Hanoi people. Inspired by cappuccino, this drink is prepared, as its name suggests, with mainly coffee, sugar and a chicken egg that is whipped with cream before adding it to hot coffee. This famous typical Hanoi café owes its reputation to Mr Nguyen Van Giang, founder of the bistro Cafe Giang, a staple for gourmets from all over coming to the capital.

A cup of egg coffee has delighted both Vietnamese and Western palates with its adorable creamy yellow filling and the extraordinary flavour that emerges from this unique combination.

Where to eat? Cafe Giang (Nguyen Huu Huan, Hoan Kiem and Yen Phu, Ba Dinh)

             >> Read more:  Where to taste the best egg coffee in Hanoi?

7. The Vietnamese pancake (Banh xeo)

A delight for both your eyes and your taste buds, banh xeo (filled pancake) is made from rice flour and turmeric, folded in half and garnished with sliced or minced pork, shrimp, and bean sprouts. This Vietnamese pancake is eaten with salad leaves as well as different aromatic herbs and sweet and sour fish sauce.

Where to eat? Banh xeo Zon (25 Lo Su, Hoan Kiem)

8. Fried fish (Cha ca)

Once in the capital, even the most rushed visitors always seek to feast on this typical Hanoi dish at least once, the recipe of which requires methodical care. Cha ca owes its exceptional taste to a special ingredient, the fish "Lang" (hemibagrus). The fresh fish is marinated in turmeric before being fried in a hot pan on your table. Accompanied by rice vermicelli (bun), roasted peanuts and aromatic herbs, the dish is often eaten with "mam tom". "Mam tom" is a shrimp paste whose smell is overpowering and a ‘love it or hate it’ sauce for Westerners to adopt but is a must with these grilled fish.

Where to eat? Cha ca La Vong (107 Nguyen Truong To, Truc Bach, Ba Dinh)

             >> Read more:  Top 7 restaurants for to try Cha Ca in Hanoi

9. Pho cuon

Its composition is very simple with a roll of rice dough sheet rolled around pieces of sautéed beef and a few sprigs of coriander, accompanied by salad leaves. Half of the success of Pho cuon comes from the nuoc mam which it is dipped in with every bite. With a typical sweet and sour flavour requiring a perfect balance of different spices, the sauce is also the soul of Pho cuon, as with all spring rolls. Light and tasty, pho cuon can be eaten warm or cold, a real treat for summer and winter.

Where to eat? Ngu Xa Street, Truc Bach, Ba Dinh

10. Xoi xeo or sticky rice with mung beans

Very popular for breakfast with people from Hanoi and Vietnamese people alike, this dish comes from sticky rice cooked with mung beans and garnished with fried onions. Remarkable for its bright yellow colour, the xoi xeo which is traditionally wrapped in banana leaves quickly perfumes the whole room with its inviting scent.

Appetizing and very inexpensive, this popular Hanoi dish is a good choice for breakfast for a low price of 10,000 or 15,000 dong with Vietnamese pork pate as a supplement (gio or cha).

Where to eat? Madame May (junction of Hang Bai and Ly Thuong Kiet streets, Hoan Kiem).

We wish you a delicious and enlightening discovery!

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