Traveling Spoon’s Food Guide: Hanoi, Vietnam

Over the past two decades, Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital, has experienced phenomenal growth, transforming the city from being a poor, rural area to a city bustling with tall buildings that blend the traditions of the east with the modernity of the west. Although it still has strong French influences, Hanoi maintains its unique eastern flair with many traditional temples and cultural influences.

When we first visited Hanoi two years ago, we had the opportunity to venture around the city and try some of the best local food we’ve tasted. Today, we are excited to share with you an illustrated guide to Hanoi, including some hidden gems hand picked from our personal experiences to give you the best that the city has to offer.

To help you find all our favorite spots we made a Google Maps version! Check it out here. We’d love to know if you have any favorites we missed!

Traveling Spoon’s Food Guide: Hanoi, Vietnam

Cafe Pho Cu

Start your day at Cafe Pho Cu, a hidden gem that opens up to an amazing view of Hanoi’s old quarter. This hidden cafe is tucked away behind a silk and souvenir shop on Hang Gai. Go through the narrow hall to the back of the silk shop, and order downstairs before climbing the stairway to the rooftop with incredible views of the Hoan Kiem Lake.

Order a cup of egg milk coffee and take in the breathtaking views of the city as it wakes up and begins another hectic day.

 

 

Dong Xuan Market

For the real kitchen enthusiast, walk on over to Dong Xuan Market, a no-frills market where you can find everything under the sun. From dried food items to cloth and clothes. This isn’t a typical tourist market, so there are few souvenir items for sale, but a budding cook’s dream with the huge variety of local ingredients, spices, and utensils available.

 

Pho Gia Truyen (49 P Bat Dan)

You know a place serves good local food if even the locals line up to eat there. Line up for some warm Pho Bo (beef noodle soup) at Pho Gia Truyen, where you can find locals enjoying one of Vietnam’s most iconic dish. They make the broth for 24 hours and serve it piping hot to hungry customers.

 

 

Banh Cuon
It might be time for a little mid-morning snack after walking around the old quarter. Banh cuon is a dish you can’t miss while you are in Hanoi. You will see the vendors making rice crepes which are filled with a mixture of minced pork, mushrooms, and ground shrimp, and served with a light fish-sauced based sauce. We guarantee that you will want to go back for more.

 

 

Bun Bo Nam Bo (67 P Hang Dieu)

This restaurant only serves one dish, and rightfully so. The restaurant is like a typical local lunch venue: loud and crowded with small tables, but we’ve found that they make the best Bun Bo Nam Bo in Hanoi, which makes you forget all the noise around you. A noodle dish with topped with marinated beef, herbs, and crushed peanuts, it is quintessentially typical of Vietnamese street food and will surely be an enjoyable treat.

 

Banh Goi

After some more touring around you may need a little snack. Under a large banyan tree and around the corner from the St. Joseph Cathedral is a banh goi cart, where you can enjoy fried, “pillow-shaped” delicacies that have been stuffed with glass noodles, mushrooms and minced pork. Dip them into a traditional sauce of fish sauce, garlic, chili, lime juice and sugar.

 

Cha Ca La Vong (14 Pho Cha Ca) 

Finish the day with dinner at Cha Ca La Vong. Cha ca is catfish that is marinated with turmeric, ginger and galangal is cooked and served in front of you with dill and a traditional fish sauce. Prepare for some DIY cooking; charcoal grills are brought to the communal tables and you cook up your fish and serve yourself with noodles, lettuce and fried shallots.

From our bellies to yours, we hope you enjoy your self-guided food tour of our favorite food spots in Hanoi!