6 Vietnamese Foods You Must Try in Hanoi

1. Bún Chả

When Anthony Bourdain sat down with President Obama to eat this dish it made international headlines. Bourdain chose this dish for a very good reason. Bun Cha is probably the second most famous dish in Vietnam (other than Pho Bo) and it’s a common lunch item.

Who doesn’t like charcoal grilled pork, fresh aromatic herbs, bouncy vermicelli rice noodles, and pickled green papaya? When the ingredients are combined in a broth-like dipping sauce, it creates a tangy cool BBQ soup that is absolutely divine.

Vietnamese food is as much about texture as it is about contrasting flavors and bun cha covers both so well. It was the first Vietnamese dish that we truly loved. There were at least three places near our apartment to sit on tiny plastic curbside stools and enjoy this mouthwatering meal for breakfast.

Hai bun cha! Hai tra da! That’s one of the first things we learned to say in Vietnamese, “Two bun cha and two green teas!”.

Try it on the street (which is what we typically prefer) or if you want a cleaner place try:

Bún Chả Tuyết 34 Hàng Than, Nguyễn Trung Trực, Ba Đình, Hà Nội, Vietnam 

Or you can try it for novelty where Obama and Bourdain ate:

Bún Chả Hương Liên 24 Le Van Huu Hà Nội, Vietnam

2. Chả Cá

You’re in for a treat. This is one of Hanoi’s famous specialty foods that has garnered international acclaim in the last 5-10 years. The main ingredient is fresh snakehead fish which is very delicate and doesn’t taste fishy at all. It’s then combined with turmeric, dill, peanuts, rice noodle, and scallions, along with chilies, fish sauce, and additional herbs to top it all off.

This is another restaurant that only offers one thing made to perfection. Pairs nicely with white wine or beer. The medley of flavors and textures make this quite possibly the best fish dish we’ve ever tasted anywhere!

Try it here: Chả Cá Thăng Long
19 – 21 – 31 Duong Thanh, Hà Nội,Vietnam (Old Quarter)
120k VND per person

3. Bún Riêu Cua

Next up, is this delicious tangy tomato-based soup is made with rice vermicelli and topped with pounded freshwater crabmeat, fried tofu, and green onion. Warm chunks of tomato and chopped morning glory float near the top awaiting your spoons tender embrace.

A dollop of chili sauce, fresh herbs, and a sprinkle of garlic vinegar are the finishing touches. Lord have mercy! Easily one of the best Vietnamese foods to try in Hanoi.

Try it here: 11 Hàng Bạc, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam (Old Quarter)

4. Bún Dậu Mắm Tôm

Located in a tiny alley in the Old Quarter, this one took us some time to fall in love with. At first, we didn’t really like tofu that much. We didn’t necessarily hate it, but before living in Vietnam we certainly couldn’t imagine going out in search of it.

Bun dau mam tom changed our minds. Translating literally to “noodles” and “tofu” that’s what it is. Alongside a menagerie of herbs, it includes big cubes of rice noodles, perfectly crispy fried tofu, and fresh cucumbers. The idea is to dip, alternate, and enjoy.

The texture combinations going on are what we love most about it. Also, try the chả cốm cakes (fried seasoned pork and rice). Dip it all into nước mắm (fish sauce) and try the mam tom (very rich dark oily fermented shrimp paste) if you dare!

Try it here: Bún đậu Hương 55 Phất Lộc
55 Ngõ Phát Lộc, Hàng Bạc, Hà Nội, Vietnam (Old Quarter)
37k VND

5. Phở Cuốn

Pho in a different form! Aren’t you excited? Well, you should be. The first time we had this one of our good Vietnamese friends brought us here. It had been a few blocks away all along and we hadn’t noticed it.

Pho Cuon is a salad roll filled with beef, lettuce or mustard greens, and a selection of herbs all wrapped in wet rice paper. It’s served cool and then dipped into a lovely sauce of nước chấm (Vietnamese dipping sauce).

This dish is commonly found within the Truc Bach neighborhood. It’s a great little area that feels more like a small community, much quieter than other parts of Hanoi.

Every time we had a visiting friend we would make sure they tried it. Even less adventurous eaters will enjoy it. Cheap, healthy, and great for sharing!

Try it here: Phở Cuốn 31
31 Ngũ Xã, Trúc Bạch, Ba Dinh District, Hà Nội, Vietnam

6. Bánh Cuốn

Typically eaten for breakfast and lunch, a delicate white rice flour sheet is lifted off of a hot steamer with a long bendable piece of bamboo and filled with wood ear mushrooms and ground pork.

These dumplings are then brushed with liquid fat, quickly cut with scissors, and topped with fried onions and cilantro. Onto your plate, they go, like a freshly made hot mound of love.

It’s then dipped into (you guessed it) nuoc mam. Mrs. Coi (who has since passed on) earned her reputation here as one of the better shops in the old town.

Their peppered pork sausage cake is also delectable. Try the Chinese sausage while you’re at it, as it’s only 10k. You can also find cheaper street vendors spread across town and lingering in the alleys.

Try it here: Bánh Cuốn Gia Truyền Thanh Vân
14 Hàng Gà, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam (Old Quarter)

Cre: whyweseek.com